"Whole Lives" Symposium Connects Economic Security and Women's Wellness

The University of Nevada, Reno will host the 2026 International Women's Entrepreneurship Symposium on Thursday, March 5, at the Joe Crowley Student Union, bringing together national and local leaders to examine the critical links between economic security and women's well-being.

Titled Whole Lives: Intersectional Approaches to Economic Security and Wellness for Women, the free public event is co-presented by the Ozmen Center for Entrepreneurship, the School of Public Health, and the Larson Institute for Health Impact and Equity.

The symposium builds on the university's long tradition of convening leaders, students, and community partners around women's leadership, entrepreneurship, and equity.

"Economic security is a powerful driver of health," said Muge Akpinar-Elci, M.D., MPH, dean of the School of Public Health. "When women have stable access to resources, the benefits extend beyond individuals to families, workplaces and entire communities."

Program Highlights

The afternoon opens with a keynote by Tegan Lecheler, director of national programs at The Bridge Project, whose talk — Ending Poverty, One Mother at a Time — examines how guaranteed income and direct cash support programs can reduce stress, improve health outcomes, and support long-term economic mobility for women-led households.

Four regional leaders will then address issues directly affecting women across Northern Nevada:

Shivani Peterson will discuss barriers women face in building financial stability and accessing capital, and how financial confidence supports long-term economic independence. Nicole Lamboley, CEO of the Food Bank of Northern Nevada, will explore how food insecurity increasingly intersects with housing, employment, and health for women-led households. Jennifer Calloway Ross, director of the Community Behavioral Health Collaborative, will address the growing burden of emotional labor on women and the need for structural solutions beyond individual self-care. Paige McCall, vice president of women's and children's services at Renown Health, will discuss systems-level approaches to improving women's health access across the lifespan.

"This symposium is about connecting ideas to action," said Mehmet Tosun, Ph.D., director of the Ozmen Center for Entrepreneurship. "We are creating space for real conversations about how women can thrive economically and personally."

Ozmen Center Expands Global Entrepreneurship Initiatives

Beyond the symposium, the Ozmen Center for Entrepreneurship has been actively broadening its international reach through programs designed to connect global innovators with the Nevada ecosystem. Among these is the K-Nevada Gateway program, a Korea-Nevada startup bridge initiative organized in partnership with K-EnterTech Hub and leading Korean accelerators.

Building on the success of K-Nevada Gateway 2025 — which brought Korean deep-tech startups in AI, energy, medical technology, and mobility to Reno for intensive business development, investor meetings, and R&D networking — the expanded K-Nevada Bridge 2026 program is scheduled for fall 2026. The program operates in coordination with Reno Startup Week and engages key Nevada institutions including EDAWN, GOED, NCAR, and DRI, offering Korean and Asian tech startups a structured pathway into the U.S. Western market.

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The Ozmen Center's involvement reflects UNR's broader commitment to positioning Reno as a competitive global innovation hub — a mission that runs parallel to its work advancing women's entrepreneurship and economic equity at home.

The symposium runs from 1 to 4 p.m., with doors opening at 12:30 p.m. Admission and parking are free. Advance registration is required.

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International Women’s Entrepreneurship Symposium

The University of Nevada, Reno hosts the International Women’s Entrepreneurship Symposium on March 5, exploring economic security, wellness and women’s leadership.

University of Nevada, RenoShelle Murach