Monica Moradkhan
William F. Harrah College of Hospitality Alumna of the Year
The fact that Monica Moradkhan settled on a career in the hospitality industry isn’t all that surprising. After all, she moved to Las Vegas with her family at age 12, so she spent her teenage years living in the shadows of opulent megaresorts.
That’s not to say that Moradkhan dreamed of one day occupying an office on the executive floor of one of those megaresorts. In fact, she didn’t give hospitality much thought until well into her undergraduate tenure at UNLV.
“I was in student government, and many of my peers there were pursuing hospitality degrees. I saw the passion they had for wanting to be in the industry, and I became intrigued,” Moradkhan says. “After exploring the curriculum and seeing that innovation and service were the foundation of the Hospitality College’s mission, I figured it would be a great fit for me.”
Of course, just like any student selecting a major, Moradkhan wouldn’t truly know she made the right call until going through the program. But by the time her senior year rolled around, Moradkhan felt good about her decision.
Then came a “field trip” halfway around the world — a trip that forever erased any and all doubts Moradkhan had about her chosen field.
It was spring 2004, and UNLV’s William F. Harrah College of Hospitality had been selected to represent the United States in the International Tourism Student Conference in Porvoo-Borga, Finland. Moradkhan was among a handful of classmates chosen to be part of the team participating in a competition centered around ecotourism and product development.
“The trip to Finland was life-altering and provided the most remarkable experience during my final year as an undergraduate,” Moradkhan says. “And getting to represent the U.S. with fellow classmates was an honor of a lifetime.
“Our team determined it was best to study U.S. National Parks and do a case study on Yosemite National Park, which we visited. We ultimately won the competition for the United States, and that program was the catalyst to my great desire to understand product development and strategic design.”
Upon graduation, Moradkhan didn’t immediately dive directly into hospitality, instead working several years as executive director for the Nevada Assembly Republican Caucus. She then returned to her alma mater, first serving the UNLV Foundation as director of development for the Greenspun College of Urban Affairs and later as director of development and external relations for the university’s Division of Student Affairs.
Moradkhan further strengthened her connection to UNLV in 2012, when she returned to campus as a graduate student. A year after earning her master’s in hotel management, Moradkhan not only put her degree to use, she shot up the corporate ladder when she was hired as vice president of community relations for .
Moradkhan is charged with executing Wynn Resorts’ long-term community engagement strategies and objectives. And speaking of community, the first woman to ever serve two terms as UNLV student body president continues to be of service to others through multiple Southern Nevada-based outreach and community-enrichment programs.
Moradkhan has served on the board of directors for Opportunity 180 — a nonprofit that’s focused on education equality — as well as the Las Vegas Leadership Foundation. She also is the past co-chair of the development committee for The Shade Tree, a nonprofit that supports victims of domestic violence.
Most recently, Moradkhan has taken on voluntary roles with the Nevada Resort Association and Nevada Corporate Giving Council.
What led you to UNLV, and when did you know you made the right decision?
My older brother, Paul, was a sophomore at UNLV when I was finishing high school, and I wanted to attend the same university and stay close to home. I knew from the moment I stepped on campus that it was the right decision. Some of the people I met my first day were the amazing staff in the Alumni Office.
I met so many wonderful people during my undergraduate years, especially in my Alpha Delta Pi sorority and during my time in student government. I’m blessed to still be friends with many of these individuals.
It was also meaningful to have been given the opportunity to learn a great deal from UNLV’s administration during my undergraduate years.
You returned to UNLV to earn your graduate degree, you’ve worked in multiple roles for the university, and you still participate in the Hospitality College’s mentor program. What inspires this deep connection you have with your alma mater?
Pursuing a master’s was a phenomenal experience and a special time in my life. But really, all of my experiences at UNLV helped shape who I am, both personally and professionally. For instance, I credit my extracurricular activities with providing real-world experience outside the classroom. Those experiences ultimately led me to my career today.
Throughout your career you have carved out time to serve your community through multiple volunteer endeavors. What spurred this desire to give back, and what’s your message to today’s UNLV students about the importance of community service?
I have served organizations in some capacity going back to high school. So engaging with and serving my community through volunteer work has become something of a second career.
I credit my past professors, mentors, and peers for giving their time to help me reach my potential. So to pay it forward to others through community engagement and mentorship is an extension of my gratitude, and it has been immensely rewarding.
My advice for today’s Rebels as it relates to the importance of community service is to put yourself out there and be willing to share your time and gifts with others in need. You might never know the imprint you leave on the lives of others, but you will experience a kind of joy that will enhance your life.
