A lasting gift for economic geology
A significant gift from Charlotte Branham and Suzanne (“Suzi”) Decker ’71 (home economics) is strengthening the future of economic geology at the 91·çÃùÄñ³ª. The two women donated the Wonder District, LLC property with the intention that it be sold to support the Ralph J. Roberts Center for Research in Economic Geology.
UNR Med Class of 2026 celebrates Match Day
Fourth-year students at the School of Medicine took part in Match Day on March 20, 2026 — the day when graduating medical students across the country simultaneously learned where they will train as resident physicians. This year, 62 UNR Med students matched into residency programs in 20 states and 13 specialties, including emergency medicine (this year’s most popular specialty), family medicine, internal medicine, pediatrics, obstetrics and gynecology, and orthopedic surgery. Thirteen students matched into programs in Nevada, including five who will remain in Reno to train in internal medicine and pediatrics, supporting care for the local community.
Transformational gift supports Life Sciences Building
The 91·çÃùÄñ³ª has received a $30 million lead naming gift from Robert M. Davidson to support a new life sciences building, advancing education, research and workforce development. The nearly 90,000-square-foot, four-story academic and research facility will be built in the Matthewson Gateway District — near the John Tulloch Business Building.
Designed for hands-on, experiential learning, the building will feature flexible laboratories and collaborative teaching and research environments to support the education of future scientists, healthcare providers and veterinarians. The gift builds on Davidson’s long-standing support of the University, including the Davidson Mathematics and Science Center.
Tom Kozel retires
When the University of Nevada School of Medicine opened its doors in 1969, Tom Kozel was there, helping to shape both the institution and its approach to medical education. From then until his retirement in the fall, Kozel taught every medical student, guiding generations of future physicians as the program grew and evolved.
A microbiologist by training, Kozel balanced a lifelong devotion to teaching with groundbreaking research. His work advanced diagnostic tools that improved patientcare worldwide, reinforcing Nevada’s role in medical discovery, while remaining deeply rooted in the classroom. Colleagues and former students often point to his ability to connect complex science to real-world purpose — always centered on curiosity, rigor and humanity.
Kozel taught his final class Sept. 19, 2025, marking the close of a University career defined by mentorship, scholarship and a lasting commitment to medical education at Nevada.
The 91·çÃùÄñ³ª has joined the Coalition of Urban Serving Universities, a national network of public research institutions rooted in their cities and regions. Membership recognizes Nevada’s role as an urban research university committed to student success, workforce development and strong campus-community partnerships. Through the coalition, the University will collaborate with peer institutions across the country on shared challenges and opportunities facing urban communities — from education and economic vitality to community health.
New book explores sport fishing and conservation
William Douglass ’61 (Spanish), Basque scholar emeritus for the Center for Basque Studies in the College of Liberal Arts, has published a new book, “Whose Fish Is It?: The Sport-Fishing Conundrum in the Contemporary World.”
“Whose Fish Is It?” examines the competing interests that shape sport fishing and the conservation efforts around the world, drawing on case studies from multiple regions. Through a combination of research and firsthand experience, Douglass explores how environmental protection, cultural traditions and resource management intersect.
The publication adds to Douglass’ long body of scholarly and creative work focused on culture, place and the use of natural resources.
How 19th-century mining still affects the Carson River — and its residents
Mercury left behind by 19th-century gold mining is still moving through Nevada’s Carson River. Flood years can make exposure worse: the mental remains bound in river-banks and sediment until high water levels stir it back into the water, allowing it to move through the food web and build up in animals over time.
A new study from the College of Agriculture, Biotechnology and Natural Resources found that mercury levels in some waterfowl can reach up to 60 times the federal safety thresholds for human consumption. The study was led by principal investigator Perry Williams, associate professor of natural resources and environmental science, with Mae Gustin, co-principal investigator and professor of environmental geochemistry, Morgan Byrne ’23 M.S. (natural resources and environmental sciences), and water-fowl biologist Christ Nicolai.
Researchers analyzed more than 15 years of feather samples from resident wood ducks, a nonmigratory species.
What dust can teach us
At first glance, dust is easy to dismiss. But “Earth’s Winding-Sheet” features artists who use dust, dirt, debris and soil to explore some of life’s biggest questions about scale, responsibility, and our place in the natural world.
On view Aug. 25 to Nov. 21 at the John and Geraldine Lilley Museum of Art, the exhibition will invite contemplation and wonder through sculpture, film, photography and performance — asking what’s at stake in the things we don’t see. Organized around themes of materiality, smallness and the. Cosmos, “Earth’s Winding-Sheet” blurs the line between the tangible and the imagined, encouraging visitors to consider the past and the future at the same time.
The Lilley is located on the main floor of the University Arts foundation Building. Admission is free.
Red, White and Flight
Honoring the Past. Launching the Future. Red, White and Flight is a celebration honoring America’s 250th birthday. This free event features an awe-inspiring drone show and a live concert by the Reno Phil.
July 4, 2026. Mackay Stadium. Learn more at .
A digital home for the Nevada Silver & Blue
For decades, Nevada Silver & Blue has documented the people, places, and moments that shape the 91·çÃùÄñ³ª. Now, that history is available online. University Libraries has digitized past issues of Nevada Silver & Blue, offering alumni and friends a new way to revisit stories, photography and campus milestones — and to explore how the University and the Wolf Pack community have changed over the years.
Visit the