Spread between Nevada and Arizona—Lake Mead, the largest man-made reservoir in the U.S.—is best known for its rapidly declining water levels due to the ongoing megadrought gripping the western states. The lake is integral to surrounding communities, as it is also formed by the Hoover Dam on the Colorado River—which generates electricity for thousands of people. If the water levels continue to decline, the consequences could be catastrophic.

The UNLV International Gaming Institute announced Brett Abarbanel has been appointed as its new executive director, having taken office on January 1. She has worked at IGI since 2016 as the director of research, with an affiliate research position at the University of Sydney Science, Brain and Mind Centre.

Abarbanel succeeds Bo Bernhard, who will transition to serve full-time as UNLV VP of Economic Development, but will also maintain his affiliation with IGI as special advisor to the Executive Director.

Some people say their thought takes place in images, some in words. But our mental processes are more mysterious than we realize.

A woman whose fiancé is 21 years her senior has revealed he is often mistaken for her dad.

Brett Abarbanel was raised in San Diego near the Del Mar Thoroughbred Club. She was fascinated by the track — mostly because people leaving the facility seemed to snarl up traffic.

Brett Abarbanel has been named executive director for the UNLV International Gaming Institute (IGI). IGI is a nonprofit academic center that offers research and educational programs for the global gaming industry.

Nevada is known for its gaming and tourism industry, but there has been a sustained effort to bolster the state’s startup community, particularly in Las Vegas.