The mission of the Board and its Members is to leverage their leadership, expertise, financial support and diverse perspectives to advance, advocate for and assist the Dean in implementing the College's strategic plan and vision. The Board advises and supports the Dean in advancing the College’s mission by providing strategic guidance, fostering community and corporate partnerships, championing its programs, and helping secure the resources needed to ensure excellence in the humanities, social sciences and arts.
Meet our advisory board members
From left to right, back row first: Shawn Zorio, Dean Cassie Isabelli, Cathy Trachok, Doug Damon, Seema Gautam, Tyler White (CLA Development Director), Ann Marie Melcher, Teresa Garcia-Cahlan, Dean Behnke. Front row: *Sheena Harvey, Sara Beth Brown, Michael Pennington. Absent from this photo are members Dan LoFrese, Lucia Missal, Bob Boisson, Lucia Missall, Patty Buchanan, Toni Harsh, Meagan Noin, Christine Fey. (*Former member)
Casilde A. Isabelli, Ph.D.
Dean, College of Liberal Arts
Professor of Hispanic Linguistics
Teresa Garcia-Cahlan
Advisory Board, Chair (2026-2028)
’81, B.A., Economics and Political Science Dual Degree, ·¬ÇÑÊÓƵs
Deena Behnke
Retired, VP of New Product & Business Development, Pillsbury Brands
’71 B.S., Chemical Engineering, Northwestern University
’79, MBA, University of St. Thomas
Sara Beth Brown
Retired, Attorney, Head of Private Banking, Trust Executive Director
Robert "Bob" Boisson
Retired, Reno Gazette Journal
’78 B.A., Art, ·¬ÇÑÊÓƵ
Patricia "Patty" Buchanan
Doug Damon
Owner, Damon Industries, Sparks, NV until 2017
Co-owner, Damon Industries Canada, Ltd. until 2016
Co-founder/owner, First Independent Bank of Nevada until acquired by Western Alliance Bank Corporation, a NYSE public company
’72, B.A., History
Nancy Fennell
President, Dickson Realty
Textile Chemistry, Fashion Institute of New York City
Christine Fey
City of Reno, City Planner & Historic Preservation Officer, Arts & Culture Manager, Resource Development & Cultural Affairs Manager
Staff, Arts & Culture Commission "Uptown, Downtown Artown"
B.A., Anthropology, ·¬ÇÑÊÓƵ
M.A., Anthropology, ·¬ÇÑÊÓƵ (Land Use Planning; Historic Preservation & Cultural Resource Management)
Seema Gautam
Antoinette "Toni" Harsh
Reno City Council, Councilwoman
’06, B.S., Interior Design
’14, M.S., Equity and Diversity in Educational Settings
’23, Ph.D., Education
Dan Lofrese
VP, Gabelli Asset Management Company
Board Trustee, Community Foundation of Northern Nevada
’99, B.A., Fordham University
’18, Executive MBA, ·¬ÇÑÊÓƵ
Lucia Danilo-Missall
Performer, Hello Hollywood Hello! 1978-1989
Ann Marie Melcher
Retired Elementary Educator
’80, B.S., Business Administration-Management, ·¬ÇÑÊÓƵ
’83–’84, Graduate courses, Elementary Education, ·¬ÇÑÊÓƵ
Meagan Noin
Founder & President, MNG Partners (Marketing, PR, Advertising)
B.A., Journalism and Political Science, ·¬ÇÑÊÓƵ
Michael D. Pennington
Public Affairs Specialist, Consultant
1995, B.A., Political Science, University of Nevada
Cathy Trachok
’72, BA, Spanish/French, ·¬ÇÑÊÓƵ
Shawna Zorio
Family Nurse Practitioner
St. Mary's Medical Group/Urgent Care
Alumni of San Francisco State University, Northern Arizona University and University of Phoenix
People join college advisory boards for many reasons. Sometimes, like me, they are swept up by a charitable trade with a friend (Cathy Trachok) while doing something totally unrelated to the College of Liberal Arts (like playing tennis). The Board’s work on behalf of Dean Cassie Isabelli encompasses impact in the (liberal arts) community, the state and beyond, helping her elevate and explain such a diverse College. Despite our varied educational backgrounds, we share a common passion for arts, humanities and social sciences. Together we realize that future graduates, who will become employees, need to be able to distinguish trivial from important. They need to recognize moments of brilliance and act on them. These skills come from a liberal arts degree.
Sara Beth Brown
College of Liberal Arts
Advisory Board Member (2024 - Current)
