EDITORIAL: The best regents for the Nevada System of Higher Education

EDITORIAL: The best regents for the Nevada System of Higher Education Las Vegas Review-Journal October 2, 2026 - 9:00 pm Significant changes are ahead for the Nevada Board of Regents. By 2029, the board will be reduced from thirteen members to nine. As part of this restructuring, candidates running for regent in this cycle will serve only two‑year terms. Nevertheless, choosing strong leaders for the Nevada System of Higher Education remains crucial. Regent Jennifer McGrath is running for a full term in District 2 after her appointment by Governor Joe Lombardo. She brings a legal background and has founded her own law firm. McGrath advocates that university presidents build partnerships with private companies to help recruit students. She envisions campus life as “a marketplace of ideas.” His opponent, Patrick Villa, has taught mathematics at the College of Southern Nevada for over twenty years. He has observed a decline in the preparedness of incoming college students throughout his tenure. Villa argues he can offer an “inside perspective” on the board. He would support a policy to bar men from participating in women’s sports and is