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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

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.

individual receiving a vaccination from masked health practitioner
Campus News |

A group of faculty, students, and alumni roll out a campaign that encourages parents to complete their child's vaccine series. 

A UNLV banner hangs against the background of a bright blue sky
Campus News |

A UNLV-record 28 graduate and professional programs placed within the nation’s top 100 in their discipline, including 14 from Boyd School of Law.

closeup soldier and psychotherapist hands during consultation
Research |

Kathleen McNamara, a veteran and clinical social worker, discusses why mental health care is a crucial service offered by Veterans Affairs.

UNLV letters in front of FDH building outside
Campus News |

Through a fun and collaborative effort, a Planning & Construction project manager will help campus clients meet their design needs and budget.

spring flowers
Campus News |

The rosiest headlines and highlights featuring the students and faculty of UNLV.

Urban Affairs In The News

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.

Futurity

Living in the same home, especially in recent years, was the strongest predictor of a close father-child bond during adolescence, regardless of whether the parents were married.

Mirage News

Children who grow up with their fathers under the same roof tend to feel close to them, forming strong relationships that last through challenging teenage years, according to a new study.

KTNV-TV: ABC 13

Dozens of locals called for lower power bills and cleaner energy Tuesday, urging NV Energy to hear their concerns.

Urban Affairs Experts

An expert on interpersonal communication and long-distance relationships.
An expert on local government and public policy. 
A licensed clinical social worker specializing in trauma treatment.
An expert on science communication, religion and politics.
An expert in organizational communication that pertains to emergencies such as natural disasters, terrorist attacks, and mass shootings.
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An expert in addictions and social work.

Recent Urban Affairs Accomplishments

Steve Pace (Criminal Justice), Stephen Benning (Psychology), Logan Kennedy (Criminal Justice), and Jade Laughlin published an article, "Predictors of Successful Resolutions and Avoidance of Harms in Crisis Negotiations: An Analysis of the FBI’s HOBAS Database from 1982 to 2023." Crisis negotiation incidents can be emotionally charged events and…
Aya Shata's Jour 433 IMC Competition class (Journalism and Media Studies) won third place in the National Student Advertising Competition (NSAC) at the district level. The team developed a multi-touchpoint integrated marketing communication campaign worth $75 million for a real client. Shata along with five students (Sabrina, Alan, Joey, Kae, and…
Stephen Bates (Journalism and Media Studies) addressed the Antitrust and Competition Conference at the University of Chicago on April 10. The conference theme was Economic Concentration and the Marketplace of Ideas. Bates spoke on the opening panel.
Aya Shata (Journalism and Media Studies) and co-authors Michelle Seelig and Nick Carcioppolo from the University of Miami published an article titled, "Transmedia Edutainment for Sustainable Advocacy: How Narrative Engagement and Counterarguments Influence Generation Z’s Response to Sustainable Development Messages," in the International…
Aya Shata (Journalism and Media Studies) and Kendall Hartley (Education) published an article, "Artificial intelligence and communication technologies in academia: faculty perceptions and the adoption of generative AI," at the International Journal of Educational Technology on Higher Education. The study explores higher education faculty’s…
In April 2025, Jeffrey T. Child (Communication Studies) will become president of the largest regional communication association in the nation, the Central States Communication Association (CSCA). Child is the primary conference planner for CSCA’s 94th annual convention being held April 1-6 in Cincinnati, Ohio. He organized this year’s…