Our Staff
Wilson Advising Center Staff
Director:
Lea Sexton
lea.sexton@unlv.edu
Lea Sexton is the founding director of the Wilson Advising Center,
which opened in January of 1997. Before returning to the College of Liberal
Arts in fall of 1996 to start the Wilson Advising Center, Lea was an academic
advisor in the Department of Athletics at UNLV for six years. She received
her BA ’86 and MA ’89 in English from UNLV, where she taught as
a graduate assistant and part-time instructor from 1986 to 1992.
Lea received the first Regents’ Academic Advising Award in 1999 as well as the CSUN Professional Staff Member of the Year Award in 1999. In 2000, she was the President’s Professional Staff Member of the Year. She is a member of the UNLV Commencement Committee and a board member for PHI KAPPA PHI National Honor Society, Chapter 100.
In addition to Nevada, Lea has lived in Virginia, Europe, and Africa, and she is firmly committed to helping liberal arts students learn and see the world through international programs, an experience that leaves us forever changed. Lea is also committed to the liberal arts education and believes that all students have to do is consider the possibilities — liberal arts will take you anywhere you want to go.
Associate Director:
Carolyn Hensley
carolyn.hensley@unlv.edu
Carolyn Hensley was born and raised in Washington, D.C., and moved
to Las Vegas with her family in the summer of 1979. She earned a Bachelor
of Arts degree in English from UNLV in 1986 and a Masters of Arts in English
in 1989. While studying for her master’s degree, she was awarded a
teaching assistantship, and after completing the graduate program, she taught
in the English Department as a part-time instructor. She then became a full-time
faculty member as a lecturer, teaching English composition, world literature,
and African-American literature.
Carolyn joined the Wilson Advising Center staff in fall 1999 and today serves as the associate director. She has been nominated three times for the Regents’ Academic Advisor Award and twice for the President’s Professional Staff Member of the Year Award.
Assistant Director:
Derek Furukawa
derek.furukawa@unlv.edu
Derek grew up in San Diego and attended the University of Northern Colorado, where he obtained bachelors' degrees in English and Spanish, with a minor in psychology, in 2000. He then earned a master's degree in higher educational leadership and policy studies from the University of Maryland, College Park, where he worked as a recruitment counselor and academic advisor in the College of Education. He came to UNLV in 2005 to pursue a Ph.D. in educational leadership and spent his first year as the project coordinator for student retention in the Office of First-Year Programs and Transition Services. He joined the Wilson Advising Center staff in August of 2006. When he's not working or studying, he enjoys golf, community service, and studying Facebook.
Advisors:
Tracy Johnson
tracy.johnson@unlv.edu
Tracy is originally from Anaheim Hills, Calif., and moved to Las Vegas at the age of 11. She spent a year at the University of San Francisco in California, majoring in psychology. She came back to Las Vegas in 1999 and finished her B.A. in interdisciplinary social science studies from UNLV in 2003. She started at the Wilson Advising Center in May 2003 as a student worker and has been an academic advisor since graduating in August 2003. She is currently pursuing her Masters in Psychology and plans to finish in Fall 2011. She is part of the Advising Assessment Commission, which conducted UNLV's first survey on students' perceptions of academic advising. Tracy enjoys traveling (she's been to Mexico, Italy, France, the Netherlands, Poland, and Israel) and plans to continue her travels in the states and abroad.
Valarie Morgan
valarie.morgan@unlv.edu
Valarie is originally from Larchmont, NY and relocated to Las Vegas in 2002. She began her studies at Sacred Heart University in Fairfield, CT and completed her Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology with a minor in Sociology at the University of Nevada Las Vegas in 2004. In 2009, Valarie obtained her Master s degree in Educational Leadership at UNLV and is now currently pursuing a PhD in Sociology. She has been an Academic Advisor for the College of Liberal Arts since 2006. Valarie is the Chair of the Rebel Voice Commission, which conducts focus groups and created the first Student Academic Advisory Board.
Derek Sommer
derek.sommer@unlv.edu
Derek is a lifelong resident of Las Vegas. He attended a local high school before pursuing an undergraduate degree in English, with an emphasis on creative writing. He obtained his master's in secondary education in 2009. Derek's passion for the arts and enjoyment of life explain his great attitude. An ease to talk to, Derek is eager to meet new people and form lasting bonds.
Office Manager:
Ginger Tanenhaus
ginger.tanenhaus@unlv.edu
Ginger grew up in Pioche, Nevada. In 1996, she moved to Las Vegas to attend UNLV. She worked full-time, while earning her B.A. in Fine Arts and a minor in Art History. She also joined the Golden Key Honor Society and Omicron-Psi Honor Society. At UNLV, she has worked in Student Financial Aid, the Art Department, the Architecture Department, and the History Department (where she met her husband). Later she served as an Academic Advisor for the Wilson Advising Center before taking a leave of absence to raise her son. In May 2009, she became the Office Manager for the Wilson Advising Center. She is planning to go back to school to pursue her love of art, science and history.
Administrative Assistant:
Wilma Canio
wilma.canio@unlv.edu
Wilma is originally from Pampanga, Philippines. Her family migrated to San Francisco CA. in June 1980. She studied at Assumption College in Philippines and completed her BS degree in Commerce, with an emphasis in Business Management. She moved in Las Vegas in May 2004. In November 2006 she became the Assistant Secretary of UNLV Child Care Development Program. She joined Wilson Advising Center Staff in July 2010. Wilma enjoys watching movies and traveling.