From Las Vegas to Switzerland / Meet UNLV graduate, Erica Shelton now joining the MSc in Luxury Management and Guest Experience at Glion

Erica Shelton’s life has always been about finding opportunity in the unexpected.?The daughter of entrepreneurs, she was taught an early age that hard work and dedication pay off. “My mom is first generation Mexican-American, and my dad is from Detroit.?They met through Toastmasters a non-profit educational organization that promotes public speaking, communication, and leadership.?Together they started a recruiting firm,” Erica said.

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With the family background in public speaking, she first thought she might be an actress.?But as she moved through school, she ended up as a chemistry major.?“I love formulas and I even thought about being pre-med.”?But when her interest in chemistry waned, Erica began re-thinking her education plan and left school in Arizona to regroup. ?Her father supported her decision but said that going forward she would have to pay for her education.?She set her sights on UNLV and began working for her dad in the recruitment firm.

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A New Course

Then fate intervened dramatically.?In 2019, she was in a bad car accident. “The accident was a turning point for me.?I had to not only find myself but face myself,” Erica said.?In a wheelchair for three months and dealing with PTSD, she worked through trauma therapy and rebuilding her life.?

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As a result, the trajectory of her life changed in two ways.?She still wanted to finish college, but now decided to pursue her passion. “At UNLV, I would always walk by the Hospitality School.?Their reputation is so good.?I just knew that I had to go there,” she said.?Erica also realized that her childhood friend Ayven was meant to be her life partner.?“He never left my side after the accident,” she said.?And on Valentine’s Day two years ago, they were both lamenting about not finding the right person and something clicked.

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A Path to Passions

After graduating from UNLV, Erica started working as a recruiter at a law firm. “The work is intense and exciting,” she said.?“I wasn’t thinking about anything new or a graduate degree until Natalia from Glion reached out to me about this opportunity.”

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The conversation unlocked Erica’s passion and interest in pursuing something she truly loved.?“When Natalia started talking about Glion experiential approach and their alumni and visiting and guest lecturers from companies like Chanel for Innovation and Sustainable Luxury or Google for Analytics, it set my soul on fire,” she said.

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Erica will be starting this fall at the Swiss campus to study Luxury Management and Guest Experience.?Her partner Ayven is moving to Switzerland with her.

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“I’m used to a high-pressure environment,” Erica said. “But now I’m ready to be a beginner.?I always think of the saying by Shunryu Suzuki that goes something like – ‘To the expert, there are only a few options. But to the beginner, the universe is limitless.’?That’s me.”