Reyes Luna, the new director for the Office of Student Diversity Programs, says he owes all of his professional success to his mother. She believed academia was a path for him to make a lasting impact.
Luna’s mother played a pivotal role in keeping him focused on academics and athletics, ensuring he stayed away from gang life in the community around the family. He was raised in Compton, California, and his mother exposed him to different cultures through educational opportunities. She knew education was a means to escape the streets, a concept that was new to their family.
Now Luna focuses on showing the many different avenues toward success for UNLV students.
“On such a diverse campus, there are so many ways to support and create opportunities for diverse students,” says Luna, “and I am committed to increasing the capacity of student involvement to continue being a facilitator for graduation.”
What do you do as director of student diversity programming?
I get to work with an amazing team of professionals who are dedicated to empowering and enhancing our diverse student population experience at UNLV. I have always said it is my job to be a facilitator of graduation for the students I serve.
As the director, I get to work across the Division of Student Affairs and the campus to ensure that we are creating a welcoming and inclusive environment for all students at UNLV. We plan programs for the heritage months, work with RSOs, and end the year with our affinity graduations.
How do you plan to shape your position?
I came to UNLV with over 30 years' experience in higher education, both within Student Affairs and Academic Affairs. It is my hope that I build on the history of those that came before me, but also stay current to the needs of students of today. My job is not just making sure we are planning diverse programs, it is making sure that we are connecting with students and helping them navigate the university system, with their own personal and professional growth, and being able to show up as their authentic selves.
What do you enjoy most about working with students in higher education?
It is watching them grow and being successful — as they define success. My biggest joy is planning out affinity graduations and cheering on students that I have met over the years as they reach graduation.
In addition, there are endless possibilities when working with students and you never know when you have just met the next Grammy winner, professional athlete, the person who cures cancer, or world's best parent. I learn so much from students and their stories that help me be a better person and professional.
What led you to follow a career in higher ed?
I think my story is like many in higher education and in particular with those in student affairs. I started working as a student assistant in laboratories since I was a P.E./biology major. Then based on need, I applied to be a resident advisor to help pay for college with free housing and a meal plan. That was my first introduction into careers in student affairs as I learned about all the campus resources to be the best RA possible.
I thrived at programming, crisis management, presenting to my community, motivating my residents to be involved, and creating memories with and for my residents. My resident director then told me about how she started her career and how her graduate school paid for her master's because she worked as a graduate student in housing. She also said that I was a natural student affairs professional and that I should explore that as my career path.
Now, over 30 years later and three degrees that were partially funded by my work in higher education, I can still remember that conversation as the turning point for my career in higher education.
What’s something you’ve learned from working in this field that you wish you’d known when you started?
People on your campus may have different definitions for things; for example, student success, diversity, inclusion, and support services. It is important to have a clear, universally understood definition of terms we all use in our daily work, especially when it applies to or impacts a students’ experience.
What’s your guilty pleasure?
I love watching sports of all kinds. I used to like playing sports of all kinds, but with age, I have become a better spectator than competitor. I love supporting my university teams and plan on attending as many UNLV games as possible. Wait — I'm not sure that is a guilty pleasure, because I am proud to rep UNLV.
I guess my guilty pleasure is that I enjoy going on cruises and try to squeeze four a year into my busy schedule. I also love Diet Coke, and I definitely drink more Diet Coke than water.
What’s your favorite part about living in the Las Vegas area?
I love having access to so much entertainment, great food, an international airport. Everyone wants to come visit you in Vegas (I get to see lots of family and friends). There is so much to do in Vegas, and I look forward to exploring as much as possible.
What’s something that others would be surprised to learn about you?
I was raised and went to school in Compton. I participated in five varsity sports in high school and was MVP in four of the five sports (water polo, swimming, volleyball, badminton, and cross country). I played volleyball at UC Davis and Ohio University and coached girls and boys varsity volleyball at Diamond Ranch High School and the Cal Poly Pomona men’s club volleyball team.
What are your favorite books to recommend to colleagues?
I listen to audiobooks, and I like to listen or read books that are not related to work — books of fiction, sci-fi, mystery, crime, adventure. And, oh! Zombies, vampires, and werewolves. I tend to always be thinking, and I am a problem solver by nature. I listen or read books that take me out of reality and allow me to escape. So, maybe this is another guilty pleasure.
However, one book that is work-related is Gentelligence: The Revolutionary Approach to Leading an Intergenerational Workforce by Megan Gerhardt, Josephine Nachemson-Ekwall, and Brandon Fogel. I was able to catch Megan as a keynote at a conference, and she was amazing. You can watch some of her talks on YouTube by searching her name.
