The Women's Research Institute of Nevada (WRIN)

WRIN's History

In May 1998, Dr. Joanne Goodwin and a small group of current and former students decided to create a statewide institute to ensure the long-tem viability of existing projects, while building a network of campus and community support for research on women and gender issues. Thus began a year of writing proposals and business plans and scheduling meetings with university administration and supporters who shared our vision for a Women's Research Institute.

In May 1999, the Board of Regents recognized the Women's Research Institute of Nevada as a statewide research institute. One of the institute's first projects was to continue the work of Dr. Goodwin's Las Vegas Women Oral History Project. The Institute then expanded its research beyond the field of history by partnering with the U.S. Department of Labor Women's Bureau Region IX to investigate the current status of women and girls in the growing field of high technology in 2001.

In 2002, the Institute began working with the University of Nevada Reno's Center for Applied Research to collect and study data from approximately 150 indicators of women's health, education, social welfare, and employment in the state. Published in November 2004, the Status of Women in Nevada report made this critical information on the well-being of Nevada's citizens available for our legislators, educators, and general public. This report is available online through the Institute for Women's Policy Research at: http://www.iwpr.org/States2004/PDFs/Nevada.pdf

In June 2003, the Women's Research Institute of Nevada sponsored its first NEW Leadership Nevada program; a leadership-training program for college women modeled on a program run by the Center for American Women and Politics at Rutgers University. In June 2007 the Institute will host its fifth year of NEW Leadership Nevada, at which time over 100 college women will have benefited from this intensive leadership training.

In fall of 2005, the Women's Research Institute of Nevada was accepted as a member center of the National Council for Research on Women (NCRW); a prestigious network of over 100 leading U.S. research and policy centers that help create more equitable opportunities for women and girls.

The Women's Research Institute of Nevada continues to serve as an umbrella organization dedicated to interdisciplinary research and educational efforts focused on women and gender.