The former congressman and state legislator will advocate on behalf of 30,000 students

Feb. 26, 2024 — The College of Southern Nevada is pleased to announce the selection of Ruben Kihuen to serve as the college’s new Executive Director of Government Affairs.

“As a proud CSN alum, I’m very grateful for this opportunity to serve and advocate on behalf of the students, faculty, and staff of the state’s largest community college. CSN is where I started my professional career 25 years ago, and I couldn’t be more excited to be coming back to advocate for college affordability, funding equity, and accessibility to higher education,” Kihuen said.

Kihuen joins CSN after years of government and community service. He served as Nevada’s congressional representative in the 4th District from 2017 to 2019, and was a member of the Nevada Assembly and Senate from 2006 to 2016. He is a graduate of Rancho High School, and was a student at CSN and worked as student recruiter and academic advisor at the college before earning his bachelor’s degree and Master of Public Administration at UNLV.

“Ruben Kihuen will be a staunch advocate for our students,” said CSN President Dr. Federico Zaragoza. “He brings a wealth of knowledge about the ins and outs of government relations nationally and in Nevada, which is critical for someone in this position. We’re excited to bring him on board.”

A native of Guadalajara, Mexico, Kihuen begins at CSN on March 11.