The Nevada System of Higher Education (NSHE) Board of Regents has appointed Dr. Chris Heavey as President of the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV).
Dr. Heavey has served as Interim President since April 2025 and will continue leading the university under a new employment agreement approved by the Board.
Dr. Heavey brings more than three decades of experience at UNLV, including 18 months as Interim President and more than five years as Executive Vice President and Provost.
Before becoming Interim President, Dr. Heavey served in several academic and administrative leadership roles at UNLV, including Executive Vice President and Provost, Senior Vice Provost, Dean of the College of Liberal Arts, and Vice Provost for Undergraduate Education. He is a tenured professor of psychology and earned his Ph.D. and master’s degrees in clinical psychology from UCLA.
“It’s been an honor to serve as UNLV’s interim president over the past 18 months," said President Chris Heavey. "I want to thank the Board of Regents for their support and for the opportunity to continue leading the university as its 12th permanent president. UNLV’s momentum is strong, but our work is just beginning. I’ve dedicated much of my career to this institution, and I believe deeply in the power of public higher education, the vital mission of UNLV, the people who make this university extraordinary, and in what we can continue to accomplish together.”
The Board’s action follows NSHE policy, which allows an interim president to be considered for permanent appointment after serving at least one year in the role.
(NSHE contributed to this report.)
