Contact the Honors Program
The Honors Program/0112
Jot Travis Building, Room 11
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 the Assistant Director for the UNR Honors Program. After completing an undergraduate degree in Political Science and a Master’s degree in Business, I decided to focus my interest in college student development by earning a Master’s degree in Counseling and Educational Psychology from the University of Nevada, Reno.
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.
If you have any questions about the Honors Program at the University of Nevada, Reno, contact me at eveb@unr.edu
Kate Gillespie, Graduate Assistant
My name is Kate Gillespie, and I am working on my doctorate in Educational Leadership in Higher Education Administration at the University of Nevada, Reno. I have been on at the University of Nevada since 2003, previously working in the Office of Prospective Students and as the Study Center Coordinator for Nevada's student-athletes. As a graduate assistant with the Honors Program, I advise Honors students, assist with the recruitment of future Honors students, and help coordinate Honors activities and events.
During the rare times that I am not on our beautiful campus, I can be found cheering on one of Nevada's sports teams, traveling (ask me about my recent visits to Egypt!), or simply spending time with friends and family. If you have any questions about the Honors Program at the University of Nevada, Reno please feel free to contact me at kgillespie@unr.edu
