Students in caps and gowns walking in Downtown Las Vegas

Rebels Are Prepared

Economic Development

As the only Top Tier research university in Southern Nevada, UNLV embraces its special obligation to serve our community. We have earned national distinction as a Carnegie Classification for Community Engagement institution, which affirms that our people and our programs contribute to making our community stronger, smarter, healthier, and more connected.

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Jobs in Nevada is supported by UNLV activities
A male and female in red UNLV nursing scrubs.

UNLV Nursing graduated its first cohort through its direct-entry master of science program. It was created for students who already have a bachelor’s degree and are looking for a career change to nursing and prepares them for licensure in one year. The school’s highly ranked online master’s programs are also filling the need for nurse educators, family nurse practitioners, nurse-midwives, and psychiatric mental health.

Members of the BeHERE NV team from left to right – Jill Manit, PhD, MSW; Sara Hunt, PhD; Eterniti Claggett, BS; and Adriana Monroy, BS – at the UNLV Mental Health Initiatives Forum in April 2024.

Nevada persistently ranks at the bottom in the country for overall access to mental health services. UNLV faculty are developing initiatives to change this unacceptable situation. The statewide BeHERE NV initiative, for example, will recruit, educate, and retain mental health practitioners across the state, with the Kirk Kerkorian School of Medicine at UNLV serving as its administrative hub. And UNLV PRACTICE Clinic is implementing a strategic plan to unite graduate mental and behavioral training programs for the greatest impact.

Marcos Kano holding a laptop while standing inside an illustration of a room with a work desk

With funding from the governor's office, the College of Engineering StepUp & StartUp program has connected 50 UNLV students with 24 local tech companies for competitively paid internships. Apart from gaining valuable experience, the program offers a distinct advantage: the chance for students to make a significant impact during their internship — a unique benefit from the dynamic setting of a small company or startup.

A golfer tests their swing in a golf lab.

UNLV Sports Innovation partnered with Syracuse University’s David B. Falk College of Sport and Human Dynamics to create the Sports, Entertainment and Innovation Conference (SEICon). A first of its kind conference, SEICon brought global thought leaders, subject matter experts, and industry executives together to explore the latest innovations in sports and entertainment, esports and gaming, sports sociology and diversity, broadcast brands and media, research and development, and more.

Two doctors in a room with a patient. One doctor assesses the patient's knee while the other observes.

Recognizing the critical need in the community for specialized healthcare providers, the Kirk Kerkorian School of Medicine is pioneering the first rheumatology fellowship in Nevada. With some patients waiting six to eight months for an appointment, this fellowship program aims to increase the number of specialists training for rotations in the school’s affiliated hospitals, including the VA Hospital. It’s among the many firsts the school has brought to the community since its inception just 10 years ago.

Godson Ebenezer Adjovu, a UNLV alumnus and founding member of AERO AI.

Founded by School of Architecture student Osarodion ‘Victory’ Igbinobaro during the 2022 UNLV President's Innovation Challenge, AERO AI has transformed into a growing local tech startup company partnering with UNLV, Nevada Partners, Drone Grantology, and other regional businesses. Their flagship platform, SiEGA, delivers immersive 3D visualizations and AI-driven analytics for improved decision-making in construction, architecture, real estate, urban planning, and engineering. 

A Classroom full of students

The Kerestesi Center for Insurance and Risk Management, housed in the Lee School of Business, was established to advance faculty and student research, support professional development, and help meet intense workforce demand. The center will collaborate with insurance companies, risk management firms, and regulatory bodies to offer internships, externships, and mentorship programs for students.

Tourists takes photos with the "Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas" sign on the Strip Saturday, Feb. 6, 2016. CREDIT: Sam Morris/Las Vegas News Bureau

Safety and security for Nevada’s visitors will be the focus of the newly launched Tourist and Safety Institute at the UNLV Greenspun College of Urban Affairs. Working with faculty across UNLV, government authorities, and community stakeholders, the institute will develop community resilience solutions and policies that enhance the safety and well-being of Nevada’s residents, tourists, and the tourism industry.