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Supporting, facilitating, and promoting engagement
between the university and its many communities
Recap - April 2024
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UNLV Awarded Over $2M in Federal Funding to Decarbonize Domestic Iron & Steel Production
An interdisciplinary UNLV team — backed by a $2.1 million award from the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy (ARPA-E) — is innovating a unique, clean energy solution to replace blast furnace technology, a centuries-old steel production method that has long powered one of the world’s dirtiest industries. The funding, announced last week, is part of the Revolutionizing Ore to Steel to Impact Emissions (ROSIE) program, which...(more)
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RTC’s Maryland Parkway Bus Rapid Transit Project Boosted by $150M Federal Grant
On April 1st, at an official ceremony at the UNLV Transit Center attended by several members of Nevada’s federal delegation, Regional Transportation Commission of Southern Nevada (RTC) and UNLV leadership, Federal Transit Administration (FTA) Acting Administrator Veronica Vanterpool presented the RTC with nearly $150 million for the Maryland Parkway Bus Rapid Transit project that is expected to begin construction…(more)
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UNLV Students Meet with Vice President Kamala Harris to Discuss Impact of Dec. 6
While in Las Vegas on April 15th to highlight the impact of the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act, The Honorable Kamala Harris, Vice President of the United States, took time to meet with UNLV students to discuss the impact the December 6th tragedy has had on them, as well as UNLV and Southern Nevada communities…(more)
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Rebels in Action - Government | |
4/5 - The Lincy Institute at UNLV hosted its first-ever UNLV Mental Health Initiatives Forum which featured three UNLV-led efforts to address and improve the landscape of mental health in Nevada. The forum provided an opportunity to discuss legislative needs, research, and practice outcomes, and was attended by elected officials, including The Honorable Brian Knudsen, City of Las Vegas Councilman for Ward 1. | |
4/8 - The Nevada System of Higher Education hosted a Medicine Policy Round Table on the University of Nevada, Reno campus to explore policy driven solutions for some of Nevada’s most critical healthcare needs. Attendees included Chancellor Patty Charlton and Regent Carol Del Carlo, as well as Marc J. Kahn, Dean of the Kirk Kerkorian School of Medicine, and Paul Hauptman, Dean of the UNR School of Medicine. | |
4/10 - The Honorable Dallas Harris, Nevada State Senator for District 11, met with Deborah Kuhls, Dean for Research, and Bertille Mavegam Tango Assoumou, Traffic Safety Research Project Manager, both with the Kirk Kerkorian School of Medicine at UNLV, and others to discuss findings from the Statistical Transparency of Policing (STOP) Descriptive Analysis Report Using 2022 Data per Nevada Senate Bill 236 (2021). | |
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4/13 - UNLV participated for the 37th year in the City of Las Vegas’s Corporate Challenge, which offers a recreational Olympic-style competition in sports from archery to volleyball. Team UNLV consisted of employees, student workers, and retirees who compete throughout March, April and May as an "A" division team. Yahaira Mendez from the UNLV Office of Government and Community Engagement competed in the 5K Run, helping UNLV come in 6th place in the race.
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4/20 - Assemblywoman Natha C. Anderson was recognized at the Powwow for the Planet event for her sponsorship of the Native American Fee Waiver program passed during Nevada’s 81st Legislative Session. Powwow for the Planet focuses on a specific tribal sacred place in Nevada every year, promoting environmental stewardship and raising awareness for the protection of public lands. It also brings life and meaning into the university's land acknowledgment.
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4/20 - Auto enthusiasts from as far away as Colorado rallied behind UNLV's Inaugural Car Show, an event steered by President Keith E. Whitfield and the UNLV Alumni Association. This first-ever event drew the support of around 100 participants, including NSHE Regent Heather Brown. From vintage to classic, muscle to modern, and European to electric — all types of makes and models lined the Thomas & Mack parking lot. Owners shared the main reason for coming out was to support and celebrate their ties to UNLV. | |
The Nevada Legislature Interim Committees
The 20-month period between the Nevada Legislature’s biennially sessions is referred to as the "interim." During this time, interim committees created by the Legislature work on issues that arise between sessions. Learn more on the Interim Committees website. Below you will find UNLV’s recent engagement activity with Interim Committees.
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David Damore, Executive Director of The Lincy Institute at UNLV, provided an overview of the Institute, including the resources available via its Data Hub. Dr. Damore noted the data on mental health shows that Nevada ranks last in Mountain West states due to the high need and a low number of providers. Specifically, one in three Nevada K-12 students have a need for mental health services, but Nevada only has one school psychologist for every 1,866 students, (recommended ratio is 1:500) one school social worker for every 8,730 students, (recommended ratio is 1:250) and one school counselor for every 544 students, (recommended ratio is 1:250). | |  |
Michelle Paul, Executive Director of UNLV PRACTICE, provided an overview of the community mental health training clinic which provides counseling, clinical psychology, and school psychology services, while also providing UNLV students the opportunity to use what they are learning to help individuals and families in need of mental health services. Dr. Paul discussed new services recently being offered, those still in the planning stages, and the interdisciplinary collaborations that bring multiple approaches together in order to help address Nevada’s mental health crisis through high-quality community partnerships rooted in best practices. | | |
Sara Hunt, Director of UNLV Mental and Behavioral Health Coalition and Assistant Dean of Behavioral Health Sciences, provided an overview of the Behavioral Health Education, Retention, and Expansion Network of Nevada (BeHERENV) formed as a result of AB 37 (2023). This network aims to increase the number of mental health providers through outreach and education about behavioral health careers to K-12 and adult learners in Nevada, highlight educational pathways within the Nevada System of Higher Education, and to retain those who graduate with behavioral health degrees and/or those who already work in these fields in Nevada. | | |
Kelliann Beavers, Lincy Institute Research Associate, discussed the correlation between chronic absenteeism and mental health, noting one-third of K-12 students were chronically absent in the 22/23 school year – making Nevada one of the top six states for chronic absenteeism. She discussed a pilot program with K-12 school-based mental health providers to monitor chronic absenteeism and develop interventions specific to each student, as well as the creation of a community asset map to identify resources available and create a one-stop location to help those working with K-12 populations more easily identify appropriate referrals for those in need. | | |
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Advancing Legal and Human Rights
After law professor Rachel Anderson finished serving a two-year term as general counsel for the Office of the Nevada Attorney General in January 2021 — where, among other things, she designed and established a formal externship program — she returned to the classroom with an eye toward training lawyers who are prepared to serve in the public interest. In fall 2022, she taught the Poverty Law and School Change seminar for the first time. Little did she know this one course would lead to so much more after…(more)
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Stepping Up for UNLV’s Black Community
Makayla Franklin doesn’t wait for others to take the lead when it comes to supporting fellow students. The UNLV student body president and Harrah College of Hospitality senior has spent much of her student career embracing leadership roles to elevate the university’s Black student population. In 2022, Franklin began working on a student service project to build a sense of pride, unity, and belonging among Black students at UNLV. Her commitment to this special project has earned her the Community…(more)
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Ensuring Every Nevadan Has Equitable Access to COVID-19 Resources
Though “Help Stop the Spread” messages still cling to the walls of restaurants and faded stickers encouraging patrons to stay six feet apart have become a permanent part of the floor in public places, for most, these are signs of a pandemic of the past. But, the threat of COVID-19 is not over for everyone. Many Nevadans — especially those historically marginalized — are still profoundly impacted by the pandemic. For the last two years, UNLV…(more)
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UNLV Program Helps Children Find Their Voice in the Courtroom
More than 20 years ago, the Legal Aid Center of Southern Nevada (LACSN), along with Clark County’s Department of Family Services, District Attorney’s Office, and Department of Juvenile Services, began an effort to minimize the trauma experienced by children called to testify in Clark County courts when these children were alleged to be victims of abuse and neglect. Annually, over 25,000 children in Clark County are referred to...(more)
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Rebels in Action - Community | |
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3/23 – UNLV hosted a resource table at the Eggstravaganza Egg Hunt hosted by the City of North Las Vegas at its Neighborhood Recreation Center.
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3/23 – UNLV hosted tables at the Hope Encounter event that took place at the Whitney Recreation Center, and the Spring Speggtacular event at Silverado Ranch Park where we connected with families and shared UNLV resources available to them through our medical, dental, mental health, and legal clinics.
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3/26 – Mater Academy East hosted its Spring Celebration event for their students, including performances, activities, and a resource fair. UNLV joined the fun and provided resource information to Mater students and families.
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3/27 – UNLV hosted a resource table for the Cypress Gardens Mobile Home Park community which provided an opportunity to connect with residents to answer their questions and share how to access the UNLV resources they were most interested in.
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3/30 – President Keith E. Whitfield was honored to be the recipient of the Jim Rogers Education Award at the Silver State Awards ceremony. The Award was presented to President Whitfield by former Nevada State University President, Bart Patterson, and honors an individual’s extraordinary commitment, leadership, and vision to education in the great state of Nevada.
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3/30 – UNLV participated in Silver Mesa Recreation Center’s Eggstravaganza event to help connect attendees with all UNLV has to offer.
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4/3 – Junior Achievement of Southern Nevada hosted its Swimming with the Big Fish Luncheon which provides an opportunity for Southern Nevada’s youngest students to develop and share business concepts with more than 400 local leaders in “shark tank” style presentations. President Keith E. Whitfield was on hand to help present the awards.
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4/6 – Valley High School hosted a resource fair for students in transition and UNLV was on hand to answer students’ questions and to help them connect with the campus resources needed as they transition from high school to college.
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4/18 - UNLV welcomed NBA legend, two-time basketball Hall of Famer, entrepreneur, philanthropist, and motivational speaker Earvin “Magic” Johnson to speak at the acclaimed Barrick Lecture Series. Johnson’s lecture, On Business and Basketball, focused on his experiences since retiring from the NBA, including launching businesses and nonprofits to uplift diverse, disadvantaged communities.
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4/20 – UNLV Athletics hosted its annual Build a Bed event to help provide beds for over 4,000 youth in Clark County who do not have a bed to sleep in at night. More than 350 student athletes volunteered, as well as other Rebels and community volunteers, including Jason Wasden, UNLV Director of Federal Government Affairs, and his family.
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EMPLOYEE SPOTLIGHT
Brackley Frayer
There’s a French phrase used to express an indescribable experience. Je ne sais quoi. That something special we can’t quite grasp or put our finger on. Live theatre often offers such a visceral experience. Audience-goers may point to familiar elements — the music, the costumes, the actors — but goosebumps come when the lights go up. Through lighting design, so much can be said without saying anything at all. In addition to having been theatre department chair and executive director of...(more)
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ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT
April Advocacy Mixer
On April 8th, the UNLV Alumni Association's Advocacy Committee welcomed over 90 guests to their inaugural Advocacy Forum and Mixer. During this event, attendees heard from experts on the four levels of advocacy, who shared the many ways students, alumni, elected officials, stakeholders, community leaders, and friends of UNLV, can get active and engaged in helping UNLV achieve their academic, community, legislative, and philanthropic goals. Panelists included…(more)
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COMMUNITY PARTNER SPOTLIGHT
Junior Achievement of Southern Nevada
UNLV is proud to partner with Junior Achievement of Southern Nevada, and organization that believes in "possible." Each day, Junior Achievement works to help young people discover what’s possible in their lives. They do this by helping them connect what they learn in school with life outside the classroom. Junior Achievement has over 100 local JA Areas across the nation, and together they are the nation's largest organization dedicated to giving young people the knowledge and skills they need to own their economic success, plan for their futures, and make smart academic and economic choices. JA's programs - in the core content areas of work readiness, entrepreneurship, and financial literacy - ignite the spark in young people to experience and realize the opportunities and realities of work and life in the 21st century. You can learn more and connect with Junior Achievement of Southern Nevada via its website.
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U.S. News Rankings: 20 UNLV Graduate & Professional Programs Among Top 100
The collective strength of UNLV’s graduate and professional programs was again recognized by U.S. News & World Report in the publication’s latest annual rankings, released April 9. A total of 20 UNLV programs, including 14 from the William S. Boyd School of Law, placed within the nation’s top 100 in their fields...(more)
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President’s Innovation Challenge: Teacher Super-Tool App Wins $25K Prize
When UNLV’s 3rd annual President’s Innovation Challenge opened in the fall 2023, a handful of students came together to craft a solution to a shared challenge: how to help loved ones be heard. From a sister with a birth defect that impacted her speech to immigrant parents who experienced struggles with the English language...(more)
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New Programs Join Lineup of UNLV Young Rebels Summer Experience Offerings
Summer vacation doesn’t have to mean months of slumber on education. As another school year draws to an end in Southern Nevada, UNLV is offering K-12 students a chance to head to campus to experience the excitement of being part of a leading research university and discover paths that could lead to future careers. Whether...(more)
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REBEL RECOVERY PROGRAM
Since the December 6th tragedy, the Rebel community continues to experience kindness, support, and encouragement from so many. We would like to express our sincere appreciation and gratitude for all those who have helped and inspired us as we continue our recovery process. Don’t forget to check-in for the latest updates as we continue to progress on our Rebel Recovery Program. Please visit the UNLV Strong website to learn more.
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