HENDERSON – Nevada State College (NSC) has promoted Richard Yao, Ph. D., to the newly created position of dean of students to help build a more vibrant community for its students.
Yao, who has been a Nevada State College faculty member for 10 years, leads NSC’s Students of Concern Committee, which directs students in need to appropriate resources. He also oversees the Career Services Center and NSC’s student government organization. As dean of students, Yao also collaborates with Vice Provost Robin Cresiski on experiential learning opportunities like internships for credit and community-based undergraduate research.
“Being a young educational institution means that we are open to many possibilities,” Yao said. “We really want to link student life to the academic mission of our college. This new position will help open the doors to a more holistic approach to student development and enhance the college experience for the Nevada State College student body.”
Prior to taking his new position, Yao served as director of student development and senior counseling lecturer.
Yao earned his bachelor’s degree in psychology and master’s degree in clinical psychology from Eastern Illinois University. He holds a Ph.D. in clinical psychology from Fielding Graduate University. He is a licensed psychologist. His clinical and research interests previously focused on the various clinical and systemic issues facing adolescents with severe emotional disturbance as they transition from the children’s mental health system into the adult health system. Yao’s more recent publications and conference presentations have focused on internship experiences for undergraduates.
About Nevada State College
Nevada State College, a four-year public institution, is a member of the Nevada System of Higher Education. NSC 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 college was established in 2002 as a new tier in the state system between the research universities and the two-year colleges. In this role, the college emphasizes high-quality instruction, exemplary service, engaging learning experiences, and innovation as a means to more efficient, effective outcomes in all corners of the campus. Since 2002, Nevada State College has grown to offer more than 45 majors and minors, has received independent accreditation and has expanded its physical campus. 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 of only 26 students. Nevada State College serves approximately 3,500 students and has over 2,600 alumni, each representing a broad array of cultural and economic backgrounds. For more information, visit https://nsc.edu.
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