Two students preparing for a mock news segment

Greenspun College of Urban Affairs News

The Greenspun College of Urban Affairs is committed to creating contemporary solutions for resilient communities. Our academic programs focus on making effective public policy, creating support structures to meet behavioral and mental health challenges, ensuring cities are safe and prepared to meet emergency situations, effective and ethical journalism, and interpersonal and public communication strategies.

Current Urban Affairs News

three students playing board game together
Campus News |

Students illustrate the invisible factors that define our status quo, one game at a time.

UNLV Greenspun Building with Las Vegas Strip in background
Business and Community |

New report by UNLV MGM Public Policy Institute examines a high school Career and Technical Education program to increase job placement in hospitality sector.

photo illustration of person holding ipad with cloud of social media icons surrounding her. on red background
Research |

Arthur Soto-Vásquez, journalism and media studies professor, offers tips on media literacy.

A closeup on the sleeve of a red UNLV graduation gown bearing the words "Rebels Forever"
Campus News |

President Chris Heavey recognizes 10 students for their staunch commitment to academic excellence and service to the community.

UNLV seasonal eggs
Campus News |

A collection of colorful headlines featuring UNLV staff and students.

Screen graphic of person holding sign that reads we need to talk
Business and Community |

Series brings campus and community members together to learn about current events and issues.

Urban Affairs In The News

WalletHub

Law enforcement is a career that is always in the public eye, whether for heroic reasons or scandal. Currently, our nation’s 800,000 law enforcement officers have even more of a spotlight than usual, though, amid high-profile police brutality cases. As a result, the Justice Department and some local police departments have made rule changes like banning chokeholds and no-knock warrants in some situations.

Las Vegas Sun

Immigration and Customs Enforcement has not yet released data from last month on its increased enforcement operation in the Las Vegas Valley, but a UNLV Immigration Clinic attorney doesn’t believe it was as successful as the agency thought it would be.

Las Vegas Sun

Immigration and Customs Enforcement has not yet released data from last month on its increased enforcement operation in the Las Vegas Valley, but a UNLV Immigration Clinic attorney doesn’t believe it was as successful as the agency thought it would be.

The Cool Down

The University of Nevada, Las Vegas, said that wildlife trafficking is a $10 billion industry, with millions of animals dying in transit each year. That's not surprising after seeing photos of the bound turtles in the Express story.

City Cast Las Vegas

Ahead of World Circus Day this Saturday, we’re taking a look behind the curtain at the physical strain performers endure for their careers. Las Vegas is a major destination for acrobats, but our city lacks the protections and medical care needed to help manage the pain that accompanies their dazzling skills. UNLV professor and aerial performer Laura Martinez studies the culture of the circus industry and how they discuss pain. She joins co-host Dayvid Figler to explain this behind-the-scenes dynamic — and how Las Vegas commodifies performers’ bodies.

Las Vegas Review Journal

Climate scientist Kristen Averyt doesn’t think using the words “climate change” is always necessary to communicate how rapidly the planet is warming.

Urban Affairs Experts

An expert in public policy and governance.
An expert in mental and behavioral health, youth and veteran homelessness, and social work.
An expert in regional demographics, workforce development, and sustainable economic development.
An expert in trauma, child abuse, sexual assault, human trafficking, domestic violence, and juvenile delinquency.
An expert in crime science, crime prevention, and crowd management
An expert on interpersonal communication and long-distance relationships.

Recent Urban Affairs Accomplishments

Alexandra Nur and Amber Krushas (Criminal Justice) published an article titled, "Outside in: The role of visitation on within-prison and post-release behavior," in the Journal of Criminal Justice. The article explores whether patterns of visits received in prison are related to misconduct while incarcerated and parole violation once released…
Camila Salgado (Political Science), a Hixson-Lied Scholar, has been awarded a Fulbright English Teaching Assistantship in Spain for the 2025-2026 academic year. Sponsored by the U.S.-Spain Fulbright Commission and the Gobierno de Canarias, Salgado will live and work in the Canary Islands, assisting in English language classrooms and supporting…
Steven Pace (Criminal Justice) was a guest on the NPR radio show, "All Things Considered," hosted by Lakshmi Singh. Pace proved analysis concerning the arrest of Luigi Mangione in December 2024. 
An-Pyng Sun (Social Work), together with Ariann Chelli (Desert Hope Treatment Center in Las Vegas) and Maureen Strohm (HCA Sunrise Health GME Consortium at Southern Hills Hospital in Las Vegas) wrote an article, "Connecting Hospitalized Patients with Substance Use Disorder to Community Continuing Coordinated Care: The Critical Role of Hospital…
Linda Dam (Journalism and Media Studies) and Anne Marie Borsai Basaran from the University of Connecticut have published an article titled, "Societal perceptions of COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy: Strategic communicative action in problem solving" in Journal of Communication Management. The study seeks to understand the strategic communicative…
Kevin Stoker (Journalism & Media Studies) published "Expanding the Limits of “Mere Newspaper Reporting:” the Interpretive Reporting of William Bolitho Ryall in American Journalism. He and co-author Brandon Bouchillon, an associate professor at the University of Arkansas, examined the iconic writing and reporting of Bolitho, who helped pioneer…