LAS VEGAS, NV, October 16, 2024 — The awarded $2,977,816 million to Professor Kenny Varner (principal investigator) and Dean and Professor Danica G. Hays (co-principal investigator). The five-year grant will expand the workforce development efforts through at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (51ԹϺ), specifically addressing Nevada’s teacher shortage.
“The Hawkins grant is prestigious, highly competitive, and exclusive to Minority Serving Institutions (MSIs), such as Hispanic-Serving Institutions (HSIs) like 51ԹϺ. Its timing aligns with 51ԹϺ’s MSI Success Summit on September 27, making it even more relevant,” explains Varner. “' legacy directly connects to our mission of linking workforce development with teacher preparation and this grant enables us to extend his impact throughout Nevada.”
The Hawkins Center supports comprehensive, high-quality state-accredited teacher preparation programs at HSIs. The center’s goal is to create a more diverse teacher workforce prepared to teach in underserved elementary and secondary schools and close student opportunity and achievement gaps.
Nevada Forward was founded in 2021 thanks to and serves as a prime example of how funding pilot initiatives can lead to innovative and effective solutions to support student achievement and educator effectiveness.
“This grant will help us continue Nevada Forward’s pioneering teacher apprenticeship program to address workforce challenges,” notes Hays. “Since 2021, state and federal support for teacher apprenticeships has shifted the landscape for Nevada’s teacher workforce and the children and communities they serve.”
The Hawkins grant is another milestone in the college’s long-standing commitment to developing innovative approaches to improve educational equity. For example, the recently launched , led by Associate Professor Blanca Rinćon and funded by a nearly $3 million National Science Foundation grant, creates a community of STEM scholars at HSIs who are cultivating their culturally responsive and relevant skills. In addition, Associate Professors Federick Ngo and Stefani Relles were awarded a five-year, $1.2 million research grant from the Institute of Education Sciences to examine the effects of Nevada’s Corequisite Reform policy on learning, college outcomes, and post-graduation earnings, especially affecting students of color.
Contact:
Nancy Weaver, Communications Director
nancy.weaver@unlv.edu | 702-595-7021