University of Nevada at Las Vegas’s Lee Business School

The Molasky Impact At UNLV’s Lee Business School

What does it take to build a city? Sometimes, it starts with one decision that creates opportunities for generations.

In the 1960s, real estate developer Irwin Molasky donated 45 acres at Maryland Parkway and Flamingo Road that became part of the University of Nevada, Las Vegas campus. This is what helped to lay the foundation for a university that would shape Southern Nevada’s future.

Now decades later, the Molasky family is continuing that legacy with a historic gift establishing the Molasky Family Department of Economics and Real Estate at UNLV’s Lee Business School, the first named academic department in the university’s history.

“Their gift creates opportunities that will benefit our students, faculty, and Southern Nevada for generations to come,” says Lee Business School Dean, Anjala Krishen.

STRENGTHENING THE COMMUNITY

The gift is an investment in the students, faculty, and future business leaders who are part of the community working to solve some of Southern Nevada’s biggest challenges. Through a dedicated endowment, the department plans to put the funds towards scholarships, hands-on learning opportunities, curriculum development, faculty research, and programs that connect students with industry professionals.

For business students, the timing is wonderful because Southern Nevada is full of economic growth, housing, development, and community transformation right now.

“Southern Nevada is a remarkable place to study economics and real estate because many of the issues we discuss in the classroom and examine through our research are unfolding around us every day,” says Ian McDonough, professor and chair of the Department of Economics. “This gift will create new opportunities for our students and faculty, support research tied to the region’s most pressing issues and strengthen our connections with industry and community leaders.”

Through the Molasky Family Leadership & Mentorship Program, students connect with industry professionals through semester-long mentorships, focused on leadership development and real-world decision-making. Those connections are already creating pathways into the workforce through Ovation Development Corporation, where UNLV students and graduates serve as interns and employees.

The Molasky family says their investment is a continuation of a long-standing belief in giving back to the community that helped them grow.

“Southern Nevada has been our family’s home for decades, and we are proud to have played a role in shaping the community,” says Alan Molasky, chairman of Ovation Development Corp. “We also value higher education in ensuring the economic vitality and vibrancy of our region.”

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