Innovating for Nevada

In this edition

About our College

A founding college of the University, we have a long tradition of excellence in teaching, research and engagement programs that benefit the health and economic vitality of Nevada. We offer programs in:

agriculture, horticulture, rangeland and veterinary sciences
biochemistry and molecular biology
children, youth and families
community and economic development
health and nutrition
natural resources and environmental science

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Welcome home Wolf Pack!

Welcome – or welcome back, as the case may be – to the University and our College! It’s great to have campus fully open again. Many of you have struggled with the pandemic, and though we are not out of it yet (a mask requirement is in effect as I write this), we will return to normal operations this fall. Classes and labs will look more like “normal,” our College's Student Center and lounge is open again, and other aspects of campus life are returning – so get involved!

Continuing or resuming your academic progress now is the right decision. Our College has been working to help as much as we can. We are finalizing the distribution of nearly $180,000 in scholarship support this year. We also launched an emergency relief fund last January that has distributed $50,000 in aid so far, and which will continue this fall. Watch for email announcements for more opportunities and be sure to complete your 91ԭƬ application when it is available starting Oct. 1.

Please keep an eye out for announcements from our College's Student Center as they launch fall academic advising campaigns. Freshmen and sophomores – you’ll need to meet with an advisor to enroll for spring classes. Juniors and seniors – schedule a grad check to ensure you’re on track to graduate. If you have any questions, just email our College's Student Center.

Again – welcome to the 2021-2022 academic year! I wish you all the best academic and college experience possible. Get involved, remember that help is always available, and stay well.

Go Pack!

Get involved

Community Garden Club

Environmental Club

Meat Science Club

Nevada Equestrian Team

Nevada Future Farmers of America

Nevada Loggers

Pre-Vet Club

Range Club

Rodeo Club

Society of American Foresters

Student Nutrition Association

Wildlife Society

Young Farmers & Ranchers

Learn about scholarship support

Madison Blea (Biochemistry & Molecular Biology; Class of 2023): “With the help of scholarships, I should be able to go to school without student loans or help from my parents. Scholarships have allowed me to independently fund my education while saving money while working.”
Kianna Boc (B.S. in Nutrition; Class of 2020): "With the help from your scholarship, I am able to focus my time on being involved with the University as I am able to volunteer as a Nevada Student Ambassador.”
Lauryn Sabers (Class of 2022): “My mom is a Nevada Alumni and received her master’s degree from the University. I love being a student at UNR and I am so pleased to go to a university that my family member went to. Receiving a scholarship is one of the best things I could ask for.”
Lizeth Acosta '19 (Biochemistry & Molecular Biology): "In addition to much-appreciated financial support, I always had the Wells Fargo First Generation Scholarship requirements in mind. At first, I didn't know how I was going to volunteer 40 hours and keep a 3.0 GPA. I studied harder than I ever had before... [and] got involved in volunteering more quickly and at a greater rate."
Andrew Hagemann (B.S./M.S. in Biotechnology; Class of 2020): “Ever since my early years in elementary school, I have wanted to pursue a career in microbiology. With continuous support from my mom, teachers and professors, my dreams of making the world a healthier place are becoming a reality. The support that comes along with my scholarships is greatly helpful in funding my ambitious academic goals.”

Making college accessible

Through the generosity of our many donors and supporters, our College has the ability to award over $175,000 in undergraduate and graduate scholarships annually. Students in the College will be considered for all merit and need-based scholarships and be selected for nomination by a committee of College faculty representing each department.

Learn about scholarships

Kickoff to Kindergarten fair returns to prepare young children for school readiness

Extension hosts back-to-school family pre-k event with community partners

A young girl enjoys a hands-on learning activity at a previous Kickoff to Kindergarten event.

Extension is partnering with Las Vegas-Clark County Library District to host the sixth annual Kickoff to Kindergarten fair Aug. 21, from 10:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., at the East Las Vegas Library, 2851 E. Bonanza Road in Las Vegas. The event is free and open to the public, and backpacks with school supplies will be given to the first 200 families.

“We are so excited that we will be back to an in-person event this year,” Yae Bin Kim, Extension associate professor, said.

Preparing parents and children for a better future

“This event highlights all different readiness activities, and we have many resources and materials for families that help improve school-readiness skills from home. This is all possible thanks to all our wonderful partners.” -Associate Professor Yae Bin Kim

Learn about the event

Extension continues outreach efforts to help residents better understand and live more safely with wildfire

Claudene Wharton

Extension Living With Fire team members (left to right) Megan Kay, Christina Restaino and Jamie Roice-Gomes record the second episode of the new Living With Fire Podcast. Photo by Jordan Buxton.

A new podcast from Extension's Living With Fire Program seeks to dig deeper into the issues surrounding the West's wildfire challenges, share personal accounts from those who have battled the fires and those who have been impacted by them, and provide insight from those who research the topic and try to manage our lands and wildfires to prevent catastrophic loss of lives and property.

The first two podcast episodes are available now.

Episode 1: How did we get here? The History of Wildfire in Nevada - Brad Schultz, professor and Extension educator in Humboldt County, discusses the role of fire in Nevada, historically. As an expert in rangeland management, he has looked at wildfire from a “big picture” perspective across the state and across the West.
Episode 2: Living With Fire - Members of Extension’s Living With Fire Program team give their perspectives on what it means to live with fire, and talk about some of the innovative ways the program and its partners are expanding the program, not only into the airwaves with the podcasts, but also in the schools, for example.

Future episodes include Fire Management in Nevada, Cultural Fire on Washoe Lands, Stories From Nevadans Impacted by Wildfire, Fire Ecology in Nevada, Perspectives From Wildland Firefighters.

Preparing Nevadans to prevent catastrophic loss

“We have to be prepared for wildfire because it exists here and it’s a part of the landscape and the history. I think that these stories in the podcast help to paint that entire picture.” -Assistant Professor Christina Restaino

Learn about her work

University researcher to create predictive models to better protect pets and humans

Claudene Wharton

Cyanobacteria grows on the riverbed of the Eel River. Photo by Joanna Blaszczak.

Riverbed blue-green algae, referred to as “cyanobacteria,” can create algal blooms that produce toxins harmful to aquatic life, pets, livestock and humans.

Assistant Professor Joanna Blaszczak, with our College and its Experiment Station unit, is conducting research to identify the specific conditions conducive to producing these blooms and their toxins, so that water managers can know when they are going to occur and take actions to better protect animals, humans and river ecosystems.

Blaszczak hopes to keep people and their animals safe and inspire students to take an interest in studying science and their local rivers.

“We’ll bring students to one of the field sites and go through and explain some of the work we are doing and provide them the opportunity to get some hands-on experience sampling a riverbed,” she said. “We’ll have them understand where the harmful algae are, what they look like, and what we are doing. It’s an opportunity to get high school students excited to learn about science, and what’s going on in their own river networks.”

Ensuring healthy rivers, people and pets

“Besides keeping dogs and other animals safe, I’m concerned for people and the river ecosystems. I was driving by the Eel River, and you could just see the algal blooms on the river rocks. And 30 feet downstream, there were all these children playing in the river.” -Assistant Professor Joanna Blaszczak

Lean about her work

Meet Joanna

Our programs work together to make an impact

Our teaching, research and engagement programs are intertwined and complement one another. Faculty who teach on campus also conduct research as part of our Experiment Station, allowing students to learn about and participate in research. Extension faculty engaging with communities identify research needs, as well as join Experiment Station faculty to conduct research. Faculty on campus help to develop Extension programs in communities.

Researching critical issues Experiment Station faculty conduct research at experiment stations, labs and research facilities across the state, as well as teach classes and share and conduct research with students. The state-federal partnership tackles issues affecting Nevada's citizens, communities and economy.

student researcher with plants in greenhouse

Teaching University students We offer 17 undergraduate and graduate degrees to prepare students for high-paying, in-demand careers in agriculture, rangeland & veterinary sciences; biochemistry & molecular biology; natural resources & environmental science; and nutrition.

Engaging Nevada communities Extension is engaged in Nevada communities, presenting research-based knowledge to address critical community needs. The county-state-federal partnership provides practical education to people, businesses and communities, fulfilling the University's land-grant mission.