From financial stability and opportunity to food insecurity and access to health care, economic security plays a critical role in women’s well-being.
The free, public event is presented by the Ozmen Center for Entrepreneurship and the School of Public Health with the Larson Institute for Health Impact and Equity.
The symposium continues a long-standing tradition at Nevada of convening leaders, students and community partners to explore women’s leadership, entrepreneurship and equity. This year’s program focuses on how economic stability, access to resources and systems-level support shape women’s health and well-being.
“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. This symposium brings together the expertise needed to address those connections in meaningful ways.”
The afternoon will open with a keynote address by Tegan Lecheler, director of national programs at The Bridge Project. Her 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.
Local and regional leaders will then address issues currently affecting women across Northern Nevada, including:
Financial confidence and entrepreneurship: Shivani Peterson will discuss barriers women face in building financial stability and accessing capital, and how financial confidence supports long-term economic independence and well-being.
Food insecurity and evolving community needs: 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.
Behavioral health and emotional labor: Jennifer Calloway Ross, director of the Community Behavioral Health Collaborative, will address the growing emotional labor placed on women and the need for structural solutions that move beyond individual self-care.
Women’s health systems and access to care: Paige McCall, vice president of women’s and children’s services at Renown Health, will discuss women’s health access and systems-level approaches to improving outcomes across the lifespan.
“This symposium is about connecting ideas to action,” said Mehmet Tosun, Ph.D., director of the Ozmen Center for Entrepreneurship and chief international officer at the University of Nevada, Reno. “By bringing together national and international perspectives and local expertise, we are creating space for real conversations about how women can thrive economically and personally.”
The event will conclude with a facilitated discussion, followed by a networking reception.
The symposium runs from 1 to 4 p.m., with doors opening at 12:30 p.m. Admission and parking are free, but advance registration is required.
