A $5 million donation from The Lincy Institute’s original donor will fund a new endowed chair at UNLV -- the Lincy Endowed Chair in Urban Affairs.

This gift – the largest individual donation to support public policy research in the history of Nevada – recognizes the teaching and research career of Robert Lang, UNLV professor of urban affairs and executive director of The Lincy Institute and Brookings Mountain West. A renowned expert on urban planning and public policy, Lang will serve as the inaugural Lincy Endowed Chair in Urban Affairs, and future recipients of this honor will lead The Lincy Institute and Brookings Mountain West as executive director and serve as faculty in the Greenspun College of Urban Affairs.

“This gift is an acknowledgement of the hard work, time, and talents of the entire team at The Lincy Institute, but most especially the dedication of Dr. Robert Lang,” said the donor. “Rob moved his family, uprooted his life and believed in Nevada at a time when we may not have believed in ourselves. He has never strayed from the mission of The Lincy Institute, which was to provide facts and data to inform public policy discussions in Nevada. This is an opportunity to thank Rob for all he has done.”

The Lincy Institute and Brookings Mountain West are two public policy research centers at UNLV that focus on issues critical to Southern Nevada, the Silver State, and our nation. Faculty and staff engage with other UNLV faculty, staff, and students – in addition to local, state, and national experts, elected and appointed officials, community business leaders, and others – to address public policy issues critical to improving the quality of life for all Nevadans.

“I want to thank the donor for their confidence in and continued support of The Lincy Institute and Brookings Mountain West, and the evidence-based policies the centers have brought to Nevada,” said Lang. “The endowment acknowledges over a decade of policy impact and provides even more resources for collaboration and partnerships on key policy initiatives that will improve our community for decades to come.”

With support from the endowment, Lang will continue to lead a number of public policy efforts from The Lincy Institute and Brookings Mountain West. This includes the expansion of Las Vegas and the Middle Class, a major project in partnership with leading experts at The Brookings Institution exploring public policy initiatives designed to improve the quality of life of the middle class in Las Vegas, and to increase the number of people rising to join its ranks.

“Decision makers require accurate, timely, and relevant research to create effective public policies that improve the quality of life in Las Vegas, in Nevada, and across our nation,” said Robert Ulmer, dean of the UNLV College of Urban Affairs. “The Lincy Endowed Chair recognizes the reputation of a distinguished faculty member, elevates the reputation of our college, and enhances our ability to attract outstanding faculty and students to explore critical public policy issues for our city, state, and nation.”

The endowment will also support the launch of an academic, peer reviewed journal to be published and produced by The Lincy Institute and partner faculty in the Greenspun College of Urban Affairs in 2020. In addition to critical policy research, The Lincy Endowed Chair in Urban Affairs will also expand the opportunities for engagement and mentorship of UNLV students, both graduate and undergraduate, to train the next generation of public policy scholars in our state.

About the Greenspun College of Urban Affairs

The Greenspun College of Urban Affairs prepares undergraduate and graduate students to lead, collaborate, and innovate through research, a cutting-edge curriculum, and public-private partnerships. The college is committed to creating contemporary solutions for resilient communities; therefore, our academic programs focus on civic engagement. Our schools and departments emphasize the following: sound public policymaking, creating strong support structures to address behavioral and mental health needs, ensuring cities are safe and prepared for emergency situations, and creating an informed citizenry through effective communication, journalism, and digital storytelling.