Our Mission

  1. Serve as a hub and catalyst for gender-focused scholarship at UNLV and across NSHE institutions
    1. Unite students and faculty who conduct scholarship related to gender
    2. Amplify the visibility of gender-focused scholarship
    3. Inspire new scholarship and grant activity related to gender
    4. Share research findings with stakeholders in the Las Vegas community
  2. Translate scholarship into evidence-based initiatives that promote gender equity
  3. Support programs and organizations that advocate for people who encounter challenges related to their gender identity

Priority Areas: 2024 to 2027

WRIN welcomes collaboration in areas that align with any aspect of its mission. We are especially enthusiastic about partnerships in the following priority areas:

  1. Promoting gender equity in fields related to science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM)
  2. Understanding links among gender, social media use, and mental health
  3. Encouraging sports involvement among girls and women

Please complete our General Interest form if you would like to collaborate in any of these areas or have an idea for a different partnership.

Our Team

Rachael D. Robnett, Ph.D.

Director of the Women’s Research Institute of Nevada & Professor of Psychology
Photo of Rachael Robnett
Rachaeul Robnett (she/her) is the director of the Women’s Research Institute of Nevada (WRIN). In this capacity, she oversees gender-focused initiatives in the areas of research and education. She is also a professor in the Department of Psychology at UNLV, where she runs the Social Development Research Lab. She has published over 40 scholarly works, many of which focus on gender, and currently…
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Dawn Johnson

Administrative Assistant IV for Women’s Research Institute of Nevada
dawn's headshot
Dawn Johnson is the administrative assistant for the Women's Research Institute of Nevada (WRIN). She was recognized as the Outstanding Classified Staff Member for 2025 in the UNLV College of Liberal Arts. She brings a wealth of experience in the fields of trade, clerical, project management, and accounting. Dawn brings creativity, energy, and ideas to WRIN from her years of crafting and prior…
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Shanika Wickramarachchi

Doctoral Student
Photo of Shanika Wickramarachchi
Shanika is a Ph.D. student in the Psychological & Brain Sciences (PBS) program at UNLV. Her master’s thesis project focuses on enhancing mentorship approaches for first-generation college students. She holds Honors BA degrees in Psychology and Sociology along with a minor in Social Research and Applied Statistics from the University of Nevada, Reno. Outside of studying and research, Shanika…
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Our Advisory Board
Our Partners