Dr. Vallen started in the hotel and restaurant industry as a teenager in a family-owned restaurant chain. He held numerous professional jobs from beverage manager to hotel general manager and supplemented that experience with academic credentials, earning his doctorate at Cornell 26 years after his undergraduate.

During his tenure at UNLV he traveled extensively. visiting several dozen countries of the world. Many of the trips were taken as Special Trade Representative on behalf of the U.S. Department of Commerce. Among his journal articles was a report on the hotels of the People's Republic of China Behind the Great Wall, which was widely read because he was among the earliest travelers to that country after it opened its doors to the West. A decade later, he authored a similar article on the emerging economics of perestroika on the tourism industry of the USSR. His articles and books have been translated into numerous languages.

Dr. Vallen has been instrumental in promoting the college's growth and worldwide reputation. In the early years he was involved in coordinating the construction of Beam Hall which houses the College of Hotel Administration today. During his tenure as dean, over ten million was  raised for the College of Hotel Administration. While he was dean, student enrollment rose from a handful to well over 1,000, and the faculty from three to several dozen.

When asked what he plans to do after he retires, he said simply. "Clean the garage".

For those of you who would like the chance to say goodbye, a retirement party for Jerry and Flossie Vallen is planned for late April. If you would like more information. please call the Deans Office at 702-895-3308.