Featured students
Nina Vargas
Nina is a senior at the University, studying biochemistry and molecular biology in the College of Agriculture, Biotechnology & Natural Resources. Nina was raised in Sparks, Nevada, and attended Wooster High School. She is a tribal member of the Choctaw Nation and is 22 years old.
Throughout Nina’s education she has taken advantage of college preparation programs, such as International Baccalaureate (IB), Academic Placement (AP) and Truckee Meadows Community College courses. Additionally, she was and is part of the Upward Bound and TRIO programs coordinated through the University of Nevada, Reno.
Nina is hoping to attend the medical school at the University. However, before she can apply, she needs clinical hours. She would like to complete her clinical hours at a tribal clinic or somewhere that serves tribal communities. Her ambition is to become a pediatrician.
In Nina’s free time she likes to read horror and thriller novels, hike, and engage in photography. If she were to choose a superhero, she would be Wonder Woman “because all she wants to do is help and problem solve.”
Erica “Ricky” Klafehn (she/her/ella)
Ricky is an Indigenous Latinx Ph.D. student in the Anthropology doctoral program at the University specializing in forensic anthropology. She is a recipient of the Dean’s Merit Fellowship and a member of the University Tribal Students Program. She also serves as the treasurer for the Graduate Board of Anthropology Students (BOASgrad) and as a representative for the College of Liberal Arts in the Graduate Student Association.
Ricky completed her M.S. in Forensic Science (2022) and B.S. in Cell and Molecular Biology (2016) from John Jay College of Criminal Justice - City University of New York (CUNY). During her time at John Jay, Ricky was a member of the Program for Research Initiatives in Science and Math (PRISM) and Ronald E. McNair Post-Baccalaureate Achievement Program, where she conducted forensic anthropology and entomology research under Dr. Angelique Corthals and Dr. Jennifer Rosati. For her master’s thesis, Ricky investigated the effects of blow fly larvae feeding on sharp force trauma (SFT) wound patterns in decomposing bones. At the University, Ricky is working under associate professor Dr. Marin Pilloud; she hopes to either continue her research in taphonomy or explore the ethics of forensic anthropology, and hopes to pursue a career as a forensic anthropologist in a medicolegal or humanitarian setting.
In her free time, Ricky loves to watch and play sports, listen to and play music, and spend time with her friends and family. She is an avid movie-goer, loves board games, and enjoys learning about different cultures. You can often find her at a local Starbucks enjoying a refreshing cup of coffee, or at the fields playing softball.
Antoinette Harney Cavanaugh
Antoinette Harney Cavanaugh is a Native Nevadan, born in Owyhee, Nevada, and is a member of the Shoshone-Paiute Tribes of the Duck Valley Indian Reservation. She spent most of her youth growing up in Owyhee, Nevada. She graduated from Boise State University in 1983 with her bachelor’s degree, and from the University of Nevada, Reno in 1989 with her master’s degree in educational administration and higher education. Her greatest accomplishment professionally was becoming the first Native American in the history of Nevada to become a public school district superintendent.
Antoinette is currently pursuing a Ph.D. in the College of Education & Human Development at the University. She was named the 2023 Dean’s Graduate Fellow under the Tribal Students Program. In this role she assists with mentoring undergraduate and graduate students through their educational journeys.
