Sports Innovation

Initiating, Supporting, and Inspiring Sport Research, Education, Innovation, and Economic Development

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Affiliate Program

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The UNLV Sports Innovation Institute encourages faculty and industry collaborators who are engaged in sport research, teaching, and/or sport industry to become officially recognized as Affiliate members via our Affiliate Program. Our mission is to champion innovation, foster economic development, and elevate education, sport business, and sport science.

Through a culture of collaboration, inclusivity, and relentless pursuit of innovation, we are committed to shaping the future of sports in the world’s greatest sports and entertainment laboratory, ensuring accessibility, engagement, and inspiration for generations to come.

By becoming an Affiliate, you will be aligned with the UNLV Sports Innovation Institute mission and vision and will be able to access increased resources to support your sport innovation work. Recognizing the breadth of sport related work that UNLV faculty and industry collaborators are involved in, there are the following categories in the Affiliate Program:

Affiliate Scholar
A Scholar is an individual who engages in advanced study and/or research in a particular field, aiming to acquire deep knowledge and understanding. A scholar may also be focused on disseminating knowledge (via instruction/teaching) in a particular field.

More information on the benefits and responsibilities of being an Affiliate Scholar here

Sport Industry Affiliate
A Sport Industry Affiliate can belong to a wide range of professions and sectors associated with sports. Each profession and sector contributes to the vibrant ecosystem of the sports industry, supporting the performance and enjoyment of sports at all levels.

More information on the benefits of being a Sport Industry Affiliate here

2024-25 Affiliate Scholars

  • Brett Abarbanel, Ph.D.  – Associate Professor and Executive Director, UNLV International Gaming Institute
  • Jacob Baker, Ph.D. – Professor Emeritus, Electrical and Computer Engineering
  • Glenn Barnes, DO – Assistant Professor and Associate Director of Sports Medicine Fellowship, Department of Family and Community Medicine
  • Nicholas Barr, Ph.D. – Assistant Professor, Social Work
  • Benjamin Burroughs, Ph.D. – Associate Professor & Graduate Coordinator, Journalism and Media Studies
  • Chris Cain, Ph.D., PGA, CHE – Professor-in-Residence and Director of UNLV PGA Golf Management University Program
  • Lung-Chang Chien, Ph.D. – Associate Professor of Biostatistics
  • Barry Claman, MD – Plastic Surgery Resident Physician
  • Chad Cross, Ph.D., MFT, PStat(R) – Professor-in-Residence, Epidemiology and Biostatistics
  • Jeffrey Cummings, MD, ScD – Research Professor and Director, Chambers-Grundy Center for Transformative Neuroscience at UNLV
  • Chia-Liang Dai, Ph.D., CHES – Associate Professor, Teaching and Learning
  • Brad Donohue, Ph.D. – Distinguished Professor, Psychology
  • Julia Freedman Silvernail, Ph.D. – Associate Professor, Kinesiology and Nutrition Services
  • Joshua Goldman, MD – Assistant Professor, Department of Plastic Surgery
  • Michael Green, Ph.D. – Professor and Department Chair, History
  • John Haberstroh, Ph.D – Assistant Professor-in-Residence, History
  • Christian Haugan, MS – Lecturer, Kinesiology and Nutrition Services
  • Jonathan Hilpert, Ph.D. – Associate Dean of Research and Sponsored Projects
  • Nathan Hollister, MD – School of Medicine
  • Yingtao Jiang, Ph.D. – Associate Dean for Undergraduate Programs, College of Engineering Coordinator of Entertainment Engineering & Design
  • Ju-Yeon Jo, Ph.D. – Professor, Computer Science
  • Javon Johnson, Ph.D. – Associate Professor and Director of African American and African Diaspora Studies
  • Marc Kahn, MD, MBA, MACP, FRCP – Dean of the Kirk Kerkorian School of Medicine at UNLV, Vice President for Health Affairs
  • Kwang Kim, Ph.D. – Distinguished Professor, ASME Fellow, NAI Fellow
  • Yoohwan Kim, Ph.D. – Professor, Computer Science
  • Jefferson Kinney, Ph.D. – Professor, Founding Chair of the Department of Brain Health, Reg Grundy and Joy Chambers-Grundy Chair for Brain Health, Co-Director, Pam Quirk Brain Health and Biomarker Laboratory
  • Laura Kruskall, PhD, RDN, CSSD, LD, FACSM, FAND – Associate Professor and Director of Dietetic Internship
  • Hyunhwa Lee, Ph.D., MSN, APRN, PMHNP-BC, FAAN – Interim Associate Dean of Research and Associate Professor with Tenure
  • Minkyo Lee, Ph.D. – Assistant Professor, Intercollegiate and Professional Sports Management Program 
  • Graham McGinnis, Ph.D. – Assistant Professor, Kinesiology and Nutrition Services
  • John Menezes, MD – Associate Professor, Department of Plastic Surgery
  • Brendan Morris, Ph.D. – Associate Professor, Electrical and Computer Engineering
  • Venkatesan Muthukumar, Ph.D. – Professor and Graduate Coordinator, Electrical and Computer Engineering
  • James Navalta, Ph.D. – Associate Professor and M.S. Graduate Coordinator, Kinesiology and Nutrition Services
  • Dave Nourse, Ph.D. – Assistant Professor-in-Residence and Internship Coordinator, Journalism and Media Studies
  • Glenn Nowak – Associate Professor and Founder and Coordinator of the Hospitality Design (HD) Concentration at the UNLV School of Architecture
  • GK Nwosu, Ph.D. – Associate Director of Surveys and Data, Academic Effectiveness 
  • Brendan O’Toole, Ph.D. – Professor, Director of the Center for Materials and Structures, and Co-Director of the Center for Math, Science and Engineering Education
  • Bumsoo Park, Ph.D. – Assistant Professor, Journalism and Media Studies
  • Jennifer Pharr, Ph.D. – Professor and Graduate Coordinator in the School of Public Health’s Environmental and Occupational Health Department
  • Nadia Pomirleanu, Ph.D. – Professor and Mel Larson Fellow, Business
  • Michael Pravica, Ph.D. – Professor, Physics and Astronomy
  • Kara Radzak, Ph.D., ATC – Associate Professor, Integrated Health Sciences
  • Richard Rosenkranz, Ph.D. – Professor and Chair, Kinesiology and Nutrition Sciences
  • Sara Rosenkranz, Ph.D. – Associate Professor, Kinesiology and Nutrition Services
  • Daniel Sahl, Ph.D. – Director, Center for Gaming Innovation
  • Brian Schilling, Ph.D. – Professor, Kinesiology and Nutrition Services
  • Kevin Stoker, Ph.D. – Professor and Director, Journalism and Media Studies; Department Chair, Communication Studies
  • Alina Swafford, Ph.D. – Postdoctoral Scholar of Sport Science, UNLV Sports Innovation Institute
  • Mohamed Trabia, Ph.D. – Associate Dean for Research, Graduate Studies & Computing
  • Zhiyong Wang, Ph.D. – Associate Professor, Engineering 
  • Shengjie (Patrick) Zhai, Ph.D. – Assistant Professor, Electrical and Computer Engineering

2024-25 Industry Affiliates

  • Brandon Birchak – CEO, Six Foot Creations
  • Evan Davis – Attorney, Royer Cooper Cohen Braunfeld LLP
  • Bardia Eivazi – COO, Pivot Sports
  • Kiley Ellefson – Owner and Therapist, Peak Counseling
  • Al Light – Head Coach of Acrobatics, Cirque du Soleil
  • Anthony McClish – General Manager, NBA G League
  • Scott McDonald – Co-Owner, Magnum Opus LLC
  • Ugochinyere Onyewuenyi – Founder and Product Manager, Sports Reels
  • Charles Sams III – Owner, PPP Performance, Sport Science, and Physical Therapy
  • JJ Vanni – CEO, Chekket