UNO Magazine Fall 2025

UNO MAGAZINE

Sue Bowen Punches and her family have always had a strong affinity for their alma mater. And Only in Nebraska: A Campaign for Our University’s Future offered her an opportunity to give back to a place she cherished while honoring her family’s legacy.

This legacy came to life through a bequest: a revocable and nonbinding gift that offers her flexibility should her wishes or situation change. Sue provided an outright gift and a planned gift, the latter to be used at the chancellor’s discretion to address UNO’s greatest needs.

“The foresight of having this fund available, so that a chancellor can respond when situations arise, is incredibly impactful, and it will serve generations of students to come,” said UNO Chancellor Joanne Li.

Because of Sue’s generosity, the Bowen Family Student Patio stands as a permanent fixture on campus, welcoming students into a space that reflects the family’s warm and dedicated spirit.

If you’d like to leave a lasting impact like the Bowen family, contact our gift planning team.

Mavericks,

At the University of Nebraska at Omaha, curiosity is the fuel that drives discovery, innovation and leadership.

Every day, our students, staff and faculty ask bold questions and seek solutions that change lives. Whether advancing artificial intelligence, exploring in STEM, or creating entrepreneurial ventures, Mavericks are guided by a desire to understand more and achieve more for our community.

This spirit is deeply tied to UNO’s mission as a premier metropolitan research university. We pursue knowledge for the public good. Our curiosity leads to pragmatic research through breakthrough discoveries, and innovative partnerships that strengthen Nebraska’s workforce and expand opportunities for our learners.

The impact of curiosity at UNO is seen in the way students engage in research alongside faculty, applying new ideas to address the challenges of our metropolitan community. It is reflected in the university’s partnerships, that align academic expertise with workforce needs and generate solutions that matter in the real world. It is embodied in community-engaged learning that allows

students to work directly with partners across Omaha, ensuring that knowledge is not confined to the classroom but extended to the community we serve.

As we enter a time of rapid change and new possibilities, curiosity remains central to preparing students for the future. Adaptability, creativity and critical thinking will be the essential skills of tomorrow, and UNO is committed to ensuring that every graduate is equipped to lead in this evolving landscape.

This commitment reflects the university’s core values, and through them, UNO transforms lives locally, nationally and globally. With the continued support of our community and partners, UNO will continue to embody the Maverick Spirit – curious, resilient and driven to make an impact.

Sincerely,

Joanne Li, Ph.D., CFA Chancellor

@uno_chancellor

Behind the preparation for the FDOC, there’s one hardworking bull. The library is stocked. Classrooms are ready. And there is plenty of coffee. Now go have a great first day, Mavs!

UNO, Chancellor Li and Durango welcome students back to campus for fall semester. Watch the full video (and a bonus blooper reel) on Instagram @uno_chancellor or on YouTube @unomahaofficial.

PHOTO I Coffee Talk with UNO’s Spirit and Tradition invited students to share one-on-one conversations with Chancellor Li while enjoying a morning cup at Starbucks in Criss Library.

UNO ALUMNA SAMANTHA

PASTORINO MAKES OMAHA

HER NEWSROOM

While most of Omaha is still sleeping, Samantha Pastorino is brewing her morning coffee and applying her mascara before she leaves for work at 3:00 a.m.

By 5:00 a.m., Pastorino stands in a bright television studio, calm and confident before the camera. The University of Nebraska at Omaha (UNO) alumna is the morning traffic anchor for KETV NewsWatch 7’s “First News,” and by sunrise she has already helped thousands of commuters navigate their day.

EXCLUSIVELY ONLINE SURPRISE SCHOLARSHIP

Loni Mickles is pursuing a UNO graduate degree in social work. Read this online exclusive story and watch a video of Chancellor Li surprising her with a $1,000 scholarship to continue her dream of mentoring and supporting local youth. unoalumni.org/unomagazine

CURIOSITY

20 CURIOSITY IN THE COSMOS

How does a rare celestial event connect to UNO’s mission on Earth?

by SUSAN HOUSTON KLAUS

24

ACCESSIBLE AI

What happens when a university makes artificial intelligence approachable for everyone?

by ELIZABETH HEMPHILL

26

IGNITING IDEAS

Can a college experience where curiosity and collaboration thrive shape a lifetime of innovation?

by MELISSA LINDELL KOZAK

ALUMNI PROFILES: The stories of four alumni who are consistently curious, pages 34–37.

28 A CHAMPION FOR CONVERSATION

What does it mean to be a Maverick Trailblazer?

by KARA SCHWEISS

Explore Omaha Athletics Hall of Fame stories and stats through the new touchscreen experience at Baxter Arena, page

MANAGING EDITOR

Davina Schrier

ASSOCIATE EDITORS

Jennifer Arnold

Sam Peshek

ART DIRECTION/DESIGN

Heidi Mihelich, cre8ivenergy

CONTRIBUTORS

Annie Albin, Jared Craig, Zoë Euteneuer, John Fey, Elizabeth Hemphill, Susan Houston Klaus, Melissa Lindell Kozak, Bella Lockwood-Watson, Kara Schweiss

EDITORIAL AND ADVERTISING INQUIRIES contact: 800-432-3216 or unomagazine@unoalumni.org.

EDITOR’S NOTE

Why? How? What if…? Questions spark ideas that lead to research, creativity and real-world impact. They drive Mavericks to look beyond what is known and imagine what could be — from exploring the cosmos to expanding access to technology, launching ventures and leading through listening.

At UNO, curiosity is more than a trait, it’s a throughline. It ignites passion and shapes careers while strengthening the lifelong connection between Mavericks and the university where their love of learning began.

This issue spotlights the spirit of inquiry that defines the Maverick experience — on campus, in the community and wherever curiosity leads.

UNO Magazine is published three times a year. UNO graduates in Nebraska receive two issues – the fall issue and either the spring or summer issue. All UNO graduates receive the fall issue. UNO Fund donors of $25 or more of the past two years receive all three issues.

Do we have your correct name and address? Send all changes to unomagazine@unoalumni.org or visit unoalumni.org/recordupdate.

ON THE COVER

Listening Lights by Jo Ratcliffe

Jo Ratcliffe is a UK-based artist and graduate of Saint Martin’s College of Art and Design in London. Her practice blends fine art traditions with contemporary media, sharing her distinctive visual language through both print and motion. jocandraw.com instagram.com/jo_can_draw

Experience Ratcliffe’s animated cover at unoalumni.org/unomagazine.

Views expressed within this magazine do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the University of Nebraska at Omaha, the UNO Alumni Association or the University of Nebraska Foundation. The University of Nebraska at Omaha shall not discriminate based upon age, race, ethnicity, color, national origin, gender-identity, sex, pregnancy, disability, sexual orientation, genetic information, veteran’s status, marital status, religion, or political affiliation.

FALL 2025 I 7

THE KID, THE SCIENTISTS, AND THE WALK THAT CHANGED EVERYTHING

by SAM PESHEK UNO Director of Editorial and Media Relations

For most of his nine years, Theo Brewer couldn’t walk without falling or tripping due to an unbalanced gait. Then a team of researchers in UNO’s Clinical Gait Analysis Lab wired him up with sensors, watched how he moved, and gave his doctors something no one else could: answers.

8 I UNO MAGAZINE

In the University of Nebraska at Omaha’s (UNO) Biomechanics Research Building, the Clinical Gait Analysis Lab always starts quiet.

Lights hum. Cameras fixed to metal piping around the room blink to life. A low, rhythmic whir echoes from a treadmill. Researchers chatter while they check a complex system of motion capture sensors, computers, and monitors once, twice and three times for good measure.

Today is a big day. Theo Brewer is about to arrive.

When he finally does, the air changes. He doesn’t knock. He bursts through, buzzing with energy and a familiar smile that quickly makes its way around the room.

Everything in the space is trained not just to study Theo’s movement, but to see his story.

This isn’t a clinic. There are no hospital gowns. It’s a space designed for understanding human motion in a way that can transform a life like Theo’s.

Theo is like any other 9-year-old. He’s outgoing, loves riding his bike, listening to music and swimming. Sometimes he’ll get up to a little mischief.

Except Theo does it all with cerebral palsy, epilepsy, and the kind of seizures that once stole his words.

In the Clinical Gait Analysis Lab, he’s not a patient. He’s a runner, a puzzle solver, a climber, a talker, a kid with a mission.

But it wasn’t always like this.

THE SEARCH FOR ANSWERS

Theo’s early years were filled with questions. Born via emergency C-section at 35 weeks, he seemed to hit milestones like any other child.

But then between 15 to 18 months old, his speech began to regress and he developed a tip toe walk.

For the next several years, the Brewer family made repeated trips from their home in Wauneta, Nebraska a village of less than 600 people northwest of McCook in southwest Nebraska to Shriners Hospital in Minneapolis chasing a diagnosis that could explain what was happening.

Eventually, doctors identified cerebral palsy and epilepsy with myoclonic seizures. Medications helped control the seizures, but Ashley Brewer Theo’s mom, and Theo’s care team knew that wasn’t the whole story.

But after nearly five years of traveling to Minneapolis once or twice a year for care, the burden became too much.

“It was just too expensive. We couldn’t continue,” Ashley said.

That’s when the search for deeper answers and more local support began.

She reached out to Children’s Nebraska in Omaha, hoping they could help transfer Theo’s care closer to home.

That call opened the door to a new care team and a new chapter.

Then two years into their care at Children’s Nebraska, Ashley and Theo were presented with a new opportunity.

One of Theo’s doctors mentioned the groundbreaking research at UNO’s Biomechanics program.

“She was like, ‘Hey, there’s this research at UNO that does gait studies. Would you want to be a part of that?’” Ashley says. “And I was like, absolutely. If it’s going to be able to further help him, there’s no question about not wanting to do it.”

That decision would lead to answers no previous provider had uncovered and ultimately, to a surgery that transformed Theo’s movement.

CHANGING PATIENT CARE

For UNO Biomechanics assistant professor David Kingston, Ph.D., who directs the Movement Analysis Core Facility, every data point carries weight. Especially when it leads to answers for families like Theo’s.

The lab doesn’t just generate graphs and motion models. It provides critical information that surgeons can use to make life-changing decisions.

WE GET TO CONNECT WITH FAMILIES FOR A FEW HOURS WHILE WE DO WORLD-CLASS SCIENCE IN THE BACKGROUND.”

“We get to connect with families for a few hours while we do world-class science in the background,” Kingston says. “But in reality, it’s so much more than that. By getting familiar with them on their day in the lab, we get to see the patient or the child in a more natural way…and that can truly change the care of patients.”

During Theo’s first gait study, Research Scientists Fabricio Magalhaes, Ph.D., and Felipe Yamaguchi, Ph.D., mapped his movement in extraordinary detail. What happened next is the part of quiet revolution underway in the Clinical Gait Analysis Lab that is changing hundreds of lives like Theo’s.

It starts with motion capture sensors –those tiny, reflective dots you’ve seen in behind-the-scenes superhero movie clips and on video game character actors. Researchers attached them to Theo’s legs, back, arms, shoulders.

From that data, the team built a digital model of Theo’s walk.

Frame by frame, they discovered the muscles betraying him: hamstrings misfiring, nerve signals looping endlessly, wrong commands repeated with painful precision.

“They were able to pinpoint and locate that his hamstrings were what was causing his spastic diplegia,” Ashley says. “That is his form of cerebral palsy.”

From that, doctors could act.

Previous treatments like Botox injections offered only limited relief. But now, with accurate data and a clear diagnosis, Theo’s medical team at Children’s Nebraska had what they needed to recommend a more permanent solution: selective dorsal rhizotomy (SDR), a nervetargeting spinal surgery.

The lab’s data didn’t just support the choice. It gave Theo a shot.

OUR GUY THEO

Now he climbs stairs without help. He rides a bike. He falls, gets up, and laughs.

Ask Ashley and she’ll tell you the biggest change isn’t physical. It’s in the way he fills a room.

“He’s freer,” she says. “He knows he can do things now. And when he walks in here, he knows people see more than his diagnosis.”

This is the thing about the gait lab.

It’s technical. Hyper-precise. A marvel of academic engineering that outside of UNO’s campus can only be found at top medical research facilities. But it only works because its people lead with heart.

FALL 2025 I 9 READ MORE AND WATCH THE MOMENT THEO WALKS INTO THE LAB — AND INTO A NEW CHAPTER.

Born in North Omaha and adopted at birth, Racquel Henderson struggled with identity and feelings of abandonment throughout her childhood. By her teenage years, she faced a series of hardships: she became a mother at 15, experienced domestic violence, endured homelessness and was incarcerated by age 20.

Hitting rock bottom in prison became a turning point. There, she realized no one had ever “reached back” to guide her. She resolved to become that person for others — someone who could help ensure others didn’t fall through the cracks. With renewed purpose, she left prison determined to change her life through education and service.

FINDING A LIFELINE AT UNO

When Henderson stepped onto the University of Nebraska at Omaha campus in 2010 as a first-generation, nontraditional student, she felt out of place.

Through UNO, she connected with TRIO Project Achieve, a program for students from low-income, first-generation or underrepresented backgrounds. The program provided critical emotional, academic and financial support.

“Project Achieve was my lifeline, and I would not be where I am today had they not allowed me in that program and helped me navigate life,” she said.

Bolstered by that support, Henderson dove into her studies with fierce determination. For five years, she juggled a full-time day job, parenting her young daughter and night classes — often staying up until 2:00

FROM ADVERSITY TO ADVOCACY

by BELLA LOCKWOOD-WATSON UNO Communications Specialist

Now a professor and civic leader, UNO alumna Racquel Henderson empowers others to thrive through education and service.

or 3:00 a.m. to complete assignments. In 2014, she graduated with honors, earning dual bachelor’s degrees in criminal justice and psychology.

FROM STUDENT TO EDUCATOR

After graduation, Henderson immediately put her education to work, committing herself to the kind of mentorship and support she wished she had received. She spent the next decade working in education and nonprofit roles, including at Metropolitan Community College, where she coordinated scholarship programs for first-generation students.

In that role, she helped hundreds of young people persist in school and find career pathways. She also launched a communitybased social media initiative, sharing job leads, free resources and encouragement with thousands of followers.

Though graduate school wasn’t initially in her plans, a challenge sparked new ambition. While working to revise a criminal justice curriculum, she was told she needed a master’s degree to formally propose changes.

Never one to back down, she returned to UNO — where she felt most at home — to earn her master’s degree in criminal justice. Today, Henderson teaches as an adjunct professor at UNO, bringing her story full circle. She instructs a course on criminal justice, drawing on her lived experiences to humanize lessons and inspire students.

“I’ve been impacted by many of the systems we study — not just incarceration, but

poverty and trauma. I’m able to really humanize what students read in textbooks. I use storytelling, real-life examples, raw transparency and activities that really challenge them.”

LEADING AND GIVING BACK

Beyond campus, Henderson leads and supports a number of programs across Omaha — from youth sports with EPIC for Girls to job skills training through the Empowerment Network and healthcare mentoring with the University of Nebraska Medical Center.

In 2025, she was appointed North Omaha community liaison in the Mayor’s Office, where she connects residents with local government and advocates for resources. Her leadership has earned major recognition, including awards from the Urban League and the Greater Omaha Chamber.

“I am so proud to see how deeply engaged Racquel is with the community, leading and working on initiatives that foster mentorship, equity and purposeful civic engagement,” said Mark Foxall, Ph.D., Henderson’s graduate adviser and a UNO criminology professor. “Her trajectory exemplifies the integration of intellectual achievement with purposeful, communitycentered leadership.”

Even with her growing influence, Henderson remains grounded. She believes deeply in representation — and in the idea that when people see someone who looks like them leading with authenticity, it opens the door to new possibilities.

ON CALL FOR CRISIS:

UNO GRAD GAINS REAL-WORLD EXPERIENCE AT OPPD

by BELLA LOCKWOOD-WATSON

UNO Communications Specialist

Tornadoes tear through towns. Floodwaters swallow roads. Wildfires ignite with little warning. In the United States, natural disasters cause more than $18 billion in damages each year. But after the sirens fade and the skies clear, who steps in to restore order?

At the University of Nebraska at Omaha, students like Mark Schaffer are answering that call.

As an emergency management major, Schaffer didn’t just study disasters from a distance. He immersed himself in real-time response planning through a hands-on internship with the Omaha Public Power District.

Schaffer has long been drawn to the intersection of strategic thinking, logistics and community engagement, but it took time to find the right fit. He began his college career studying mechanical engineering, intrigued by the idea of building systems and solving problems. After completing an internship in the field, however, he realized his strengths lay elsewhere.

Wanting to make a more direct impact on people and communities, he enrolled at UNO and shifted his focus to emergency management — a discipline that blended

his analytical mindset with a drive to serve others in moments that matter most.

UNO’s College of Public Affairs and Community Service equipped Schaffer with the vocabulary, frameworks and critical thinking tools to understand what makes communities resilient. He studied everything from disaster recovery protocols to the intricacies of incident command systems. But it wasn’t until he stepped into the halls of OPPD that those ideas took on real weight. There, the theories became tangible — and the stakes more immediate.

At OPPD, Schaffer became a dynamic part of the emergency management team. One week, he might be stationed in the Emergency Operations Center, watching teams mobilize during a weather event. The next, he was helping craft tabletop exercises involving complex what-if scenarios: active threats, natural disasters and large-scale infrastructure failure. These weren’t academic thought experiments. They were critical tests of how OPPD, as a major utility provider, would keep Omaha’s lights on in a worstcase scenario.

“I’ve been able to really get a good idea of all the stages of emergency management and gotten to see it all,” Schaffer said. He quickly found a passion for the adrenaline and unpredictability of disaster response — especially when it came to natural hazards. Tornadoes, floods, extreme weather events. These weren’t abstract threats to him. They were puzzles to solve in real time.

“Just being able to understand what any of that actually means has been super valuable,” he said. “Both for the learning process — because then you don’t have to stop and have people define things — but also for the connection-building part.”

When Schaffer entered the room with veteran emergency managers and utility leads, he wasn’t just a student sitting in the corner. He understood the acronyms, spoke the jargon and tracked the flow of decisions with confidence. That kind of fluency earned him credibility — and made him feel like he belonged.

As his May 2025 graduation fades into the rearview and the real world calls louder, one thing’s certain: Schaffer isn’t waiting to make a difference. He’s already doing it.

THIS BOOT COULD HELP SOLDIERS HEAL FASTER AND STAY IN THE FIGHT

by SAM PESHEK UNO Director of Editorial and Media Relations

Ankle sprains keep U.S. military servicemembers on the sidelines a combined 6 million days each year. University of Nebraska at Omaha (UNO) researchers are working to change that.

UNO Biomechanics researchers are testing the FlyBand® ExoBoot, an exoskeleton embedded inside a regulation combat boot invented by Connecticutbased company, Motive Labs.

With no motors or batteries, this innovative system uses carbonfiber “stability cartridges” to deliver customizable ankle support for injury recovery and prevention.

Each year, musculoskeletal injuries cost U.S. military personnel an estimated 25 million limited-duty days. Lateral ankle sprains alone contribute up to 6 million of those days, many of them preventable.

The FlyBand ExoBoot aims to cut those numbers by helping service members recover faster and avoid re-injury, all

while maintaining natural movement and mobility.

“This is exactly the kind of research UNO was built to do: community-engaged, mission-driven, and focused on real-world impact,” Sara Myers, Ph.D., Biomechanics Professor, Associate Vice Chancellor for Research and Creative Activity, and the study’s principal investigator said. “We’re proud to be collaborating on a project that not only advances science, but also directly improves the health and readiness of those who serve.”

Lab tests at UNO show the prototype rivals the standard of care of current boots-plus-ankle-brace combinations for inversion control while offering the lowest resistance to natural walking motions.

If successful, the design will be relevant in a wide range of footwear, from hiking boots, to work boots, to high-top basketball sneakers.

FLYBAND ® EXOBOOT CLOSEUP:

• The boot’s stiffness can be fine-tuned using interchangeable cartridges.

• It supports lateral movement without restricting forward motion, unlike traditional braces, increasing the ability for ligaments to heal.

• A spring-like “exotendon” helps reduce energy demand by up to 11% during walking.

• Lab tests show performance that matches or exceeds conventional brace-boot combos.

• It’s also the first military footwear to incorporate a female-specific anatomical design.

READ MORE ABOUT HOW UNO RESEARCHERS ARE REINVENTING FOOTWEAR.

1971 TO 2025

by ANNIE ALBIN

Marketing and Communications Manager, College of Arts and Sciences

From earning his bachelor’s degree as a first-time father to completing his master’s while enjoying retirement, Ben Simmons has a unique, 50-plus-year connection to the University of Nebraska at Omaha.

Originally from Maryland, Simmons landed in Omaha after learning about UNO’s bootstrapper program, which was designed to help military members complete their degrees. It was a perfect fit, as he was wrapping up his service in Alabama with the U.S. Army.

With a collection of credits from other universities, Simmons joined the program to consolidate his coursework, finish a few remaining classes and graduate with a bachelor’s degree in general studies. He moved to Nebraska with his wife, Martha, and their young son — making it home for the next 31 years.

After Simmons earned his degree, Martha pursued hers as well — first an undergraduate degree at UNO, followed by a master’s degree from the University of Nebraska–Lincoln. They now joke that their son grew up thinking all adults went to school, having watched his parents take classes throughout his childhood.

Years later, the couple retired and relocated to Fort Myers, Florida, for a change of pace. One day, while browsing online, Simmons came across UNO’s Master of Arts in Critical and Creative Thinking program.

A lifelong learner, Simmons had taken college courses periodically over the years. But something about this program stood out. With its interdisciplinary focus, it offered the perfect opportunity to explore deep, reflective ideas.

“One of the few advantages — and there are very few advantages — of getting old is that you have time to think,” Simmons said. “You can think about some of the bigger issues: ethics, values, philosophy. The program fit very nicely with my current interests.”

UNO STUDY OFFERS

LOOK INTO LABOR TRAFFICKING IN NEBRASKA

by BELLA LOCKWOOD-WATSON

UNO Communications Specialist

University of Nebraska at Omaha (UNO) researchers have completed the state’s first comprehensive study of labor trafficking to better understand how and why this hidden crime occurs, and how to stop it.

UNO’s two-year study is the first to systematically assess labor trafficking across Nebraska, drawing on a statewide survey of hundreds of professionals and interviews with stakeholders and a survivor.

The research confirms that labor trafficking is happening in multiple Nebraska industries – from farms and factories to restaurants, domestic work, and even cleaning services – despite few perpetrators ever facing charges.

Labor trafficking is a serious, under-recognized problem that harms victims and communities. It’s considered a public health and safety concern that demands a coordinated response.

This new data will help Nebraska agencies and policymakers have a better understanding of these crimes. Understanding how labor trafficking happens locally can improve training, identification, and support services – ultimately preventing exploitation before it starts.

A statewide survey received 582 responses from Nebraska professionals, of which 170 had firsthand experience with labor trafficking cases or survivors.

Nebraska law enforcement officials noted major challenges in investigating these cases: inconsistent protocols, outdated or unclear procedures, language and cultural barriers, and the difficulty of gaining trust from traumatized victims all hinder effective action. Service providers – those helping survivors with shelter, legal aid, counseling, etc. – reported limited resources and patchy coordination, especially in rural areas of Nebraska. Common survivor needs include safe housing, legal services, mental health support, translation assistance, job help, and basic necessities like food and medicine.

“Labor trafficking is a complex crime that requires a coordinated approach for investigation and response efforts,” Teresa C. Kulig, Ph.D., UNO expert and criminology professor and the study’s principal investigator said. “Our goal with this study was to pull back the curtain on these crimes. We now have evidence that it’s happening here in Nebraska, and this knowledge is power. It will help communities recognize the red flags and rally resources to protect vulnerable workers.”

Real Madrid Graduate School–Universidad Europea and the University of Nebraska at Omaha (UNO), USA, have signed a collaboration agreement to promote comprehensive education in sports management. The goal of this partnership is to equip students with practical, in-depth knowledge to become experts in all areas of the sports industry— from marketing and communications to leadership and business management, with an international background. This collaboration will add another international dimension to UNO’s Master of Business Administration (MBA) program, drawing on the tradition and expertise of the Real Madrid Graduate School–Universidad Europea. Thanks to its hybrid format, the program combines the strengths of both online and in-person education, offering students a truly holistic 360-degree learning experience.

GO GETTER

by JARED CRAIG UNO Social Media and Digital Engagement Manager

Standing in a photo studio, Bella McAtee directed models into position against a white backdrop, turning her artistic vision into reality. The energy and chaos of a fashion photoshoot is hard to match. With a camera in hand, McAtee adjusted the lights, selected props and arranged the studio’s vintage furniture. Nearby, makeup artists added final touches to her next subjects while her peers from the University of Nebraska at Omaha captured behind-the-scenes content for social media. The room was loud and offered little space to maneuver — but she wouldn’t have it any other way.

MADRID PARTNER PROGRAM PROVIDES 360º VIEW OF THE SPORTS INDUSTRY

by SAM PESHEK

UNO Director of Editorial and Media Relations

THE CERTIFICATE AND DUAL DEGREE PROGRAM

Through this agreement, as part of obtaining UNO’s Master of Business Administration (MBA) degree, students have the opportunity to complete three online courses from the Real Madrid Graduate School–Universidad Europea (RMGS–UE) Executive MBA in Sport Management program and be awarded RMGS–UE’s Certificate in Sports Management.

What is even more appealing is that if UNO MBA students complete an additional two courses online in RMGS–UE’s Executive MBA in Sport Management program, for a total of five courses, these students will be awarded RMGS–UE’s Executive MBA in Sport Management degree and therefore graduate with two graduate degrees, one from the United States and one from Spain.

THE REAL MADRID EXPERIENCE IN SPAIN

Students enrolled in this international program will be able to participate in The Real Madrid Experience, signature industry event where students engage directly with top professionals of Real Madrid and explore the latest trends in global sports. They will also visit Real Madrid’s facilities and some of the most important sport venues in Madrid. This annual event in May offers a unique networking opportunity in a dynamic environment that fosters entrepreneurial thinking and interactions with other sports professionals.

She was living her dream.

“Fashion is just everywhere,” McAtee said. “As a little girl, I watched ‘Lizzie McGuire’ with all its vibrant colors and the Y2K aesthetic. I’ve always been drawn to movies, and I used to be a theater major and loved costuming. And when I’m looking at magazines and marketing, it’s the fashion that catches my eye.”

Now, when she picks up a camera, the storyteller in her takes over.

With a laugh, she wondered aloud, “How do I take these types of photos that are so outlandish?”

When McAtee envisioned her own fashion photoshoot, she made it happen. She contacted Omaha-based designer Makena Ninete, founder of the Ruby June brand, and offered free photography services in exchange for clothing pieces. It wasn’t

LEARN MORE ABOUT THIS UNIQUE PROGRAM.

a money-making venture — she simply wanted the experience.

“If you’re just waiting around for opportunities, they’re not going to come tap on your shoulder. You must scout for them,” McAtee said.

UNO RESEARCHERS ADVANCE OMAHA’S FIRST-EVER POVERTY ELIMINATION PLAN

The Omaha City Council has adopted a comprehensive Poverty Elimination Action Plan (PEAP) crafted by faculty at the University of Nebraska at Omaha (UNO) Nebraska Center for Justice Research (CJR) and Grace Abbott School of Social Work.

The plan, mandated by Nebraska’s LB 840 legislation, positions Omaha to address poverty with targeted, data-backed strategies with a distinctly local touch.

With inflation driving up the cost of essentials and pandemic-era assistance programs expiring, Omaha – like many U.S. cities – is experiencing a resurgence in economic hardship.

The research team partnered closely with city leaders, nonprofits, and residents to identify systemic gaps.

Together, they outlined community-informed, research-based recommendations that prioritize housing, transportation, education, health, and jobs.

“The fact that both the Nebraska Legislature and the City of Omaha entrusted our team with this work speaks volumes,” Ryan Spohn, Ph.D., Director, UNO Nebraska Center for Justice Research said. “It’s a testament to the value of the Nebraska Center for Justice Research and to the dedication of the faculty, staff, and students who poured their time, talent, and expertise into this plan.”

“One of the most valuable aspects of the plan is how it integrates community input with evidence-based policy recommendations,” Katelynn Towne, Ph.D., Research Coordinator, UNO Nebraska Center for Justice Research, said. “I’m deeply appreciative of the policymakers and city staff who laid the groundwork for this effort, and I’m optimistic about how our city will build from this blueprint.”

The City will begin implementing the plan through a Mayor’s Advisory Task Force and continue partnering with UNO on progress tracking, policy design, and community engagement.

“Poverty isn’t just a personal issue,” Laurel Sariscsany, Ph.D., Assistant Professor, UNO Grace Abbott School of Social Work, said. “It affects our entire city in ways that we might not always see. It’s inspiring to see Omaha and the state taking poverty seriously and committing to a plan that reflects the voices, needs, and ideas of the people who live here.”

BACKED BY NEW LEGISLATION AND COMMUNITY VOICES, THE OMAHA CITY COUNCIL RECENTLY ADOPTED A GROUNDBREAKING ACTION PLAN DRAFTED BY UNO EXPERTS.

by SAM PESHEK UNO Director of Editorial and Media Relations

KEY FINDINGS FROM THE REPORT INCLUDE:

• Homeownership costs in Omaha surpass the national median of $1,331, whereas rental costs are lower than the U.S. median of $1,348.

• 9.7% of Omaha residents are uninsured, higher than the national average (8.6%), with a notable percentage from lower-income groups.

• Nebraska’s Aid to Dependent Children (ADC) program is underutilized, with 90% of applications denied, leading to $126 million in unspent federal funds.

RECOMMENDATIONS TO ADDRESS EACH OF THE KEY COMPONENTS OF POVERTY:

• Housing: Expand subsidies, improve tenant protections, invest in affordable housing, and support tools like tax increment financing (TIF), land banks, and tax credits to grow and preserve housing stock.

• Economic supports: Introduce a guaranteed income pilot, expand paid leave, subsidize childcare, and create a local Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC).

• Education: Increase access to early childhood education, support Omaha Public Schools, and offer job training through business-education partnerships and financial aid.

• Transportation: Make microtransit permanent if the pilot proves popular and cost-effective, enhance ORBT and public transit access, and align development with transportation needs, especially for students and job seekers.

• Employment: Expand childcare assistance, raise the minimum wage, support small businesses, and consider public-private partnerships.

• Health access: Strengthen community health and mental health services and create a medical liaison program to reduce financial barriers to care.

A VIRTUAL TRAINING MISSION

by SUSAN HOUSTON KLAUS

Mornings this fall, you can find members of the University of Nebraska at Omaha Flying Mavericks Flight Team gathered in a classroom hallway. Wearing virtual reality headsets and holding paddles, they’re each immersed in their own world, diligently bobbing and weaving, dodging obstacles only they can see.

The team is the first to participate in a pilot neuro training program launched by the UNO Aviation Institute that uses immersive VR and cognitive tools to help pilots hone their skills for the cockpit.

The program is supported by a gift from Omaha philanthropists Barbara and Wally Weitz, as part of Only in Nebraska: A Campaign for Our University’s Future. They chair the UNO campaign committee.

The Weitzes designated nearly three quarters of a $19 million gift commitment to create the Weitz Innovation and Excellence Fund to benefit UNO. This funding is being awarded to strategic campus priorities that may benefit from new investment, as determined by a campus committee.

The fund’s purpose is to elevate particularly good programs to nationally recognized ones while addressing critical areas of need in Omaha and the state of Nebraska.

UNO Aviation Institute Director Scott Vlasek first learned about the NeuroTrainer application, created by a San Francisco-based company, about six years ago when his daughter’s volleyball club trained with it. Using it in the program had been in the back of his mind ever since.

“I went to an informational session on it, and I thought, ‘Wow, this could translate very well to flight training and aviation and what we’re doing,’” he said. “I’d always wanted to try to find a way to do a test group on this.”

Vlasek and Hunter Pehrson, the UNO Aviation Institute’s recruitment and retention specialist, saw the potential in using neuro training with aviation students to leverage the brain’s neuroplasticity — its ability to rewire itself and adapt to optimize mental performance.

For pilots, who must rely on quick, methodical thinking, finetuning these tools to enhance cognitive functions such as focus, memory, reaction time, decision-making and mental resilience was a natural fit. Using the application could have a positive impact on maintaining focus during training, reducing the time and cost of achieving pilot certifications, and improving overall academic performance.

Having the ability for these pilots in training to use their critical thinking skills and decision-making skills is a crucial aspect of helping prevent problems in the air.

“Anytime you go up in an airplane, there’s a risk associated with that. I think the more that we can do to help improve our students’ situational awareness, that’s a good thing. Certainly, from a safety standpoint, this technology is something that’s going to help them out,” Vlasek said.

To create the program at UNO, Vlasek and Pehrson teamed to write a proposal to the UNO selection committee for the Weitz Innovation and Excellence Fund to request funding for the NeuroTrainer application and the VR headsets.

The pilot was chosen for funding by the Weitz Innovation and Excellence Fund, making it possible for the aviation institute to introduce it to members of the Flying Mavs at the beginning of the fall semester.

The program is collecting baseline performance data, evaluating the pilot outcomes, and then establishing key performance indicators. Then they’ll have a benchmark to compare the pilots’ performance at a national flying competition in spring 2026.

NEUROTRAINER ALLOWS US TO BE ON THE LEADING EDGE OF TECHNOLOGY IN OUR AVIATION FLIGHT TRAINING. WITH IT, WE’RE PUTTING OURSELVES ABOVE A LOT OF THE OTHER UNIVERSITIES AND PROGRAMS OUT THERE.”

Beneficial for both athletes and pilots, NeuroTrainer is an innovative way for users to improve their decision-making and response time.

The pilot group has been using two programs designed to test their reaction skills and build their cognitive response. The exercises are meant to “wake up their brains, especially in the mornings or before a critical operation like going out and flying, to make sure they’re at a peak performance,” Vlasek said.

“We’re having our students do [the exercises] a minimum of three times a week,” he said. “We’re asking them to try to do five times a week, and then also there will be some days that we’ll probably do it twice that day.”

The application takes small activities and turns them into a game format, said Pehrson.

“It’s kind of fun for them because there are other leaderboards that they can view. They’re all competitive, so they want to be better than everybody else. It’s cool to see them talk about it,” he said.

Tyler Thieman, a junior at UNO and a member of the Flying Mavs, said he already sees his use of NeuroTrainer having a positive impact on his performance.

“I’ve noticed a lot more attention to detail during actual practice, and I’m able to keep my mind focused,” he said. “It’s easy to get off

task, especially when you’re doing some of the same things over and over. It gets a little monotonous, but I’ve noticed that focus and attentiveness have kind of stayed on topic a good bit more since we started doing this.”

Thieman said the exercises he performs wearing the VR headset translate directly to actual flying in a different way than traditional classroom instruction.

“It’s not just, ‘All right, sit down, take this test.’ It incorporates everything, and I can understand how it’s increasing my performance as I’m doing it,” he said. “It’s very obvious what these things help me with and how they improve my performance in and out of the cockpit.”

The UNO Aviation Institute is the first collegiate aviation program in the country to use NeuroTrainer. It’s a distinction that benefits current students and those considering UNO for their education, said Pehrson.

“NeuroTrainer allows us to be on the leading edge of technology in our aviation flight training. With it, we’re putting ourselves above a lot of the other universities and programs out there. We’ve added this piece that allows our students to have something that many other students don’t have access to. I think it will help us have a recruiting edge compared to a lot of other universities,” he said.

THANK YOU for supporting UNO and its students like never before.

CURIOSITY IN

THE COSMOS

NASA Nebraska Space Grant Sparks Discovery Across the State

by SUSAN HOUSTON KLAUS

The NASA Nebraska Space Grant (NSG) program may be located many miles from where shuttles and rockets blast off and where stars twinkle in the sky. But the organization, in Nebraska since 1991, is making an impact from its home at the University of Nebraska at Omaha.

NSG was recognized this year by NASA as a critical partner in the program.

One of 52 consortiums in the country, NSG awards funds to faculty interested in doing research related to NASA’s missions and to students interested in joining the aerospace and space-related industries. It also supports and promotes aerospace research and education across the state.

For NSG Co-Director Michaela Lucas, teaming with teachers and students is an important part of the program that takes her back to being young.

“My first grade teacher inspired me in this realm when we covered it back when the first space shuttle was launching,” she said.

“By training teachers, you’re exponentially going to impact more students over time, because you plant that spark with the teacher and they’re going to share that back with students, class after class, year after year.”

NSG takes a group of teachers to Kennedy Space Center in Florida every summer. There, they do hands-on activities, talk with scientists and engineers, and meet UNO graduates working there.

Students also partner with NSG. In 2024, NSG’s Big Red Satellite program launched the first CubeSat — a satellite experiment included as auxiliary payload on a rocket headed to the International Space Station — to orbit the Earth.

A multidisciplinary team of middle and high school students from Omaha, Lincoln and Aurora, Nebraska, worked with students from the University of Nebraska–Lincoln.

The program’s influence on future generations is especially crucial in a time when people in STEM careers are in short supply.

Lucas said it’s important to get students curious about STEM subjects early.

“We need to plant those seeds before they get to college or have self-selected out of math and science and engineering by the time they’re in middle school. You have to reach them sooner than that.”

Liliana Delgado, a third-year doctoral candidate in biomechanics at UNO, said the NASA Nebraska Space Grant has afforded her the opportunity to “do some fantastic work” in a unique area.

Delgado’s research involves testing 3D printing in space. The work, called mechanical characterization testing, involves compression and tensile testing to understand the properties needed to print in space and simulate the space environment.

Her team has sent up spooled filament to test in the 3D printing laboratory on the International Space Station and compare how it performs with the same materials on Earth.

“The intention is that once we validate that it does perform just as mechanically well in space and in microgravity that tools such as scalpel handles could be printed,” Delgado said.

“All that needs to be sent up to space is the actual scalpel blade. Then we can just print a sterilized 3D printed scalpel handle. So that’s less material packaging that needs to be carried on board.”

The support Delgado receives from NSG is invaluable in helping push her research forward.

“You might not immediately think of biomechanics and space — what does that have to do with each other?” she said. “[NSG] really sees the value in investing in researchers’ projects because they understand the time commitment that’s involved with conducting these studies.”

For Michael Sibbernsen, co-founder and director of higher education of the Branched Oak Observatory and an NSG partner, tracking a once-in-a-lifetime event is part of a mission supported by the NASA Nebraska Space Grant.

On clear Nebraska nights, stargazers at the observatory near Lincoln are keeping an eye on a particular pair of stars inside one constellation.

Both a binary star and a recurrent nova, its official name is T Coronae Borealis, or “T CrB.” Familiarly, it’s known as the Blaze Star.

It’s been making astronomy news lately because it’s expected to erupt soon, putting on a glow that may rival the brightness of the North Star. The event is a once-in-every-80-years occurrence — the last one happening in 1946.

Star spotters will need to look quick: Once the Blaze Star erupts, it may only be visible to the unaided eye within just a week’s time.

For Sibbernsen, the event represents a great illustration of beginnings and endings in the sky.

“It’s just one more way to learn more about stellar evolution, about the life, the birth, the death of stars.

This is just one more piece of data to be able to add to that greater pantheon of knowledge that we have about stars in general.”

Since the observatory opened 11 years ago, its campus has grown by leaps and bounds and now has over a half dozen different buildings.

We’ve created quite a facility of different telescopes, and we try to host as many public events as we can,” said Sibbernsen.

Through the NSG and other grants, the facility has been able to fund its radio telescope and earth moon earth radio system. Another big addition to the observatory is a hydrogen alpha solar telescope. Funded by an NSG mini grant, it allows visitors to safely look at the sun.

Sibbernsen said the NSG has also provided funding for the observatory to create a summer internship program and to be open weekends.

“That allows us to offer more observing opportunities to the general public — something we wouldn’t have been able to do without the help of the NASA Nebraska Space Grant,” he said.

“That has been huge for us and huge for the community.”

Artist’s representation of a White Dwarf / Red Giant system like T CrB. Credit: NASA/Goddard Space Flight Center.

ACCESSIBLE

UNO’s Bold Approach to Bringing AI into Classrooms, Workplaces and Communities

by ELIZABETH HEMPHILL

Curiosity ignites innovation — and few technologies have fueled more questions, wonder and debate than artificial intelligence. But instead of fearing those questions and shying away from the answers, the University of Nebraska at Omaha (UNO) has chosen to embrace curiosity and lead bravely into the tech-driven future for the betterment of its students, staff, faculty and the Omaha community at large.

MAKING AI APPROACHABLE

As AI rapidly evolves, keeping up with this emerging technology can feel overwhelming. Therefore, ensuring AI can be for everyone was the inspiration of the first-of-its-kind OMA x AI conference last month.

Drawing massive community support from those like Omaha Mayor John Ewing Jr. and UNO’s Chancellor Joanne Li, among many other Omaha area leaders, this hallmark event marked a new era for the city. An era that welcomes technology, curiosity and innovation for all.

“I want our community to see UNO as an institution and a brand that gets things done. We listen, we move fast and we don’t wait for change to happen. We lead it,” said Chancellor Li.

Unlike traditional tech summits, OMA x AI was designed to make AI accessible to all, removing barriers between experts and everyday users.

“When it comes to technology and workforce readiness, we’re not experimenting behind closed doors. We’re out in the community and solving problems in real time. I want people to look at UNO and see a university that’s practical, people-focused and always pushing forward. That’s our promise to Omaha,” said Li.

OMA x AI promoted curiosity and encouraged action. Participants from every background, industry and prior tech experience were encouraged and equipped to:

• Understand AI with a common language and real examples that were practical and approachable.

• Apply AI using the tools, testing the strategies and leaving with actionable ideas and tactics tailored to their skill levels.

• Accelerate AI with breakout tracks and networking opportunities.

• Experience AI by getting their hands on the latest AI tech and connecting with AI innovators at interactive exhibits throughout the event space.

UNO MODELS MEANINGFUL AI IMPLEMENTATION

At UNO, AI has been strategically integrated across campus, avoiding reactive approaches and helping the campus feel prepared.

UNO was among the first universities in the nation to partner with OpenAI, giving faculty and staff access to the customizable enterprise version of ChatGPT. Second, offering support services from the

AI Learning Lab within the Division of Innovative and Learning-Centric Initiatives.

“In the AI Learning Lab, we want to meet people where they are. We also offered a tiered approach to our AI grants for those who just want to dip their toes into AI, and for those who want to fully implement it into their courses,” said AI Learning Lab Program Manager Cassie Mallette.

Finally, UNO offers Nebraska’s first undergraduate degree in artificial intelligence aimed at providing students with the tools, knowledge and hands-on experience necessary to thrive in the rapidly evolving AI landscape.

AI IS FOR EVERYONE

UNO is proving that AI isn’t just for tech experts — it’s for everyone.

I WANT PEOPLE TO LOOK AT UNO AND SEE A UNIVERSITY THAT’S PRACTICAL, PEOPLE-FOCUSED AND ALWAYS PUSHING FORWARD.”

“We’re building spaces where people can explore new technology, ask hard questions and leave more prepared for tomorrow’s workforce than when they walked in. That’s the kind of leadership a metropolitan university owes its community,” said Chancellor Li.

And UNO is delivering on that community promise. JDH’s Vice President of HR and Marketing Ryan Rogers details working with the AI Learning Lab team for training.

“Some members of our team were intimidated by AI and not sure where to start; UNO’s team was able to demystify the subject of AI for our team by showing practical ways it could be implemented into their daily lives as well as AI’s limitations and pitfalls,” said Rogers. “They had the unique skill of making the complicated seem simple.”

This type of thinking, this curiosity, will continue to secure UNO’s spot as a beacon of innovation not only in Omaha, but across our nation. Higher education and the workforce mirror one another: they’re made up of the same people, just at different stages. That’s why UNO will remain laser focused on innovating — not for innovation’s sake — but to create a better life for every worker and a better world for everyone.

IGNITING IDEAS

by MELISSA LINDELL KOZAK Sr. Director of Communications & Marketing, College of Business Administration

When students arrive at the University of Nebraska at Omaha with a spark of curiosity, the Entrepreneurial Living Learning Community — or ELLC — fans it into a flame. For more than a decade, this unique program has provided Mavericks with the tools, mentors and community they need to transform bold ideas into thriving ventures.

Housed in Scott Village, the ELLC brings together first- and second-year students who live, learn and collaborate alongside peers who share their entrepreneurial spirit. Upperclassmen often return as mentors, guiding the next wave of innovators. Together, they explore what it means to think like an entrepreneur — not just in business, but in life.

“It’s about surrounding yourself with people who are just as curious and

motivated as you are,” said Nate White, a current member. “We build on each other’s ideas and push each other to improve.”

Second-year member Moto Hiro Tsuchiya agrees. “We can exchange ideas. The group supports my ideas and ventures.”

“Curiosity is built into everything we do,” said Alex Wewel, assistant director of UNO’s Center for Innovation,

CURIOSITY IS BUILT INTO EVERYTHING

That sense of community is central to the program’s design. Weekly meetings feature visits to startups, guest speakers and hands-on workshops. Students get a behind-the-scenes look at Omaha’s growing innovation ecosystem — touring coworking hubs like Elevator and Millwork Commons, learning from founders of companies like Viva Fit Kitchen and Appsky, and even serving as “sharks” in pitch competitions with local high schoolers.

Entrepreneurship and Franchising, which oversees the program. “Students bring their ideas — whether it’s a new restaurant concept, an app or a small business they’ve already launched — and we work through frameworks like the Lean Canvas to test, refine and pivot. It’s a safe space to experiment, fail fast and grow.”

For some, like sophomore Bobby Snodgrass, the ELLC provides fuel for an already-running venture. His mobile detailing company, Detail Omaha, continues to grow thanks to the

ALUMNI REFLECTIONS

ALUMNI SAY THE PROGRAM’S IMPACT LASTS LONG AFTER GRADUATION.

“ELLC had one of the greatest impacts on my college experience,” said Yolvin Aguirre (pictured left top), who still keeps in touch with mentors and peers he met through the program. “It connected me with CEOs, business owners and opportunities I never would have had otherwise. The community fueled my ambitions and gave me the skills to keep building beyond UNO.”

For Samantha Barrett (pictured left middle), the ELLC was both a launchpad and a lifeline.

“The ELLC is full of different opportunities,” she said. “Not only are you able to meet a wide variety of people throughout the community, but you can also fully immerse yourself in entrepreneurship. It allowed me to ask every question I had directly to business owners and mentors — and those answers shaped the way I think about business today.”

Barrett said the friendships and mentorship she gained were equally life-changing.

“Being a freshman, it was scary coming into a new environment with no friends. ELLC gave me a solid group I could rely on. My mentor helped me navigate not only college, but life and work.”

Bailey Kaisershot (pictured left bottom) echoed that sentiment, crediting the ELLC with shaping both her academic and professional path.

“The experiences I had and people I met through the ELLC, I will forever cherish and remember,” she said. “Our cohort went on multiple entrepreneurship-based trips to San Francisco, Denver and Boston, where we toured startups and businesses while also exploring new cities together. Living in Scott Village made our cohort feel more like a family than classmates.”

Now pursuing optometry, Kaisershot said her mentor connections were invaluable.

WE DO.”

connections and mentorship he’s gained. Others, like first-year Lesly Sanchez, find the structure gives them the time and encouragement to move an idea from the “someday” list to the priority list.

Perhaps most transformative are the experiences outside the classroom. Each spring, the ELLC takes students to a national hub for startups. Last year’s trip to New York City gave participants a glimpse into the fast-paced world of Wall Street, venture capital and innovation at scale.

“It was like a playground for entrepreneurship,” said junior Brady Faltys, who balances projects in real estate with a composting startup. “You see just how many different paths there are, and it makes you want to take your own ideas further.”

“I was paired with Dr. Lindsey Behrendt, an optometrist at Exclusively Eyecare, and that opened the door to shadowing, volunteering and even my current job as an optometric technician. If it wasn’t for the ELLC, I wouldn’t have these opportunities or experiences that are now directly preparing me for optometry school.”

At its core, the ELLC reflects UNO’s commitment to innovation — empowering students to explore, create and lead.

As Wewel put it: “It’s a simple concept with a huge impact. When you put curious people together, ideas ignite — and entrepreneurs grow.”

DETAIL OMAHA:

Sophomore Bobby Snodgrass runs a mobile detailing business that thrives on word-of-mouth and connections built through the ELLC.

REAL ESTATE & COMPOSTING:

Brady Faltys is learning how to scale ventures from sustainable composting to property flips, inspired by the mentorship he’s found in Omaha’s startup community.

PUSHING IDEAS FORWARD: First-year member Lesly Sanchez says the ELLC gave her the structure to prioritize her entrepreneurial idea rather than letting it linger.

A CHAMPION FOR CONVERSATION

by KARA SCHWEISS

Great leadership requires vision, collaboration and the ability to listen. Dr. Herb L. Thompson III embodies these qualities by creating space for dialogue, mentoring across disciplines and helping others feel heard. On Sept. 16, Thompson, an assistant professor in the School of Communication, received the first Maverick Trailblazer Award in recognition of his leadership and impact at UNO.

“It was so meaningful to know that the work is valued and that the contributions matter,” Thompson said. “It is a career-defining moment, absolutely, and I’ll cherish it.”

Thompson’s work reflects UNO’s commitment to excellence and the power of communication to build community.

“The intent of the Maverick Trailblazer Award is to highlight one faculty per year that has demonstrated outstanding achievements in teaching, research/creative activity and/or service,” said Faculty Senate President Patty Bick, Ph.D. “Dr. Herb Thompson exemplifies the Maverick spirit in his work on building connections, collaborations and innovations. His work on TANDEM and Intergroup Dialogue is inspiring. At a time when the country is as divisive as ever, we need more people like Dr. Thompson to teach and practice communication and listening, with people from all walks of life with different views and different backgrounds. We are thrilled and proud to select Dr. Thompson for this very prestigious award.”

Thompson demonstrated connection as co-founder of TANDEM, UNO’s faculty mentorship program across all colleges and departments; innovation as pioneer of the grant-winning “Our Stories” event including more than 70 students, faculty, staff and alumni; and collaboration through his innovative and peer-led Intergroup Dialogue course.

He holds a bachelor’s degree in speech communication with a focus on intercultural communication and a master’s degree in communication with a concentration in communication for identity, both from UNO.

He also earned a Ph.D. in human sciences with a leadership studies specialization from the University of Nebraska–Lincoln. His research priorities are communication and leadership practices, mentorship and intergroup dialogue.

“Dr. Herb Thompson exemplifies what it means to be a Maverick Trailblazer,” said Phil He, Ph.D., senior vice chancellor for academic affairs. “He has led the development of innovative and collaborative programming that helps people connect on a deeper level with others in their classrooms, departments and across campus.”

He also described Thompson as someone who goes above and beyond to help others and ensure that they are welcome on campus. Former students can attest to this.

“Dr. Thompson is an incredibly engaged faculty member,” said UNO alum Eva Burklund, who worked with Thompson on the Intergroup Dialogue course and other projects. “Dr. Thompson has always made the utmost effort to support his students however they ask him to, from academics to leadership to research.”

Burkland said Thompson also played a foundational role in promoting dialogue on campus, creating spaces where everyone is encouraged to share their perspectives and beliefs, and to ask questions.

THE INTENT OF THE MAVERICK

TRAILBLAZER

AWARD IS TO HIGHLIGHT ONE FACULTY PER YEAR THAT HAS DEMONSTRATED OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENTS IN TEACHING, RESEARCH/ CREATIVE ACTIVITY AND/OR SERVICE.”

Thompson said curiosity has been a tremendous driver throughout his career.

“Communication is absolutely about curiosity,” he said. “The whole idea of communicating with others — you have to want to learn about them. You have to want to explore those interactions more deeply.”

It’s a mindset that has shaped his work and continues to guide his efforts to build a more connected campus.

“Meaningful innovation happens when we see a problem and we can see the potential inside that problem,” said Thompson.

50 YEARS OF MAVERICK EXCELLENCE

by JOHN FEY

The birth of UNO athletics dates to 1911 – Oct. 14, to be exact – when then-named Omaha University’s first football team debuted with a 24-0 win over Nebraska Deaf & Dumb Institute. The game, which took place on a field at 24th and Evans Streets, marked the start of 101 years of football, featuring more than 30 AllAmericans. Many of them went on to play in the NFL.

That same year, the basketball program started its 114-year run. Over the years, the university added baseball, wrestling, cross country and track and decades later five more men’s sports with the move to Division I hockey. Women’s athletics began in 1969 — before Title IX — thanks to one person: Connie Claussen. Today, UNO offers nine women’s sports.

The Omaha Athletics Hall of Fame was created in 1975. This year marks the 50th anniversary, with 137 athletes, coaches and administrators inducted. In the inaugural 1975 class was Roger Sayers (brother of Gale Sayers). Fittingly, Roger Sayers sits on the 13-person Hall of Fame Selection Committee.

“As one of the inaugural inductees,” Sayers said, “I believe that my selection established the footprint and guideposts for subsequent inductees. I and the other initial inductees set the foundation for future selectees.”

Joining Sayers in that inaugural class was Marlin Briscoe, who enjoyed a distinguished pro football career. The first two hockey players to be enshrined were David Brisson (2010) and Scott Parse (2016).

In 1983, 14 years after softball became UNO’s initial women’s sport, Claussen became the first female inductee, an honor that she cherishes to this day.

“I was very humbled,” she said, “and happy that women’s athletics was being recognized.”

She added that she’s amazed at how many women (49) are now members of the Hall.

“We’ve come a long way over the past 56 years,” Claussen said.

The Hall of Fame process paused from 2019 until 2022 due to the pandemic.

A year before that resumption, Anthony

Flott, executive director of the UNO Alumni Association, became chair of the selection committee. As a former athlete, he’s proud to serve in that role.

“It is a great honor to steward this longtime program and a privilege to get to spend time with some of UNO’s greatest athletes ever,” Flott said.

“With so many sports now, and with growing excellence within each sport, the decisions become more difficult every year as to who is left off the induction list. With that, you are starting to see superb induction classes composed of the best of the best top to bottom.”

Adrian Dowell, who became vice chancellor/director of athletics in 2021, quickly discovered the vast accomplishments of the Hall of Famers.

“I continue to be amazed by our Maverick student-athletes and coaches,” Dowell said. “They continue to experience unprecedented successes in the classroom, competitively and in the community making our alumni and community proud.”

EXCELLENCE

OMAHA ATHLETICS

HALL

OF FAME 2025

Five inductees were welcomed into the Omaha Athletics Hall of Fame on Saturday, October 25, at the UNO Alumni Honors Brunch. The inductees were also recognized on-ice at the Omaha Hockey game Friday, Oct. 24. This year’s class includes 1 Diane Ninemire (softball); 2 Taiwo Onatolu (football); 3 Rose Shires (volleyball head coach ); 4 Sami Spenner Richardson (track and field) and 5 Dhafir (Roy) Washington (wrestling).

The newest inductees were introduced on the ice at the Oct. 24 Omaha Hockey Homecoming game and officially inducted at the UNO Alumni Honors Brunch on Oct. 25.

“As we celebrate 50 years of the Hall of Fame, it was great to have a number of past inductees together at homecoming,” said Flott. “It was a special moment for fans to see so many outstanding Mavericks from the 1960s to now.”

PHOTO I To commemorate 50 years of the Omaha Athletics Hall of Fame, three large graphic and interactive digital displays were installed at Baxter Arena. Guests can use the touchscreen to explore archives, view photos and learn more about the Hall of Fame inductees.

READ MORE ABOUT THESE MAVERICKS WHO HAVE MADE LASTING CONTRIBUTIONS TO OMAHA ATHLETICS.

WELCOME TO THE UNO ALUMNI ASSOCIATION

UNO’s alumni network continues to grow! In August, 468 Mavericks joined the University of Nebraska at Omaha (UNO) alumni family, marking the next chapter in their journey.

FUTURE FOREVER MAVERICKS

Four more Mavericks embark on their college journey with the help of UNO Alumni Association Scholarship support! In 2025, the UNO Alumni Association has awarded 22 scholarships totaling $50,500.

UNO ALUMNI AND LEE DENKER 2025 SCHOLARSHIP RECIPIENTS

Avery Salomon, Karma Roots, Joshua Dittmer, Cadence Dobberstein

What do you love about UNO Magazine? Do you prefer reading in print or online? What can we improve? Complete a short survey about UNO Magazine for a chance to win a UNO alumni swag bag!

OUTSTANDING TEACHING

The UNO Alumni Outstanding Teaching Awards were established in 1997 to honor distinguished teaching in the classroom. Peer committees in UNO colleges chose recipients, each of whom receives a $2,000 award and a commemorative plaque. With the 2025 awards, the association has issued $293,000 through the program.

2025 UNO ALUMNI OUTSTANDING TEACHING AWARD RECIPIENTS

Shelly Cooper

Deanna House

Kelli Kopocis

Aaron Likens

Leif Willard Lundmark

Lana Obradovic-Candler

Kim Retzlaff

Jonathan Santo

Ryan Wong

UNO Young Alumni Academy Class of 2026

Congratulations to the 43 alumni selected to participate in the UNO Young Alumni Academy this year! The graduates join more than 500 Mavericks who have completed the awardwinning program.

UNO ALUMNI ASSOCIATION AND DONORS CREATE $1.1M IN NEW SCHOLARSHIPS

The UNO Alumni Association is excited to announce the creation of nine new scholarships totaling $1.1 million! The UNO Alumni Association Board of Directors approved the investment of $550,000, which was matched by generous contributions from private donors. These scholarships will be awarded beginning in Fall 2026, opening new doors for future Mavericks to pursue their academic dreams.

ALUMNI PROFILES

by KARA SCHWEISS

The stories of alumni who are consistently curious.

“I’VE HAD A GREAT EXPERIENCE. EVERYTHING I’VE LEARNED AND ALL THE OPPORTUNITIES I’VE HAD STARTED WITH UNO, SO I’M JUST VERY GRATEFUL.”

AVERIE LINNELL

Averie Linnell knows her educational path is a bit unconventional, but she’s loved the journey so far. It’s included research with the National Counterterrorism, Innovation, Technology and Education Center (NCITE) at the University of Nebraska at Omaha and a summer internship with Roblox in California.

Her interest began in high school by simply exploring a term that piqued her curiosity: industrial-organizational psychology.

The American Psychological Association (APA) describes industrialorganizational psychology (I/O) as scientific study of human behavior in organizations and the workplace, applying principles of individual, group and organizational behavior to problem-solving.

“I’ve had a great experience. Everything I’ve learned and all the opportunities I’ve had started with UNO, so I’m just very grateful,” said Linnell, who is pursuing a Ph.D. at UNO in psychology with a concentration in I/O. She holds a master’s degree from UNO in the same field.

“Having an undergraduate concentration in I/O psychology is not very common, and so I think that’s a unique opportunity for our students. It opens up a lot of paths, whether you decide to go to grad school for I/O psychology, or if you want to go into like business and do HR,” said Linnell. “It’s a very broad and flexible skill set to have.”

This past summer, Linnell was thrilled to be selected for an internship with the People Science & Analytics team at Roblox.

“Everything that we do on the People Science team is about the employees or the “builders,” as they call them, and identifying who is fit for the job and who has the skills and abilities to perform that job successfully and to be hired at Roblox,” she said. “It was a really great experience to take what I learned from school and put it into action.”

The Roblox internship was a departure from her first academic research experience at UNO.

“The work I did at NCITE was more about safety for people using any type of emerging technology, because the focus is all about how bad actors can leverage technology for harm, and how we can try to foresee opportunities for that and try to circumvent it before it happens,” she said.

Linnell’s current research focuses on creative problem-solving.

“I work for the university on a grant that’s funded by the Army Research Institute,” she said. “It’s opened even more interesting pathways to explore.”

APA’s Division 10, the Society for the Psychology of Aesthetics, Creativity & the Arts, will hold its next annual research conference in Omaha in March 2026.

“We went to our [March 2025] national conference in New Haven, Connecticut, and got to meet a bunch of creativity researchers. That was really special. And the next conference is going to be in Omaha, so I’m looking forward to that,” Linnell said. “That’s really exciting to have involvement from our research assistants and have them be represented at a national conference.”

EARTHA JOHNSON

“ WHEN PEOPLE KNOW BETTER, THEY DO BETTER. AND OUR GOAL IS TO EDUCATE THEM SO THEY WILL KNOW BETTER.”

What’s the most serious crime a driver could be charged with for deliberately running someone off the road — even if no one is hurt and there’s no damage? Most people guess something like reckless driving. But legal expert Eartha Johnson says the correct answer might surprise you.

“How about aggravated assault with a deadly weapon?” Johnson said. “Your car can be a deadly weapon — and that would take it to an aggravated felony, where it’s more serious and you get more jail time.”

It’s questions like these that inspired Johnson to create CRIME NO CRIME, a board game built around several hundred legal scenarios. The game invites players to test their instincts, challenge assumptions and learn the law in a compelling, curiosity-driven way.

“Most people know they’ve committed a crime, but very few realize the gravity of their conduct,” Johnson said. “Our goal was to educate people on both the law and the gravity.”

Johnson said young people are the game’s most important audience.

“They fall victim to the system a lot of times because they don’t know the law,” she said. “When people know better, they do better. And our goal is to educate them so they will know better.”

The game took years to develop, but Johnson’s motivation was clear: to help people make better decisions before they find themselves in trouble.

“You don’t know what you don’t know,” Johnson said. “It satisfies their curiosity on the law — they get to know it.”

Johnson attended the University of Nebraska at Omaha from 1977 to 1982 before going on to law school. She is the semiretired CEO of LegalWATCH, an international training and staffing company she founded in 1997. Her career has included practicing corporate law, working for an international law firm and the U.S. Department of Justice. She received UNO’s Citation for Alumni Achievement Award in May 2025 and serves as a University of Nebraska Foundation Trustee.

Her years at UNO were formative, even if they weren’t easy. Johnson was a student when she married her husband, Lonnie, in 1979 — both were Goodrich Scholarship recipients — and their first two children were born in 1980 and 1981 during her undergraduate years. A third child was born in 1984 while Johnson was in law school. Her Christian faith has always been a sustaining force, she said.

The Johnsons ultimately became a family of legal minds, with Lonnie, Eartha and all three children entering the field of law. Everyone contributed to CRIME NO CRIME.

“My oldest daughter is a criminal district court judge here in Houston, and the middle has been a prosecutor for over a decade and just went to the public defender’s office. My baby does criminal defense. My husband and I both did corporate law. So, we get it from every angle,” Johnson said.

CRIME NO CRIME, which debuted two years ago (crimenocrime.com), is just the beginning.

“It’s going to be a line of games that educates people in every aspect of the law,” Johnson said. “That’s my long-term goal.”

RYAN CURTIS

Ryan Curtis believes in embracing and promoting a culture of curiosity. The architectural engineer explored the topic in his article, The Superpower of Curiosity, published in the August 2025 issue of Modern Steel Construction. “In the ever-evolving world of engineering and innovation, highlevel curiosity often opens unimaginable doors,” he wrote.

“I think you can always pair up curiosity with willingness to step into the unknown. Those who are more curious — or thought-provocative or thinking about the way things can be or should be or could be — are also those individuals who are willing to turn the corner on things that you can’t see and just jump into new spaces. I think that means probably saying yes to some things that you know you may not have figured out,” Curtis said. “I’ve been inclined to always want to learn more, and I’ve also been willing to step into some probably unknown territories with career or projects or certain skill sets. Aside from the initial discomfort of all that, on the back end of all that is growth.”

He’s demonstrated that willingness to explore new things. Soon after earning bachelor’s and master’s degrees in architectural engineering, Curtis began working for Leo A Daly. In 2024, after nearly 18 years at the firm, he took one of those leaps, joining HDR where he was recently promoted.

“I’m in a position where I’m leading a team of over 200 different engineers with different specialties that all revolve around building engineering,” he said. “That is a pretty fascinating opportunity for me, to take a run with and lead it and kind of drive culture there. I think that for me, even just having that position at HDR is humbling. It’s also super exciting.”

“I’VE BEEN INCLINED TO ALWAYS WANT TO LEARN MORE, AND I’VE ALSO BEEN WILLING TO STEP INTO SOME PROBABLY UNKNOWN TERRITORIES WITH CAREER OR PROJECTS OR CERTAIN SKILL SETS.”

His career success was preceded by dual responsibilities in college. While pursuing a demanding academic program, the 6-foot-8 Curtis also played basketball for UNO.

“So, there’s probably a challenge to being a studentathlete but also being in a college that’s really rigorous — some grit in there,” Curtis said. “But I think a lot of curiosity drove some of that desire to be really good.”

Curtis is a proud graduate of the University of Nebraska at Omaha. He remains connected with the university as a member of the UNO Alumni Association Board of Directors, currently serving as 1st vice chair. He has received the Nebraska Engineering Outstanding Alumni Award. Curtis has contributed to many industry publications, presented at numerous national conferences and was recognized as a Civil + Structural Engineer magazine Rising Star. Other professional accolades include being named one of the Omaha Jaycees’ Top 10 Young Omahans and a Midlands Business Journal 40 Under 40 honoree.

“I believe, and I fully understand, that people never really become 100% completed of who they are. I think there’s always a work in progress, and we never cross the finish line, a fictitious finish line,” he said. “As long as we’re alive, we understand that we’re never going to be perfect, but we’re always evolving and always challenging and always changing. Change doesn’t mean good or bad, it means something different. Give yourself grace but really embrace the reality that we are always a work in progress.”

ANTHONY GALDAMEZ

Anthony Galdamez’s career has taken him to great heights both metaphorically and literally; he was in the U.S. Air Force for eight years and has provided opportunities to inspire space exploration as a NASA Solar System Ambassador since 2019. At one point he even went through training to become a scientific astronaut candidate through the International Institute of Astronautical Sciences.

“I love to share my high-G and microgravity experiences with others,” he said. “My current research is to identify how certain microorganisms behave in microgravity and various atmospheres, the same micros that kick off our serotonin, answering a million-dollar question of ‘What do we grow in space and how will it make us feel?’”

He added, “My research is for space and Earth. How do we learn from the cosmos and ultimately improve life as humans? If you stop the curiosity, you slow down and eventually stop the discoveries, the exploration and our natural ability to find things in life that are very meaningful to us as a civilization. Never stop being curious.”

The multifaceted Galdamez is an educator at heart, teaching students from the elementary to college levels including a stint at UNO as a program instructor (also teaching at the university’s summer Aim for the Stars Science and Math Camp) and his current role as manager of STEM programming at Metropolitan Community College. He also served as the program manager for Kiewit Luminarium.

“My career has been driven by curiosity in all sciences,” said Galdamez, who completed his master’s degree at UNO in 2015, studying education with a

“IF YOU STOP THE CURIOSITY, YOU SLOW DOWN AND EVENTUALLY STOP THE DISCOVERIES, THE EXPLORATION AND OUR NATURAL ABILITY TO FIND THINGS IN LIFE THAT ARE VERY MEANINGFUL TO US AS A CIVILIZATION.”

concentration in STEM. He also received the UNO Distinguished Service Award in 2024.

“This idea that everything has been discovered and that records have been set is a big misconception,” he said. “When we are curious, we push ourselves to learn and we explore undiscovered possibilities.”

He’s enjoyed his work immensely, Galdamez said, and appreciated the people he’s worked with and others he’s “inspired through curiosity.”

“I think most of my highlights are sharing that moment of discovery and seeing the light bulb go off when people get their mind blown,” he said, adding that UNO was instrumental in providing opportunities for “working with classmates to develop ideas and programs we would love to see implemented in our community, then going out to actually accomplish them.”

Galdamez’s sense of curiosity was evident even earlier, he said.

“Fun fact: (when I was) a teenager, my uncle took me to explore volcanoes in Central America. From seeing rare vegetation growing to remembering the smell of the misty clouds, it will always be a lifetime memory,” he said.

He’s still ever-ready for new discoveries today.

“I always carry a scientific exploration kit in my vehicle to explore the world, even if it’s at the beach with your family or a road trip through New Mexico to identify lava rocks, viewing different world phenomena that we usually overlook,” he said. “I’m always adding to my professional goals, which reminds me of Leonardo Da Vinci’s quote, ‘Art is never finished, only abandoned.’ Who knows what I will be working on when it’s time to close the textbook?”

FOREVER MAVERICKS

MIKA MIYATA, BSBA 23, MBA 24

A former student athlete with the Omaha Women’s Golf Team, and a two-time graduate of UNO with her bachelor’s degree in business administration and later gaining her MBA, she now works at the Ladies Professional Golf Association (LPGA) Foundation as its program and events coordinator. In her role, she plans and executes events surrounding golf tournaments and the Foundation’s outreach efforts, as well supporting the LPGA Foundation’s scholarship fund for high schoolers.

RONALD ADWERS, BS 56 spent two years in the Army in Alaska after graduation. His career took him to Nebraska, Texas and Oklahoma. He retired Dec. 7, 1999, and moved back to the Hill Country of Texas. He is 91 years old and still going strong. rsadwers@gmail.com

My biggest accomplishment this past year is that I will be 90 years old on my birthday. That’s been a task and a blessing. My health is still pretty good and my mind is sound. Go Mavericks.”

keithjean1953@gmail.com

KEITH BAILEY, MSE 62

ALLAN VORDA, MA 76 has published his book, The Babel Hiking & Book Club (or, A Sexual Odyssey) through the Danish publishing company Mellemgaard.

W. JOSEPH BRUCKNER, BGS 78 has been inducted into the American Antitrust Institute Hall of Fame. The Hall of Fame recognizes practitioners for three major contributions: distinguished service to the private antitrust enforcement community, commitment to the enforcement of the antitrust laws and success in fighting for competition, consumers and workers.

TIM CAVANAUGH, BS 78, MS 88 was sworn in as Douglas County treasurer on July 8, 2025. He has served as chairman of the MUD Board of Directors for 26 years, following his retirement as a captain from the Omaha Police Department. He is also a graduate of the FBI National Academy.

ERIC “RIC” HINES, BS 80 earned his bachelor’s in civil engineering from UNO in 1980 and his master’s from UNL in 1985. He became a registered professional engineer in Nebraska in 1984. He worked for Wells Engineers Inc. in Omaha from 1979 to 1986, contributing to civil engineering projects including bridges, water/wastewater treatment and industrial meat packing. He spent the next 30 years with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in Omaha, focusing on environmental design, construction and management of hazardous, toxic and radioactive waste site cleanups for the military, EPA and Department of Energy. He retired in January 2016.

Ric’s lifetime sports activities include football, baseball, hockey, wrestling, swimming, gymnastics, track, running, tennis, squash, platform tennis, softball (fast/slow pitch), bicycling and pickleball (seven days a week). He played junior ice hockey (1971–73) at Aksarben and for UNO’s club team (1974–75) under coach Mike Kemp—20 years before UNO established Division I hockey. He was a USPTA P1 teaching pro (1977–2016), a professional racquet stringer (1973–2015) and a Master Racquet Technician with the US Racquet Stringers Association (1995–2015). Ric is an avid recumbent touring bicyclist, having ridden cross-country (San Diego to Charleston) for Special Olympics Nebraska in 2016, and twice around Nebraska’s border (2017 and 2018). He’s completed rides in Arkansas, Colorado, Iowa, Kansas, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, Wisconsin and Wyoming, logging more than 38,000 miles since 2006. He married Jane Zukaitis in 1980. They have two children and three grandchildren. hum2@cox.net

MARY WALLEN, MS 82 has learned to tackle more household maintenance issues than she ever imagined since her husband’s passing two years ago. This year, she plans to build a deck onto the back of her home, replacing the current screened porch. She’s in her 28th year of teaching and works summers at state parks. She says, “When you’re through learning, you’re through,” a motto she found on her ninth-grade final report card. mary.wallen01@gmail.com

DONNA GLOSHEN, BA 82, MBA 84 attended a mini family reunion in Northern California’s wine country and the mountains near Sacramento. The food and wine were delicious and the time spent together was wonderful. It’s a beautiful area, but she still loves living in Florida more. djgloshen@aol.com

GREGORY CLARK, BGS 88 recently retired from the federal government (Department of Homeland Security) after 45 years of service.

IN MEMORY

52 is far superior to 22 so far in life! Never stop chasing your dreams. Age is more about ‘experience levels’ than ‘years old.’”

DANIEL GARCIA, BGS 97 danielgarcia2@cox.net

DEBRA ANDERSON, BA 91 has worked in the evolving field of physical and cyber security for more than 16 years. She holds certifications as a Physical Security Professional (PSP) and Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP). She currently serves as Security Administrator for Physical and Cyber, and Privacy Officer for MWI in Lincoln, Nebraska.

She was recently published in a peer-reviewed journal with writing colleague Robert D. Achenbach, Ed.D., CMAS. Their article, Adapting Workplace Violence Strategies to Manage Company Risk and the Modern Workforce Paradigm, appears in the Journal of Business Continuity and Emergency Planning. henrystewartpublications.com/ journal/journal-of-business-continuity-emergency-planning/ volume-18-2024-25/

We extend our condolences to the family and friends of these graduates. Reported to the University of Nebraska Foundation June 28, 2025 to October 1, 2025.

1953 Margery A. Wolverton

1957 Dino Peter Cagni

Shirley J. Lang

1959 Larry D. Petersen

1960 Merle Gier

James M. Patton

1961 Juanita J. McCartney

1962 Orvil C. Bachmann

1964 Melvin L. Masek

1965 Norman D. Custard

1966 Meyer H. Coren

1967 Duane E. Buerstetta

Marilyn S. Moll

Thomas Upton

1968 Robert F. Gibson

Wesley Hauptman

1969 Jane Alseth

Mary Lou Chapek-Hogg

Naida H. Aschenbrenner

William J. Greguras

Robert W. Frankland

1970 Richard L. Kolowski

Barry B. Combs

James T. Price

1971 Victoras Dainauska

Walter D. Hawkins

Robert H. Alamshah

Beverly L. Traub

Maria Simi

1972 Gary Carlton

Anthony D. Crnkovich

Garland Gibbs

MICHAEL FRANCIS KELLY, BS 1969, MA 1973 Nov. 29, 1945–Jan. 9, 2025

“Mike was always a proud supporter of UNO.” –Dianne Kelly

1973 John M. Cowart

Karen L. Frost

1974 James E. Boucher

1975

Linda A. Lemon

Tim D. Linder

1976 Carl F. Wilfing

1977 Scott A. James

Mark E. Burge

Marian Y. Nielsen

Brock E. Lewis

Timothy R. Muldoon

1978 Lynn A. Banker

Gerrylu H. Mikuls

Ronald J. Knecht

1979 Patti J. Dennis

1980 Gregory L. Peterson

1981 B. Charlene Fletcher

Nick F. Behrens

1982 Margaret M. Peterson

Dorothea M. Barber

Kathleen A. Dougherty

1983 George A. Westendorf

1984 Edgar W. Brewer

1985 Susan A. Kuhlmann

David F. Reed

Lourdes S. O’Leary

1986 Anita J. Savery

1987 Michael J. Plambeck

1988 Diana L. Kunath

1989 Anece F. McCloud

1992 Judith M. Rizer

1994 Dennis A. Hanley

1996 Cliff H. Mosteller

Sandra L. Segal

Ronald C. Thom

1997 Shirley A. Matthews

SAMANTHA MOSSER, MBA 02 has been named president of Bankers Trust, Iowa’s largest independently owned bank, effective Aug. 1. She currently serves as Nebraska president and has played a key role in expanding the bank’s presence in the region. She joined Bankers Trust in 2022 and has more than 27 years of banking experience.

GENA CHERECK, BFA 03 has started teaching herself coding this year and hopes to begin working with her sister’s partner soon.

KENNY MCMORRIS, BGS 04, MPA 10 has been named a 2025 Men to Watch honoree. A native of North Omaha, McMorris is a veteran health care executive known as an innovator, influencer and strategist with a background in leadership, community, policy and public health. He has served as CEO of Charles Drew Health Center for 11 years, overseeing business, community and primary care operations. Under his leadership, the center has expanded from four to 16 locations, offering medical, dental, pharmacy and behavioral health services. Outside of work, McMorris is active in the Omaha community. He is a member of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity Inc. and serves on the boards of the Omaha Chamber of Commerce, Nebraska Methodist College, Radius, Health Center Association of Nebraska, Heartland Community Health Network and BRIDGE Family Resource Connector Network.

His dedication to his profession and community has earned him numerous honors, including: the University of Nebraska at Omaha Young Alumni Achievement Award (2015), University of Nebraska at Omaha College of Public Affairs and Community Services Alumni Award of Excellence (2016), National Association of Community Health Centers Betsey K. Cooke Grassroots MVP Award (2017), Urban League of Nebraska African American Leadership Award (2018), Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated Mid-Western Regional Award for Excellence in Health and Wellness (2019), University of Nebraska Medical Center/ Nebraska Medicine Servant Leader Award (2023) and Nebraska Second Congressional District Black History Month Awardee (2025).

LINDA PAWLENTY, BA 06, MA 15 earned her bachelor’s and master’s degrees from UNO, along with a certificate in writing creative nonfiction. She has published her first book, Clutch: An Education at Work. After earning her

BA in 2006, she attended a local truck driving school—a decision that has shaped her work and education ever since.

Clutch is the result of her time as a Ph.D. student and full-time concrete mixer truck driver in Lincoln, Nebraska. A work of nonfiction, it explores the tension between the “highly educated” and the “working class,” asking what it means to hold both a Ph.D. and a CDL—and to love both.

linda.pawlenty@gmail.com

The most exciting thing was that I’ve been able to bring some family into the business by hiring my grandmother as my assistant.”

COLIN WATTONVILLE, BS 17 recently hired two sales agents for his insurance agency, Modern Health Solutions, and hopes to add more by year’s end. A videographer also joined his team to help launch online content. colin@modernhealthsolutions.org

DID YOU RECENTLY ADD A FUTURE MAVERICK TO YOUR FAMILY?

Submit your birth news at unoalumni.org/futuremavs to be featured in a future issue of UNO Magazine (optional) and we will send you an O BABY! t-shirt!

1 BRYSON son of JACKIE (JARAMILLO), BA 19, MS 23, and Brock Howery

2 CLEMENTINE LILLY daughter of Kaley Love and ABNER RODRIGUEZ, BS 24

3 NORAH JUNE daughter of BRIDGET (TUTTLE), BS 16, and STEPHEN KRUPA, BS 14, MA 16

4 LANE son of Cienna and Nick Langer and grandson of DAN LANGER, BS 75

5 PORTER son of CARLEY STAEBELL, BS 14, and grandson of PATRICK STAEBELL, MS 89

6 WRISTON son of ROBYN LOOS, BS 11, MA 18, and KYLE LOOS, BGS 08

IHARRISON POPP, BS 20 received an Emmy for his role in KETV’s wall-to-wall coverage of the April 26, 2024, tornado outbreak. The 14-hour shift was filled with destruction and tragedy, but the team delivered vital safety information with urgency and compassionate precision.

RENEE STEWART, BS 20 has led enterprise-level projects supporting disabled veterans—work that has been especially meaningful to her as a veteran herself. She has collaborated across departments and with external vendors. One of her most impactful accomplishments was leading the branding execution and coordination of a 12-clinic mobile fleet, ensuring alignment with brand standards. The complex project involved multiple vendors and stakeholders and was successfully completed earlier this year.

LUCY WANG, BMS 21 passed the bar exam and landed her dream job in municipal criminal defense with Legal Aid of Western Missouri.

MADISON BROEKER, BA 23 has started graduate school at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln, studying biochemistry.

Hi all! It’s crazy that it’s been over a year since graduating college. In this last year I’ve already pivoted jobs, but I’m proud to say I wrapped up Q2 with soaring colors and was honored to receive the ‘Rookie of the Quarter’ after being at my current company for about five months. It’s been challenging navigating the adjustment from college to career life, but it’s deepened my faith and stretched me to grow in various ways.”

ELIZABETH PACE, BS 24

TYSON RICHARDS, BS 24 was admitted into the class of 2027 at the University of Nebraska College of Law. He is furthering his legal education as a summer law clerk at the Douglas County Attorney’s Office. tysonrichards@yahoo.com

To this day I still find myself using the UNO values I learned on campus. The only difference is now I’m applying it to the world stage.”

ABNER RODRIGUEZ, BS 24 was offered a position with the Department of Defense as a logistics management specialist, focusing on foreign trade with international partners. He has worked with countries in the Centcom and Indo-Pacom regions, including Jordan, Kuwait, Japan, South Korea, Taiwan and Mongolia. His role ensures partner nations are equipped to avoid deploying their own troops, giving him a strong sense of impact. Rodriguez credits professors Dr. Erin Bass and Dr. Steve Schulz for providing the foundation that helped him succeed.

DEREK BLANTON, BMS 25 and his wife recently purchased a home. He also began his master’s degree program this spring.

HALLIE KRYPEL-NOONAN, BS 25 has been accepted into her top-choice nursing school and is proud that her hard work has paid off. halliejo7171@gmail.com

WHAT WAS YOUR FAVORITE CAMPUS HANGOUT SPOT AND WHY WAS IT SPECIAL?

I loved hanging out on the football field during home games with my brothers. Our fraternity Lambda Chi Alpha always shot off a small cannon every time UNO scored a touchdown. This tradition was done for over 20 years. Great memories!”

BOB MARBLE, BS 87

We had “THE SHACK”, It was a rather small building built of wood back behind the original building housing The Municipal University of Omaha. You could get coffee and snacks, but more importantly it was the center of activity for the students. Remember we had only the original building, the Field House and the new Library on campus. You would go there to drink coffee and smoke cigarettes before class, between classes and after class to see what was new and going on. Without this wonderful place, I probably would never have graduated.”

RONALD ADWERS, BS 56

My favorite hangout spot was the Midlands Sexual Research Collaborative (MSHRC) lab. Cool people, fun vibes, surrounded by condoms and so many couches!”

KENNA BARNES, BS 18, MS 21

The Gateway office! We basically lived there so we could meet deadlines and publish the student newspaper! Best years of my life 2001–2006!”

LEIA BAEZ, BA 06

The Dundee Dell was about a block from my best friend’s house just south of 50th and Dodge, where we studied evenings together upstairs in his bedroom. For a “break” we would go up to the Dell for a drink; sometimes fish and chips, have a conversation and listen to the latest “hit” on the juke box. The atmosphere, the people (college students), the camaraderie, the 60’s!! Talk about the good old days!! Good times!”

STEPHEN HASSLER, BA 69

SHARE YOUR VOICE AND VIEW TO BE FEATURED IN THE SPRING 2026

What was your first job after graduation, and what did it teach you? Share your experience with a photo (optional) at stories.unoalumni.org/voices-views.

In collaboration with Criss Library and UNO Archives and Special Collections

In the 1920s, the quiet study halls of Joslyn Hall were filled with students immersed in books and encyclopedias which served as a central reference point for information related to their coursework and lectures.

Before search bars and online databases, students flipped through card catalogs — each drawer a gateway to deeper understanding.

Chemistry labs in the 1950s offered students a hands-on path to discovery, where curiosity mixed with experimentation.

WONDER AT WORK

Learning at UNO has always been shaped by curiosity. Across decades and disciplines, students have studied and explored in spaces built for discovery.

As technology advanced, so did the tools of inquiry. In the 1980s, students explored new digital frontiers in UNO’s computer labs.

On sunny days, students gathered on campus lawns for discussion, study and connection, turning green spaces into study halls without walls.

Curiosity meets compassion in UNO’s Biomechanics Lab, where students and faculty explore how adaptive technology improves lives with 3D-printed prosthetics.

EXPLORE MORE IMAGES OF UNO’S HISTORY IN THE UNIVERSITY’S ONLINE ARCHIVES AND SPECIAL COLLECTIONS.

ONLINE AT UNO

Classes

FULLY ACCREDITED ONLINE PROGRAMS

UNO’s nationally recognized programs and faculty provide a quality education from a reputable university. MEET WORKFORCE DEMANDS

Align your education to career opportunities with in-demand degrees in fast growing fields.

ACCESSIBLE

UNO microcredentials are offered online and continue UNO's tradition of affordability to ensure cost isn't a barrier to opportunity.

CUTTING-EDGE TECHNOLOGY

UNO microcredentials are built in a dynamic learning environment and completion of a microcredential unlocks a digital badge that allows learners to clearly signal new skills.

RELEVANT + EXCELLENT

Curriculum and instruction from a blend of campus and industry leaders.

University of Nebraska Omaha

6001 Dodge Street Omaha, NE 68182-0510

UNO Magazine is the flagship publication of the University of Nebraska at Omaha and is published three times a year. It is mailed to all UNO graduates and to community leaders in and out of Nebraska. Please share your copy with anyone who might benefit from the work of our great university.