Graduates bumping fists

UNLV Newsmakers 2021: May

A collection of news stories highlighting celebration, health, and progress at UNLV.

2021 Spring Commencement of Undergraduate Students. May 15, 2021 (Josh Hawkins/UNLV Photo Services).

For thousands of students, May marks the finish line to a long journey filled with late night studying, big group projects, and countless days of hard work. And for this year’s once-in-a-lifetime group of graduates, that would be the understatement of the century.

While the spring term came to a close and more than 8,000 UNLV students physically walked the commencement stage for the first time since 2019, UNLV stayed at the frontline for community vaccinations with the help of university experts and the Kirk Kerkorian School of Medicine. As members of the School of Medicine pitched in locally, they also fueled the hopes of the healthcare community regionally via their trailblazing, first graduating class. University experts and students across multiple disciplines also weighed in on social justice discourse for Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders in the wake of AAPI month. Lastly, the Las Vegas Strip saw an economy that had been hibernating since March 2020 finally begin to boom again.

As the summer heat closes in, UNLV and the community at large continue to blossom against the shockwaves left behind by COVID-19 through versatility and perseverance. Here are some stories highlighting this and more in this month’s issue of UNLV Newsmakers.

Classes of 2020 and 2021 Walk the Stage Together In-Person

UNLV celebrated not one — but three — graduating classes in one tear-filled weekend. Graduates from the most recent semesters were invited to get their proper dues and walk the stage alongside Spring 2021 graduates after having their own ceremonies canceled due to COVID-19. The momentous occasion left the valley cheering for the hardworking students who fought a pandemic to get their diplomas.

Kirk Kerkorian School of Medicine Welcomes New Graduates and Funding

Just as soon as it was renamed after the prominent figure Kirk Kerkorian, the school has already started living up to its new name. Graduates this semester became the first to earn M.D.s from UNLV, with many hoping the 50 graduates will push Nevada up past its ranking as 45th in the nation for the number of active physicians.

Looking ahead to the post pandemic future (post-COVID recovery)

As UNLV extended the deadline for first-time dosers and expanded vaccination offerings to children age 12 and up, university experts contributed to the national debate on how long until COVID-19 is out the door, what is slowing the progress, expectations for our post-pandemic future, and the emerging ramifications that can already be seen today. 

Asian American & Pacific Islander (AAPI) Month: Visibility and Recognition

In May, Asian American & Pacific Islander month highlighted the contributions of the AAPI community to Las Vegas and the nation. The month was also a time to address percolating feelings of fear and pain, amid pandemic discrimination and longtime historical challenges. University experts and students weighed in on both the massive contributions and the fight for equality and systemic justice for this marginalized group.

  • Claytee D. White, director of the Oral History Research Center at UNLV Libraries, spoke with KNPR News about preservation of local Asian and Pacific Islander histories.
  • Professor and director of Asian and Asian American Studies, Mark Padoongpatt, spoke with KTNV-TV: ABC 13 (twice) about Pacific Islander diversity in Las Vegas.
  • Psychology professor Gloria Wong-Padoongpatt talked about Asian American and Pacific Islander mental health, as well as cultural competence among mental health professionals with HuffPost.
  • Multiple UNLV students spoke with news outlets about their stories and involvement with “Reflections: The Las Vegas Asian American & Pacific Islander Oral History Project”: KLAS-TV: 8 News Now, KTNV-TV: ABC 13, and KSNV-TV: News 3

Hospitality, Games, and Real Estate Post-COVID

With mask mandates easing up, social distancing no longer being enforced, and multiple hotels operating at 100% capacity, Las Vegas appears to be forging its way towards a new normal. UNLV experts spoke with the media about the valley’s economic boom, real estate market fluctuations, and history in the making.  

General Expert Roundup

  • Professor in UNLV’s Couple and Family Therapy Program Katherine M. Hertlein talked about honesty, sexual comfort, and love amid the pandemic climate: Huffington Post, Cosmopolitan, Metro, TAG24, and KSNV-TV: News 3.
  • Lynn Comella, professor of gender and sexuality studies, chimed in on NPR about the need for open discourse on pornography.
  • KNPR recognized Jeffrey L. Cummings, director of the Chambers-Grundy Center for Transformative Neuroscience, for his advancement in current initiatives for researching Alzheimer’s disease.
  • Geoscience professor Elisabeth (Libby) Hausrath spoke with Bloomberg about algae sustainability on Mars.
  • Professor of law Addie Rolnick commented on the potential for a decision to not to prosecute four Las Vegas officers in the death of Jorge Gomez could affect tourism and the racist pasts of certain towns: Casino.org.

Topics:

coronavirus,  newsmakers

Campus Units:

Department of Art,  Lee Business School,  Department of Communication Studies,  Department of Economics,  Howard R. Hughes College of Engineering,  Department of Film,  College of Fine Arts,  Department of Geoscience,  Department of History,  William F. Harrah College of Hospitality,  Department of Interdisciplinary, Gender, and Ethnic Studies,  Hank Greenspun School of Journalism and Media Studies,  William S. Boyd School of Law,  College of Liberal Arts,  Department of Marketing and International Business,  Kirk Kerkorian School of Medicine at UNLV,  Department of Physics and Astronomy,  Department of Political Science,  Department of Psychology,  School of Public Health,  School of Public Policy and Leadership,  College of Sciences,  School of Social Work,  Department of Sociology,  Greenspun College of Urban Affairs,  Office of Executive Vice President and Provost,  Center for Business and Economic Research,  Center for Health Disparities Research,  International Center for Gaming Regulation,  International Gaming Institute,  Oral History Research Center,  Lied Center for Real Estate

You Might Also Like

Decking the Workplace Walls
man in holiday sweater surrounded by holiday decor
Campus News | December 23, 2025

Business Affairs units get into the holiday spirit with office decorating contest.

2025: A Year of Impact
Drone shot of the medical education building
Campus News | December 23, 2025

Reflecting on all the successes the Kirk Kerkorian School of Medicine has accomplished in the past year.

More about Campus News