Summary
Marissa Dean serves as director of the Innevation Center at the University of Nevada, Reno, where she leads strategy, partnerships, and program development across the University’s flagship hub for entrepreneurship, innovation, and technology commercialization. In this role, she focuses on building the infrastructure, relationships, and pathways that enable students, founders, industry partners, and community members to move ideas from concept to real-world application.
Dean brings more than two decades of experience advising organizations, investors, and development partners on digital economies, entrepreneurship ecosystems, and inclusive innovation strategies. Her work has spanned global initiatives with foundations, multilaterals, and private sector partners, with a consistent focus on translating complex challenges into actionable programs and measurable outcomes.
At the Innevation Center, Dean is committed to strengthening the regional innovation ecosystem through cross-sector collaboration, expanded access to entrepreneurial resources, and programming that supports workforce development, venture creation, and applied learning. She is recognized for her ability to connect stakeholders, align strategy with execution, and foster environments where innovation can thrive.
Education
M.Sc., Public Policy & Management, SOAS University of London, 2014
MBA, University of California, Berkeley, Haas School of Business, 2010
B.S., University of California, Berkeley, Chemistry, 2000