RENO, Nev. — Tuesday, University of Nevada President Brian Sandoval delivered the 2026 State of the University, celebrating the opening of the Wolf Pack Fieldhouse and unveiling a new institutional brand identity. The event, which was held in the fieldhouse, showcased the institution's accomplishments over the past year and underscored its momentum as it advances strategic priorities and shapes the future of higher education in Nevada.
 
The event began with the official ribbon-cutting of the Wolf Pack Fieldhouse, a 72,000-square-foot facility that includes 110 yards of indoor turf and recreation space, accommodating Nevada club and intramural sports while enhancing wellness and activity for the campus community. The fieldhouse will provide critical practice areas for the Wolf Pack Marching Band and Nevada spirit teams with additional opportunities for ROTC, University student government and community events, and youth and sports activities. The fieldhouse will be essential for Wolf Pack student-athletes by providing training and conditioning space, which will positively impact all 17 Nevada sports.

The address culminated with the reveal of Nevada's new brand identity. Guided by extensive market research and informed by input from University and community stakeholders, the brand identity is authentically rooted in the University's more than 150 years of heritage and legacy. It also reflects what the University is today by expressing the distinctive strengths, defining characteristics, aspirations and impact that set the institution apart, creating a stronger connection with current and future generations of the Wolf Pack.

Central to the new brand will be an updated visual identity system that serves as the foundation for the University's visual and verbal communications. The system includes logos, color palettes, typography, photography and editorial style, creating a cohesive framework for how the University presents itself across all audiences, digital mediums and communication platforms. In the coming year, a new brand campaign, "Where World Changers Get to Work," will launch in Nevada and across the country to build awareness and strengthen the University's competitive position.

"The state of our University, I am pleased to report to you is strong. We are on a bold path with even bolder outcomes that will shape the future of Nevada and our world," Sandoval said. "For more than 150 years, our land-grant mission has fueled the spirit of who we are. Today, our institutional momentum is powering untold opportunity. Now it is our time to share with the world what has made us truly unique – and why there is no other institution in the country quite like us."

The new custom-designed logos, created by a Nevada-based firm, include the Interlocked logo and the Nevada Wolf logo. The Interlocked logo is inspired by the well-established University seal and historic typography. The U and N interweave to reveal the iconic Nevada shape and embedded within the logo is a star that pays tribute to the University's home in Reno while providing a subtle geographic cue for audiences less familiar with Nevada.

The Nevada Wolf is the University's spirit logo and is a new take on what the institution has always been about: action, momentum and the Pack. The institution also introduced a Nevada Wolf system, the Regal Trio, featuring three wolves (Wolfie Jr., Luna and Alphie), representing the strength, unity and energy of the Wolf Pack. The two new symbols connect legacy with aspiration. While each logo serves a distinct purpose, together they create a unified visual identity and a more recognizable Nevada brand.

LOGO AVAILABILITY AND BRAND GUIDELINES: The Interlocked and Nevada Wolf logos are available for media access here. Media can also access updated brand guidelines online.
Additional address highlights included:

• Nevada's freshman class is the most diverse in University history with 55% identifying as students of color.
• Since its inception in 2021, the Collegiate Academy program has served nearly 17,000 students and generated more than $54 million in tuition savings for families across the state.
• The first rural nursing cohort will begin studies at University of Nevada at Lake Tahoe in spring 2027.
• The University had a record $195 million in research expenditures in 2025, meaning more research is done at Nevada than all of the rest of Nevada System of Higher Education institutions combined.
• In 2025-2026, a record $107 million was raised on behalf of the University by Nevada's Advancement team, the result of engagement with people and organizations through the local community, state and nation.

The University and Tesla will establish the Tesla Nevada Engineering Center, a 5,000 square foot training facility and collaboration space where students and faculty members will together create innovative solutions to advanced manufacturing challenges.