‘On the threshold of a major transformation’

As we enter 2015 and start the spring semester, I am excited about what lies ahead for UNLV. I also am honored and humbled to serve as the 10th president of the university and appreciate the opportunity afforded me by the Board of Regents and Chancellor Dan Klaich.

I look forward to becoming fully immersed in the Southern Nevada community over the next several months. Kristi and I are familiar with Las Vegas. Like many of the 40 million-plus annual visitors, we have traveled here numerous times for both business and leisure. We love Southern Nevada and what it has to offer. It was one of the attractions in accepting this position.

The biggest draw, however, was UNLV itself, including our outstanding faculty, staff, alumni and of course our students. Because of their hard work, the university is clearly on the threshold of a major transformation, and I wanted to be part of the team charting its course. I believe in what UNLV is today, but even more, I believe in what it can be.

The pursuit to become a Tier One or Carnegie Research “Very High” institution that achieves overall academic excellence is undeniably in our future and is an initiative I wholeheartedly embrace. It not only will improve us on the research dimension, but also elevate the experience for students and provide greater value by making them more employable when they graduate. Tier One universities also drive economic activity by facilitating start-up companies through investment in research and community partnerships. A stronger UNLV means a stronger Nevada.

Likewise, the UNLV School of Medicine is integral to our strategic plan and critical not only for the university, but the community and the state. The UNLV School of Medicine will improve access to quality health care in the region, train doctors and specialists who will serve Nevada, and generate an economic impact of more than $1 billion annually while creating 8,000 jobs.

The initiative is an example of how UNLV is — and can be — a resource for all of Southern Nevada and directly benefit its residents, similar to our established schools of Dental Medicine, Nursing and Community and Allied Health Sciences.

Like many of our students at UNLV, I was the first from my family to attend college and graduate. Higher education has provided me opportunities my Italian immigrant grandparents never could have imagined. The sacrifices they made provided a better life for their children and grandchildren, enabling me to go to college. I believe UNLV plays a similar role in Southern Nevada and beyond. I know personally how important students are to our core mission.

As the largest university in the state, I believe that UNLV should be actively involved in shaping the future of our community — and Nevada — economically, socially and environmentally. We need to enhance and extend partnerships with local governments, the state, private industry and the Clark County School District. I want to strengthen, broaden and diversify those relationships to advance our collective goals. We need to pursue collaborative solutions with effective results.

One of my immediate priorities is to meet various stakeholders and introduce myself to community organizations. The university’s long-term goals will require tremendous investment, both public and private. We need to ensure that UNLV is positioned for success to generate a maximum return on investment for everyone. As part of that strategy, I have asked Don Snyder to serve as presidential adviser for strategic initiatives for the remainder of the academic year. I appreciate his contributions over the past year as president and during the transition, and we will continue to benefit from his wisdom, hard work and great relationships.

I also will follow the 2015 Nevada Legislature closely and work with Chancellor Klaich and others to best manage matters associated with higher education and other issues related to Southern Nevada and the state. I feel that UNLV and the State of Nevada have a shared destiny and that we must work together toward our mutual success.

Achieving goals will also require support from both the UNLV Alumni Association and UNLV Foundation, critical stakeholders that serve as university ambassadors and investors.

I have already been introduced to these groups and will work closely with them going forward as we embark on key initiatives and an eventual capital campaign. More than ever, philanthropy and private industry investment are part of today’s business model for public institutions of higher education.

Finally, I believe athletics are a critical part of the university experience and the window through which many see and form opinions about us. The national attention generated from the hiring of Tony Sanchez as the new football coach, the basketball team’s victory over Arizona, and the success of the men’s soccer team and women’s volleyball team this season are all examples of how athletics play a significant role in marketing the university and shaping our brand.

This is clearly an exciting time to be a Rebel, and I am honored to be part of the UNLV family. I look forward to the journey ahead and thank you for the warm Southern Nevada welcome.

Len Jessup has a Ph.D. in organizational behavior and management information systems from the University of Arizona. He is the 10th president of UNLV and began his tenure Jan. 5.