UNLV Experts in the Headlines: How University of Nevada Las Vegas Faculty Shaped Summer Campus News
Summer is usually described as the slow season for universities. At the University of Nevada Las Vegas, the record from July and August 2026 tells a different story. Faculty experts from UNLV appeared in dozens of national, international, and trade publications, offering commentary on subjects as varied as restaurant hygiene, total solar eclipses, hamster hibernation, airline window shades, hotel breakfast buffets, and the psychology of doomscrolling. The range of topics reflects something important about the university: its researchers are not confined to academic journals, and their knowledge reaches the public through some of the most widely read outlets in the USA, including The New York Times, TIME Magazine, The Washington Post, National Geographic, Wired, Vox, and USA Today.
For prospective students, current Rebels, journalists, and anyone interested in higher education, this wave of media coverage is more than a collection of interesting quotes. It is a snapshot of how a major research university in the USA connects rigorous scholarship with questions people actually ask every day. Below is a review of what UNLV experts covered this summer, organized by theme, along with guidance on how to follow the university’s campus news and locate faculty experts for your own projects.
Why Faculty Experts Matter in Campus News
Media appearances by university faculty serve several purposes at once. They give journalists access to credible, research-based sources on tight deadlines. They help the public separate evidence from speculation on health, safety, and technology topics. And they signal to students that the people teaching their classes are recognized authorities in their fields. The University of Nevada Las Vegas maintains a dedicated Experts Directory for exactly this reason, making it straightforward for reporters, businesses, and community organizations to find a qualified voice on almost any subject.
This summer’s headlines illustrate that breadth. Public health specialists commented on disease outbreaks and food safety. Neuroscientists explained emerging cannabis products and social media habits. Hospitality professors decoded the etiquette of hotel breakfast buffets and the pricing strategies of Las Vegas resorts. An aviation historian appeared in outlet after outlet to explain everything from boarding pass symbols to why flight attendants greet passengers. Explore the UNLV News Center to browse the full Newsmakers roundup and see the complete list of media mentions.
Health and Science: Practical Guidance From UNLV Researchers
Infectious disease epidemiologist Brian Labus was among the most frequently quoted voices of the season. Requests from outlets such as Tasting Table led to a series of stories on germy items commonly found at restaurant tables, the visual signs of a genuinely clean commercial kitchen, and how to interpret posted health inspection grades. He also addressed the cyclospora outbreak for Yahoo and the Daily Mail, evaluated the safety of bottled water for EatingWell and Real Simple, and explained rabies risks in wildlife for Fox News readers. The throughline in all of this coverage is accessible risk communication: translating epidemiological principles into decisions people can make at the dinner table or the grocery store.
Other science stories reached even wider audiences. Mosquito expert Louisa Messenger shared seasonal prevention tips with TIME Magazine. Astrophysicist Jason Steffen spoke with National Geographic about the best ways to view August’s total solar eclipse. Life sciences researcher Frank van Breukelen discussed with Science magazine the identification of key brain circuitry involved in hamster hibernation, work with implications for understanding mammalian metabolism. Nutrition scientist Sara K. Rosenkranz spoke to MarketWatch about the growing market for functional hydration products, offering a measured perspective on whether specialized electrolyte drinks justify their price. Archaeologist Lisa Johnson provided context to The New York Times on a newly reported Maya ruins discovery in Mexico, and neuroscientists Dustin and Rochelle Hines teamed up on a Vice explainer about THCV, a cannabis compound sometimes marketed as a lighter alternative to THC.
Digital Habits and Psychology: What the Research Says
A significant share of this summer’s campus news coverage focused on how technology shapes behavior. Psychology professor Dustin Hines joined a Real Simple exploration of whether doomscrolling on social media causes “brain rot,” a term that has moved from internet slang into mainstream conversation. Social media expert Benjamin Morse also contributed to Real Simple, this time explaining the psychology behind parasocial relationships, the one-sided bonds people form with celebrities and influencers they have never met.
Shane Kraus, director of the UNLV Behavioral Addictions Lab, had an especially active season. He explained the appeal of Rips, a card-pack collecting app where users spend significant sums chasing rare digital cards, for Wired. He spoke with Inc. about prediction markets and the ways DraftKings is blurring the line between sports betting and Wall Street-style trading. He also discussed nicotine pouches with WORLD and phone addiction on The Last Show with David Cooper podcast. Meanwhile, couple and family therapist Dawn Moore spoke with The Independent about the dynamics of large age-gap relationships, a topic that regularly generates public fascination. Curious whether a UNLV researcher has commented on a topic you follow? Search the university’s Experts Directory by specialty and browse their recent media appearances.
Hospitality, Business, and Economics: Las Vegas Expertise on a National Stage
It is no surprise that a university based in Las Vegas produces some of the country’s most quoted hospitality experts. Professor Mehmet Erdem helped The Washington Post outline the unwritten rules of hotel breakfast buffets, a story that resonated with travelers nationwide. Stowe Shoemaker offered Inc. readers insight into why Magnolia Bakery, a New York City institution, has stayed relevant for three decades. Anthony F. Lucas spoke with USA Today about Las Vegas resorts using all-inclusive deals to attract visitors, a notable shift for a destination historically built on individual transactions.
Economics and real estate commentary reached policy-level audiences as well. Nicholas Irwin of the Lied Center for Real Estate explained to Vox the thinking behind Nevada’s proposal to convert golf course land into affordable housing, a story with implications for land-use debates across the USA. Emerging media expert Benjamin Burroughs helped The Washington Post examine why an online game asking players to recall how senators voted on landmark bills was spreading rapidly. Students and researchers interested in these fields can compare degree programs across UNLV’s colleges, from the William F. Harrah College of Hospitality to the Lee Business School and the Molasky Family Department of Economics and Real Estate.
Aviation, Food, and the Environment: The Experts Roundup
Aviation historian Dan Bubb may have been the single busiest UNLV expert of the summer. The South Florida Business Journal turned to him to analyze what Spirit Airlines’ collapse means for other low-cost carriers. He then fielded questions from HuffPost on why seats must be upright for takeoff and landing, the real reason flight attendants ask passengers to adjust window shades, and the strategy behind cabin greetings. Reader’s Digest asked about what happens when airplanes are struck by lightning. Travel + Leisure consulted him on the meaning of “SBY” on boarding passes, how often airplane blankets are washed, and which foods travelers should leave at home. He also addressed an imposter pilot case for the Canadian Broadcasting Corp. and an AI company’s attempt to acquire Spirit Airlines’ old data for Business Insider.
Other roundup entries spanned the natural and culinary worlds. Chef Chris Lindsay gave Mashed readers techniques for seasoning prime rib. Tourism scholar Marta Soligo commented on a new Italian ordinance restricting umbrella use at beaches, a story that doubled as a lesson in how destinations manage crowded public space. Ornithologist Donald K. Price explained which flower colors attract hummingbirds for Real Simple and Good Housekeeping. Hydrologist David Kreamer spoke with Newsweek about Lake Mead’s water levels approaching record lows, a story of direct consequence for the Southwest.
What This Coverage Means for Students and the Community
For prospective students weighing universities in the USA, sustained media visibility is a useful signal. It indicates faculty who are active in their disciplines, research that addresses real-world problems, and an institution confident enough to put its scholars in front of national audiences. It also has practical benefits for current students: faculty who engage with journalists tend to bring current events directly into seminars, and undergraduates who assist in labs led by recognized experts gain experience that stands out on graduate school and job applications.
For Nevadans, the coverage carries additional weight. Lake Mead hydrology, resort pricing strategies, gaming regulation, and water policy are not abstract topics in this state; they shape the local economy and daily life. The fact that UNLV experts are the ones explaining these issues nationally underscores the university’s role as the region’s knowledge hub and a reliable source of campus news that extends well beyond the campus itself.
How to Follow UNLV Campus News and Find Faculty Experts
Staying current with the University of Nevada Las Vegas is straightforward. The UNLV News Center publishes regular campus news, research highlights, and the seasonal Newsmakers series that compiles faculty media appearances. The Experts Directory lets reporters, event organizers, and community members search for faculty by area of specialty, and the frequently updated In The News page aggregates the latest external coverage.
Have questions about a story idea or a speaker request? Contact the UNLV News Center directly. Interested in how research at a major USA university translates into headlines? Check the UNLV In The News page for weekly updates and share the stories that matter to you. And if these stories spark an academic interest of your own, browse UNLV’s degree programs and research centers to see where your goals might fit. Faculty experts made news this summer; the next step could be joining them.
