The July/August issue of Outreach Insights is now available. The enewsletter has news about the programs and people within the UNLV Division of Educational Outreach. This issue features a new math readiness course, an update on Summer Term 2015, and an introduction of the new director of Continuing Education.

UNLV President Len Jessup has conferred Emerita status to Dr. Elizabeth Baldizan in recognition of her distinguished service to the university.
 
Baldizan retired August 31, 2015 after serving UNLV for nearly 20 years. She was the executive director of Community2Campus, a unit she developed from the ground up and demonstrated her long-held commitment to enhancing the success of adult learners. Baldizan is nationally recognized for her work and publications in this arena.
 
Dr. Baldizan previously worked in student affairs at the University of New Mexico, Seattle Community Colleges, and UNLV. She also taught at Seattle University and at UNLV in the Department of Educational Leadership. Dr. Baldizan is past president of the Association for Student Judicial Affairs and Board of Director member for NASPA, Student Affairs Administrators in Higher Education. She has published and presented on the topic of ethical development. 
 
Dr. Baldizan is currently a member of the City of Henderson Senior Citizen Advisory Commission and was recently selected as a member of the Editorial Review Board of the Journal of College and Character, a publication sponsored by NASPA-Student Affairs Administrators in Higher Education (2015-2018).
 
Dr. Baldizan received her Ed.D. in Higher Educational Administration from UNLV, her MA in Education from the University of New Mexico, and her BA in Communications and Environmental Studies from the University of Northern Colorado, Magna Cum Laude.  
 

Cannon Survey Center will host an open house as part of the activities during Research at UNLV Week Oct. 12-16. The open house will be held 1-3 p.m. on Oct. 13. Download the flyer for more information.

The Bernard Osher Foundation has provided additional support to OLLI at UNLV. UNLV today announced the foundation recently made a $1 million grant, the second such endowment for OLLI at UNLV.Read more.

Thanskgiving recess at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas will be Thursday, November 26 and Friday, November 27, 2015. The UNLV Paradise Campus will also be on recess. The Information Desk will close at 5 p.m. Wednesday, November 25 and reopen at 8 a.m. Monday, November 30.

December 12th
Closed Due to Renovation Project
December 14th through January 2nd
Customer Service hours will be Monday through Friday, Information Desk will be relocated to PAR 403
December 25th and January 1st
Closed due to University Observed Holidays

Robert Levrant has been named the director of the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (OLLI at UNLV), an organization that provides a diverse range of learning and social opportunities for semi-retired and retired individuals. 
 
“Rob brings to this position an exemplary background of collaboration and engagement with the senior population,” said Peg Rees, vice provost for Educational Outreach at UNLV. “His outcomes-based focus and relationship-building experience will be of great value as we strive to help seniors remain intellectually and socially active after retirement.” 
 
Levrant previously held the position of neighborhood outreach specialist and planner for the City of Las Vegas for the past ten years. In that position, he had many roles and areas of responsibilities, including providing leadership to neighborhood outreach programs and establishing productive relationships among stakeholders and agencies. In addition, he assisted with the city's Senior Citizens Advisory Board. Levrant also has seven years of experience in higher education administration at Rocky Mountain College in Billings, Montana. He has a Bachelor of Science in Regional Planning and a Master of Arts in Student Affairs in Higher Education, both of which are from Indiana University of Pennsylvania. 
 
“I really love working with seniors and creating opportunities for others,” said Levrant. “This position allows me to be of greater service. OLLI at UNLV is a wonderful learning resource that we look forward to offering to diverse mature learners in more areas of the Las Vegas Valley,” he said.
 
OLLI at UNLV consists of nearly 1,500 members who attend and coordinate more than 200 classes offered in the fall, spring, and summer each year. Classes are held at the UNLV Paradise Campus as well as satellite locations in Henderson, Summerlin, and North Las Vegas. There are also a variety of additional activities offered, such as book discussion groups, visits to museums and local landmarks, and evenings at the Smith Center. OLLI at UNLV recently received a second $1 million gift provided by the Bernard Osher Foundation to promote the sustainability and long-term success of the program.
 

UNLV and the Public Lands Institute, a unit of the Division of Educational Outreach, congratulate the Great Basin National Park Foundation and its partners, including our sister institution, University of Nevada Reno, for reaching the fundraising goal for the first research-grade astronomical observatory to be located in a national park--- Great Basin National Park in eastern Nevada. The foundation recently announced the $480,000 in funds now triggers the immediate building of the Great Basin Observatory: Magnificent Dark Sky Astronomical Research Portal, with the goal of opening the observatory in August 2016 in time for the National Park Service Centennial.
 
UNLV has endorsed the Great Basin Observatory. In his letter of support, UNLV President Len Jessup stated “the observatory will make it possible for us in Nevada to expand our curricular offerings not only in astrophysics and astronomy but in other STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) disciplines and natural resource preservation as well.” It will also greatly enhance and expand educational outreach programs for youth in K-12 classes, including those in Clark County. Other letters of support from UNLV were provided by the provost and the dean of the College of Sciences. In addition, Vice Provost for Educational Outreach Peg Rees serves as an advisory board member of the Great Basin National Park Foundation.
 
Fundraising efforts continue for educational programs, scientific and visitor services equipment, and operational needs. To learn more or to contribute, please visit greatbasinobservatory.org.
 

The March 2016 issue of Outreach Insights is now available. Check out the latest news from the Division of Educational Outreach.