Dr. Lisa Morris Hibbler is a vanguard leader, deeply committed to fostering positive change and tackling the issues that impact underserved communities. Her profound grasp of the challenges faced by numerous individuals and families drives her lifelong dedication to enhancing their lives through educational initiatives and community development projects. Her efforts aim to uplift and empower those around her, ensuring they have the support needed to thrive.
With an impressive tenure of nearly 27 years at the City of Las Vegas, Nevada, Dr. Morris Hibbler has proven herself as a dedicated public servant and a strategic executive. Her roles have included ICMA Credentialed Deputy City Manager and Chief Community Services Officer, where she specialized in social equity, workforce development, and enhancing community capacity. Her leadership and expertise have left a significant mark on the community she serves.
Currently, Dr. Morris Hibbler holds several influential positions: Executive Director of the Shaquille O’Neal Foundation, and Professor of Practice at UNLV. She is also the Co-Founder of JBM Strategic Partners consulting firm. Recognized for her impactful contributions, she has received multiple accolades, including the UNLV College of Education Hall of Fame Inductee, 2024 African American Trailblazer Impact Award, 2021 Women to Watch by Nevada Business Magazine, and a 2021 Women Inspiring Nevada Honoree by Vegas Inc. In addition to her professional achievements, she values her roles as a wife and mother, continuing to lead and inspire with unwavering commitment to community improvement.
Dr. DeRionne Pollard is the president of Nevada State University (NS), a public comprehensive institution awarding baccalaureate degrees in over 50 courses of study and graduate education in niche, high-demand areas of concentration. NS is one of the fastest-growing colleges in the country and is designated as a Minority Serving Institute (MSI), Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI), and Asian American Native American Pacific Islander Institution (AANAPI). Gloriously diverse, nearly half of all NS students are first-generation college students, and NS advances phenomenal teaching and superb student support to expand and diversify an educated workforce, thereby protecting social justice and economic mobility.
Dr. Pollard began her tenure at NS on August 16, 2021. Dr. Pollard is the first Black female president of any NSHE institution. She has held previous roles at the College of Lake County and served as president of both Montgomery College (2010-2021) and Las Positas College (2008-2010).
Dr. Pollard is deeply connected to her community, serving on the Board of Directors for the Las Vegas Global Economic Alliance (LVGEA), the Henderson Chamber of Commerce, the Vegas Chamber of Commerce, and Nevada Public Radio (KNPR).
Nationally, Dr. Pollard is a member of the Center for First-Generation Student Success Advisory Board for the National Association of Student Personnel Administrators (NASPA), serves on the Board of Directors for Generation Hope, a transformative non-profit focused on the success of parenting college students and their children, the American Association of State Colleges and Universities (AASCU) national board, and most recently she has been appointed to the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA) board. A nationally recognized leader, Dr. Pollard is a frequent speaker, presenter, coach, and mentor on issues related to higher education leadership and governance, diversity/equity/inclusions/justice, and capacity building in small and large teams.
As a result of her work and accomplishments, Dr. Pollard was named one of Washington’s 100 Most Powerful Women by Washingtonian Magazine, won a 2017 Academic Leadership Award from the Carnegie Corporation of New York, and a Visionary Award from the Washington Area Women’s Foundation. More recently, Dr. Pollard was named one of the 2023 Women to Watch by Nevada Business Magazine, she received the Las Vegas Global Economic Alliance 2023 Leadership award, and the 2024 National TRIO Achiever Award, an honor given by the Council for Opportunity in Education (COE) to TRIO alumni who have had exceptional success in their careers and communities. She holds a Bachelor and Master of Arts in English from Iowa State University and a Ph.D. in educational leadership and policy studies in higher education from Loyola University Chicago.
Perhaps it is Dr. Pollard’s own description that best captures who she is and what she brings with her to this work: “First-generation college completer; proud Chicago Public Schools graduate; former food stamps and public assistance recipient; motherless child healed by parenting; loved by and loving the most glorious woman for over 30 years; and uncompromising warrior for access to equitable, life-transforming education for all who seek it to enhance their lives and the communities in which we live and serve.”
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