Working with law students has proven to Cameron Lue-Sang, associate director of admissions and financial aid for the , the truth of the old adage, "Never judge a book by its cover."
What inspired you to get into your field?
I believe education is a means to upward social mobility, and an important tool to get out from the depths of poverty. I remain particularly inspired by students who come from marginalized backgrounds — be it immigrant status, poverty, race, or their intersectionality — and who ultimately succeed.
I often think of my mother and her immigrant story. She and her family were very poor and immigrated to this country from the Caribbean. Her parents knew how important education was and impressed those values upon their children. My mother graduated from Arizona State University’s law school (and as a student she met current Boyd Law Associate Dean Chris Smith, who at that time worked at ASU’s law school. Who would have thought that more than 35 years later, I’d be working with Dean Smith?!). My mother practiced law for many years, before becoming a judge. A couple of years ago, she retired after 20 years on the bench. I remain inspired by stories such as hers and those of my students.
We know our faculty and staff can have a profound effect on their students — but tell us about a lesson you learned from a student.
That old adage of don’t judge a book by its cover. I’ve met several students whose law school admission test scores and college GPAs indicated that they might struggle in law school or even with passing the bar exam. But those same students succeeded. They passed the bar exam and have had pretty successful careers.
Is this what you thought you’d do when you grew up?
Not at all — but that is so interesting about life. I wanted to be a journalist so in college I majored in journalism. I always wanted to know the who, what, when, where, why, and how.
Best tip or advice for someone new to UNLV?
Avoid the Student Union during class breaks. It can get quite busy with students also taking a break!
What was your biggest misconception about UNLV or Las Vegas before you got here?
None. Las Vegas is what I thought it would be: an abundant amount of sunshine and a car-dependent city with very large intersections.
If you weren’t working at UNLV, where do you think you’d be?
I’d still be in San Francisco, which I called home for several years. Or back on the East Coast.
What's the most Vegas thing you've done since you moved here?
I did the ultimate local experience by laying poolside for a weekend staycation at the M Resort. The music was on point and the company was even better.
What problem in the world would you most like to fix?
Not necessarily in the world, but right here at home: the wealth inequality in this country. It’s a serious problem.
What’s your guilty pleasure?
Anything that has too many carbs and too much sugar. In particular, Thrifty’s mint ’n chip ice cream and Sprouts’s chocolate chip cookies guilt me.
Top five holidays?
My top holidays are any during the warmer months. Warmer months, to me, mean time by the water. Poolside, beachside, or lakeside – they’re all enjoyable, but especially during a holiday in the warmer months.
What was the last show you binge-watched?
I never understood the hype of Breaking Bad, but now I do. I binge-watched it over the past couple months and finished it. By far, it is one of the best pieces of television I’ve ever seen. The thoughtfulness of the writing and the stellar acting are exceptional. Who would have thought that the father from Malcolm in the Middle could be Walter White?
You just won Megabucks and want to give back to the university. What — outside of your own department — would you support and why?
The Maryland Parkway corridor, the official address of the university, has a lot of potential. Its current state leaves much to be desired so I’d invest heavily in redeveloping the adjacent areas so UNLV students, faculty, and staff can have an exciting and safe urban university experience. From bringing nightlife to supporting locally owned coffee shops and cafes, and making Maryland Parkway more pedestrian-friendly, this thoroughfare can transform UNLV and the surrounding areas, and turn it into a true college village. Light rail, I believe, is an important piece to this transformation, and I’d support any efforts (including my Megabucks winnings!) to make this happen.
