Education
Education is a core element of WRIN’s mission. We’re dedicated to teaching academic and community audiences about scholarship that focuses on gender. We’re also committed to empowering women through leadership training. Finally, we seek to cultivate research skills in the next generation of researchers.
National Education for Women's (NEW) Leadership Nevada
The National Education for Women’s (NEW) Leadership Program is our flagship educational outreach initiative. For over 20 years, WRIN has provided free leadership training to women from NSHE institutions who demonstrate high leadership potential. Women who are selected for the program participate in a week of immersive leadership training activities during the month of June. The training covers leadership fundamentals such as public speaking and political advocacy as well as core professional development competencies such as resume-building. Women also have the opportunity to network with women who exemplify leadership in domains such as business, politics, and law. Throughout the program, women work in small groups on a project that they will share with their peers, friends, and family at the graduation brunch on the final day of the program.
Application
The 2027 program will occur from June 1–5. Please note the following:
- Applications for the 2027 program are due March 1, 2027.
- A full application will contain a resume, name and contact information for one professional reference.
- For more information, email wrin@unlv.edu.
Sponsorship
We are deeply grateful to the Las Vegas Chapter of Soroptimist International for their longstanding support of the NEW Leadership Program. We are currently seeking additional sponsorships and private funds to make NEW Leadership possible in 2026 and beyond. Email wrin@unlv.edu for more information.
Science Outreach
Through partnership with local events such as the Las Vegas Science & Technology Festival, WRIN facilitates science enrichment events for youth and families in Las Vegas. Recent examples include a neuroscience lab tour for local elementary school children and a Women in STEM panel discussion in which women from a range of STEM careers provided insight into their professional journeys and day-to-day responsibilities.
Nevada Gender Resource Map
This Nevada Gender Resource Map is an interactive, comprehensive database of gender-specific resources in the state of Nevada. Special thanks to Lauren Crew, the 2024-25 WRIN GA, and her team of undergraduate research assistants: Ashley Harlan, Maylin Lee, and Alejandra Santos.
Celebrating the Women Leading Nevada
MAKERS PBS Documentary
The Women in Nevada History collection is a PBS documentary that highlights the extraordinary women who have shaped Nevada. The documentary is the culmination of decades of work conducted by WRIN’s director emerita, Joanne Goodwin. This incredible resource combines the fruits of three key projects: the Nevada Women’s Archives project, the Las Vegas Women Oral History project, and the MAKERS: Women in Nevada History project.
Pioneers and Powerhouses: Nevada’s Female Trailblazers
The Women’s Research Institute was honored to support the Girl Scout Gold Award project for local high school student, Sophie Cain. For her gold award, Sophie wrote a children’s book titled Pioneers and Powerhouses: Nevada’s Female Trailblazers. The book explores the stories of women who have made history in Nevada politics, from the first woman elected to the Nevada State Assembly to the first Hispanic woman elected to the United States Senate. Through the stories of these trailblazing women, the book highlights their accomplishments, challenges, and the impact they had on Nevada and beyond. The book was created as a Girl Scout Gold Award project to educate others about the important role women have played in shaping Nevada’s political history and inspire the next generation of leaders.
The book’s author, Sophie Cain, is a high school student, Girl Scout, and student leader with a strong interest in government, history, and public service. Through her involvement in Nevada Youth Legislature, Project Dot, and Girl Scouts, she has developed a passion for leadership and making a positive impact in her community. She was inspired to create Pioneers and Powerhouses as part of her Girl Scout Gold Award to educate young people about the stories of the women who helped shape their state. In college, Sophie hopes to continue exploring government, public policy, and opportunities to serve her community.
Undergraduate Research Mentoring
We are dedicated to training the next generation of scholars through internships and research fellowships at WRIN. We are able to work with other units and programs to offer internships for credit to students who are interested in learning about the research process. In addition, we frequently offer project-based internships and research positions. Please email wrin@unlv.edu for more information.