New NSHE chancellor tours WNC

Courtesy Steve Yingling, Western Nevada College

New Nevada System of Higher Education (NSHE) Chancellor Dr. Melody Rose spent the morning visiting Western Nevada College facilities on Thursday in Carson City.

Dr. Rose is touring all of NSHE’s college campuses during her first month as chancellor.

At WNC, Rose toured the new William N. Pennington Biophysical Science Laboratory in the Aspen Building, the manufacturing-interfaced Industrial Technology and Mechatronics labs in the Reynolds Center and the cutting-edge Anatomage table in Aspen. She visited with students from WNC’s Latino Leadership Academy in Joe Dini Library and accompanied WNC student president Gabrielle Clark on a tour of the Student Center.

Chancellor Rose replaced Thom Reilly, who chose not to pursue a contract renewal when it expired in August so he could return as a tenured public policy professor at Arizona State University.

During her morning tour of WNC, Rose was impressed by some of the new technology and equipment on the Carson City campus. She also learned a new word from Electronics and Industrial Technology Professor Emily Howarth: Mechatronics, which is a combination of electrical, mechanical, fluid power and control systems in industrial environments.

Additionally, she learned how to operate a new life-size, virtual dissection tool from Biology Professor Rachelle Bassen: the Anatomage table.

The chancellor is appointed by the Board of Regents to serve as chief executive officer for NSHE. She supervises eight NSHE presidents and ensures the Board of Regents’ policies are implemented throughout the system. As chancellor, she is the NSHE liaison with the governor, state legislators, and other public officials and community leaders.

Dr. Rose was approved by the Nevada Board of Regents in June. Her 25-year career in higher education has included a number of leadership roles: Chancellor of the Oregon University System, Portland State University’s Vice Provost for Academic Programs and Instruction and Dean of Undergraduate Studies, and chair of Portland State University’s Division of Political Science. She also served as president of Marylhurst University in Oregon.

“I have defined my career through a commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion and have focused on identifying innovative, data-driven, student-orientated solutions to improve student access and success,” Dr. Rose said.

As NSHE’s Chancellor, Dr. Rose said she will advocate for advancing excellence, innovation and inclusion.

“I promise you, my unwavering commitment to transparency and for ensuring that all perspectives are included and appreciated,” she said.