The mission of the Board and its Members is to leverage their leadership, expertise, financial support and diverse perspectives to advance, advocate for and assist the Dean in implementing the College's strategic plan and vision. The Board advises and supports the Dean in advancing the College’s mission by providing strategic guidance, fostering community and corporate partnerships, championing its programs, and helping secure the resources needed to ensure excellence in the humanities, social sciences and arts.
Meet our advisory board members
From left to right, back row first: Shawna Zorio, Dean Cassie Isabelli, Cathy Trachok, Doug Damon, Seema Gautam, Tyler White (CLA Development Director), Ann Marie Melcher, Teresa Garcia-Cahlan, Deena Behnke. Front row: *Sheena Harvey, Sara Beth Brown, Michael Pennington. Absent from this photo are members Dan Lofrese, Bob Boisson, Lucia Missall, Patty Buchanan, Toni Harsh, Meagan Noin, Christine Fey. (*Former member)
Casilde A. Isabelli, Ph.D.
Dean, College of Liberal Arts
Professor of Hispanic Linguistics
Teresa Garcia-Cahlan
Advisory Board, Chair (2026-2028)
’81, B.A., Economics and Political Science Dual Degree, University of Nevada, Reno
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 "Bob" Boisson
Retired, Reno Gazette Journal
’78 B.A., Art, University of Nevada, Reno
Sara Beth Brown
Retired, Attorney, Head of Private Banking, Trust Executive Director
'78 B.A., Journalism and Public Relations, University of the Pacific
'81, J.D., Law, McGeorge School of Law
Patricia "Patty" Buchanan
Retired Educator
'09, Bilingual and Bicultural Teaching Credential, San Jose State University
'82, B.A., Business and Psychology, Baylor University
Lucia Danilo-Missall
Retired Instructor TMCC; Local Business Owner in NV since 1986; Active in volunteer work and past president of Washoe Medical Alliance
Liberal Arts Degree, Master of Arts, Linguistics from European Universities
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
Christine Fey
City of Reno, City Planner & Historic Preservation Officer
Arts & Culture Manager
Resource Development & Cultural Affairs Manager
Staff, Arts & Culture Commission "Uptown, Downtown Artown"
B.A., Anthropology, University of Nevada, Reno
M.A., Anthropology, University of Nevada, Reno (Land Use Planning; Historic Preservation & Cultural Resource Management)
Seema Gautam
Retired IBM Cybersecurity Delivery Executive
MBA, West Virginia University
Antoinette "Toni" Harsh
Reno City Council, Councilwoman
’06, B.S., Interior Design
’14, M.S., Equity and Diversity in Educational Settings
’23, Ph.D., Education
Dan Lofrese
VP, Gabelli Asset Management Company
Board Trustee, Community Foundation of Northern Nevada
’99, B.A., Fordham University
’18, Executive MBA, University of Nevada, Reno
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
Meagan Noin
Founder & President, MNG Partners (Marketing, PR, Advertising)
B.A., Journalism and Political Science, University of Nevada, Reno
Michael D. Pennington
Public Affairs Specialist, Consultant
'95, B.A., Political Science, University of Nevada
Cathleen Trachok
Community Philanthropist
B.A., University of Nevada, Reno College of Arts and Sciences
Shawna Zorio
Family Nurse Practitioner at Northern Nevada Hopes Clinic
B.A., Biology, San Francisco State University
MSN/FNP, University of Phoenix
People join college advisory boards for many reasons. Sometimes, like me, they are swept up by a charitable trade with a friend (Cathy Trachok) while doing something totally unrelated to the College of Liberal Arts (like playing tennis). The Board’s work on behalf of Dean Cassie Isabelli encompasses impact in the (liberal arts) community, the state and beyond, helping her elevate and explain such a diverse College. Despite our varied educational backgrounds, we share a common passion for arts, humanities and social sciences. Together we realize that future graduates, who will become employees, need to be able to distinguish trivial from important. They need to recognize moments of brilliance and act on them. These skills come from a liberal arts degree.
Sara Beth Brown
College of Liberal Arts
Advisory Board Member (2020 - Present)
