Dr. Okeleke Nzeogwu, USN’s MBA program director, was a guest on the KVVU-TV (FOX-Las Vegas) morning news and lifestyle program MORE on Tuesday. He talked about how people can secure employment during tough economic times by applying basic principles of marketing to rethink, reinvent and repackage themselves. Given the current economic climate, it’s a very timely subject. Check out the segment here:
Also, Dr. Nzeogwu has penned an article offering additional details about the subject for the upcoming issue of USN’s Connections Magazine. Be sure to check it out when the magazine is distributed in the coming weeks.
If you aren’t currently on the mailing list to receive Connections and would like to be, please email your request to connections@usn.edu. Please include your full name, company (if applicable) and mailing address.
Mark your calendar or set your DVR for the Friday, May 1 episode of DogTown on National Geographic Channel at 10 p.m. (check your local listings to confirm time and channel number).
This special episode of the reality program that takes viewers inside the the country’s largest no-kill animal sanctuary features a stray chocolate lab-mix named Scone who was just days away from being euthanized at a local animal control center. Scone is severely emaciated with bones protruding from his body and a jerky gait from an unknown injury. After getting Scone healthy, focus is turned to helping the gentle-natured dog find a home. And he did find a home with USN’s very own Dr. Allison Welder, professor of pharmaceutical sciences with the College of Pharmacy.
According to Dr. Welder, today Scone, now named Kanab, is healthy, happy and doing great.
Dr. Welder is passionate about animals and is nationally recognized as an advocate of the animal-human bond in healing. She is a pioneer in promoting therapy dogs to assist children and adults with cancer, terminal illnesses, Alzheimer’s Disease, patients recovering from drug and alcohol addiction, and children who are victims of abuse. She and her certified therapy dogs have been active volunteers in hospital and hospice activites since 1996.
A team from the University of Southern Nevada College of Dental Medicine’s Advanced Education in Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopedics (AEODO)/ MBA program was named the winner in the graduate category last night at the fifth Annual Donald W. Reynolds Governor’s Cup, a business planning competition with student teams from colleges and universities throughout Nevada participating.
“The University of Southern Nevada congratulates the team for their extraordinary accomplishment,” said Dr. Harry Rosenberg, USN’s founding president. “They are exceptional representatives of the university and its mission to educate competent professionals.”
Members of the USN team, Ruchir Patel, Chuen Chie Chiang, Uttampal Singh and Michael Moore, presented their plan to create a College of Dentistry at The University of Arkansas to a panel of judges at an event held in Reno on Wednesday. The team’s plan aims to educate aspiring dental health professionals in providing high-quality oral health care through excellence in research, patient care and outreach to underserved populations.
Happy Earth Day from the University of Southern Nevada.
Kappa Psi – Delta Tau is doing its part to conserve our planet’s natural resources. Last fall, the pharmacy student fraternity launched a paper recycling program at the USN Henderson campus. The program has been a tremendous success due to faculty, staff and student participation. In just a few months, the proactive utilization of the paper recycling bins produced more than 2,700 pounds of recycled paper.
Success can only be achieved when we work together, so Kappa Psi – Delta Tau thanks everyone for their support as they look forward to continuing their efforts to make USN a little greener.
University of Southern Nevada’s College of Dental Medicine is a co-sponsor of this year’s Henderson Heritage Parade & Festival, taking place from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Saturday, April 18 at the Water Street District in Downtown Henderson.
USN employees, students and alumni are invited to join the Henderson community at this annual event featuring a parade at 10 a.m. and classic car show from noon to 5 p.m. Plan on spending the entire day as the International Food & Folklife Festival will offer fun and entertainment for the whole family, including arts and crafts, live music, dancing entertainment and food from all over the world, including Korea, Mexico, Phillipines, India, China, Italy, Germany, Malaysia, Peru, Japan, Hawaii, Romania, Ireland and Scotland.
The USN College of Dental Medicine will have a booth at the event where information about its Orthodontic services, as well as USN’s academic programs, will be offered to the public.
A team of residents from the USN College of Dental Medicine’s AEODO/MBA program has been named one of 18 finalist in the 5th Annual Donald W. Reynolds Governor’s Cup, a business planning competition with participation from students from colleges and universities throughout Nevada. A record 56 plans were submitted into the competition that includes four categories: Governor’s Cup Undergraduate, Governor’s Cup Graduate, Lt. Governor’s Award Undergraduate and Lt. Governor’s Award Graduate.
The USN team, orthodontic residents/MBA students Ruchir Patel, Chuen Chie Chiang, Uttampal Singh and intern Michael Moore, submitted a plan to establish the first College of Dentistry at The University of Arkansas (UACD). The institution aims to educate aspiring dental health professionals in providing high quality oral health care through excellence in research, patient care and outreach to underserved populations.
Dr. Chuen Chie Chiang
Dr. Michael Moore
Dr. Ruchir Patel
Dr. Uttampal Singh
The team was selected by an independent panel of judges as a finalist in the Governor’s Cup Graduate category and will receive a stipend from the Reynolds Foundation to compete in the Oral Presentations on April 22 at the Atlantis Hotel in Reno. They will be vying for one of the three top, state-wide graduate prizes; $20,000 for first place, $10,000 for second place, or $5,000 for third place. The winners will be announced at an awards dinner on April 23 at the Peppermill Hotel.
Winners will also go on to compete at the Tri-State Donald W. Reynolds Governor’s Cup where the winning teams from Nevada, Arkansas and Oklahoma compete for a for cash awards totaling $90,000. That event will take place on May 27 here in Las Vegas.
Dr. Jack Zimmerman, associate professor of finance for the MBA program, served as faculty advisor for the team, as well as two other outstanding USN teams, including Prashanti Bollu and Philip Kierl and their business plan to provide Cone Beam Imaging Technology Services, offering imaging services to the dental industry and Sumit Chawla, Daniel Gehani, Jeffrey McMillan and Mahbod Rashidi and their business plan for Smart Learning Technologies, offering technology and media for K-12 education curriculum.
“I am certain this was a difficult call for the judges as I know all the teams put forth an incredible effort and produced outstanding plans,” said Dr. Zimmerman. “I am hopeful that future students will continue to take advantage of this incredible, and potentially lucrative, learning opportunity. Any USN student that is interested in competing next year should contact the MBA Program.”
Graduation doesn’t mean you have to say goodbye for good. Instead, it’s an opportunity to develop a new connection to USN; one that will last a lifetime.
USN would like to invite its distinguished alumni to keep in touch with us. Let us know how you’re doing and we’ll keep you in the loop on the success of fellow alumni, community mentors and faculty as well as let you know about events at USN. Of course, “staying connected” means different things to different people; you can remain connected with your fellow alumni however you want. Here are ten suggestions:
Keep USN updated on your professional and personal success by e-mailing alumnirelations@usn.edu. We’ll publish your update in Connections.
Get involved with an alumni chapter in your area. If one hasn’t been established, take the lead and start one.
Suggest yourself or someone you know for an “Alumni in Action” profile in Connections by e-mailing connections@usn.edu.
Submit an article for publication in Connections. You can write about anything from issues affecting you industry to stories of personal and professional triumph.
Submit a photo for either the “Connections Photo Contest” or the “Faces of USN” section of Connections.
Utilize social networking by joining or starting an alumni group on Facebook, Myspace, LinkedIn or other site.
Attend or volunteer to help out at USN events. There’s not better way to reconnect than in person. Visit the USN Calendar for a list of upcoming events.
Plan, host or co-host an alumni gathering in your community.
Take advantage of Continuing Education at USN. Visit the Continuing Education page on the USN Web site for details.
You’re proud of your accomplishments. Share the opportunity for an outstanding educational experience with an aspiring student by referring him or her to USN.
To further foster connections with USN alumni, the university has created an alumni group on Facebook. University news and information about USN alumni events will be posted on the group site as well as career opportunities. The group page also features a discussion board providing a forum for members to discuss issues affecting their industries.
Membership on the group site is restricted to USN alumni with a Facebook account. Click here to request membership.
USN’s über-talented graphic designer, Billy George, has been invited to showcase his art at First Friday, the epicenter of Las Vegas’ emerging arts scene. The showing takes place tonight from 6 to 10 p.m. in the Arts District of downtown Las Vegas (Charleston and Main) at The Art Institute of Las Vegas booth.
More than 50 artists on the street (including the Outdoor Exhibition Spaces) and in the gallery spaces within the outdoor festival will display their creativity. There is also food, drinks and live entertainment.
There is a minimum $2 entry fee at the gates to the outdoor festival (children twelve and under free when accompanied by an adult). All of the entry fees go to support the First Friday arts event with more artists and live performances.
If you’re looking for something to do tonight, check out Billy’s work and support the valley’s art community.
Dr. Paul Oesterman, Pharm.D., assistant professor of pharmacy practice and introductory experience coordinator for the College of Pharmacy and co-faculty advisor for the USN Drug Abuse Awareness Team (DAAT), has once again lent his expertise to the local media on the topic of substance abuse.
In the M.D. News article “Helping Patients With Substance Abuse Disorders” by Beth Leibson, Dr. Oesterman, along with other experts, talk about prescription drug and other substance dependence and abuse, including diagnosis and treatment.
Published by the USN Office of Marketing/Public Relations. For more information please call 702-968-1633 or e-mail connections@usn.edu. Visit the USN Academic site at http://www.usn.edu.
Mark your calendar or set your DVR for the Friday, 
According to Dr. Welder, today Scone, now named Kanab, is healthy, happy and doing great.
To further foster connections with USN alumni, the university has created an alumni group on Facebook. University news and information about USN alumni events will be posted on the group site as well as career opportunities. The group page also features a discussion board providing a forum for members to discuss issues affecting their industries.
Dr. Paul Oesterman, Pharm.D., assistant professor of pharmacy practice and introductory experience coordinator for the College of Pharmacy and co-faculty advisor for the USN Drug Abuse Awareness Team (DAAT), has once again lent his expertise to the local media on the topic of substance abuse. 
