Tell us about your work as a behavior technician prior to law school. 

As a behavior technician, my job is to directly implement behavior-analytic services. Applied behavior analysis is a therapy based on the science of learning and behavior; I have used it to teach children how to complete difficult multi-step tasks, to overcome extreme behavioral problems like self-injurious physical aggression, and even to speak for the first time. The work can be intense, but it is extremely rewarding. Because behavior technicians typically work in the child’s natural environment, we spend lots of time

What do you miss the most about your native El Paso?

I miss a lot of things about El Paso —the food, culture, art, music venues, family, and friends. I could go on and on about things I miss. The places and activities in El Paso that I have in mind are far too many and far too special to be able to do them justice in a small paragraph. I do get homesick when I am in Las Vegas. I also miss the good Mexican food. I have yet to find a place in Las Vegas.  

And what made you decide to venture to Las Vegas for law school at Boyd?

I wanted to stay in the Southwest. I love the weather in this part

You grew up in South Central Los Angeles, attended college in Austin Texas, and ventured to Las Vegas for law school. Quite a journey for you, yes?

Yes, it has been a journey filled with blessings and lessons. At 17, I thought I made a mistake moving out-of-state to attend college. Fortunately, the move to Austin turned out to be one of the best decisions of my life. Higher education expanded my worldview and further shaped my values. After Austin, I made a strategic decision to move to Las Vegas. The proximity to home and the legal cannabis industry made it the perfect place to start my

Tell our readers about your eight years in the United States Navy.

I enlisted in the US Navy in 2001, and I served from 2002 to 2010 as a nuclear reactor operator. I was stationed on the submarine USS Miami, out of Groton, Connecticut. I did two deployments on the Miami, one six-month tour to the Persian Gulf, and a nine-month tour to the North Atlantic. I also spent two years as an instructor at a training facility in upstate NY. If any of my professors thinks teaching law students is tough, try teaching a 19-year-old how to operate a nuclear reactor!

What lessons learned in your military

What do you love about your work as the Communications Director for Save Red Rock?

My favorite part about working for Save Red Rock is being able to preserve a piece of our Valley that everyone enjoys. As a born and raised Nevadan, some of my best memories have been in the canyon. I hope it can be maintained for generations after me to come. 

And what do you see as the value added to your career by a law degree?  

In a previous life, I was a journalist for Vegas PBS and KVVU-FOX5. I decided to pursue law for similar reasons as to why I wanted to be a journalist. I've always been drawn

This has to be a particularly challenging time to be an urgent health care provider, yes?

This year has been particularly challenging to work in any field. Each job has its own unique set of challenges; healthcare is no different. Working during a pandemic is challenging because we don’t just have the pandemic to deal with, but the everyday calls for service as well. In the beginning of the pandemic, we were working 16- to 18-hour days, six and seven days a week trying to just get our heads above water. While we have largely adjusted, there are still communities that are overwhelmed. That is

You have worked for a local law firm for about six years. How has that experience shaped your career aspirations?

Working throughout undergrad and law school has really cemented my desire to work in the legal field. I enjoy what I do, the people that I help, and everyone that I work with. All the attorneys at De Castroverde Law Group have been supportive of my goals and taught me so much. I genuinely feel that I will hit the ground running as soon as I am licensed to practice.

As president of La Voz [Boyd's Latinx/Hispanic law student association], what do you hope the group will accomplish

As president of the Jewish Law Student Association, what are your goals for the group this year?

I would like to create a space on campus devoted to furthering Judaism and a safe space for religious observance. JLSA is open to all and is committed to spreading awareness of issues that affect Jewish law students. This year, we would like to start a network of Jewish professionals and attorneys in the community to which our members can connect. 

Same question for the Intellectual Property Law Society, of which you also are president this year.

IP Law is an up and coming field and one that is

You have extensive experience working in sports. Let's hear about it!

At the age of 12, I decided I wanted to watch sports—specifically basketball—for a living. As a freshman in high school, I started volunteering to cover all the teams and had my own sports column in the school newspaper. While studying journalism, I worked for my university's athletics department and filmed games, cut highlights, provided color commentary on broadcasts, produced video features, and wrote about our teams. I got my first taste of working in the NBA as a video production intern with the Charlotte Hornets

Tell us about your day job with UNLV.

As a compensation analyst, I evaluate and analyze market data to determine salary placements for academic faculty at UNLV. It involves making recommendations on salary increase requests and job retention offers for current employees. My role is to help ensure that our university is competitively paying our faculty compared to other universities while maintaining parity with their internal peers. I also work on reviews for the Office of Compliance on assessments regarding potential pay discrimination practices and perceived inequity based on a protected