UNLV Magazine UNLV Publications Fall 2003 UNLV Magazine Barbara Cloud University of Nevada, Las Vegas Jennifer Vaughan University of Nevada, Las Vegas Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalscholarship.unlv.edu/unlv_magazine Part of the Curriculum and Instruction Commons, Curriculum and Social Inquiry Commons, Dentistry Commons, E-Commerce Commons, and the Social and Behavioral Sciences Commons Repository Citation Cloud, B., Vaughan, J. (2003). UNLV Magazine. In C. Weeks (Ed.), UNLV Magazine, 11(2), 1-20. Available at: https://digitalscholarship.unlv.edu/unlv_magazine/20 This Magazine is protected by copyright and/or related rights. It has been brought to you by Digital Scholarship@UNLV with permission from the rights-holder(s). You are free to use this Magazine in any way that is permitted by the copyright and related rights legislation that applies to your use. 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FOR ALUMNI, FACULTY, AND FRIENDS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF NEVADA Dental Detectives Dental Students Learning Forensic Techniques to Fight Crime Nuclear Scientists Hope to Eliminate Controversial Waste Storage Issues Gambling Addiction Experts Battle Old Stereotypes Through New Research IN THIS ISSUE: GOLF COACH DWAINE KNIGHT DOUGLAS SELBY'S WINDING ROAD Vol.ll No. 2 I Fall 2003 Photo by Geri Kodey Editor: Cate Weeks Associate Editor: Diane Russell FEATURES Assistant Editor: Gian Galassi Art Director: john Hobbes Photographer: Geri Kodey 10 Knight Life Contributing Writers: Barbara Cloud Men's golf coach Dwaine Knight's 26-year jennifer Vaughan career includes many accomplishments on Contributing Photographers: the course, including an NCAA champi­ Lee Choo onship in 1998 and consistent top-10 Mattei Photo Department Mailing List Coordinator: national rankings. But he's also known George Musovski for demanding that his players succeed in the classroom. Vice President for University and By Cate Weeks Community Relations: Fred Albrecht Director, UNLV News & Public Information: Tom Flagg 12 Dental Detectives Asst. Director, UNLV News & Public Information: Suzan DiBella Whether it is identifying victims of a hotel fire, working domestic violence cases, or tracking teeth marks Director, University Publications and left at the scene of a murder, dentists with training in forensics have become a valuable asset to law Reprographics: Les Raschko enforcement agencies and have a growing role in the war against terrorism. Publications Manager: Donna McAleer By Barbara Cloud UNLV Alumni Association Officers 16 From Bad to Good President: Kev in Page Jst Vice Pres.: jim Kirkwood While the word 'nuclear' makes many shudder, ambitious 2nd Vice Pres.: Tina Kunzer-Murphy UNLV scientists are seeking ways to eliminate the harmful Treasurer: Kirk Hartle byproducts of spent nuclear fue l. Secretary: Rich Isreal By Gian Galassi Member-at-Large: Dianne Weeks Past President: jim Ratigan 20 Going for Broke UNLV Alumni Association Board Members Like alcoholism, pathological gambling is a devastating addic­ Nancy Flagg Sharlene Flushman tion that quickly and quietly sends the afflicted toward rock Bruce Ford bottom. UNLV professors and alumni are leading the nation Karen Hore Kirk Hendrick in research of the widely misunderstood problem. Cristina Hinds By Cate Weeks Rich Israel Chip johnson Jeff Knight Sam Lieberman Donya Monroe Christine Parris-Washington DEPARTMENTS Barry Shinchouse UNLV Magazine is published in 2 Message from the President 24 Calendar of Events March and September by the University of Nevada, Las Vegas 3 Campus News 26 Class Notes 4505 Maryland Pkwy, Box45!012 7 University People 26 Alumni Profiles Las Vegas, NV 89154- .I 01 2. http://www.unlv.edu/ 8 Books 32 Timeline UNI..V is an AA/EEO institution. FALL 2003 I 1 II A MESSAGE FROM PRESIDENT CAROL C. HARTER CAMPUS NEWS MGM MIRAGE Promotes Industry Diversity Through Hotel College Partnership A new partnership between MGM MIRAGE and the William F. Harrah College of Hotel Administra­ With new high­ tion will help both organizations speed computer Community Transformation: bolster their diversity initiatives. The resources, bio­ partnership includes a financial logy professor Jeff Shen hopes commitment of $500,000 to UNLV The Role of UNLV to isolate water­ during a five-year period. saving genes in J. Terrance Lanni, chairman and the creosote CEO of MGM MIRAGE, sa id the s many of you may know, UNLV is actively pursuing an Second, major research institutions help keep bush {plant on partnership is part of the company's the right) so he agenda to become a major research university. Our agenda the best and brightest students in the state. strategic plan for diversity initia­ can develop a is not solely aimed at elevating UNLV's prestige on the Good students often investigate many institutions before decid­ A t ives. "To explore our future drought-tolerant national level, although this is a wonderful outcome we also hope ing which one they will attend. They ultimately make their choices prospects, we looked into the turf grass. to achieve. Rather it is based on UNLV's goal to become a major based on many factors, but certainly one important aspect is the pipeline of next generation leaders flagship university that both transforms and improves its commu­ student's perception of the opportunities available to them at a by examining the current student nity. To reach this goal, UNLV must produce the finest educated particular university. Many of the best students are attracted to a Computer Donation to Speed body at the Hotel College," he said . citizens and leaders, help solve university because of the "We found that UNLV, home to the many of the community's prob­ opportunity to participate in world's finest hotel college, is a Genome Research Projects lems, strengthen the area's eco­ University research creates knowledge the active intellectual life of the source of many of our best and nomic base and health, and faculty. Outstanding research A donation of 11 high-end SUN com­ ported by major federal governmental brightest executives, and (the col­ produce exceptional creative, that can lead to new technologies, programs, those that give the puters will help UNLV researchers build agencies, including the U.S. Department of lege) has been diligently working cultural, and athletic activities. most to the community and to more competitive research programs in Agriculture, the National Science Founda­ on issues related to diversity. Most universities in the commercial products, and jobs that have students, help attract great stu­ genome analysis. tion's EPSCoR (Experimental Program to Together, we will aggressively country that do these things dents. If UNLV does not have The Monsanto Co. donated the com­ Stimulate Competitive Research), and the recruit bright minority students." best are known as Research I or a significant impact on the economy. these programs, Nevada's best puters, valued at $1.25 million, to the uni­ National Institutes of Health Biomedical major research universities. students will search for them Activities will focus on student versity through the UNLV Foundation. Research Infrastructure Network;' Shen Quite simply, we aspire to that outside the state. When this recruitment, scholarships, intern­ The high-speed equipment will enable said. "This equipment will enable us to status not simply for reputation, but to help the people and the happens, it is a tragedy for Nevada because these bright people ships, mentoring, and professor UNLV scientists to speed up their research work much more efficiently to produce state of Nevada- to raise our state's fortunes - in every way. Let often do not return to live and work here, but instead stay in the externships. MGM MIRAGE execu­ in the area of "bioinformatics," a relatively genome analysis results." me give you some examples. state where they studied. tives will spend more time at UNLV new interdisciplinary field that integrates "Any time we receive sophisticated A prime example here at UNLV is the fact that students from interacting with students, Lanni said. mathematical sciences, computer sciences, equipment such as this, we improve our First, major research universities improve all over the world want to attend our William F. Harrah College of "We are thrilled to receive this and biology. Research on genome analysis academic reputation," said Ray Alden, exec­ student learning in a variety of ways. Hotel Administration - recently ranked by the Journal of Hospital­ support from MGM MIRAGE," said - the study of the genes of humans, utive vice president and provost. "It enables UNLV is working to create a student-centered learning envi­ ity and Tourism Education as the top hotel school in the country UNLV President Carol C. Harter. plants, and animals- is part of the bioin­ us to attract high-quality faculty and stu­ ronment in which students study with outstanding researchers in overall quality. Nevada students with an interest in the hospital­ " It present s an opportunity to formatics field. dents because it facilitates their research. It and teachers. Faculty with active research agendas and programs ity industry stay here to study; they choose UNLV because of the strengthen a partnership