�鶹ԭ��

Acting President Dr. Amber Lopez Lasater Presented Institutional Priorities Focused on Student Success, Shared Governance, Transparency and Workforce Readiness

HENDERSON, Nev. — Today, �鶹ԭ�� Acting President Dr. Amber Lopez Lasater delivered the University’s 2026 State of the University Address, outlining a set of institutional priorities shaped by campus engagement and reinforced through purposeful partnerships that expand access, strengthen workforce outcomes and deliver measurable value to the State of �鶹ԭ��.

“Partnerships are not simply symbolic,” President Lopez Lasater said. “They are built around shared responsibility and a clear understanding of the impact we make, together, in the lives of our students, their families and the communities we serve.”

The address opened with remarks from �鶹ԭ�� System of Higher Education Chancellor Matt McNair, who emphasized �鶹ԭ��’s mission-driven focus and its strong record of strengthening the state’s workforce.

The event brought together education, government and community leaders from across Southern �鶹ԭ��, underscoring �鶹ԭ�� State’s role as a regional and statewide partner in advancing opportunity. Special guests included Regent Heather Brown, City of North Las Vegas Mayor Pamela Goynes-Brown, council members from the Cities of Henderson, Las Vegas, and North Las Vegas, as well as representatives from the �鶹ԭ�� Congressional Delegation, the Governor’s Office, Clark County School District and members of the �鶹ԭ�� Foundation.

�鶹ԭ�� State’s community and statewide impact was a central theme of the address. More than 80 percent of �鶹ԭ�� State graduates remain employed in �鶹ԭ��, translating education into professional leadership across classrooms, clinics, businesses and public institutions.

“This is the return on education at its best: talent developed locally and reinvested where it is needed most,” President Lopez Lasater said. “Our students become professionals who stay, serve and lead in the communities that supported them.”

President Lopez Lasater said her priorities for the University were developed through months of listening sessions, governance meetings and conversations across campus, reflecting a shared desire for clarity, trust and forward momentum.

The presidential priorities guiding �鶹ԭ�� State’s work include:

• Cultivating trust and shared purpose through strengthened shared governance, expanded communication and authentic engagement across the campus community.
• Building a transparent budget that supports informed decision-making and positions the University for long-term financial stability and success.
• Expanding access through strategic and sustainable growth to extend �鶹ԭ�� State’s mission while maintaining fiscal responsibility.
• Advancing institutional maturity by strengthening planning, policy and operational processes that sustain progress beyond individual leadership transitions.
• Strengthening campus safety through proactive planning, coordinated response efforts and comprehensive training.

President Lopez Lasater highlighted partnerships designed to remove barriers and strengthen pathways into higher education, particularly through collaboration with the Clark County School District. �鶹ԭ�� State continues to expand concurrent enrollment opportunities that allow students to earn college credit while in high school.

The address also highlighted faculty-led partnerships that connect academic programs to workforce needs and community priorities.

Lopez Lasater emphasized that �鶹ԭ�� State’s growth is guided by thoughtful planning and collaboration with municipal and regional partners.

Through its SMART Growth Initiative, the University is advancing long-term, sustainable campus development aligned with academic priorities and regional opportunity, in partnership with local governments, including the City of Henderson.

She also highlighted a significant milestone: in December, the NSHE Board of Regents approved the first step toward establishing a North Las Vegas campus for �鶹ԭ��, developed in partnership with the City of North Las Vegas. More than 800 currently enrolled students live within five miles of the proposed site, representing approximately 20 percent of �鶹ԭ�� State’s student body.

She underscored the University’s commitment to fiscal stewardship and collaboration with NSHE and elected leaders. Recent investments supporting people, programs, safety and places include funding to expand nursing education, support planning for the North Las Vegas campus, advance deferred maintenance projects, and launch a new �鶹ԭ�� license plate to generate additional resources for athletics, food security and student support initiatives.

President Lopez Lasater closed by reaffirming that �鶹ԭ�� State’s future will continue to be shaped through collaboration across campus, community and state partners.

“Education thrives when institutions, communities and partners work together,” President Lopez Lasater said. “When learning is connected to purpose, the impact extends far beyond our campus and strengthens the future of our state.”