WOW! DEO Staff Accomplishments

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The Division of Educational Outreach is proud to recognize the impressive accomplishments of the following staff. Your hard work and dedication is noticed and appreciated!
Summer Term Director Trish Suske was honored for 25 years of service to UNLV at a breakfast banquet with university president Neal Smatresk in early April. Trish started working in continuing education in December 1988. She gained skills, experience, and responsibility though her many roles. When asked to reflect on changes during her time at UNLV, Trish joked about all the versions of stationery she used over the years. Logos changed, departments evolved, offices moved, and leadership shifted, and Trish thrived though it all. Congratulations on this important anniversary, Trish!
Speaking of service anniversaries, April Reckling just celebrated 10 years with the university.
Director of Administration and Budget Melissa Closek has retired from UNLV. Tami Tateka has been promoted to fill the director position. Wish Tami success in her new role—she will continue to be an asset to our division.
Edward Collins, project coordinator/research and assessment manager for the Cannon Survey Center, was chosen as the recipient of the 2013 Doctoral Student Conference Grant from the American Association of Blacks in Higher Education (AABHE). Additionally, Collins was chosen as a Fellow for the 2013 National Data Institute on the datasets of the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) and National Science Foundation (NSF). The Institute is scheduled for Washington, D.C. in July. Collins will make a poster presentation, Toward a Model of Graduate College Choice: Does Perna's Framework Apply?, at the 2013 Association for Institutional Research (AIR) Forum in San Diego in May. Collins completed his Ph.D. in Higher Education Leadership at UNLV in 2012. Impressive work!
Jennell M. Miller, Ph.D., Science and Research Programs Coordinator with the Public Lands Institute, co-edited an extensive report published by the U.S. Geological Survey, A Synthesis of Aquatic Science for Management of Lakes Mead and Mohave. The report increases understanding of the natural resources of Lakes Mead and Mohave, and the issues that may affect their management. The report was prepared cooperatively by the U.S. Geological Survey, National Park Service, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Bureau of Reclamation, Nevada Department of Wildlife, Southern Nevada Water Authority, BIO-WEST, University of Nevada, Reno, and University of Nevada, Las Vegas.
Continuing Education student worker Jorge Guillen will graduate May 19 with a Bachelor of Science in Human Services Counseling. He will begin graduate school at UNLV in the fall to pursue a master’s degree in school counseling (M.Ed.). Way to go!
Jason Owen, Fitness and Health Education Coordinator, will move to Mississippi in August to begin his doctoral work in management at Ole Miss. Jason plans and schedules all the physical activity classes (about 100 each year) and supervises 30 part-time instructors. He has made a powerful and positive impact for our UNLV students. The number of students participating in activity courses during spring semester reached nearly 800 students! We wish Jason and his family only the best in this new journey.  We are grateful for his dedication and skills. 
Charlee Zingraf in Continuing Education completed VetSERV training
Be sure to give these co-workers a pat on the back the next time you see them! If we've missed an important staff accomplishment, be sure to email Amy Tartaglia Johns with details so we can share the good news in the next Outreach Insider!

Gain Foreign Language Skills to Prepare for Summer Travel

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Basic language skills can make the difference between a good vacation or business trip and a great one. Knowing the local language allows travelers to venture off the tourist path and immerse themselves more fully in the local culture. Summer sessions of UNLV Continuing Education’s beginning conversation courses in Mandarin Chinese, French, Italian, Japanese, and Spanish begin in May or early June. Within weeks you will be ready to ask and answer essential questions encountered during personal or business travel. Language courses also introduce students to cultural differences they may encounter during travel.
Course descriptions, class dates and times, fees, and online registration for language classes are available at continuingeducation.unlv.edu. Registrations are also accepted by telephone at 702-895-3394 or in person at UNLV Paradise Campus, 851 E. Tropicana Avenue.
You can request a print copy of the Summer 2013 Continuing Education Catalog by calling 702-895-3394 or view it online at http://continuingeducation.unlv.edu/catalog. UNLV Continuing Education provides year-round educational opportunities for those looking for personal and professional development.

College Students Use Summer to Get Ahead or Gain Practical Skills

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Final exams are just around the corner, so naturally the minds of many college students are turning to…school?
Summer for college students used to mean racking up hours at a seasonal job or, for some, an internship related to their major. While these are both still coveted options, the sluggish economy and expanded academic opportunities mean that many youth will hit the books this summer either to stay on track for college graduation or to build job-related skills.
The first of three UNLV summer sessions begin May 20, just days after the conclusion of spring finals. Summer courses have the same academic content as fall or spring courses with the same titles, but summer sessions move at a more rapid pace. Students tackle a semester’s worth of content in just three to five weeks. Last year over 13,000 students enrolled in Summer Term courses, earning over 65,000 credit hours total.
For many students Summer Term offers an opportunity to get ahead on credits for graduation. Entering freshmen frequently use summer to take any necessary remedial courses so they are ready to start on the path toward graduation in the fall. High school students are eligible to take summer courses as non-admitted students through UNLV’s Early Studies program, earning both high school and college credits. The credits transfer when they enroll in a degree program at UNLV or elsewhere.
With the youth and young adult job markets tight, college students and recent graduates also use the summer to take professional development courses through UNLV Continuing Education. Practical job skills like web or graphic design, sommelier training, nonprofit fundraising, business writing, or advanced Microsoft Office can demonstrate to an employer that a candidate is ready and eager to contribute to a company straight out of school.
Even when jobs are scarce, students can make effective use of their summers with a bit of planning and work. Summer Term information and course listings are available at summerterm.unlv.edu or by calling 702-895-3711. Information about continuing education courses is available at continuingeducation.unlv.edu or 702-895-3394.

2013 Division of Educational Outreach Faculty Excellence Award – Ed Nagelhout, Ph.D.

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    Dr. Ed     Nagelhout, associate professor of Rhetoric and Writing in the English Department, has received the 2013 Division of Educational Outreach Faculty Excellence Award. Nagelhout has been recognized for his commitment and achievements in many areas of online education. He served on the Online Education Advisory Council, which works collaboratively with the Office of Online Education to ensure policies, processes, and procedures are designed to provide UNLV students enrolled in online education the greatest opportunity for academic success. Nagelhout is also invaluable on the disruptive and adaptive technologies study group and subgroup. The merging of his teaching philosophy with his desire for digital development has taken Dr. Nagelhout's students to a higher level in learning environments. He was vital in building a sustainable professional writing Master course used in all sections. Nagelhout is now working with his Online Education team to create an interactive "textbook" that we look forward to showcasing in the future. We thank and congratulate an exemplary writer, teacher, scholar, and collaborator.    

Technology Training Helps Students and Professionals Stay Ahead of Trends

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In the constantly-evolving fields of technology and information management, if you can’t pinpoint emerging trends and adjust your business plans accordingly, your professional relevance and effectiveness may be short-lived.
Perhaps more than many academic departments, the leadership of the Department of Management, Entrepreneurship and Technology within the UNLV Lee Business School recognizes it must train students to rapidly adapt to new technologies and industry dynamics. By extension, the department also understands that the relevance of the modern university does not stop with graduation. The department sees it is uniquely positioned to train not only future leaders in the field, but also current professionals whose knowledge base must constantly evolve in order to maintain effectiveness.
A new partnership between the Department of Management, Entrepreneurship, and Technology, Community2Campus, and Continuing Education is opening up new opportunities for ongoing education for technology professionals. This summer, for the first time, registration for two graduate-level technology seminars will also be open to professionals who may enroll through Continuing Education.    
Andrew Urbaczewsk, Ph.D., chair of the Department of Management Studies at the University of Michigan, Dearborn College of Business, will lead a hands-on course on iPhone Application Development on June 7-8 and 14-15. Rather than just talking about 'what makes a good idea,' Urbaczewsk will teach students how to develop their own mobile applications, first through structured instruction and then through free-form (though assisted) creation of individual ideas.
On July 26-27, Cheon (Frank) Lee, Ph.D., assistant professor of Information Systems Management at Fairmont State University, will lead a workshop on Data Security and Enterprise Computing. The course will explore the latest data security issues in large-scale enterprise computing in the context of mainframe and cloud computing environments. Participants will explore proactive steps they can take to reduce security risks and protect their resources. 
No doubt opening these courses up to industry professionals fills a training void within Las Vegas, but are there also advantages to UNLV’s graduate students? Integrating working professionals into graduate courses introduces real-world issues into the dialogue and offers graduate students a chance to see how theories play out amidst the multitude of uncontrollable factors involved in an actual business setting. Students also benefit from new professional connections and gain a better sense of how their skills can be used post-graduation.
For more information about the above classes call 702-895-1803 or email paelis1@unlv.nevada.edu. Support for the above courses comes in part from IBM.

Sommelier to lead The Napa Experience!

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Heath Hiudt, UNLV Sommelier Academy instructor and sommelier at the Cosmopolitan’s upscale STK restaurant, will lead a two-day excursion to California wine country August 22-23.
A quick morning plane ride will whisk you from Las Vegas’ scorching summer heat to northern California where average August highs are 83°F and nighttime lows average 55°F. Napa’s climate and soil combine to create one of the world’s premiere wine production regions. Hiudt will take the group to several of his favorite vineyards and wineries. Participants will see wine production from start to finish from an insider’s point of view and get to sample local wines. Dinner and overnight in Napa will re-energize you for a second day of winery tours and the return voyage home.
Registration includes round trip airfare from Las Vegas to Sacramento, ground transportation, one night stay (double occupancy) at the Chablis Inn, one group dinner, and 4-5 guided winery tours. For additional details about The Napa Experience!, call 702-895-5224 or email charlee.zingraf@unlv.edu.

Dan Barber Honored for 20 Years of Sustained Service with Continuing Education

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Over the course of 20 years, UNLV’s Paralegal Certificate program evolved from a startup six-weekend course into a nationally-recognized curriculum and online support system utilized by prominent universities around the country. At the June paralegal graduation celebration, program founder Dan Barber was recognized by the Division of Educational Outreach for 20 years of vision and leadership for this thriving program.
Ann Tate, Emeritus Program Coordinator, worked with Dan during the earlier years of the program and outlined his achievements during the ceremony. According to Tate, the key to the program’s success has been Dan’s ability to continue evolving the coursework and delivery methods based on ongoing feedback from the legal community, especially feedback from paralegals themselves.
When UNLV first offered a paralegal certificate in 1993, Dan flew to Las Vegas to teach every other weekend from Colorado where he worked as a paralegal. Weekend-only courses led to evening classes aimed at students working full time jobs. As demand increased, daytime classes were added. Dan saw early on how the Internet could be used for student support; he initially utilized external servers to host paralegal content because the university did not have resources internally. Now, paralegal students have the option to take their entire coursework online with a dedicated instructor assigned to facilitate their progress. Leading universities including Duke, Rice, UC Davis, UC Berkeley, and University of Miami utilize his curriculum and online content in their own programs; some even offer the program as an upper level undergraduate course.
Dan’s work with UNLV Continuing Education is not limited to the paralegal program these days. Dan is also the driving force behind Continuing Education’s Medical Assistant Certificate and the Legal Secretary Certificate programs. Thanks to Dan’s vision and leadership, students in these fields also have opportunities to pursue high-quality, skill-based training in preparation for new careers.
After 20 years, Barber’s passion for the paralegal program is still strong. While he is no longer the primary instructor, he guest teaches certain sessions and at the graduation it was clear he had strong connections with the students. According to Tate, “For Dan, it has always been about his commitment to the students. This is by far the program that makes a difference in people’s lives.” Current certificate program coordinator Norm Kunselman adds, “Dan is a true professional who has a passion for providing lifelong learning opportunities for adults. He gets immense satisfaction from learning about the successes of students once they complete the Paralegal Certificate program.”
On behalf of Continuing Education and the many students whose lives he has helped transformed over 20 years, we extend our thanks and congratulations to Dan Barber for a job well done.