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2026-2027 Community Advisory Board

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.

group photo of college of liberal arts advisory board

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)

Board members

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, 91ԭƬs

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, 91ԭƬ

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, 91ԭƬ
M.A., Anthropology, 91ԭƬ (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, 91ԭƬ

Lucia Danilo-Missall
Performer, Hello Hollywood Hello! 1978-1989

Ann Marie Melcher
Retired Elementary Educator
’80, B.S., Business Administration-Management, 91ԭƬ
’83–’84, Graduate courses, Elementary Education, 91ԭƬ

Meagan Noin
Founder & President, MNG Partners (Marketing, PR, Advertising)
B.A., Journalism and Political Science, 91ԭƬ

Michael D. Pennington
Public Affairs Specialist, Consultant
1995, B.A., Political Science, University of Nevada

Cathy Trachok
’72, BA, Spanish/French, 91ԭƬ

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