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Department of Educational Psychology, Leadership, and Higher Education News

We provide instruction in and the delivery of innovative research to inform the educational process from early childhood through higher education via our master’s and doctoral degree programs as well as graduate certificates, including the Intercollegiate and Professional Sport Management program.

Current Educational Psychology, Leadership, and Higher Education News

LeAnne Salazar Montoya at graduation ceremony
People |

The Radiance Project, led by LeAnne Salazar-Montoya, expands pathways to leadership for Latinx educators. It also earned her the 2025 Service-Learning Faculty Award.

Spring flowers
Campus News |

The students and faculty of UNLV are springing into headlines around the country.

spring day on UNLV campus
People |

The associate vice provost of academic effectiveness plays a key role in the accreditation process. 

Stacy Shapin stands in an art gallery
People |

The College of Fine Arts advising director on the high value of arts degrees, quiet spaces, and being a late bloomer.

UNLV professor Federick Ngo on campus while sitting on a bench with his right raised and his right foot on the bench
People |

UNLV Professor Federick Ngo earns high marks for his devotion to teaching and to breaking down barriers that hinder college access and student success.

UNLV students walking on campus
Research |

The College of Education's National Institute for the Advancement of Education awarded four faculty research grants that will explore potential solutions for retaining Nevada's teachers.

Educational Psychology, Leadership, and Higher Education In The News

Covers

Nevada’s top betting operators have another sporting event to look forward to. WrestleMania 41 is expected to bring in $215 million for the Las Vegas economy, as it draws attention to Las Vegas' growing status as a world-class international sports and entertainment capital.

KSNV-TV: News 3

WrestleMania 41 is set to make a significant economic impact on Las Vegas, although it may not reach the heights of the Las Vegas Grand Prix or the Super Bowl.

KLAS-TV: 8 News Now

A new parent-led nonprofit aims to provide reliable transportation for school kids, especially those who are not eligible or do not want to ride the school bus.

KSNV-TV: News 3

The NAACP chapter in Las Vegas is voicing strong opposition to President Trump's recent executive order aimed at dismantling the U.S. Department of Education. The chapter is urging that education equity remains a national priority, emphasizing the importance of maintaining progress in educational opportunities for all students.

PBS

Five years ago, Covid-19 drastically changed lives all over the world. The pandemic also presented unique challenges for Las Vegas. We discuss how Nevadans continue to be impacted in a special collaboration with KNPR’s State of Nevada. We then meet Libby Hausrath, a UNLV professor and lead researcher on a Mars project. She explains what samples being collected now may tell us about the Red Planet.

PBS

Five years ago, Covid-19 drastically changed lives all over the world. The pandemic also presented unique challenges for Las Vegas. We discuss how Nevadans continue to be impacted in a special collaboration with KNPR’s State of Nevada. We then meet Libby Hausrath, a UNLV professor and lead researcher on a Mars project. She explains what samples being collected now may tell us about the Red Planet.

Educational Psychology, Leadership, and Higher Education Experts

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An expert on college access and higher education policy.
An expert on teacher retention, school funding, and crises that disrupt schooling.
An expert on K-12 accountability, higher education policy, and educational statistics.

Recent Educational Psychology, Leadership, and Higher Education Accomplishments

Kenyon Lee Whitman (Educational Psychology, Leadership, and Higher Education) co-authored a paper in AERA Open titled "Secondary and Postsecondary Education Outcomes of Students with Experience in Foster Care: Systematic Review of the Literature From 2000–2023." This study provides a definitive publication that reports secondary and postsecondary…
Jacob D. Skousen (Educational Psychology, Leadership, and Higher Education) has been selected to serve as the Editor for the State of the States Special Issue of the Journal of Education Human Resources. This special issue highlights current trends, policy developments, and research related to education finance across the United States.
Jacob D. Skousen (Educational Psychology, Leadership, and Higher Education) has been elected to serve on the executive board for the National Education Finance Academy (NEFA). NEFA Board Members provide leadership and strategic guidance for the organization in advancing research, policy, and practice in education finance. Skousen was elected and…
Jacob D. Skousen (Educational Psychology, Leadership, and Higher Education) has been awarded the 2025 NEFA Distinguished Research & Practice Fellow Award. This award recognizes individuals who have made significant contributions to the field of education finance. Honorees are selected for their outstanding research and practical impact on…
Bradley Marianno (Educational Psychology, Leadership, and Higher Education) published a handbook chapter on Teachers' Unions and Collective Bargaining in the Live Handbook of Education Policy Research. The Live Handbook is an open-access, interconnected set of research summaries covering over 50 different education policy topics. 
Kristine Jan Cruz Espinoza, Blanca E. Rincón (both Educational Psychology, Leadership, and Higher Education), Brent M. Drake (formerly Decision Support), J. Judd Harbin (formerly Student Affairs Strategic Planning and Assessment), and Kyle Ethelbah (Center for Academic Enrichment and Outreach) won the won the Charles F. Elton Best Paper Award…