Government Engagement

Cultivating the Soil (Experts): UNLV Lands $2.1 U.S. Department of Energy Grant

Being a desert community makes water a precious resource, and preserving it even more crucial. A UNLV research team led by Zhange Feng and Hanqing Pan, both assistant professors with the department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, secured a $2.1 million U.S. Department of Energy award to create an academic curriculum and training system to develop the next generation of leaders to address soil and groundwater remediation throughout the Southwest. The goal of remediation is to...(more)

UNLV Institute Provides Funding for Finding Solutions to State's Educator Shortfall



Even beyond the lasting effects of COVID-19 on Nevada’s school systems, the state struggles with a shortfall of teachers and professional staff working in the education field. A report created by the Nevada Advisory Committee this year showed that some of educators’ top concerns related to a lack of professional development opportunities and mental health resources as well as concerns around school violence and safety. To delve deeper into how Nevada can retain teachers, the National Institute for the Advancement of Education (NIAE) — a semi-autonomous research unit housed inside UNLV’s College of Education — awarded grants to four teams of…(more)

Rebels in Action - Government

Community Engagement

UNLV Student Experience - College of Liberal Arts Internship Program

Recently, a UNLV student, Viviana, took to LinkedIn to share their experience as an intern through the UNLV College of Liberal Arts Internship Program:  

I had the pleasure to be part of The Love Yourself Foundation (LYF) for around three months. As their Admin & Wellness Coordinator, I have been able to work on new ideas for community outreach and recently joined Public Relations to increase media engagement. Earlier this month I had the opportunity to volunteer to represent LYF at the Monday’s Dark Charity Concert event at The Space LV. [At] this event I assisted with encouraging guest[s] to join our raffle…We have also been able to raise $10k in 90 minutes! Also during the month of July our monthly theme being Appreciation I have been able to be a guest writer for LYF’s blog post. I am currently writing a reflection called, “Tale as Old as Time,” of my past 4 years since the pandemic, what I have learned, and advice on self-care. My experience with LYF has been incredible, with amazing fellow leading women, and an astounding supervisor Monica Garcia. I enjoy my time interacting with my team and being able to bond during our retreat.

Since its inception in 2020, UNLV’s College of Liberal Arts Internship Program has helped nearly 1,500 students. And, these students have completed 225,000 internship hours in our community - and beyond. 

“Students like Viviana remind me of the importance of this work. Investing in internships provides reciprocal dividends for students and for the organizations who host them,” said Jenna Heath, Director of Student and Community Engagement for UNLV’s College of Liberal Arts, adding, “Interns help address diverse community needs and the program is an epic pipeline for hiring.”

As Seen on TV (Sort Of): UNLV Interns Make an Impression

Internships are so much more than the coffee runs you see in film and TV shows, but since art so often imitates life, one has to ask: What exactly is the difference between what you see in the movies and what interns get to do? We've paired up some UNLV students who spent this summer as interns with their big screen counterparts. From local government to SpaceX and more, these students are flexing what they’ve learned in the classroom and combining it with…(more)

UNLV Celebrates Hispanic Heritage Month

It’s Hispanic Heritage Month, and to celebrate UNLV’s Student Diversity is hosting a variety of events to celebrate the culture and contributions of the Latinx and Hispanic community. In 2015, UNLV became Nevada’s first Hispanic-Serving Institution, and is a member of the Alliance of Hispanic Serving Research Universities, a national association of universities that are both Hispanic-Serving Institutions and in the top 5% of universities in the country for research. We are proud to recognize Hispanic Heritage Month and hope you will join us for one or more of the many celebrations!

Black Mountain Institute Announces 2024-25 Literary Events

The Beverly Rogers, Carol C. Harter Black Mountain Institute (BMI) at UNLV is excited to announce its 2024-25 calendar of in-person and virtual events. These free public programs, beginning Sept. 19, align with BMI’s mission of supporting writers and storytellers in Las Vegas and the Southwest. These programs are free to attend and open to everyone. BMI’s live programs consist of...(more)

Rebels in Action - Community

8/1 – President Keith E. Whitfield joined several community partners to celebrate the inaugural cohort of 45 mentees in the Public Education Foundation’s Teacher FastTrack program. These mentees will enter the classroom as licensed teachers this fall!

8/3 – UNLV hosted a resource table at the City of North Las Vegas Neighborhood Recreation Center’s Back-to-School Giveaway. We enjoyed sharing resource information, school supplies, and a few fun items for the kiddos!

8/5 – UNLV Rebel Football players helped City of North Las Vegas youth celebrate back to school season with games and exercises that teach valuable lessons about teamwork and the importance of education. 

8/7 – UNLV attended the Open House and Resource Fair at CIVICA Academy where we connected with families, provided resource information, and explored future collaborations between CIVICA Academy and UNLV. 

8/19 – Rebel Ready Week kicked-off with the Rebel Ride on hand to welcome the class of 2028! This fall, UNLV welcomed more than 32,000 students to campus, a to-date record.

8/22 – UNLV participated in the Sunrise Library’s Health and Resource Fair to share medical, dental, mental health, and legal resources available through UNLV, as well as information about UNLV programs designed specifically for PK-12 youth. 

8/26 – President Keith E. Whitfield hosted Keith’s Lemonade Stand in the Beam Hall atrium and greeted UNLV faculty, staff, and students as they arrived to begin the Fall 2024 Semester.   

8/29 – UNLV engaged with 30 households at the Walnut Recreation Centers Health and Resource Fair to discuss specific needs they have and explore options at UNLV to meet these needs. 

8/29 – President Keith E. Whitfield was on hand to kick off the Fall 2024 Semester at Premier UNLV, one of the largest and longest-running traditions on campus.

Rebel Spotlight

ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT

Gretchen Grierson

It’s difficult for Gretchen Grierson to say with certainty what sparked her interest in psychology — an interest that led to her earning two degrees from her hometown university. Which in turn led to an impactful, rewarding, and diverse career, one whose sole focus is to help others. As for how she acquired the primary characteristics — empathy, compassion, and a desire to listen without...(more)

EMPLOYEE SPOTLIGHT

Kristina Ramos 

Kristina Ramos joined UNLV in August 2024 as the Engagement Events Coordinator in the Office of Government and Community Engagement. With a deep-rooted passion for community service, Kristina brings over a decade of experience supporting programs in Southern Nevada to make a positive impact. Before her current position, Kristina worked for two…(more)

UNLV News

ICYMI: UNLV Newsmakers 2024 - August

UNLV marked multiple milestones in August. The latest phase of the university’s Rebel Recovery initiative was led by the reopening of Beam Hall, eight months after a tragic shooting that claimed the lives of three beloved faculty members. Refusing to be deterred, students forged ahead in the pursuit of their dreams — spurring UNLV to welcome its largest enrollment in campus history this fall. The university introduced a slew of new program and...(more)

Graduate College BRIDGE Program: Paving the Way

As the demand for higher education evolves, universities are reassessing how they support students academically, professionally, and personally. The call is to provide programming that centers holistic approaches and equitable practices and prepares new graduate and professional students to navigate the pathway through their degrees and beyond into their post-graduate career. Enter the Graduate College's Building Resilient and Inclusive...(more) 

After Months of Recovery, Bot Rith Returns to UNLV

On a late Wednesday morning in August, economics professor Daraboth “Bot” Rith recognized the face of the man who saved his life on Dec 6, 2023. The reunion took place in a conference room, tucked away inside University Police Services headquarters in the University Gateway building across Maryland Parkway and away from Beam Hall. Though he’d only seen him once since that day, it was easy for Rith to pick out officer Jake...(more)

Before You Go

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. 

Invitation to Support Our Work

Great universities and great communities go together, and this is certainly true for UNLV and Nevada. The needs in our communities are many and there is so much more we can do to help solve some of our most pressing challenges. But, we cannot do it without you. We invite you to support our work by visiting the website, clicking the “UNLV Fund” option, and then selecting “Community Engagement” from the options listed. Thank you for your consideration!