Nevada State Administrator to Lead State’s Newest University
LAS VEGAS – (June 29, 2015) WGU Nevada has named Las Vegas native Dr. Spencer D. Stewart as its first Chancellor. Stewart joins WGU Nevada after nearly 15 years at Nevada State College, where he was instrumental in its development and growth. He most recently served as Vice President of College Relations.
Earlier this month, Gov. Brian Sandoval signed a proclamation establishing WGU Nevada, a nonprofit, online, competency-based university aimed at expanding access to higher education for Nevadans. Designed to meet the needs of working adults who need to complete a bachelor’s or master’s degree to advance their careers, WGU Nevada offers accredited degree programs in fields critical to building Nevada’s economy: business, K-12 teacher education, information technology, and health professions, including nursing.
“I have spent the majority of my career helping develop one of America’s newest four-year public institutions,” Dr. Stewart said. “WGU Nevada truly complements our state’s higher education infrastructure. It will work with the Nevada System of Higher Education to increase degree attainment for Nevada’s residents by allowing them to complete their degrees on their terms and on their time.”
While at Nevada State College, Dr. Stewart was instrumental in the development, management, and operations of the college, beginning with four full-time employees and 177 students in 2001-02. Under his leadership, Nevada State grew to more than 175 full-time employees and 3,500 students in under 15 years.
At WGU Nevada, Dr. Stewart will work closely with an Advisory Board of senior business, community, and higher education leaders from across the state. Together, they will develop partnerships that will expand access to higher education for working adults in Nevada.
Dr. Stewart earned a doctorate from the University of Pennsylvania, a master’s degree from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, and a bachelor’s degree from Brigham Young University.
WGU Nevada is an online, nonprofit, competency-based university established to expand Nevadans’ access to higher education throughout the state. Formed through a partnership between the state of Nevada and nationally recognized Western Governors University, WGU Nevada is open to all qualified Nevada residents. The university offers more than 50 undergraduate and graduate degree programs in the high-demand career fields of business, K-12 teacher education, information technology, and health professions, including nursing.
Degrees are granted under the accreditation of Western Governors University, which is accredited through the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (NWCCU). Teachers College programs are accredited by the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE), and nursing programs are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE)*.
In addition to WGU Nevada, there are five other WGU state-based, state-endorsed universities: WGU Indiana, established in June 2010; WGU Washington, established in April 2011; WGU Texas, established in August 2011; WGU Missouri, established in February 2013; and WGU Tennessee, established in July 2013.
For more information, visit the WGU Nevada website, nevada.wgu.edu, or call 877-214-7005.
*Western Governors University offers nursing programs that are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (One Dupont Circle, NW, Suite 5380, Washington, DC 20036, 202-877-6791).
###
