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As a scientist, I've spent my career evaluating data. Numbers. Facts. Metrics. They are critical to an academic and provide a solid basis for analysis. As a new president, however, I must argue that they tell only part of the story of a university's success. For instance, take the following nuggets:

UNLV's Center for Academic Enrichment and Outreach helps 24,000 disadvantaged middle and high school students stay in school and aim for college.

• Our dental school provides low-cost dental care to 57,000 area residents.
• More than 60,000 people take special interest, noncredit classes in everything from photography to ballroom dancing to software training through our Division of Educational Outreach.
• More than 350,000 patrons attend Performing Arts Center and UNLV-produced dance, theater, and music performances.
• Last year the Nevada Small Business Development Center offered classes and free business consulting to more than 2,000 clients.

Do these figures give you insight into our university? Certainly. Are they interesting glimpses into how we fulfill our mission? Absolutely. But they aren't telling the whole story. Who we are. What we dream. Why we are important.

Our university is so much more than those statistics or even the number of students enrolled (more than 28,000), the number of faculty (984), or the size of our alumni base

(90,000 plus, with more than 60,000 who still call Southern Nevada home).

Each of our students, our graduates, our professors, our donors, and our friends has his or her own story -- reasons they chose UNLV and how those decisions affected their lives and dreams and, ultimately, our community.

UNLV has graduated thousands of business executives, teachers, hospitality industry leaders, nurses, accountants, scientists, communicators, and social workers who were taught by a talented and dedicated faculty. Engineering graduates developed our region's infrastructure as it grew at a rapid rate. Our health care professionals work tirelessly to take care of us. Our concerts, lectures, exhibitions, performances, and athletic events entertain and educate. But our impact extends far beyond our graduates and the not inconsiderable $1.2 billion economic impact of the university itself.

It's about more than numbers. UNLV is woven into every aspect of our community. We're here, right in the heart of Las Vegas. We host 40,000 Clark County School District students who showcase their talents in UNLV facilities each year. We offer marriage and family counseling, legal assistance, and conflict resolution. We bring fresh perspectives to the challenges facing our community and state. We're investigating the next generation of innovative technologies such as solar and renewable energies, photovoltaics, and biofuels.

UNLV is a magnet that will attract more students, talent, businesses, and resources to our community. If higher education isn't going to lead the way into a better, brighter economic future, economic diversification, and work force production, who is? Let your friends, neighbors, and legislators know the value of UNLV. It is our past, present, and future students who reach into this community in thousands of ways to hasten economic recovery and build a better future for our state.