Community Advisory Board

The mission of the College of Liberal Arts Dean’s Community Advisory Board is to support the College by leveraging the experience and expertise of its members to help define and achieve the College's goals. The board serves as consultants and resources, providing guidance on strategies and programs that advance the College’s mission. All members are engaged advocates, dedicated volunteers, and donors committed to supporting the Dean’s initiatives throughout the College.

Board members

Dr. Casilde A. Isabelli
Dean, College of Liberal Arts
Professor of Hispanic Linguistics 

Sara Beth Brown
Chair, College of Liberal Arts Dean’s Advisory Board
Retired, Attorney, Head of Private Banking, Trust Executive Director 

Deena Behnke
Retired, VP of New Product & Business Development, Pillsbury Brands
’71 B.S., Chemical Engineering, Northwestern University
’79, MBA, University of St. Thomas

Robert Boisson
’78 B.A., Art, University of Nevada, Reno

Dennis Colling
’69, B.S., Mathematics, University of Nevada, Reno
‘00, MPA, Public Administration and Policy, University of Nevada, Reno

Doug Damon
Owner, Damon Industries, Sparks, NV until 2017
Co-owner, Damon Industries Canada, Ltd. until 2016
Co-founder/owner, First Independent Bank of Nevada until acquired by Western Alliance Bank Corporation, a NYSE public company
’72, B.A., History

Nancy Fennell
President, Dickson Realty
Textile Chemistry, Fashion Institute of New York City

Chris Galli
Realtor, Dickson Realty

Teresa Garcia-Cahlan
’81, B.A., Economics and Political Science Dual Degree, University of Nevada, Reno

Seema Gautam

Dr. Sheena Harvey
Director, Fitness and Recreational Sports, University of Nevada, Reno
’06, B.S., Interior Design
’14, M.S., Equity and Diversity in Educational Settings
’23, Ph.D., Education

Laurie Leonard
Sales and Marketing Director, Promenade on the River

Dan Lofrese
VP, Gabelli
’99, B.A., Fordham University
’18, MBA, University of Nevada, Reno

Lucia Danilo-Missall

Ann Marie Melcher
Retired Elementary Educator
’80, B.S., Business Administration-Management, University of Nevada, Reno
’83–’84, Graduate courses, Elementary Education, University of Nevada, Reno

Dr. Jane Nichols
Chancellor Emeritus, Nevada System of Higher Education
M.S. Social Work, University of North Carolina
Ed.D. Higher Education University of Tennessee

Michael D. Pennington
Public Affairs Specialist, Consultant
1995, B.A., Political Science, University of Nevada

Cathy Trachok
’72, BA, Spanish/French, University of Nevada, Reno

CJ Chapman-Walters
’83, BA, Music, University of Nevada, Reno
’91, M.M., Music, University of Nevada, Reno
Associate Director of the School of the Arts, Emerita; College of Liberal Arts

Shawna Zorio
Family Nurse Practitioner
St. Mary's Medical Group/Urgent Care
Alumni of San Francisco State University, Northern Arizona University and University of Phoenix