EDUCATION
Nevada State University announced that President Dr. DeRionne P. Pollard has been named a 2024 National TRIO Achiever Award recipient by the Council for Opportunity in Education. This prestigious award recognizes outstanding TRIO alumni who have excelled in their chosen professions and made significant contributions to their communities. Pollard will be celebrated at the 2024 Educational Opportunity Awards Dinner during the COE Annual Conference in New York City Sept. 10.
The National TRIO Achiever Award honors individuals who participated in Federal TRIO Programs, such as Upward Bound, Upward Bound Math-Science, Talent Search, Student Support Services, the Ronald E. McNair Postbaccalaureate Achievement Program, Veterans Upward Bound and Educational Opportunity Centers. These programs are dedicated to promoting educational access and success for students from disadvantaged backgrounds.
Pollard, an alumna of the TRIO Student Support Services program at Iowa State University, holds a B.A. and M.A. in English from Iowa State University and a Ph.D. in educational leadership and policy studies in higher education from Loyola University Chicago. She made history Aug. 16, 2021, by becoming the first permanent Black woman president of Nevada State University and any institution within the Nevada System of Higher Education (NSHE).
Expressing her gratitude, Pollard said, “I am a graduate of the Chicago Public Schools system; former food stamps and public assistance recipient; a wife to a glorious woman I have loved for 30 years; a parent to a teenage boy who is our best thing; a first-generation college completer; and an advocate and warrior for access to equitable, life-transforming education for all who seek to improve their lives and the communities in which we live and serve. This recognition from COE is truly an honor and a testament to the transformative power of the TRIO programs.”
Kimberly Jones, president of the Council for Opportunity in Education, praised Pollard’s achievements, stating, “Dr. DeRionne Pollard embodies the spirit and impact of the TRIO programs. Her dedication to educational equity, community service and leadership is a powerful example of what TRIO alumni can achieve. We are proud to honor her as a 2024 National TRIO Achiever.”
Under Pollard’s leadership, Nevada State University has advanced its mission as a Minority Serving Institution, Hispanic Serving Institution and Asian American Native American Pacific Islander Institution. The university is dedicated to providing exceptional teaching and student support to expand and diversify an educated workforce, thereby promoting social justice and economic mobility.
Pollard has a distinguished career in higher education, having previously served as president of Montgomery College and Las Positas College. She has been actively involved in various organizations, including the American Association of Community Colleges’ 21st Century Commission on the Future of Community Colleges, the Ascend Postsecondary Leadership Circle for Parents and the Center for First-generation Student Success Advisory Board for the National Association of Student Personnel Administrators.
Her numerous accolades include being named one of Washington’s 100 Most Powerful Women by Washingtonian Magazine, receiving a 2017 Academic Leadership Award from the Carnegie Corp. of New York, and a Visionary Award from the Washington Area Women’s Foundation.
Past recipients of the National TRIO Achiever Award include renowned figures such as actress and producer Viola Davis, U.S. Sen. Reverend Raphael Warnock, Nevada Attorney General Aaron Ford and retired NASA astronaut José Hernández.
ENTERTAINMENT
• The Beverly Theater, a Las Vegas live entertainment venue, has announced a pair of promotions of key team members, further solidifying its dedication to supporting independent and creative voices in the city. Alexi Harber has been promoted to general manager and Courtney Davis has stepped into the role of event sales manager.
— A Las Vegas native, Harber has always been captivated by the entertainment world. Her journey began with the Rainbow Company Youth Theatre, followed by a focus on technical theater at the Las Vegas Academy of the Arts. She later earned a Bachelor of Science in entertainment and arts management from Drexel University in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Her passion for the arts took her to the Philadelphia area, where she contributed to various artistic organizations, including her role as business associate at Delaware Shakespeare.
Returning to her roots in Las Vegas, Harber joined The Beverly Theater pre-opening as the theater manager in May 2022. Her love for downtown Las Vegas and commitment to arts accessibility for all have driven her to play a pivotal role in the theater’s growth.
— Davis’ journey with The Beverly Theater began when she was hired on the grand opening team as an events specialist in October 2023. Her exceptional talent and dedication led to her promotion to event manager in June 2023, and now to event sales manager in June 2024. With a Bachelor of Science in entertainment business, Davis kick-started her career with industry giants like AEG Presents, Goldenvoice, Live Nation, T-Mobile Arena and DMCs. Previously, she managed local bands and was a music journalist for LocalMusicScenes.com interviewing bands including My Chemical Romance and Keane. She was a producer for BalconyTV, hosted local artists like Mercy Music and international touring artist Matisyahu, and was on the inaugural team that brought the Emerge Impact + Music Festival to Las Vegas in 2019.
Davis is known for her ability to build strong relationships and bring a creative flair to every event she manages. Her passion for delivering unforgettable experiences aligns perfectly with The Beverly Theater’s vision of innovation and excellence.
“As original team members, it’s been a professional privilege to watch these women grow into their roles and help build our operations from the ground up,” said founding Creative Director and Chief Experience Officer Kip Kelly. “I look forward to their continued success and am grateful to have such high-caliber humans on my team. With Alexi and Courtney, we are always on the right track.”
FINANCE
• Emily Ho has joined BDO USA as a principal in the firm’s tax practice. Ho has more than 15 years of experience providing tax compliance and consulting services to middle market business owners and closely held businesses including corporate and pass-through entities that span multiple state and foreign borders. In addition, she has extensive experience working with family offices and with clients in the real estate, manufacturing, retail and professional services industries.
LAW
• Eight attorneys with Bailey Kennedy, LLP have been recognized among the 2025 Best Lawyers in America. This marks the 13th consecutive year the firm has earned the prestigious distinction.
Honored attorneys include:
— Managing Partner John R. Bailey: Recognized for his expertise in commercial litigation, health care law and litigation, Bailey brings nearly four decades of trial experience.
— Partner Dennis L. Kennedy: Honored for his achievements in appellate practice, Bet-the-Company litigation, commercial litigation, ethics and professional responsibility law, health care law, legal malpractice law and real estate law.
— Partner Joshua M. Dickey: Acknowledged for his work in appellate practice, Dickey has successfully addressed the challenges faced by his clients in legal areas such as health care law, commercial litigation, corporate litigation and business torts/competition for over two decades.
— Partner Joshua P. Gilmore: Awarded for his expertise in commercial litigation, Gilmore serves a diverse clientele, including medical providers, transportation companies, property management firms and municipalities.
— Partner Joseph A. Liebman: Recognized for his accomplishments in commercial litigation, Liebman’s expertise spans from commercial lease disputes to partnership and limited liability company disputes and product liability cases.
— Partner Paul C. Williams: Distinguished for his work in health care law, Williams’ practice spans across commercial and class action litigation with clients ranging from physicians and small business owners to Fortune 500 companies.
— Of Counsel Mark H. Goldstein: Honored for his proficiency in real estate law, Goldstein has practiced real estate, business and corporate law for nearly 40 years.
— Of Counsel Sarah E. Harmon: Recognized for her work in commercial litigation, Harmon practices in appellate advocacy and civil/business litigation.
Best Lawyers is recognized globally as the most thorough appraisal of the nation’s attorneys. Each year the list is peer reviewed and designed to only select attorneys whose professional ability is advocated for by other esteemed lawyers.
• Snell & Wilmer announced associate Erin Gettel has been selected as a new lawyer representative for the United States District Court, District of Nevada, by the Court’s Judges and the State Bar of Nevada Board of Governors.
Lawyer representatives for the District of Nevada assist the court with improving the administration of justice. They provide vital input to the court on a myriad of issues affecting the operations of the federal courts, including but not limited to rule changes; development of new programs; planning of conferences; and the expenditure of funds from the non-appropriated account. Lawyer representatives also assist with educating members of the bar about conferences and obtaining feedback for future conferences; promoting and judging the Ninth Circuit high school civics contest and local civics outreach; and finding ways to improve the general dialogue between the court and bar to make improvements in the judicial system.
Gettel is an associate in the firm’s commercial litigation practice group. Prior to joining Snell & Wilmer, she was an assistant federal public defender for the District of Nevada in the trial unit. Gettel also served as a term law clerk to The Hon. Jennifer A. Dorsey in the United States District Court for the District of Nevada.
Gettel greatly values pro bono and indigent defense work. She is a member of the District of Nevada’s Criminal Justice Act Panel through which she accepts court-appointed federal criminal cases. Gettel also serves on the board of directors and performs case work for the Rocky Mountain Innocence Center, a nonprofit organization that provides pro bono post-conviction innocence investigation and litigation services to those who have been wrongfully convicted.
