EDUCATION
• Andrew Priest, campus president and provost of Touro University Nevada College of Osteopathic Medicine and Health and Human Services (Touro University Nevada), announced the appointment of Steven Peralta to chief strategic development officer.
Peralta is responsible for planning, implementing and evaluating Touro Nevada’s development strategies in support of the university’s mission and vision to educate caring professionals to serve, to lead and to teach. His team includes the director of development, director of alumni engagement and partnerships and director of corporate philanthropy and sponsorships that will continue to connect the community and graduates to what is happening on campus.
“Steven’s dynamic personality and broad experience across various industries make him an ideal fit to lead a team that will drive Touro Nevada’s continued growth,” Priest said. “Our ability to achieve full academic success for our students relies heavily on the support of our community, alumni and donors. This team plays a crucial role in fostering that support.”
Prior to joining Touro Nevada, Peralta was the foundation president at Nevada Donor Network, leading the philanthropy and fundraising efforts. He also previously served as director of philanthropy at Roseman University of Health Sciences. He has a Bachelor of Arts degree in political science from the University of Washington and Juris Doctorate from Seattle University School of Law.
Touro University Nevada College of Osteopathic Medicine and Health and Human Services (Touro College of Medicine) has the most medical school graduates in Nevada. Touro’s medical school is fully accredited, and a private, nonprofit, Jewish-sponsored institution. Opened in 2004, Touro was established to help address critical needs in health care and education and as a resource for community service throughout the state. Its mission is to provide quality education programs in the fields of health care and education in concert with the Judaic commitment to social justice, intellectual pursuit and service to humanity. Touro University Nevada is home to more than 1,500 students in a wide variety of degree programs including osteopathic medicine, physician assistant studies, education, nursing, occupational therapy, physical therapy and medical health sciences. The University’s Henderson campus houses the Engelstad Research Complex for Biomedical and Human Performance Research. The campus also includes a multi-specialty health center for the public that accepts all health insurance and the Sharon Sigesmund Pierce and Stephen Pierce Center for Autism and Developmental Disabilities. For more information, visit tun.touro.edu or call 702-777-8687.
NONPROFIT
• Education nonprofit and leadership development organization, Teach For America (TFA), announced Tim Hughes as the new executive director of its Nevada region, where he will oversee all aspects of the organization’s regional operations. A third-generation Nevadan, CCSD graduate and 2002 Teach for America alumnus, Hughes steps into the role on the heels of TFA Nevada’s recent 20-year anniversary and as the region looks to deepen its partnership with schools, nonprofits, educators and alumni, while striving to serve communities across the state.
After graduating from the University of Nevada, Reno, Hughes soon realized he wanted to give back to his community through education. He joined Teach for America in 2002 where he began his journey as a corps member serving as middle school science teacher with Baltimore City Public Schools. After completing the two-year program, Hughes then returned to his hometown to help launch the Teach for America program in Las Vegas in 2004 as a Founding Teacher Coach. Hughes’ ongoing commitment to educational equity is underscored through his former roles as a school leader and vice president-west, of The New Teacher Project (TNTP), and currently as an elected member of the Nevada State Board of Education.
As executive director, Hughes is committed to improving educational outcomes for all students, with a focus on core proficiencies in subjects including math and reading — critical foundations for ensuring pathways to social and economic mobility.
“As part of the selection committee, I was impressed with Tim’s community-focused approach to reaching our regional 2030 goals,” said Nazanin Ford, TFA NV’s board chair. “He demonstrated that he is a thoughtful leader who has a deep connection with our state and a strong vision for what is possible. Tim has the knowledge and creativity to bring innovative solutions to long-standing issues coupled with the ability to communicate those ideas in a way that builds trust and manifests teamwork.”
Teach For America recruits a diverse group of our nation’s most promising leaders to make an enduring commitment to educational equity, beginning with teaching for at least two years in high-need urban and rural schools. With a network of more than 800 TFA teachers and alumni currently living and working across Nevada, the organization supports a dynamic group of leaders who are dedicated to the pursuit of excellent and equitable education for all children across the state. Working inside and outside the classroom, this network includes alumni teachers, school leaders and leaders of community-based organizations.
Hughes’ background in education, first-hand experiences with students across the country, long history with TFA, and roots in the Nevada community allow him to bring a unique perspective to his new role.
Celebrating its 20th year anniversary in Nevada, Teach For America recruits and develops a diverse corps of leaders who make an initial two-year commitment to teach in high-need schools and become lifelong leaders in the effort to end educational inequity. Today, Teach For America is a force of 800+ alumni and corps members working in Nevada in pursuit of profound systemic change. From classrooms to the Nevada Legislature, they are reimagining education to realize the day when every child has an equal opportunity to learn, lead, thrive and co-create a future filled with possibility. Teach For America is a member of the AmeriCorps national service network. For more information, visit tfalasvegas.org.
• Opportunity Village announced the promotion of Malcolm McCollum to vice president of operations. McCollum has served as the nonprofit’s director of operations since 2022, overseeing the OV Solutions, Paper Pros and Logistics departments. With this promotion he will add two business lines to his oversight, Dessie’s Table bakery and the Opportunity Village Thrift Store. McCollum has worked at Opportunity Village since 2017, having joined the team as thrift store manager.
“Malcolm is a dedicated member of the OV leadership team, and I am thrilled to promote him to vice president. Opportunity Village’s business lines are an important part of what we do, and being able to provide meaningful employment and workforce training to people with disabilities in our community is huge,” said Bob Brown, president and CEO of Opportunity Village. “Having the right leadership to guide these departments to success is key, and I’m confident that leader is Malcolm.”
Prior to joining Opportunity Village, McCollum worked as the senior district manager of retail and operations at Goodwill of Southern Nevada. He is a member of Delta Mu Delta, an international honor society for business administration, and holds an MBA from the University of Phoenix.
Since 1954, Opportunity Village has been dedicated to helping people with disabilities find the very best version of themselves. Through workforce development, community employment, day services, inclusive housing, arts and social recreation, they are able to find new friends, realize future career paths, seek independence and community integration and unleash creative passions. Opportunity Village thrives with the funding from our social enterprises, signature events and the generous philanthropy of our donors and community partners. For more information, visit opportunityvillage.org.
• Nevada Donor Network Foundation (NDNF) announced the appointment of Gordon Prouty as its new president. Prouty, a widely respected leader in public relations and community affairs, brings years of experience to the role and is committed to making a positive impact in Nevada.
Before joining NDNF, Prouty served as the vice president of public relations and community affairs at Westgate Las Vegas. With an extensive background in media relations, publicity and community and government outreach, his career spans several major markets including Philadelphia, Los Angeles, San Francisco and Seattle.
“Gordon has a longstanding relationship with Nevada Donor Network and the Foundation and is deeply committed to our mission of saving and healing lives through organ, eye and tissue donation, and expanding transplantation services across the state,” said Joe Ferreira, president and CEO of Nevada Donor Network. “His passion for those who call Nevada home and his dedication to fostering relationships make him an ideal leader for the Nevada Donor Network Foundation.”
In addition to his professional accomplishments, Prouty has been an active member of numerous boards and organizations. Before his appointment, he served on the NDNF board and currently serves on the Cultural Diversity Foundation board as well as Three Square’s Culinary Council. Prouty’s volunteer work includes the American Cancer Society’s “Vegas Goes Pink” campaign and the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society’s “Light the Night Walk,” where he served as corporate walk chair in 2022.
Prouty has received numerous accolades for his leadership and community efforts, including being named MyVegas Magazine’s 2021 “Man of the Year” and a “2022 Top 100 Men of Success.” In 2022, he was also recognized as one of the “Top 50 Business Leaders in Las Vegas” by Real Vegas Magazine.
Nevada Donor Network Foundation is a federally designated 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization with the goal of developing a full-scale transplant institute to expand organ transplant capabilities in the state of Nevada. Founded in 2019, Nevada Donor Network Foundation was born from a dream to “End the Wait” for hundreds of Nevadans and thousands of Americans on the national organ transplant list by expanding Nevada’s current kidney transplant program and creating a new liver transplant program. Through Nevada Donor Network Foundation’s $35 million capital campaign to “End the Wait,” Nevada residents will no longer have to seek life-saving care in surrounding states; they will have the ability to be evaluated locally, transplanted locally and cared for locally. Nevada Donor Network Foundation works alongside Nevada Donor Network, whose state-wide efforts encourage Nevadans to register as organ, eye and tissue donors. For more information, visit nvdonor.org/foundation.
REAL ESTATE
• Grand Canyon Development Partners, a commercial development and construction management service firm based out of Las Vegas, announced that Eduardo Gochez has joined the team as an assistant project manager. With more than 15 years of experience, he brings a wealth of expertise in the oversight of construction projects, from conception to completion.
Gochez’s background includes dual expertise as a contractor and a project manager. He has experience with flooring installation, roofing and concrete work and thorough knowledge and understanding of underground infrastructure, including sewer and storm drain piping.
“With a passion for excellence and a dedication to exceeding client expectations, Eduardo’s proactive approach to problem-solving plays a pivotal role in orchestrating the day-to-day operations of our projects, ensuring seamless coordination amongst the team of clients and subcontractors,” said Grand Canyon Development Partners President Vincent Tatum. “His experience and dedication prove to be a clear indicator of how much of an asset he will be to Grand Canyon’s construction project team.”
