UnLeadership

49Gaming Leadership

David G. Schwartz, a gaming historian, professor, and the associate vice provost for faculty affairs at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, studies gambling and casinos, video games, popular culture, Las Vegas, tourism, and higher education. Dave has written several books (which are some of Scott’s favorites), including At the Sands, Grandissimo: The First Emperor of Las Vegas, Roll the Bones: The History of Gambling, and Boardwalk Playground: The Making, Unmaking, & Remaking of Atlantic City. Born in Atlantic City, New Jersey, David earned his bachelor's degree (a double major in anthropology and history) as well as his master's degree from the University of Pennsylvania before receiving his doctorate in US history from UCLA. His academic interest in gambling stems from his hands-on experience in the casino industry as a security officer, surveillance officer, and Mr. Peanut.

(Highlights from our interview, recorded July 6, 2023.)

AS OMBUDS, I HELP PEOPLE resolve conflicts informally, as opposed to going through HR or formal channels, which often entails asking folks to better listen to and understand each other. Many people I work with have transactional concerns; maybe they're doing work outside their classification and want to be reclassified. Some of the work is relational, where people want to interact with one another better, and some is organization, for example, helping people navigate tenure. In addition to one-on-one work, I lead workshops ...