EDUCATION
• The William S. Boyd School of Law welcomed 10 new faculty members this fall whose expertise spans criminal law, dispute resolution, environmental law, legal writing, legal tech (and AI) and more.
“Our new faculty members bring not only deep expertise in their legal fields, but also exceptional teaching experience,” said Dean Leah Chan Grinvald. “Each one of them strengthens our ability to prepare students for meaningful and impactful careers in the law.”
The newest members of the Boyd Law community represent a dynamic blend of legal scholars, practitioners and educators who will teach across core and emerging areas. Their arrival reflects Boyd’s ongoing investment in a future-facing, practice-ready driven legal education.
— Maryam Ahranjani (professor of law)
— Shih-Chun “Steven” Chien (associate professor of law)
— Meredith Esser (associate professor of law)
— Suzanna Geiser (associate professor of law)
— Raef Granger (assistant professor-in-residence and assistant director of Academic Success Program)
— Latisha Nixon-Jones (associate professor of law)
— Citlalli Ochoa (associate professor of law)
— Aparna Polavarapu (professor of law)
— Tom Romero (professor of law)
— Drew Simshaw (professor of law)
NONPROFIT
• AARP announced the appointment of Tod Story as AARP Nevada state director. Story will join the Nevada office Aug. 18.
Story is a veteran executive, strategist and communications and public affairs specialist with more than 25 years of leadership in government, nonprofit and education sectors. Recognized for his engaging storytelling, diplomatic style and results-oriented strategies, he has focused on transparent organizational messaging and public policy wins throughout his career. As a 30-year resident of Henderson, Story brings a legacy of thoughtful leadership, nonpartisan collaboration and strategic innovation to every role he undertakes.
“Tod’s knowledge of Nevada and his experience working at the local, state and federal level make him an exciting addition to the AARP team,” said Will Phillips, AARP West Region vice president. “We look forward to his leadership in Nevada as we continue our mission to empower people to choose how they live as they age.”
In his role, Story will oversee AARP Nevada’s advocacy, community engagement and communications across the state and on behalf of more than 350,000 Nevada members. He will lead a dedicated team of staff and volunteers committed to improving the lives of older Nevadans.
Prior to AARP, Story served as the chief communications officer for the Clark County School District, as executive director for ACLU of Nevada, District Director for then U.S. Congresswoman Shelley Berkley and Constituent Services Representative for U.S. Sen. Richard Bryan (retired). He holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Communication Studies with a focus on public relations and political science from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas.
AARP is the nation’s largest nonprofit, nonpartisan organization dedicated to empowering people 50 and older to choose how they live as they age. With a nationwide presence, AARP strengthens communities and advocates for what matters most to the more than 100 million Americans 50-plus and their families: health security, financial stability and personal fulfillment. AARP also produces the nation’s largest circulation publications: AARP The Magazine and AARP Bulletin.
