Executive Vice President and Provost Kevin Carman welcomed two new members to his office this summer with Dave Shintani as Vice Provost for Undergraduate Affairs, who started July 1, and Jill Heaton as Vice Provost for Faculty Affairs, who began in early August.

During an Academic Leadership meeting last month, Shintani and Heaton addressed their colleagues with highlights of their vision.

"I want to instill a culture of customer service for our students and have open lines of communications with deans and associate deans," Shintani, associate dean for the College of Agriculture, Biotechnology and Natural Resources and associate professor of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, said. "I want to enhance our reputation as Nevada's flagship university by increasing our statewide presence, and I want to recognize and reward excellence and innovation."

Shintani also reviewed a list of his current priority programs, including Honors, the Center for Service Learning and Civic Engagement, the Core Curriculum writing initiative, testing centers, online degrees and more.

Heaton, recent chair of the Department of Geography and biogeographer, said she realizes success looks different for each college and each program.

"I want to help you articulate and implement what faculty success looks like to you," she said. "I want to see more diverse and more representative faculty, higher retention rates and more associate professors promoted to full professor."

Heaton also visited with Faculty Senators during their September meeting and talked about a proposed University Administrative Manual policy revision.

"I look forward to working with you in many capacities, and I promise, we'll always have fun," she said, after answering a number of questions.