WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today Congresswoman Dina Titus (NV-01) announced University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV) President Keith E. Whitfield as her special guest for President Joe Biden’s State of the Union Address on Thursday, March 7, 2023.

“It is an honor to host President Keith Whitfield as my special guest for this year’s State of the Union Address in Washington, D.C.,” said Rep. Dina Titus. “Three months ago, the UNLV community faced a horrific tragedy when three professors were killed, and one individual was seriously injured in a campus shooting. President Whitfield’s steady and reliable leadership to guide students, faculty, and staff through the recovery from this incident has helped the community find strength and begin to heal. As professor emeritus at the University, I would like to recognize President Whitfield as a champion of public education and a leader in Las Vegas.”

“I am honored and humbled to be invited to the State of Union by President Biden and Congresswoman Titus. I am proud to represent UNLV at the address,” President Keith E. Whitfield said.


Background

President Keith E. Whitfield joined UNLV in August 2020 after serving as provost, senior vice president of academic affairs, and professor of psychology at Wayne State University in Michigan. He previously served as vice provost for academic affairs at Duke University, where he was also a professor in the department of psychology and neuroscience and co-director of the university’s Center on Biobehavioral Health Disparities Research.

On December 6th, 2023, an active shooter entered the University of Nevada, Las Vegas campus, claiming the lives of Patricia Navarro Velez, Cha Jan “Jerry” Chang, and Naoko Takemaru while seriously injuring one other. On December 11th, 2023, Rep. Titus led a moment of silence on the House floor to honor and remember those who lost their lives.

Rep. Titus taught American and Nevada government classes for 35 years at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas where she currently has professor emeritus status.

The full moment of silence and floor speech can be found HERE.

Neveda’s First Congressional District, which Rep. Titus represents, is familiar with the devastating impact of gun violence following the October 1, 2017, mass shooting at the Route 91 Harvest music festival which remains the deadliest mass shooting in modern U.S. history.