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Inaspiration, Innovation, Impact: A Celebration of Graduate Student Research

Photo: John Olawepo, Ph.D. Alumnus in Public Health (Global and Environmental Health), UNLV 2020

Inspiration, Innovation, Impact: A Celebration of Graduate Student Accomplishments

The Inspiration, Innovation, Impact event showcases the best in UNLV graduate and professional student scholarly and creative activity. Join us to see a select group of students from a variety of schools/colleges give short, five-minute, TED-style talks or performances showcasing their work. Inspiration, Innovation, Impact kicks off the Graduate & Professional Student Association's annual Research Forum.

Upcoming Events

This event has passed. Please check back soon.

Application Information

Applicants will go through several steps:

1. Submit Your Video & Application by Tuesday February 21, 2023

Applicants (no longer than three minutes in length). This video should convey who you are, what topic you propose to speak on along with a synopsis of your presentation, and the broader impacts of your research. Applicants will be notified no later than Friday, March 3, if they have been selected to move on.

2. Invitation to Present to Review Panel (Week of March 6-10, 2023)

Selected participants will present their research to the Review Panel. Presentations should be no longer than five minutes and a PowerPoint Presentation is required. It is highly recommended that finalists watch the ‘Grad Academy: Tips & Tricks for Communicating your Research/Creative/Scholarly Project’ workshop prior to presenting to the review panel. Applicants will be notified on Friday, March 10, 2023, if they have been invited to present at the 8th Annual Inspiration, Innovation Impact event. . 

3. Practice Sessions (Week of March 20 - Week of April 3, 2023) 

Selected finalists will receive coaching in communication skills so that they can effectively create and deliver their presentations. Participants are expected to be available for 2-3 practice sessions and a dress rehearsal.

4. 8th Annual Inspiration, Innovation, Impact Presentation (Friday, April 14, 2023)

Finalists who advance from the second round will present their research at the 8th Annual Inspiration, Innovation, Impact Event on Friday, April 14, 2023. In addition, finalists will be filmed and videos will be posted on the Graduate College YouTube channel. Inspiration, Innovation, Impact presenters will be awarded a $1,000 scholarship.

Archives

Recaps from Past Inspiration, Innovation, Impact Events

2024 2023 2022
2024 Presenters

April Contreras, Department of Brain Health

Gabson Baguma, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering and Construction

Karin Tidgewell, School of Public Policy and Leadership

2023 Presenters

Jorge Reyes, Department of Mathematical Sciences

Sherrie Tennessee, William F. Harrah College of Hospitality

Godson Ebenezer Adjovu, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering and Construction

Melikabella Shenouda, Department of Educational Psychology, Leadership, and Higher Education

2023 Student Panelists

Jasminn Gray, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering and Construction

Nicolle Peterson, Department of Film

Sarah York, Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry

2023 Faculty Panelists

Jacimaria Batista, Ph.D., Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering and Construction

Brett Levner, M.F.A., Department of Film

Iesha Jackson, Ed.D., Department of Teaching and Learning

2022 Presenters

Torisha Khonach, Department of Sociology

Vladislav Zhitny, School of Medicine

Korosh Hamed Saedian, Department of Healthcare Administration and Policy

Travis Studdard, Boyd School of Law

April Contreras, Department of Interdisciplinary Neuroscience

Nikki Bennett, Department of Anthropology

Cody Cris, School of Life Sciences

Shivangi Khurania, William F. Harrah College of Hospitality/Lee Business School

Skylar Schock, Department of Theatre

Howard Hamilton, Department of Economics

Kendra McGlothen, Department of Interdisciplinary Neuroscience

Dustin Davis, Department of Interdisciplinary Health Sciences

Hannah Patenaude, School of Life Sciences

2021 2019 2018
2021 Presenters

Jacqueline Phan, Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry

George W. Kajjumba, Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering and Construction

Deena DeVore, Department of Criminal Justice

Aldo Barrita, Department of Psychology

Heather Rappaport, Department of Educational Psychology & Higher Education

2019 Presenters

Sarah V. McCarthy, Department of Early Childhood, Multilingual, and Special Education

Michael Isaacs, School of Life Sciences

John Olawepo, School of Public Health

Jennifer M. Stevens, Department of Sociology

2018 Presenters

Beth Ok Kyung Wi, William F. Harrah College of Hospitality/Lee Business School

Dafne Zenice Guevara, School of Music

Maria Ramos Gonzalez, Department of Mechanical Engineering

Shon Reed, Department of Criminal Justice

Brenda Tena, School of Architecture

Nick Macmurray, Department of Sociology

2017 2016 2015
2017 Presenters

Breanna Boppre, Department of Criminal Justice Nasko Balakchiev, School of Architecture

Adam Betemedhin, Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering

Alicia Crespin, School of Life Sciences

Wynn Tashman, William S. Boyd School of Law/Department of Educational Psychology and Higher Education

Austin McKenna, School of Life Sciences

2016 Presenters

Kristyne Wiegand, School of Allied Health Sciences Daniel Mast, School of Life Sciences

Karli Nave, College of Liberal Arts

Nicole Santero, Greenspun College of Urban Affairs

Christina Vanden Bosch der Nederlanden, College of Liberal Arts

Henry Castillo, Greenspun College of Urban Affairs

Shelly Volsche, College of Liberal Arts

2015 Presenters

Kaiyang Wu, College of Hotel Administration/Lee Business School

Jessica Nave-Blodgett, Department of Psychology

Surbhi Sharma, School of Life Sciences

Katelyn DiBenedetto, Department of Anthropology

Amber Bonasso, College of Fine Arts

Jack Lafferty, College of Fine Arts

Christopher Hardy, School of Life Sciences