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.
This year, the theme of the event is “Power in Diversity: Unlocking Creativity and Research Together". The theme reflects the societal movement from being aware of and recognizing social injustices to taking collective action to dismantle structures and practices that continue to uphold these injustices in educational settings, STEAM, healthcare, communities, and beyond.
We welcome UNLV students to share the work they are doing that highlights our individual and collective commitment to change. The call for presentations is intentionally broad to encourage a diversity of perspectives and offer a platform to elevate a wide range of voices and perspectives. All topics, performances, and/or projects must be in alignment with the theme of this year’s event to be considered.
In addition to student presentations, the audience will hear from a panel of UNLV faculty members and their early-career graduate or postdoctoral mentees.
Upcoming Events
Application Information
Applicants will go through several steps:
1. Submit Your Video & Application by Tuesday February 21, 2023
Applicants submit an initial video (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.
Please note: You must have a current FAFSA form or the Alternate Need Determination Form on file. If you owe money for current or prior terms, the funds will be applied towards that balance. Disbursement of the scholarship can take between 4-6 weeks.
Please be advised that providing specific details regarding your research innovation in any public event, including the Inspiration, Innovation, Impact event, may amount to a public disclosure which could jeopardize your ability to obtain future patent protection in certain jurisdictions. As a student, prior to participating and openly sharing the details of your project, you may want to discuss this with your faculty advisor and/or seek legal counsel. Faculty and staff of the University of Nevada Las Vegas may contact the Office of Economic Development regarding any disclosure you plan to share related to patentable innovations.
Faculty and Student Panel
Audience members will hear from select UNLV faculty members and their graduate students or postdocs. Each pair will discuss key aspects of their current work that is inline with this year’s theme; the inspiration behind their work, how it’s innovative, and its impact; and their best advice to students from diverse backgrounds about research and mentorship in the academy. Inspiration, Innovation, Impact student panelists will be awarded a $250 scholarship.
Please note: You must have a current FAFSA form or the Alternate Need Determination Form on file. If you owe money for current or prior terms, the funds will be applied towards that balance. Disbursement of the scholarship can take between 4-6 weeks.
Archives
Recaps from Past Inspiration, Innovation, Impact Events
2023
2023 Student 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
2023 Inspiration, Innovation, Impact Photos
2023 Inspiration, Innovation, Impact Presentations
2022
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
2022 Inspiration, Innovation, Impact Photos
2022 Inspiration, Innovation, Impact Presentations
| 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 |