University Center for Economic Development - The College of Business at UNR

09/05/2026

Congratulations to Ania Calvillo-Mason, Strategic Planning and Economic Development Coordinator with the University Center for Economic Development, on her Recognition of Professional Achievement from the University of Nevada, Reno! Despite only joining the University Center for Economic Development, part of The College of Business at the University of Nevada, Reno, only a year ago, Ania has served the state as a member of the Wolf Pack team for over a decade! Congrats Ania!

09/04/2026

Day 2 of a two-day organizational strategic planning workshop for the Town of Tonopah was facilitated today on Thursday, September 3, 2026 by faculty and staff from the University Center for Economic Development. As part of this second day, workshop participants, consisting of elected and appointed officials and staff from the Town of Tonopah created a draft set of core values, a draft strategic mission and vision statement, a set of draft strategic organizational goals, and the beginnings of an action plan to help guide implementation over the next five years.

09/03/2026

This week faculty and staff from the University Center for Economic Development, part of The College of Business at the University of Nevada, Reno, conducted a two-day strategic planning workshop with the Dresslerville Community of the Washoe Tribe of Nevada and California. The Dresslerville Community has embarked on an effort to develop a new five-year comprehensive organizational strategic plan as surrounding communities in Douglas County continue to experience increased growth. Participants began by completing a series of facilitated community and organizational assessment exercises on the first day and finished the second day by drafting a set of key core strategic elements.

09/02/2026

Faculty and staff from the University Center for Economic Development, part of The College of Business at the University of Nevada, Reno, were in Tonopah, Nevada today, Wednesday, September 2, 2026, for the first day of a two-day strategic planning workshop for the Town of Tonopah.

The Town of Tonopah has embarked on an effort to develop a new five-year comprehensive organizational strategic plan as the community and surrounding area continues to experience increased growth from the development of several new and existing industry sectors, including mining and natural resource extraction, agricultural production, critical elements extraction and processing, and outdoor recreation.

During Day 1 of this two-day strategic planning workshop, Town of Tonopah elected and appointed officials and staff completed a series of facilitated community and organizational assessment exercises and finished the day developing a draft set of priority and primary issues.

09/01/2026

The University of Nevada, Reno hosted a roundtable discussion with federal, state and industry leaders on August 24, 2026 to explore ways in which the University and the state of Nevada are helping secure national security interests around domestically sourced and used critical elements.

08/31/2026

The College of Engineering, University of Nevada, Reno is hosting its 3rd annual Nuclear Career Spotlight on September 16, 2026 through September 18, 2026 on the main campus of the University of Nevada, Reno. Check out the attached flyer for more information...including scanning the included QR code for a full schedule and to RSVP! Faculty from the University Center for Economic Development, part of The College of Business at the University of Nevada, Reno, will be on hand to answer questions from participating students about career opportunities in Nevada's expanding energy sector.

08/27/2026

Today, Wednesday, August 26, 2026, the Carson City Library moved closer to completing the development of a new five-year organizational strategic plan! Today's second strategic planning workshop was facilitated by University Center for Economic Development Strategic Planning and Economic Development Coordinator Ania Calvillo-Mason.

08/24/2026

Faculty and staff from the University Center for Economic Development-Nevada Tech Hub participated in a roundtable discussion with Assistant Secretary of the U.S. Department of Energy, Audrey Robertson on Monday, August 24, 2026. This roundtable discussion included other University of Nevada, Reno faculty and representatives and various other public sector and private sector representatives to discuss ways in which the University and its partners can further grow Nevada's emerging 'critical elements loop'.

The roundtable also included a student poster session. PhD student Aastha Pudasainee, in the UNR Economics Department in The College of Business at the University of Nevada, Reno, who is also a Graduate Research Assistant with UCED-Nevada Tech Hub, presented a poster on her work on studying and finding ways to close key 'gaps' in the supply chain and value network of Nevada's battery manufacturing industry.

08/23/2026

**SUMMIT IS POSTPONED** In response to Governor Lombardo’s Declaration of Emergency for the Hawk Fire and the continued spread of the fire, we have made the difficult decision to postpone the Elements of Change: Lithium & Critical Minerals Summit. The safety and well-being of Nevadans and our first responders as well as those planning to attend the event must come first.

**SUMMIT IS POSTPONED** In response to Governor Lombardo’s Declaration of Emergency for the Hawk Fire and the continued spread of the fire, we have made the difficult decision to postpone the Elements of Change: Lithium & Critical Minerals Summit. The safety and well-being of Nevadans and our first responders as well as those planning to attend the event must come first.

We are incredibly grateful to our speakers, panelists, partners, attendees and sponsors as well as the University of Nevada, Renoo for their tremendous support and collaboration. This year’s event is sold out and, while we are disappointed at the postponement, look forward to announcing a rescheduled date and process very soon. We’ll be reaching out to participants soon with more information.

In the meantime, our thoughts and prayers are with the people and communities impacted by the Hawk Fire and are grateful to the firefighters, first responders, emergency personnel and volunteers working tirelessly to contain the fire and keep all of us safe.

For those of you in Northern Nevada please keep up to date on the evolving news around this fire.

The Elements of Change: Lithium & Critical Minerals Summit will be rescheduled with additional details to follow soon.

08/21/2026

Faculty from the University Center for Economic Development, part of The College of Business at the University of Nevada, Reno, were in South Lake Tahoe on Thursday, August 20, 2026 participating in the 2026 Lake Tahoe Electric Transportation Forum. Dr. Frederick Steinmann, Center Director and Principal Investigator of the Nevada Tech Hub, presented an overview of the Tech Hub's efforts to build a domestically sourced critical elements supply chain in Nevada. Michael Juru, Director of the Aerospace & Defense Academy, part of the Ozmen Center for Entrepreneurship, also attended and was part of a panel discussion regarding next generation workforce development efforts. Center Strategic Community and Economic Development Planning Coordinators Ania Calvillo-Mason and Nathan Strong also attended the Forum which included a tour of Lake Tahoe aboard a fully electric boat!