Through the UNLV Office of Undergraduate Research (OUR), Brookings Mountain West students frequently present their research at one of OUR’s triannual undergraduate research symposia. Each spring, summer, and fall semester, undergraduate students share their work with the campus through poster presentations, oral presentations, and exhibits. The COVID-19 pandemic altered the Fall 2020 OUR event, and students prepared video presentations of their work. View our recent announcement to see research presentations from several students who participated.
Some 163 UNLV undergraduate students presented their research, supported by 76 faculty research mentors. Two students and a faculty member in our cohort of Brookings Mountain West and The Lincy Institute staff received awards at the Fall 2020 OUR Undergraduate Research Symposium. Please join us in congratulating Katie Gilbertson, Mary Blankenship, and Dr. Caitlin Saladino for their outstanding achievements.
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Katie Gilbertson is a junior at UNLV majoring in economics and pursuing a minor in information technology as well as the Brookings Public Policy Minor. Her research examines alternative tax strategies for the Live Entertainment Tax (LET) in Nevada, based upon her analysis of best practices in other states. Gilbertson has conducted economic development research with UNLV faculty members and authored opinion editorials on a number of policy issues.
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Mary Blankenship is a senior at UNLV majoring in chemistry and economics and she recently completed the Brookings Public Policy Minor. Blankenship conducted an analysis of over 14.5 million tweets generated in the wake of the Las Vegas 1 October mass shooting and its second anniversary to identify how much of the public response is fogged by information pollution, to identify what kind of misinformation is spread, and how far it spreads on Twitter. Blankenship’s culminating paper for the Brookings Public Policy Minor, “How Misinformation Spreads Through Twitter,” has garnered much attention including several media inquiries.
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Dr. Caitlin Saladino is the Director of Strategic Development & Operations for Brookings Mountain West and The Lincy Institute. Dedicated to public policy research and reform, Dr. Saladino goes above and beyond to ensure student success in the public policy realm. Along with UNLV Director, William E. Brown Jr, she administers the Data Hub, an expert and expanding public policy resource for data on issues critical to Las Vegas, Nevada, and the region. Saladino is also an instructor in two courses within the Brookings Public Policy Minor.
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I would not be a researcher if it were not for Dr. Saladino. She is an extraordinary teacher who motivates her students to produce the best quality of research possible. Dr. Saladino has guided me throughout my research process by encouraging me to explore a topic that I was initially reluctant to study, but looking back I am so thankful that I had her support. She seeks potential in all her students and empowers them to shape a better Southern Nevada community through public policy.
– Katelin Gilbertson
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Dr. Saladino cares deeply about her students and works hard to support each and every one of them. She has been more than generous with her time to mentor me, and I will forever be grateful for all of the policy and research opportunities that she has helped me obtain; these have made my college experience worthwhile. Dr. Saladino, thanks for all you do to make the Brookings Public Policy Minor and The Lincy Institute – Brookings Mountain West accessible to undergraduates! I’d like to thank you especially this semester for your guidance on the Vulnerable Jobs and Venture Capital in Nevada research projects!
– Peter Grema
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Congratulations to Katie Gilbertson, Mary Blankenship, and Dr. Caitlin Saladino!
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