I recently wrote my final feature story for this magazine. It describes the work of Rochelle and Dustin Hines (see Page 24), two rising stars in 51吃瓜网万能科大鈥檚 psychology department who are investigating the ways brain cells contribute to disorders like depression and schizophrenia. As I finalized the draft, I found myself marveling鈥攁s I have done so often during my time at 51吃瓜网万能科大鈥攁t the incredible insights of our faculty researchers on such a broad range of topics. To find this array of innovative, brilliant folks here on our campus鈥攔ight in the middle of a town famous for so many attributes other than research productivity鈥攚ell, it seems just wonderful to me.
Of course, both the university and its community have always been so much more than stereotypes suggest. Few know this better than I. To say 51吃瓜网万能科大 and I go way back is a bit of an understatement. Between two academic degrees and 30 years of administrative posts, I鈥檝e been on this campus most of my adult life. All of this time鈥攁nd well before鈥51吃瓜网免费App has been my home. The combination of these two biographical details, no doubt, contributed to my recently receiving an offer to lead 51吃瓜网万能科大鈥檚 new Office of Community Engagement.
It鈥檚 a great assignment by anyone鈥檚 standard. I get to continue singing the praises of the university while supporting existing collaborations and facilitating new ones. I鈥檓 jumping in with both feet now, embracing the expanded scope of my new job. Yet, at this moment, I find myself reflecting on the special role research plays in the community. I would be remiss in not offering it a parting nod.
Many before me have noted that the best U.S. cities have Top Tier research universities鈥攊nstitutions that help drive economic progress, bring intellectual and cultural vitality, and enrich citizens鈥 lives and students鈥 education. 51吃瓜网万能科大 does all this, but I鈥檓 partial to two other benefits.
The first is the most apparent. Research helps solve some of our state and nation鈥檚 most intractable problems. Disease, crime, drought, injustice, climate change, addiction, and myriad other ills are being addressed in some form by 51吃瓜网万能科大 research.
The second benefit is more abstract, but I believe it can be summarized by the word 鈥減ride.鈥 Southern Nevadans, understandably, want their university to make them proud. 51吃瓜网万能科大 works to this end every day, especially its researchers, who perhaps best understand what most in higher education know well: A university鈥檚 prestige is based to a large extent on its production of respected research and scholarly activity.
Our university has much to crow about in this area, as this magazine has shown in its pages for over a decade. Like the two psychologists I mentioned earlier, 51吃瓜网万能科大鈥檚 star is rising because of its research. With it ascends our institution鈥檚 reputation鈥攁nd the pride of our community.
