Contact the Honors Program
The Honors Program/0112
Lincoln Hall 101
University of Nevada, Reno
Reno, NV 89557-0112
phone: (775) 784-1455
fax: (775) 784-1756
email: honors@unr.edu
Honors Faculty and Staff
Dr. Tamara Valentine, Ph.D., Director
Tamara Valentine is the Director of the Honors Program at the University of Nevada, Reno. Prior to coming to the West, Valentine directed the Honors Program and taught linguistics at the University of South Carolina Upstate. She received her Ph.D. in Linguistics from the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign studying the relationship between language and gender in South Asia. A sociolinguist, Valentine has published articles and presented papers on topics related to English as an International Language, South Asian languages and linguistics, discourse analysis, language and gender, and cross-cultural communication. Her book Language and Prejudice (Longman, 2004) is a collection of works addressing issues related to the power of language. She has been awarded a number of grants to conduct fieldwork in India, has held a series of lectureships in Lithuania, and has traveled through South Asia, Southeast Asia, and Eastern Europe.
If you have any questions about the Honors Program at the University of Nevada, Reno, contact her at tvalenti@unr.edu
Becky Amezquita, Administrative Assistant III
My name is Becky Amezquita. I began working for the State of Nevada in 1994. My first job was with State Industrial Insurance Company. In 1994, I transferred to Truckee Meadows Community College and worked in the Counseling and Testing office. In January of 2004 I transferred to the University of Nevada Reno to take a position in the Application of Substance Abuse Technologies office, and then in August 2005 I took the position in the Honors Program. This position was a promotion for me so I just could not pass up this opportunity. I moved here from San Jose, California in 1974, and joined the Nevada Air National Guard. I spent twenty-five and a half years in the Guard and have been retired from the Guard for almost six years. My favorite pastime is playing softball. I also enjoy camping, hiking, and bike riding.
If you have any questions about the Honors Program at the University of Nevada, Reno, contact me at raa@unr.edu
Eve Benton, Assistant Director
My name is Eve Benton and I am pursuing a Master of Arts degree in Counseling with an emphasis in College Student Development at the University of Nevada Reno. I earned an undergraduate degree in Political Science from Arizona State University in 1997 and a Master of Business Administration degree from the University of Phoenix in 2000. I relocated from Phoenix, Arizona to Northern Nevada in 2002.
Throughout my professional career I have pursued positions that have allowed me to work with college students in a mentoring and counseling capacity. As an Academic Counselor with the University of Phoenix and as a Professional Development Specialist with INROADS/Arizona, I used my skills as a mentor and a coach to work with university students from diverse backgrounds and fields of study. When relocation to Nevada necessitated a career change, I incorporated elements of counseling into my position as Manager of Administrative Services through working with college interns in addition to my regular full-time staff.
If you have any questions about the Honors Program at the University of Nevada, Reno, contact me at eveb@unr.edu
Megan Nohr, Graduate Assistant
My name is Megan Nohr and I am working on my Master of Arts in Counseling and Educational Psychology with an emphasis in Elementary School Counseling at the University of Nevada, Reno. I received my B. A. in Psychology from UNR in the fall of 2004. I came to the Honors Program in August of 2006 and have enjoyed working with such exceptional students and great staff! As a graduate assistant I serve as a recruitment coordinator, assist in the advising process of Honors students, and coordinate activities and events on the university campus. I moved here from Santa Barbara, California in 1994 and I consider Northern Nevada home. I enjoy yoga, music, traveling and spending time with my family and friends.
If you have any questions about the Honors Program at the University of Nevada, Reno, contact me at mnohr@unr.edu
Kara DeSouza, Graduate Assistant
My name is Kara DeSouza and I am a doctoral student in the Cognitive and Brain Sciences program, which is part of the Psychology department. I’m currently working on my Ph.D. with an emphasis in human memory. I received my B.S. in Psychology from Arizona State University in 2003, and have been at the University of Nevada, Reno since fall of that year.
As a graduate assistant for the UNR Honors Program, I aid in the advising of Honors students, the coordination of Honors Program activities, and the recruitment and promotion of the Honors Program. My current projects include the co-development with Honors students of an Honors Student Newsletter, and the facilitation of new student-led programs including social activities and service leadership opportunities. I enjoy talking with students about their options for research involvement, and graduate and professional school opportunities, so please email me or stop by to chat!
If you have any questions about the Honors Program at the University of Nevada, Reno, contact me at karad@unr.edu
