UNLV welcomes new leader after Whitfield’s sudden departure

After the sudden departure of UNLV’s president on Monday night, a veteran UNLV educator will temporarily take the helm.

UNLV Executive Vice President and Provost Christopher Heavey, who has been at UNLV for three decades, will serve as officer in charge of UNLV, the Nevada System of Higher Education announced Tuesday.

The move comes after former president Keith Whitfield, 62, resigned Monday night, citing family reasons. His resignation — which surprised many in the university community — went into effect Monday night.

Heavey assumed the role on Tuesday. In an email addressed to the UNLV community, he thanked Whitfield for his leadership during his over four-and-a-half year tenure.

“He was a role model of an engaged president who wished the best for everyone at UNLV and worked tirelessly to advance our university. I know I speak for all of us in wishing him great success in the next chapter of his journey,” Heavey wrote.

The officer in charge exercises the role of the president until the Nevada Board of Regents appoints a new acting, interim or permanent president.

Heavey has served as senior vice provost, vice provost for undergraduate education and dean. He is a tenured professor of psychology and holds a master’s and Ph.D. in clinical psychology from UCLA and a bachelor’s from the University of California, Santa Cruz.

In his email, Heavey assured the community that he would maintain stability during the transition.

“At a time when the broader national landscape presents challenges and uncertainty for higher education, I want to acknowledge the concerns that many of you may feel. While external pressures continue to evolve, our focus remains unwavering: to serve as a pillar of progress for Nevada and beyond,” he wrote.

Whitfield’s surprise departure

“I know this news — and the timing of it in the middle of the semester and state legislative session — may come as a shock to some of you, but this is a decision I have been considering for a while now,” Whitfield wrote in an email sent to the UNLV community Monday night. “I have shared my decision with our senior leadership team at UNLV and believe they will rise to the occasion with no loss in the momentum we currently enjoy.”

Bill Robinson, an economics professor who formerly served as chair of UNLV’s faculty senate, said he was very surprised to learn of Whitfield’s resignation Monday night. He said that there was “no uniform opinion” on campus.

“Any time someone’s a university president, over time, some people every year love them more and more, and some people love them less and less,” Robinson said.

In March 2024, the regents voted on a new contract that extended Whitfield’s tenure until March 2028. At the time, Robinson, who was a member of Whitfield’s evaluation committee, said the Faculty Senate took a vote, and 30 were in favor of renewing the president’s contract and two were opposed.

Relationship with regents

On Tuesday, Robinson said that he thought the relationship between Whitfield and the regents had not been good for awhile.

“Long term, probably there was going to be change soon,” Robinson said.

Regent Patrick Boylan said that he was surprised to hear that the resignation came at the UNLV Foundation’s annual dinner.

“I saw an impending divorce between him and NSHE, but I cannot say that I thought it would be a resignation,” Boylan told the Review-Journal.

Regent Carlos Fernandez said that he could not speak to past dynamics between Whitfield and the regents. Fernandez said that since he joined the board in January, his interactions with Whitfield were positive.

“I want to thank President Whitfield for his leadership and service to UNLV, especially through some of the most challenging moments in the university’s history,” he wrote in a message to the Review-Journal. “Leadership changes are never easy, but I’m glad to see Dr. Chris Heavey stepping in as Officer in Charge.”

In a Tuesday statement, NSHE Chancellor Patricia Charlton and Regents Chair Amy Carvalho also expressed gratitude.

“His dedication to student success, new academic programs, and innovation helped solidify UNLV’s status as a premier public research university. We will always be grateful for his leadership during the COVID pandemic and following the tragedy of Dec. 6,” the two wrote.

Relationship with Jewish faculty

Whitfield’s tenure included what was a difficult time for university presidents nationally, as they grappled with managing the effects of the war in Gaza on their campuses.

Rob Levrant, chair of the UNLV Jewish faculty and staff group, told the Review-Journal that Whitfield has been an ally to the group.

“I really think that’s his legacy, was sitting down, having the difficult conversations, learning, talking, educating himself and others and making it possible for the community to come together,” Levrant said.

Whitfield, he said, had worked with faculty to create the UNLV Task Force on Jewish Identity and Inclusion this fall.

In an email to other members of the group, Levrant credited the work for the Anti-Defamation League’s “B” rating for UNLV for its antisemitism level, which he said meant “better than most.”

“Fewer than one-third of the over 200 institutions scored received a B or A, so while we have work still to do, this is an indication that we are collaboratively moving UNLV in the right direction,” Levrant wrote.

In June 2024, Whitfield refuted earlier assertions that UNLV was considering releasing details about its assets invested in firms with ties to Israel and divesting from them.

The statement came a month after a Jewish student, Corey Gerwaski, filed a federal lawsuit against UNLV, the Board of Regents, Whitfield and several pro-Palestinian groups, claiming that he suffered from on-campus antisemitism and discrimination and that faculty members and the administration failed to do anything about it.

Whitfield filed to dismiss the lawsuit, which is ongoing.

Moving forward

In the coming weeks, Charlton, Carvalho and Regents Vice Chair Jeffrey S. Downs will work with faculty and staff to determine the next steps, including whether to appoint an acting or interim president, Charlton and Carvalho wrote in the statement.

They commended Heavey’s work thus far.

“As an administrator, he has been committed to strengthening academic programs, supporting faculty, and enhancing student learning outcomes,” Charlton and Carvalho said in the statement.

Both Whitfield and Heavey emphasized that UNLV’s “momentum” will not slow down.

“The Nevada Legislative Session is underway, and we will strongly advocate for UNLV and promote the critical role we play in shaping the future of our state,” Heavey wrote. “Our commitment to students, research, and community engagement remains steadfast, and we will navigate the road ahead with clarity and purpose.”

Contact Katie Futterman at kfutterman@reviewjournal.com. Follow @ktfutts on X and @katiefutterman.bsky.social.