HENDERSON, Nev. – Nevada State University (Nevada State) President DeRionne Pollard reflected on the university’s successes in 2024 while detailing the institution’s priorities for 2025 as it continues the work of becoming the next great state university during its annual State of the University address today. The theme of this year’s address was “Our Mission is Bigger than the Moment,” emphasizing the university’s transformative work of providing affordable education and excellence in teaching for all students wanting to obtain a college degree and achieve upward economic mobility.
In the upcoming year, Nevada State will seek opportunities to build additional campus infrastructure through its SMART Growth Initiative, develop a new strategic plan that boldly charts its path forward, and prepare for the launch of an athletics program.
During the address, Nevada State announced a $100,000 donation from the Las Vegas Raiders to support the university’s efforts to launch a Women’s Flag Football program. Women’s Flag Football and Men’s Track and Field, two popular and growing sports in the region that are not currently offered at the collegiate level in Nevada, will be the inaugural programs at Nevada State.
“The state of our university is strong, and we have so much to look forward to in the future including a long-awaited athletics program,” said President Pollard. “Sports forge a stronger sense of campus unity, provide another avenue for making higher education accessible, and elevate the overall student experience. Nevada State is grateful to have the generous support of the Las Vegas Raiders in this endeavor.”
“The Las Vegas Raiders have a proud history of supporting athletic programs for all ages,” said Myles Hayes, Director of Football Development for the Las Vegas Raiders. “Our Inspire Girls flag football program has grown in popularity and is a testament to the power of sports in developing future leaders, both on and off the field. We are thrilled to be able to extend support through the Las Vegas Raiders Women’s Flag Football Fund to support the first collegiate women’s flag football program in Nevada.”
The Nevada System of Higher Education (NSHE) Board of Regents approved a student fee for athletics in December, marking a pivotal step toward establishing Nevada State’s athletics program. The Las Vegas Raiders is now the first community partner to invest in this vision.
Additional remarks were made by Nevada System of Higher Education Board of Regents Chair Amy Carvalho, Nevada State Student Alliance president Kevin Osorio Hernandez, Provost and Vice President of Academic Affairs Dr. Sarah Frey, and student Emma Croft.
To watch the recorded livestream of the State of the University, visit: https://nevadastate.edu/stateoftheuniversity/
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About Nevada State:
Nevada State University (Nevada State), a four-year, independently accredited public institution, is a member of the Nevada System of Higher Education (NSHE). Nevada State places a special emphasis on the advancement of a diverse and largely under-served student population. Located on a developing 500-acre campus in the foothills of Henderson, Nevada, the institution was established in 2002 and has recently adopted ‘University’ in its name. Nevada State emphasizes high-quality instruction, exemplary service, engaging learning experiences, and innovation in support of Nevada’s growing workforce needs. Nevada State offers more than 65 majors and minors and continues to expand its physical campus and reach to students across the state. Committed to fostering a personal learning environment, students are taught by faculty who serve as mentors and guides in classrooms with an average class size under 25 students. Nevada State serves more than 7,200 students and has over 8,500 alumni, each representing a broad array of cultural and economic backgrounds. For more information, visit https://nevadastate.edu.
