Melissa Bartshe, Courtney Coughenour (both Environmental & Occupational Health), and Haroon Stephen (Civil and Environmental Engineering and Construction) published an article on "The relationship between tree canopy and social capital on physical activity in college students" in the Journal of American College Health.

Rates of physical activity are low, especially among college students, and tree canopy and social capital have been correlated with higher activity rates. This study assessed the relationship between tree canopy and social capital on minutes of activity in a subsample of UNLV students. Results indicated that less than half of the participants met the physical activity recommendations and males were more likely than females to meet them. Social capital was a significant predictor of physical activity, while neighborhood tree canopy was not.

Bartshe is a master's of public health graduate.