The inside scoop on the people and projects that support UNLV

In this issue:

• Nevada Women’s History: Sarah Winnemucca
• Spotlight on Service
• Employee Profile: Iris Connolly
• Take Your Child to Work Day Partnership Opportunities
• RMS: Cultivating a Culture of Safety at UNLV
• January Employee Appreciation Recipients
• From President Whitfield: Thank You
• Coffee with the CFO
• FortiClient VPN Application to Replace Pulse Secure
• Upgrading Your Digital Literacy
• Dates to Remember

Nevada Women's History: Sarah Winnemucca

A teacher, translator, and lecturer, Sarah Winnemucca was born around 1844 near Humboldt Lake, Nevada. Originally named Thocmetony, which means "shell flower," Sarah dedicated herself to improving the lives of her people, the Paiute. Her writings chronicle tribe life and give insights into the impact of White settlement on the West. In 1860, Sarah attended St. Mary’s Convent school in San Jose, but she and other Paiute students were expelled from the school when White parents objected to their presence.

Sarah's contributions include using private donations to open a school for Native American children near Lovelock, Nevada.

Visit the website to learn more about this pioneering Nevada woman.

Spotlight on Service

The fourth annual Business Affairs customer service survey results are in and our teams received a number of kudos for providing exceptional customer service. Here are a few examples of the positive feedback received:  

Risk Management & Safety

“Easy and quick inspections, unobtrusive in demeanor in workspaces and lab areas.”

“Responsive to the needs of the campus and funds many projects to improve safety in buildings.”

Landscape and Grounds

“The new landscaping projects over the past year are amazing!”

“Very supportive of all events and does a great job of taking care of the campus.”

Employee Highlight: Iris Connolly

Most will agree, the desert is an unlikely place for a plant lover to call home. Our campus is an exception to that rule. “I chose UNLV after my first visit because I fell in love with the campus scenery and the fact that it is an arboretum,” says Iris Connolly, a grounds maintenance supervisor in Facilities Management. An arboretum is a place set aside for the display and study of primarily woody plant material. Yes, trees! Our campus has more than 4,000 individual trees equipped for our desert climate. That’s what caught Iris’ attention. 

After earning a bachelor’s degree in botany from the University of Maine, Iris moved back home to California. While working at Adamson House State Park, a historic museum with impressive grounds in Malibu, she developed a love for natural scenery. “I love grounds maintenance. Focusing my attention on one place and working with the plants to help them thrive is very fulfilling,” she says. 

Iris supervises a team of three assigned to the West sector of UNLV’s Maryland campus near the science buildings and athletic fields. In the six months she’s been at UNLV, Iris has focused on her team using their knowledge and experience to contribute to the beautification of the campus grounds and proper maintenance of our plant life. “I enjoy working on my corner of the campus and doing what I can to make it aesthetically pleasing and beautiful,” she says. 

When she isn’t working, Iris plays Dungeons and Dragons and moshes at punk shows 🤘🏻. Before holding her own in a mosh pit, she trained for 16 years in ballet, jazz, tap, and hip-hop dance. But she doesn’t spend all of her free time indoors. A botanist at heart, Iris enjoys identifying plants while hiking with her dogs, Juno and RuBisCO, rock climbing, taking in the beautiful public land that surrounds the Las Vegas valley and is looking forward to exploring more of the desert she now calls home.

Take Your Child to Work Day Partnership Opportunities

UNLV will celebrate Take Your Child to Work Day on Thursday, April 27. The event invites employees to bring their children to campus to participate in a variety of activities showcasing UNLV’s diverse offerings. For some children, this is their first time on a college campus, making it a great opportunity to inspire a future generation of Rebels. 

The Family Advocacy Committee is seeking departments and organizations that would like to participate in the event by hosting an activity, sponsoring a table, or donating swag items. 

Visit the Campus Operations Update webpage for details about how you can get involved. The deadline for submitting your interest is April 5. 

RMS: Cultivating a Culture of Safety

Imagine a workplace where safety is not a priority, and employees do what they want when they want without regard to how their actions affect others. There are no protocols in place to address risk factors. Fire measures and lab safety are elusive ideals.

For some workplaces, these examples may be stark realities, but at UNLV, these situations are few and far between thanks to the diligent work of Risk Management & Safety (RMS), the cohort of teams leading the charge to cultivate a culture of safety.

Read the full article in UNLV Today.

January Employee Appreciation Recipients

John Cupo

Facilities Management

John was nominated for providing excellent customer service and expertise. Last December, when the heating/cooling mechanical systems failed in SLC B, he was assigned to fix the issue. He discovered that a communication device called a Java Application Control Engine (JACE) stopped working and needed to be replaced.

After finding a temporary fix, he found out that the replacement part needed to be manufactured and shipped from overseas, and therefore wouldn’t arrive until July 2023. Learning of this complication, he spent several days working on the broken JACE until he found a solution that restored communication throughout the unit.

Duane Phillips

Risk Management & Safety

Duane was nominated for promoting a culture of safety across campus. He led and coordinated building fire drills at the Maryland campus and Nevada State College. This work included a focus on childcare facilities. 

In addition to his assigned duties, he proactively took over maintenance responsibilities and service of the carts and vehicles used by RMS Staff. 

He received the State of Nevada Fire Inspector 2 certification and recently completed the State of Nevada Fire Investigator to further his knowledge and pass it along to his colleagues.

From President Whitfield: Thank You

Indeed, it was a historic spring break here at UNLV as President Joe Biden visited Hospitality Hall on our Maryland campus on March 15. To prepare the campus for the POTUS, dozens of Business Affairs employees worked through the weekend coordinating between each other and White House security officials. The exciting campus visit was made possible, in large part, by their diligent dedication. More details about their involvement will be shared in an upcoming Business Affairs Bulletin. 

Read the full message from President Whitfield about President Biden's visit.

Coffee with the CFO

Thank you to everyone who attended March’s Coffee with the CFO event. We had a great time learning how our roles and departments intersect to advance UNLV’s Top Tier initiatives through support and service. 

To attend an upcoming event, RSVP by completing the Coffee with the CFO Google form. Please note that space is limited to CSB meeting room capacity (20 attendees) and participation is in-person only. 

Upcoming Dates:

• April 19: 11 a.m. - 12 p.m.
• Register by April 12 
• May 17: 11 a.m. - 12 p.m.
• Register by May 10
• June 21: 11 a.m. - 12 p.m.
• Register by June 14

Please reach out to Nohealani Benicarlo at nohealani.benicarlo@unlv.edu with any questions.

FortiClient VPN Application to Replace Pulse Secure

FortiClient will replace the current VPN provider, effective Monday, April 3 at 9 a.m. 

Read the full article for additional information and for the link to install FortiClient on your device.

Please reach out to the OIT help desk at 702-895-0777 with questions or if you experience installation issues.

Upgrading Your Digital Literacy

Admins and end-users can now create a set of images for the background replacement feature in Google Meet. This will enable users to easily select an image that represents the university's brand and style. For the full update and tutorial, visit the Google Workspaces Blog.

Dates to Remember

• March 29 - UNLV Day at the Legislature
• April - Earth Month