Karl Catarata

Name

Karl Catarata

Occupation

State Director, Non-Profit Professional

Political Office

NSHE Board of Regents District 6

Political Affiliation

Non-Partisan

How would you describe yourself to voters?

I'm responsible, reliable, and ready to take on the role as your next Regent. While I'm one of the youngest candidates to run for the NSHE Board of Regents, I bring a wealth of experience and knowledge about our system of higher education throughout my time working in Nevada government.

I'm responsible because I know how government should serve its residents. I have years of serving Nevadans - connecting them to the benefits, resources, and money they are owed. I'm responsible as I'm the only candidate in my race who has local, state, and federal government working experience. Most importantly, this role will ask the next officeholder to know how to manage budgets and distribute them across the system. In my time, I've served as the Chairman of the Nevada Commission on Mentoring - bringing back thousands of dollars to mentoring organizations in the state, and advocating for better resources for programs in our state.

'm reliable because neighbors in Southern Nevada have my email or phone number. They know that if they ever need something - they can give me a text or phone call and I'll work to get it done. As a Regent, I'll be reliable for students, faculty, and staff. Nevadans should know they'll have a Regent they can rely on when it comes to improving our system of higher education.

I'm ready because I know that on Day 1, we will need leaders that have the qualifications and experience to lead. My career in public service has led me to this moment.

What do you see as the top issues in this campaign?

Accessibility for Students - While our system of higher education has made great strides in making college and universities accessible for underserved communities, we have much more work to do together. We can make college more accessible by focusing on hard-to-reach areas of specific districts, increase academic and career services so that students are able to graduate, and most importantly, continue investments in health and mental healthcare for students and community members.

Affordability - Affordable prices for a high-quality postsecondary education. Students are bearing the brunt when it comes to paying more for college and the experience around it. Ask any student at any NSHE campus about the cost of their books or semester payments.

Forward - We need to move Nevada forward with good governance on the NSHE Board of Regents, collaboration with K-12 leaders, and investing in workforce development.

In your opinion, what are the biggest challenges facing the state’s colleges and universities?

The biggest challenges that face our state colleges and universities include student readiness, graduation rates, and most importantly, good governance.

Plainly: if students graduating K-12 in Southern Nevada aren't at standards, college and a university experience for them will be difficult. Further, if the college and university experience is difficult for them, graduation will also be difficult. This means our graduation rates are at risk. We need to work TOGETHER and collaborate on ways we can support our students from K-12 and into their journey at a state college and university.

Lastly, a big challenge facing the state's college and university system is good governance. From multiple Presidents to multiple Chancellors, it has been the biggest failure of the NSHE Regents. We need leaders who are able to work together, not apart.

In late 2021, former Chancellor Melody Rose filed a hostile workplace complaint alleging sexual discrimination and that some regents were undermining her. An investigation could not substantiate the sexual harassment, but it did note possible ethics violations. It also noted factionalism and tensions among board members. How would you, as a Regent, work to ease tensions on the board?

I'm a collaborator at heart. Growing up, my family composed of strong Republican and strong Democrat personalities. Not only this, but more senior and more younger perspectives, too.

Entering into the world of public service, my colleagues have found that I have been most effective at bringing people together because of my respect, responsibility, and reliability to others in the most tense, difficult, and conflict-driven moments. As a Regent, I would work to ease tensions on the board by getting to know everyone's priorities, their agendas, what they want to accomplish FOR students, and what they want to accomplish long-term for the system.

I find that when public servants listen to each other's goals and desires, we can best move past the distractions and noise.

Nevadans deserve better from their system of higher education, and they deserve someone with the experience to bring different viewpoints together to best serve students and faculty. I would be that Regent because I've done it in my past, and I will do it again for the system's future.

What should the board look for in a new Nevada System of Higher Education Chancellor?

The NSHE Board of Regents should look to an experienced, qualified, and ready candidate able to manage different personalities. Most importantly, the board should look to someone they can work with during conflict.

The road ahead improving our large system will not be easy. Thus, it is pertinent to find a candidate who can work with the Regents even when things are not easy.