Charitable gift annuities provide a unique opportunity to leave a lasting legacy while ensuring financial security for yourself or a loved one. With a CGA, you can make a profound impact on generations of future visionaries in Nebraska.
When you contribute cash, appreciated securities or IRA assets to support the University of Nebraska at Omaha, not only will you advance the university’s mission, but you’ll also receive fixed lifetime payments with return rates based on your age.
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(www.acga-web.org).
Mavericks,
In higher education, every person who enters our doors brings a new perspective, idea and energy to the table. The wisdom of the past, the innovation of the present and the promise of the future all intertwine to form the foundation upon which we build here at UNO. This ongoing collaboration across generations is what enables us to rise above challenges, create meaningful change and pave the way for the next wave of leaders, scholars and innovators.
At UNO, our goal is to make sure our learners are gaining knowledge, building connections and creating opportunities that help shape them into leaders of tomorrow. This issue of the magazine has the theme of generations. It speaks to the heart of our Core Statement, which is to educate people of the world. It reminds us that we are preparing students for the evolving workforce demands, with the support of every generation that makes up our vibrant community.
The future of this university is a testament of our commitment to the generations that follow. It is in this space of collaboration and shared purpose that we find strength, resilience and the drive to continue innovating. As you read through this issue, you will see a story on page 20 where I dive deeper into how UNO is “Planting Seeds for the Future.”
I am truly proud of the work we are doing at this institution, and I am excited for the future we are building together. The strength of our community will ensure that UNO remains a place of opportunities and excellence for years to come.
Sincerely,
Joanne Li, Ph.D., CFA Chancellor
CO-HOST OF THE MEN’S COLLEGE WORLD SERIES
@uno_chancellor
Two big things happened today. UNO announced that we will serve as co-host to the NCAA Men’s College World Series. And myself and Vice Chancellor of Athletics Adrian Dowell were made admirals in the Nebraska Navy. You can’t ask for a better snow day!
On a more serious note, UNO’s role at the biggest sporting event in the summer is a big deal for our institution. The series has taken place in Omaha for 75 years and is a big part of our city’s identity. I’m thrilled that UNO is formalizing our long-held relationship with this event.
FINDING THE FOUNDATION FOR SUCCESS
For Jerry Brito-Mendoza, choosing UNO wasn’t just about education, it was about finding a community that believed in his potential. As a first-generation student, he initially struggled with self-doubt, but UNO’s Goodrich Scholarship, CBA Scholars Academy and hands-on internships transformed his journey.
With the support of Goodrich faculty mentors, BritoMendoza secured his first internship at ConAgra Brands, gaining real-world HR experience. Through UNO’s Handshake platform, he landed another internship at Blue Cross Blue Shield of Nebraska, further shaping his career in human resources.
His involvement in Association of Latino American Students (ALAS) and a study abroad trip to Brazil broadened his perspectives, while mentors and professors guided his growth. Today, he’s graduating with confidence, connections and a clear path forward — ready to lead in the HR field.
READ THE FULL STORY BY BELLA LOCKWOOD-WATSON AND WATCH A SHORT VIDEO ON THE UNO MAGAZINE WEBSITE.
GENERATIONS
20 PLANTING SEEDS FOR THE FUTURE
The University of Nebraska at Omaha has transformed into a thriving urban-metropolitan university through strategic investments, positioning itself for a bold future to benefit future generations.
by CHANCELLOR JOANNE LI, PH.D., CFA
22
TRAILBLAZERS
First generation college students move through uncharted territory, marking a path for others to follow. At UNO, they exemplify the Maverick Spirit.
by SUSAN HOUSTON KLAUS
26
JAMES BOND TUESDAY CREATIVE SERIES
A series of fiction and creative writing by UNO alumni, faculty, staff and students.
by MOISÉS R. DELGADO
28
A DAY IN THE LIFE
Follow two UNO students, fifty years apart, to discover how life at the University of Nebraska at Omaha has evolved from 1975 to 2025.
by ROGER HUMPHRIES AND MIRACLE OLAWUYI
30
THE ANDERSONS
Three generations of Mavericks and their impact on Omaha Athletics.
by JOHN FEY
ALUMNI PROFILES: The artistic journeys of four alumni, spanning two generations, and their creative legacies, pages 34–37.
MANAGING EDITOR
Davina Schrier
ASSOCIATE EDITORS
Jennifer Arnold
Sam Peshek
ART DIRECTION/DESIGN
Heidi Mihelich, cre8ivenergy
CONTRIBUTORS
Quadriform I & II
by Andy Acker, Jordan Acker Anderson, Josh Anderson, Ken Anderson
For the cover art, we collaged elements from our individual studio practices into a cohesive aesthetic space. The result is a new dialogue between our sensibilities, arriving at the two compositions that confound our individual artistic pursuits and create surprising visual connections.
Moisés R. Delgado, Zoë Euteneuer, John Fey, Roger Humphries, Susan Houston Klaus, Melissa Lindell Kozak, Bella Lockwood-Watson, Miracle Olawuyi, Kara Schweiss
EDITORIAL AND ADVERTISING INQUIRIES contact: 800-432-3216 or unomagazine@unoalumni.org.
EXCLUSIVELY ONLINE
UNO students studying gerontology interview older adult community members to learn how they define old, their advice for living life and their views on aging. This online exclusive video highlights the students’ revelations and shifts in generational perspectives.
Read the full issue and web exclusive content online at: unoalumni.org/unomagazine
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.
EDITOR’S NOTE
What does it mean to be part of a legacy? At UNO, it means being part of a story that spans generations. Some Mavericks follow in the footsteps of those before them and some boldly blaze new trails as the first in their family to embark on a college journey. Here, we share their stories and the stories of how UNO continues to influence the lives of its alumni. Through the lens of then and now, we can see how much has changed. Yet, one thing remains the same: UNO evolves, adapts and makes strategic investments to meet the needs of current and future generations.
BRIDGING SCIENCE AND COMMUNITY: HOW UNO’S BIOMECHANICS RESEARCH IS CHANGING LIVES
by SAM PESHEK
UNO Director, Editorial & Media Relations
A nine-year-old girl’s journey with a custom prosthetic arm — designed for just $50 — showcases the life-changing impact of biomechanics research at the University of Nebraska at Omaha.
Every time 9-year-old Rue Gillespie swings a golf club or rides her bike, it’s thanks in part to researchers at the University of Nebraska at Omaha (UNO).
Her prosthetic arm, designed in UNO’s Additive Manufacturing Laboratory in the Biomechanics Building, isn’t just a tool — it’s a lifeline to the activities she loves. Even more remarkable? It costs just $50 to produce, compared to a typical $8,000 to $12,000 price tag — an expense out of reach for many families.
Gillespie’s journey with UNO began when she was four years old. Born without a left hand, she met the biomechanics team when her family sought a prosthetic solution. Like most children during their first prosthetic limb fitting, she was hesitant. But after working with lab director Jorge Zuniga, Ph.D., and his team, she received her first custom 3D-printed prosthetic. Over the years, her prosthetic evolved alongside her, thanks to UNO’s continued research and innovation.
“Most of the materials we use are antimicrobial, recyclable polymers and they can be adjusted based on the child’s needs,” Zuniga explains.
As a child grows, their prosthetic can evolve with them, making it an accessible and sustainable option not just in Nebraska, but beyond.
But the lab’s impact isn’t limited to Gillespie. About 60 families across Nebraska have regular visits. Zuniga’s team can stay on the leading edge of prosthetic development because of relationships like these.
UNDERSTANDING BODY LANGUAGE TO IMPROVE PROSTHETIC CARE
Research suggests that those who see their prosthetic as part of their body rather than an external tool are more likely to integrate it into daily life. By analyzing nonverbal cues, Fraser and the UNO team hope to unlock insights that lead to better prosthetic design, training and long-term adoption rates.
“Through this research, we are giving a voice to children who might not yet have the words to express their needs and experiences,” says Zuniga.
A RIPPLE EFFECT OF INNOVATION
UNO’s research doesn’t just benefit the university, the city or the state of Nebraska. It leads to new findings that the entire country can benefit from.
Approximately 25,000 children in the U.S. live with limb differences, and UNO’s studies could lead to improved care not just in prosthetics, but for other medical conditions where verbal communication is limited. Insights from this research could inform better orthotic devices, physical therapy regimens and care strategies for nonverbal children with developmental disabilities.
“IT’S INSPIRING TO KNOW THAT OUR WORK COULD PROFOUNDLY IMPACT THE LIVES OF CHILDREN USING PROSTHETICS.”
UNO’s impact extends beyond affordability — it’s also pioneering new ways to improve how children use prosthetics. Currently, prosthetic assessments rely mostly on indirect feedback from parents. It’s like assessing how well a shoe fits a child without asking them directly. Because of this, more than half of children with prosthetics ultimately choose not to use them.
Kaitlin Fraser, a UNO doctoral candidate and graduate assistant working in Zuniga’s lab, recently secured a grant from the Buffett Early Childhood Institute to research nonverbal cues in children with prosthetics. This research addresses a critical gap: understanding how children engage with their prosthetics when they can’t fully articulate their experiences.
“Receiving this grant has been an incredible milestone in my journey as a doctoral candidate,” Fraser said. “It’s inspiring to know that our work could profoundly impact the lives of children using prosthetics, giving them a way to communicate their needs to guide future prosthetic design and training.”
The research team is actively recruiting participants with congenital limb reductions to further their study. Families interested in contributing can contact Fraser at kfraser@unomaha.edu.
A MODEL FOR UNIVERSITYCOMMUNITY COLLABORATION
What’s happening at UNO is more than academic research — it’s proof that a university and its community can work together for the greater good. By engaging local families, UNO ensures its findings have realworld applications beyond the lab.
For young participants like Gillespie, the impact is immediate. For the broader limb difference community, it represents a hopeful future. And for the field of biomechanics, UNO is setting a new standard for how research can and should be conducted: in direct partnership with those it aims to help.
With every study, every prosthetic created and every child empowered to live a more active life, UNO is proving that innovation isn’t just about technology — it’s about people. And in Omaha, that partnership between science and community is stronger than ever.
PHOTOS I Top: Rue’s prosthetic arm was designed, customfit, and 3D-printed at UNO’s Biomechanics Research Building. Using it, she can hold onto both handlebars while riding a bike. Bottom: Jorge Zuniga, Ph.D. helps 4-year-old Rue Gillespie use a prosthetic arm.
SPRING 2025 I 9
FROM ARMY INTERROGATOR TO MARKETING INNOVATOR
by MELISSA LINDELL KOZAK Sr. Director of Communications & Marketing, College of Business Administration
Kaylin “Katie” Plaza’s journey to becoming a CBA Business Maverick has been anything but conventional. Earning her Bachelor of Science in business administration with concentrations in marketing and international business in 2022, she is now on track to complete her MBA with a marketing emphasis in May 2025.
Plaza’s childhood was shaped by her stepfather’s military career, moving frequently across the U.S. She attended 15 schools before graduating high school. Initially drawn to foreign policy, she started college but soon left to enlist in the Army as a Human Intelligence Collector and interrogator, adding Korean language training to her skill set.
Excelling in her military training, Plaza graduated at the top of her class in interrogation school and spent 2.5 years mastering Korean at the Defense Language Institute (DLI). Her dedication earned her a prestigious opportunity to study abroad at Korea University in Seoul. Her connection to Korea was personal—her father, an immigrant from Seoul, had raised her in a culturally Korean household, though he never taught her the language.
After completing her training, Plaza joined the Utah National Guard and resumed college at Weber State, where she discovered her passion for marketing. “I found it so intriguing,” she said. “The idea that you can drive people towards something with a campaign, analyze data, and market effectively fascinated me.”
She re-enlisted in active duty with plans to expand her language skills to Chinese, but after six months at DLI, she struggled with mental health and questioned her purpose. Seeking a fresh start, she got married, transferred to Fort Riley, Kansas, and was medically retired from the military.
Plaza and her husband then moved to Omaha, where she enrolled at UNO. While pursuing marketing, she faced burnout and ethical
concerns about consumerism. However, her perspective changed in Dr. Shana Redd’s Marketing Innovation course, where a project with Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium reignited her passion.
“I realized marketing doesn’t have to be about selling products; it can be about creating experiences and fostering a sense of belonging,” she said. “Organizations like the Zoo and St. Jude’s use marketing to drive community efforts and social good. That’s the kind of marketing I want to do.”
After she graduates and begins working in corporate marketing, she hopes to innovate more than just creative marketing campaigns for social awareness; she wants to innovate the workplace.
“I want to show people it is possible to be disabled, deal with mental health and be a mother while also being a successful worker who is making impacts in the right places. I took a rocky path to where I am, but it all came full circle eventually. I can’t wait to use my future skills and position to bring about real changes on a community level and hopefully inside the business environment, too. I want to bring change. Marketing and business are about connection. I want to focus on connecting with each other too, not just with consumers and businesses,” she said.
LEARN WHY MILITARY TIMES RANKED UNO THE BEST PUBLIC UNIVERSITY IN THE COUNTRY FOR VETERANS.
PHOTO I Katie Plaza poses with a photo of her Army basic training class.
GUARDIANS OF THE NIGHT
by BELLA LOCKWOOD -WATSON UNO Communications Assistant
It’s after midnight in the heavily wooded area of the Glacier Creek Preserve just outside of Omaha, Neb. Han Li, Ph.D., is working diligently with the aid of his headlamp and the last bit of daylight to set up a net that is invisible to the human eye. Li waits patiently, sometimes until the early hours of the morning, for one thing: bats.
The next day, Li’s graduate assistant, Evan Wigley, will return to the field when the grass is still damp with early morning dew to collect data and maintain the team’s equipment.
Li, an assistant professor of biology at UNO, has been studying bats for nearly a decade.
He has always been interested in the effects of urbanization on wildlife, but found himself particularly drawn to bats because of their nocturnal nature. Li stated that pursuing this research aligned best with his lifestyle, joking that he himself is nocturnal.
Li and Wigley’s current research delve into the complexities of urban bat conservation in Nebraska’s evolving landscape.
Bats play pivotal roles in ecosystems by regulating insect populations and pollinating plants, making their conservation crucial. Employing innovative methodologies, their study explores
SHAPING THE FUTURE OF SPACE SECURITY
The Nebraska Deterrence Lab (NDL) at UNO is playing a key role in shaping the future of space security. Partnering with NATO and researchers from nine nations, NDL is helping develop a deterrence framework to protect space assets from emerging threats. The first wargame, held in the Netherlands in April 2024, launched a multiyear effort running through 2026.
Led by Professors Michelle Black, Ph.D., and Deanna House, Ph.D., NDL brings interdisciplinary expertise in political science, cybersecurity and technology to the project. Students play a vital role, preparing for scenarios, analyzing results and developing tools to enhance deterrence strategies.
As space becomes a contested domain, NATO is strengthening its defenses and UNO’s NDL is at the forefront of this global effort. By providing hands-on research opportunities, NDL is preparing students for careers in national security and defense.
bat behavior, habitat preferences and population dynamics amidst urban challenges.
“The reason bats are crucial, especially in the Midwest, is due to our strong agricultural industry. In agriculture, pests pose significant threats, and North American bats, being largely insectivorous, play a vital role in controlling these pests,” said Li. “This is particularly important for our region.”
LEARN HOW THEIR FINDINGS HOLD THE POTENTIAL TO INFORM POLICY DECISIONS AND CONSERVATION STRATEGIES NATIONWIDE.
PHOTO I UNO Researcher Han Li, Ph.D., and his Graduate Assistant, Evan Wigley, conduct bat research on a corn field and grass land at UNO’s Glacier Creek Preserve.
UNVEILING OMAHA’S HIDDEN GEMS
CBA Sophomore Madison Wajda may be influencing your weekend plans.
by MELISSA LINDELL KOZAK Sr. Director of Communications & Marketing, College of Business Administration
Chances are, you’ve already read or seen Madison Wajda’s work, but you may not know it.
The sophomore, who is working towards her BSBA with a concentration in marketing, has been one of the voices behind the Instagram account, “Omaha Places” since 2022. The account is run by the agency 402 Social and highlights small businesses and events in Omaha for people to check out. Omaha Places also consists of a TikTok account, a blog, and a newsletter.
“Originally, Cahner (Olson, Founder of Omaha Places and 402 Social) was making different posts to just get more information out for tourists and people from Omaha that want a way to find things to do in Omaha, and it grew really fast because there is not really any other account like us in the market around here,” Wajda said.
Wajda started with the company as an intern during her freshman year of college at UNO.
“It was just supposed to be a semester-long internship, but then I just kept working there. We worked really well together, and the company and the account were growing really fast and so Cahner said, ‘just stay on,’ so I ended up becoming a part-time employee,” Wajda said.
Throughout her two years with the company, Wajda has been getting handson learning experiences across the marketing field.
“I started out writing captions for posts for the Instagram account about small businesses in Aksarben, and then when I moved from my internship to working parttime, I began doing copywriting work, so I became the face behind all the captions on our Instagram and Facebook accounts on Omaha Places. Now I work as an account manager where I do the actual posting of the posts and I make sure that everything goes out on time. I also run our blog and occasionally help with filming content,” she said.
For Wajda, there is a lot to love about what she is doing right now. As a sophomore in college, she already has real-world job experience that she is getting paid for, and the position is very flexible.
“It doesn’t really feel like a job, especially when I’m in school. It is also mostly remote. I only go into the office when I want to, we can all just work from our phones if we want to. As long as we get our stuff done, it doesn’t matter. I have always been into social media, so it doesn’t feel real — getting to do it for a job, especially how young I am,” she said.
“I found out that I truly enjoy writing. I always thought that I didn’t like to write because I never enjoyed writing essays, but I do all the writing for Omaha Places and that’s awesome to me. And I have fun doing it,” Wajda said.
She has also balanced having a marketing and sales internship while continuing to work part-time for Omaha Places. “It was completely different from what I do at Omaha Places, but it was such a great experience for me. I do want to stay with smaller companies because I feel like I am making a difference. For example, we started 2023 with just 35k followers on Instagram, and we just hit over 80k followers, so we are growing very quickly,” Wajda said.
Working a part-time job while attending college full-time can be hard for some students, but not for Madison.
“UNO is a great university for aspiring marketers. The College of Business Administration is full of so many different opportunities like the amazing career fairs, the different student clubs and activities, and my colleague told me there is a digital marketing class that she took that inspired her, so I know I am in the right place for me,” she said.
If you are looking for something to do in Omaha, or are curious about a local business or event, make sure you check out Omaha Places on Instagram, Facebook, or www.omahaplaces.com.
NEBRASKA’S FIRST AI BACHELOR’S DEGREE
UNO is leading the charge in AI education with its new Bachelor of Science in Artificial Intelligence (BSAI) program — the first of its kind in Nebraska and one of only a few in the Midwest. Enrollment is now open for students. Administered by UNO’s Department of Computer Science, the BSAI degree equips students with expertise in machine learning, AI ethics, generative AI and data governance, preparing them for careers in business, tech, education and beyond. With AI jobs growing 3.5 times faster than all other jobs, this program will position graduates for leadership in the evolving AI economy.
ADVANCING AIR TRAFFIC CONTROL FOR THE DRONE ERA
The rise of uncrewed aircraft systems (UAS) is transforming aviation. UNO Aviation Institute Associate Professor Chenyu “Victor” Huang, Ph.D. (pictured) is leading efforts to ensure a safe integration into national airspace. With a $174,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation-Federal Aviation Administration, Huang’s research will assess air traffic control (ATC) workforce preparedness, knowledge gaps and training needs for managing UAS alongside traditional aircraft.
Drones are rapidly expanding across industries, prompting the FAA to evolve regulations and develop new technologies such as remote ID and low-altitude notification systems. The global UAS market is projected to reach $29 billion by 2027. UNO’s Aviation Institute, a leader in aviation education, is at the forefront of this transformation, ensuring students and industry professionals are equipped for the future of flight.
UNO-LED RESEARCH
UNVEILS NEW CRIMINAL JUSTICE DASHBOARD
A research team led by UNO has launched the Criminal Justice Base Rate Project (CJBRP) — a first-of-its-kind interactive dashboard that estimates an individual’s likelihood of encountering the criminal justice system. Unlike traditional crime rates, which measure reported incidents, base rates offer deeper insight into arrests, charges and incarceration trends across different demographics and regions.
Led by Zachary Hamilton, Ph.D., from UNO’s School of Criminology & Criminal Justice, the study analyzed 20 years of data to identify shifts in justice system involvement, including declining arrest rates and narrowing racial disparities. Stakeholders can now use this tool to make data-driven policy decisions, forecast criminal justice outcomes and address disparities within communities.
As the field of criminal justice evolves, UNO’s research is reshaping how policymakers, advocacy groups and citizens understand justice system involvement.
‘ YOU ARE A MAVERICK’ COMMERCIAL
CELEBRATES THE SPIRIT OF OMAHA
The commercial will air on social media, streaming television, email marketing campaigns as well as Summit League and NCHC broadcasts.
NAVIGATING ARTISTIC INSPIRATION AND COMMUNITY AT UNO
To some, the initial assault of the pungent smell mineral spirits and the apparent chaos of canvases and art supplies upon entering the painting studio might be overwhelming. Yet, amidst this creative commotion, surrounded by other artists, is where Kennedy Wallman discovers her inspiration.
Located within the Weber Fine Arts Building, Wallman dedicates over 40 hours in the painting studio to craft each of her pieces.
Every brushstroke and decision are flawlessly executed with a larger vision in mind.
“Seeing my friends’ artwork inspires me, and conversations with my professor sparks creativity. Despite the occasional stress from being emotionally invested in
my assignments, being surrounded by my artist friends is inspiring,” said Wallman.
“It’s a space where dedication and hard work are important, because paintings require genuine effort, and there’s no faking it, but being surrounded by other artists makes it worthwhile.”
A CUTTING-EDGE MASTER’S PROGRAM TO TRANSFORM HEALTHCARE SUPPLY CHAINS
UNO has announced the approval of a Master of Science in Healthcare Logistics and Supply Chain Management, set to launch in Fall 2025. This innovative graduate program, housed in the College of Business Administration (CBA), prepares students to tackle critical challenges in healthcare supply chains, including global logistics, operational efficiency and crisis response.
With recent disruptions from COVID-19, natural disasters and global competition, the demand for skilled supply chain professionals in healthcare has never been greater. The program integrates expertise from healthcare, logistics and business, emphasizing AI, predictive analytics and blockchain to drive innovation and resilience.
“This new master’s program exemplifies UNO’s commitment to addressing societal challenges through education,” said Dr. Steve Schulz, interim dean of CBA.
READ THE FULL STORY BY BELLA LOCKWOOD-WATSON AND WATCH A SHORT VIDEO ON THE UNO MAGAZINE WEBSITE.
10 UNO FACULTY RECOGNIZED AMONG WORLD’S TOP 2% OF CITED RESEARCHERS
Ten current and former UNO faculty members have been named among the top two percent of most-cited researchers worldwide, according to a prestigious study by Stanford University and Elsevier.
The study evaluates over six million scientists across 22 fields and 174 subfields, ranking them based on citation frequency and research influence. Seven UNO researchers were recognized for their single-year impact in 2023, while seven were honored for career-long achievements, with three earning recognition in both categories.
“This report underscores UNO’s commitment to groundbreaking research that makes a global impact,” said Chancellor Joanne Li, Ph.D., CFA.
The recognition reflects UNO’s leadership in research and innovation, reinforcing its role as a hub for scientific discovery and real-world impact.
SINGLE-YEAR IMPACT
RONI REITER-PALMON, PH.D.
distinguished professor of industrial/ organizational psychology, director of the graduate industrial/organizational psychology program, and director of innovation for the Center for Collaboration Science
NICK STERGIOU, PH.D.
distinguished community research chair in biomechanics and professor and director of the Biomechanics Research Building and the Center for Research in Human Movement Variability
JUSTIN NIX, PH.D.
distinguished associate professor and Master of Arts program coordinator for the School of Criminology and Criminal Justice
TARA RICHARDS, PH.D.
David Scott Diamond professor, and professor in the School of Criminology and Criminal Justice
BENJAMIN STEINER, PH.D.
former professor of criminology and criminal justice
ANDREA GROVER, PH.D.
associate professor of information systems and quantitative analysis
JOHN P. MCCARTY, PH.D.
professor emeritus of biology and former director of environmental studies
CAREER-LONG IMPACT
*NICK STERGIOU, PH.D.
distinguished community research chair in biomechanics and professor and director of the Biomechanics Research Building and the Center for Research in Human Movement Variability
JOHN “JACK” SHRODER, PH.D. professor emeritus of geology and geography, as well as emeritus faculty for the Center for Afghanistan Studies
*RONI REITER-PALMON, PH.D. distinguished professor of industrial/ organizational psychology, director of the graduate industrial/organizational psychology program, and director of innovation for the Center for Collaboration Science
*JOHN P. MCCARTY, PH.D. professor emeritus of biology and former director of environmental studies
ZHU QUIMING, PH.D. computer science professor
WANG ZHENYUAN, PH.D. professor emeritus
USING AI TO BUILD BETTER THINKERS
UNO’s STEM TRAIL Center has been awarded a $400,000 National Science Foundation (NSF) grant to develop INSIGHTS, an AI-powered learning analytics dashboard designed to enhance students’ critical thinking, problem-solving and analytical skills.
Led by Tracie Reding, Ed.D., in collaboration with University of Nebraska-Lincoln (UNL), the project provides real-time, adaptive feedback to students and instructors, helping first-generation and low-income students strengthen the skills essential for success in the evolving workforce.
With 44% of workers’ skills expected to be disrupted in the next five years, according to the World Economic Forum, INSIGHTS positions UNO and Omaha as leaders in STEM education innovation. The project’s scalable AI-driven model could serve as a national roadmap for integrating AI into higher education.
DURHAM SCIENCE CENTER
RECLAIMS ITS STATE-OF-THE-ART STATUS
by KARA SCHWEISS
When the Durham Science Center opened on the west end of UNO’s Dodge Street campus in 1987, it was a stateof-the art facility housing three floors of new classrooms and laboratories — plus a planetarium open to the public — in a space approaching 170,000 square feet.
However, building codes, mechanical systems and even instructional best practices all changed over time, and as the facility approached 40 years in service, it needed some essential updates, said Melanie Bloom, dean of UNO’s College of Arts and Sciences.
In 2024, thanks to both public funding and philanthropic support, UNO completed a major $35 million transformation of the Durham Science Center into a facility that now offers interactive and collaborative hands-on STEM learning experiences for students of all ages.
Durham Science Center is state-of-the-art once again, Bloom said.
The impetus for the renovation project was the college recognizing the critical need for a vibrant STEM workforce, and that the hub for STEM education at UNO is the Durham Science Center.
The renovation now provides a 21stcentury educational experience for students preparing for careers in science, technology, engineering, mathematics and health care. UNO is also better
IT HAS A TOTALLY DIFFERENT ENERGY THAN IT USED TO HAVE.”
positioned to help build the future pipeline of professionals in career fields critical to the region.
“The new spaces are designed for more active learning and collaboration,” Bloom said. “Now that we have student study spaces, it is a super-active building. There are mobile whiteboards that allow students to work on math and physics problems between classes or work on chemistry.
“There’s mobile seating — comfortable seating — and students are taking full advantage of that. Before, you would see students walk to and from class, but now it is a vibrant space they’re utilizing for collaborations or to have downtime between classes.”
The building has come alive, in a way, Bloom said.
“It has a totally different energy than it used to have, and that’s one of the major
improvements I see in the space,” she added. “I knew there was potential when we looked at the designs, but to see it actually meet that potential is really exciting.”
Visual transformations included a firstfill infill to the formerly three-story open vestibule, creating space for student study and lounge areas. In classrooms with sloped floors, concrete was cut out and replaced with tiled flooring. Refreshed wall and floor coverings throughout the building also add to the sense of revitalization.
Less visually prominent but important project elements included mechanical, electrical and plumbing work like new lighting, new electrical distribution panels and generator replacement; fire alarm conversions; and a new roof.
Changes to classroom spaces primarily involved modernizing with current technologies, implementing flexible designs to support contemporary
learning methods, upgrading aging environmental systems from whole-building HVAC to laboratory vent hoods, remodeling restrooms, creating new study and team spaces, and making classrooms and other spaces more accessible per today’s ADA standards.
One space exemplifying the renovation project is a large classroom on the first floor designed to facilitate interactive
THE NEW SPACES ARE DESIGNED FOR MORE ACTIVE LEARNING AND COLLABORATION.”
group learning in high-enrollment courses. Instructors can now seamlessly transition from lecture to group activities while meeting the demand of fundamental courses a large number of students are required to take.
The Dr. C.C. and Mabel L. Criss Foundation Physics Lecture Lab Combination Space, also on the first level, is another space with meaningful upgrades. Designed to facilitate a best-practices “studio physics” model for
introductory physics courses, the room is set up for instructors to easily integrate lecture, lab work and group problem-solving into their curriculum. It also allows for more efficient programming while maintaining low student-tofacilitator ratios.
Another transformed space is the MatheMaverick Zone on the second floor. The zone is a collaborative learning/tutoring space to support students in quantitative reasoning courses, staffed by student tutors and math faculty designating office hours for the space. It also accommodates diverse group configurations and is used for evening review sessions that have attracted an average of 100-plus students.
A fourth space that serves as an example of project particulars is the third-level chemistry laboratory, which boasts safety and technology upgrades as well as movable furniture that makes heavy instrumentation and equipment more accessible and mobile.
The facility aesthetics were also improved, Bloom said, with artwork displayed throughout the building.
“The art is really interesting,” she said. “As you go through, you can
see the visual representation of the disciplines that are housed in the building.”
The renovation project was made possible through public and philanthropic support, said David Belieu, senior director of development for UNO Advancement at the University of Nebraska Foundation.
“In addition to funding from the state, the philanthropic leaders in Omaha agreed that we need to make investments in STEM education and recognized that UNO is leading the effort to increase enrollment in STEMrelated fields. If we want to produce a workforce that is capable of serving the needs of the state, we have to ensure that we’re producing, and educating, and recruiting the best possible,” he said.
“We’re lucky in the city of Omaha and the state of Nebraska to have philanthropic leaders who see the need to invest in our STEM pipeline and in STEM education to ensure UNO students are getting the best education possible,” Belieu added. “We’re grateful they recognize UNO as a leader in STEM.”
The following named spaces in the Durham Science Center recognize the donors whose generous support helped create a 21stcentury hub for science education at UNO.
RUTH AND BILL SCOTT STUDENT COMMONS
MARIE MAYNARD DALY, PHD ENTRANCE (north) HDR ENTRANCE (south)
DICK AND MARY HOLLAND STUDY SPACE
HOWARD & RHONDA HAWKS COLLABORATION SPACE
DEBBY DURHAM FAMILY FOUNDATION (classroom 170)
DR. C.C. AND MABEL L. CRISS FOUNDATION
PHYSICS LECTURE LAB COMBINATION SPACE (physics lab 143)
Through ONLY IN NEBRASKA: A CAMPAIGN FOR OUR UNIVERSITY’S FUTURE , UNO and the College of Arts and Sciences are focused on securing philanthropic gifts to support the education of a vibrant STEM workforce. The Durham Science Center — the hub of STEM education at UNO — is one such project. Securing funding for the renovation of UNO’s Allwine Hall, UNO’s oldest building, and the expansion of the Peter Kiewit Institute facility remain top campaign priorities. Visit OnlyinNebraska.org/UNO to learn more.
At the University of Nebraska at Omaha, dedicated faculty are making research strides in many fields, including biomechanics, or the study of human movement. Doctoral student Kolby Brink and assistant professor Aaron Likens have researched how pink noise affects human coordination. Pink noise is a type of sound that is balanced and soothing, like rainfall or wind rustling through leaves. UNO’s research found that auditory pink noise can positively affect a person’s ability to flexibly adapt to new circumstances and has been published in the prestigious “Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.”
Transformational research and innovation that change lives. Only in Nebraska.
Kolby Brink, UNO Doctoral Student Brink, below, wearing the brain-waves monitoring cap used in pink noise research.
PLANTING SEEDS FOR THE FUTURE
by JOANNE LI, PH.D., CFA Chancellor, University of Nebraska at Omaha
More than 25 years ago, a decision was made. A small but significant one: new student housing on Dodge and Scott campuses. That seed planted 25 years ago has grown into a thriving residential community at the University of Nebraska at Omaha with more than 2,000 beds and a growing waiting list.
It wasn’t just about beds and buildings. It was about building a future where UNO could position itself as a leading urban-metropolitan university with a thriving campus life.
At UNO, we believe in planting seeds: investments in people, programs and places that future generations of Mavericks and the broader Omaha community will benefit from.
The university we have today exists because of choices made, or seeds planted, decades ago.
There’s an old saying that the best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago. The second-best time is now.
Look around campus, and you’ll see the results of bold decisions from the last 25 years:
• MAMMEL HALL (2010) laid the foundation for Omaha’s next generation of business leaders.
• THE BIOMECHANICS RESEARCH BUILDING (2013) positioned UNO as a leader in groundbreaking research and is to this day the only freestanding facility in the world dedicated to the field.
• THE BARBARA WEITZ COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT CENTER (2014) brought Omaha to the university, and the university to Omaha.
• BAXTER ARENA (2015) gave our student-athletes, fans and the community a home for unforgettable moments for our NCAA Division I athletic programs.
• NCITE (2020) put Omaha on the national map for counterterrorism research and is actively working to make the United States a safer place.
Each of these projects started as an idea — an investment in something bigger than the present moment.
Now, in 2025, we stand at another defining moment.
The question before us today is: What will future Mavericks, the Omaha community and the state of Nebraska in 2050 look back on and thank us for?
Will they see UNO as the premier urban-metropolitan university, a beacon of access, innovation and impact?
Will our students and alumni continue to drive Omaha’s workforce, elevate industries and transform lives? That depends on the seeds we choose to plant today.
Just like the leaders who came before us, we must invest in affordable education, research that serves the public good and partnerships that strengthen Omaha and beyond.
Together, we have the responsibility to ensure UNO’s future remains as bold as its past. Whether you’re an alum, a student, a faculty member or a community partner, your engagement matters.
Join the movement, and let’s build something future generations will look back on and say, “That was the moment UNO became unstoppable.”
First generation college students move through uncharted territory, marking a path for others to follow. At UNO, they exemplify the Maverick Spirit.
by SUSAN HOUSTON KLAUS
WHEN I GOT THE ACCEPTANCE LETTER, I WAS SHOCKED, BECAUSE I DIDN’T THINK IT WAS POSSIBLE. I JUST DIDN’T THINK I WAS GOING TO GO TO COLLEGE.”
For Brandee Alexander, the University of Nebraska at Omaha will always be the “University of New Opportunity” – and a place she’ll always call home.
But getting a college degree didn’t seem like an option for the Omaha native and first-generation student, who said she didn’t get good grades when she was in high school.
“When I got the acceptance letter, I was shocked, because I didn’t think it was possible,” Alexander said. “I just didn’t think I was going to go to college.”
Her years at UNO weren’t always easy. As is the case for many students, she worked multiple jobs while juggling her school load, and life was often overwhelming.
Like Alexander, UNO senior and first-generation student Abbi Dominguez wasn’t sure UNO was in the cards for her.
“The financial barrier was huge for me,” she said. With plans to be a speech pathologist, Dominguez thought she’d enroll at a local community college to get her gen eds or a teaching degree.
The path for the Council Bluffs, Iowa, native took a turn when she heard she was invited to be a Jim and Shirley Young Scholar and would receive a need-based scholarship designed for firstgeneration students.
I WAS IN THE KITCHEN WITH MY MOM, AND WHEN I FOUND OUT THAT I GOT ACCEPTED FOR THAT SCHOLARSHIP, ME AND MY MOM WERE JUST CRYING.”
Dominguez remembers the moment she heard she’d be attending UNO.
“I was in the kitchen with my mom, and when I found out that I got accepted for that scholarship, me and my mom were just crying,” she said.
“It was so exciting, because I knew then that I was going to be able to go to college for what I originally intended on going for, and then also just knowing that I wouldn’t have the worry or stress of paying for college, because that was also a big concern of mine.”
For Allen Cardenas, who grew up in Papillion, Nebraska, going to college was a logical next step, even though his parents had not. But the financial responsibility of college came into focus for him when he was finishing high school.
“Probably halfway through senior year, you start applying to some of these schools and you see the finances behind it all,” he said.
Like Dominguez, he applied for the Young Scholars program.
“I was so very, very grateful,” to receive the scholarship, “and I forever will be grateful,” he said. “A lot of the success that I’ve had now I will attribute to getting the opportunity within the Young Scholars program. Having a lot of help with schooling and just having that support system really paved the way for me.”
Getting involved on campus was an important part of Cardenas’ college experience. He was a member of freshman leadership council, in student government his sophomore year and part of UNO Dance Marathon and Pi Kappa Alpha fraternity.
“Being in these organizations exposed me to what I could do in life,” he said.
In 2019, Cardenas earned a bachelor’s degree in supply chain management and business
A LOT OF THE SUCCESS THAT I’VE HAD NOW I WILL ATTRIBUTE TO GETTING THE OPPORTUNITY WITHIN THE YOUNG SCHOLARS PROGRAM. HAVING A LOT OF HELP WITH SCHOOLING AND JUST HAVING THAT SUPPORT SYSTEM REALLY PAVED THE WAY FOR ME.
ABBI DOMINGUEZ
ALLEN CARDENAS
management. His career has taken him to Kiewit, MCL Construction and White Cap Construction Supply. At the latter, he’s combining his previous experience in the construction industry with a job in sales.
“I think you can accomplish anything in this world if you believe in yourself, and more than anything if you have a good support system,” he said.
Alexander and Dominguez themselves found support from a network of people.
For Alexander, it was James Freeman and Mona Lisa King-Ward in the Office of Multicultural Affairs. Off campus, her grandparents made sure she had what she needed, including a computer, a car, and a place to live.
Alexander also connected with Project Achieve, a program that helps first-generation students remain in good academic standing, stay in school and ultimately become UNO graduates.
“Project Achieve helped me learn how to study, how to navigate, how to have tough conversations,” she said. “I’m just super grateful.”
Dominguez has navigated hurdles her parents never encountered – like the FAFSA application process, late nights of homework, huge assignments and just making friends on campus. In the beginning, that sometimes was difficult.
But she found a welcoming community through the Young Scholars program and gained the confidence to get involved on and off campus.
Dominguez, who is majoring in communication disorders, volunteers in the Omaha community. She is treasurer of the UNO National Student Speech Language Hearing Association/Collegiate Sertoma, an organization devoted to students majoring in speech-language pathology. Through that opportunity, she’s also involved in mentoring younger students.
Alexander also learned the value of mentorship at UNO. She was a resident tutor adviser with the Summer Scholars Program, for high
school juniors and seniors. She served as president of the UNO collegiate chapter of the National Council of Negro Women.
35.6%
In 2012, Alexander earned a bachelor’s degree in general studies with a concentration in behavioral health. Today, she’s director of prevention for MOCSA in Kansas City, the largest rape crisis center in the United States. She also earned her master’s degree and is studying for her doctorate.
In honor of those who have supported her journey, Alexander, with her fiancé, has established two scholarships in their grandparents’ names for students majoring in social work and Black studies.
“By supporting first-generation and low-income students, our goal is to help others overcome barriers, just as our grandparents helped us,” she said.
Cardenas said it’s important for him to give a hand to others.
“I’m in the position I am because of the support and opportunities that I had in undergrad,” he said. “Without those, I know I wouldn’t be where I’m at this moment. So that’s definitely something I want to do, whether giving back to UNO – or students in any way, shape or form.”
There’s something extra special about the resiliency and resourcefulness of first-generation students, Dominguez said.
“Often, they don’t really have anyone to answer their questions within their own family, so they have to branch out and use resources on campus or professors that they have — maybe even other students. They’re persevering through the difficulties that come with college and pushing through.”
OF UNO STUDENTS ARE FIRST GENERATION
JAMES BOND TUESDAY
Through humor and play, two generations navigate cultural shifts within their family.
by MOISÉS R. DELGADO, BA AND BFA 19
2024 Nebraska Arts Council Individual Artist Fellow Recipient
It was James Bond Tuesday at the theater, and it wasn’t until the end of the third movie that Jesus broke the silence. Jesus loved James Bond, but Jesus loved James Bond in México. He hadn’t known how to tell our mom because she was excited for us to get to know him better. Jesus loved James Bond, Ruby and I loved movies, so James Bond Tuesday was perfect.
Our mom and Jesus had been dating for eight months, and they had faith they’d be together for another eight and so on. It wasn’t that we didn’t like Jesus. He made our mom happy which made us happy, but we never knew what to say, except for that moment because what the heck did he mean he loved James Bond in México? Was there a Mexican James Bond? A crime fighting Juan Bueno?
On screen, James Bond was chasing some guy, and if it were Juan Bueno in a telenovela, there’d be fainting and gasping. But that wasn’t it. Jesus’
English was woven into his work. As in: if James Bond went around saying he could mow lawns, trim hedges, build fences then it’d be clear as day. If James Bond hung lights for Christmas, shoveled snow, salted driveways, then Jesus would be there, braving the cold too. All else was movement. Sometimes it didn’t matter. You didn’t need English to understand gunshots. To know someone had died.
Jesus was ashamed. Twenty years in this country and his English fit in his jean’s pockets. But men’s jeans had deep pockets! I said.
Our mom’s English could fit in her purse, and some of the women whose houses she cleaned in the western part of Omaha had tsk tsked at it. At least she got the job done, so whatever, they said.
Our English could surely fill an apartment complex, but we’d been born here. We ate the English
cartoons fed us the way we ate tamales, meaning we ate a lot. We’d be lying if we said our Spanish could fill as many rooms. Ruby and I would be embarrassed to lose our mom’s tongue, but if we did, then we had to agree to lose different words.
Anyway, we didn’t want Jesus to feel bad, so Ruby stood and mirrored the screen. Soy Bueno, she said, Juan Bueno. And I stood too, shaped my hands into a gun and said, Levanta las manos! Te tenemos atrapado, Bueno! And Ruby did a kick, sent my gun flying, and she forgot the translation for underestimate, so she said, Soy Juan Bueno! Y Juan Bueno nunca muere! And then Jesus was up, hands like guns. The English on screen was still all babble, but it didn’t matter. Juan Bueno wouldn’t escape! We’d find him, donde sea que vaiga! We ran in circles until a movie later Juan Bueno was on the floor, muerto. And we would’ve stuck around to see him come back to life, but we were hungry and left.
A DAY IN
I began attending UNO while serving in the Air Force at Offutt AFB. I attended classes on base and when I completed my four years of service, I started taking courses at UNO in 1975. My major was Criminal Justice with a minor in Sociology. I will try to chronicle a day in my college life, but please understand that this was 50 years ago.
7:00
A typical day began with getting up early and deciding to ride my bicycle or drive. As I lived in Bellevue, riding the bike took longer but it was a great way to get around; there was a bike rack in front of every building on campus.
My first class of the day was Criminal Law which turned out to be the hardest class at UNO. It was 90 minutes, which seemed like an eternity.
My next class was Fencing, one of my electives in the Sapp Fieldhouse. I still have my fencing helmet and foils. Sapp Fieldhouse was where most sports took place. I also took Swimming but as there was no pool on campus so I would go to Westside High School for class. I also took Dance (not a lot of electives to choose from) which was in an old Quonset hut behind the football field.
After fencing I went to the student center just west of Gene Eppley Library. I generally made my lunch so I would purchase a soft drink and have lunch. The atmosphere in the student center was always upbeat. This is where I most enjoyed my college experience as there was not much nightlife on the campus due to it still being a commuter college at that time and no dorms.
After lunch I would go next door to the library to do research for an upcoming paper. To find articles and books to complete my research I had to use a card catalog. This consisted of drawers filled with index cards organized by author, title or subject, helping me to locate books or articles within the library. I had to do a lot of notetaking to keep the information accurate. And then I used a typewriter to finish my paper. Thankfully, I had taken a typewriting course in high school, but it was still a lot of hunt and peck. And wouldn’t you know it...lots of whiteout.
Time for my Sociology class in Allwine Hall. I would leave my bike locked up at the student center and walk over. This was one of my largest classes as there were over 100 students. I never really got to know many of my fellow students; large class sizes along with not staying on campus or going to sporting events made it difficult.
9:00 11:00 12:00 1:00 2:00 3:30
After class, I head home to get ready for my part-time job at Kenny Shoes in Southroads Mall. Because I had a job, I did not attend any sports events as I never was on campus while games or events were being held.
My college was paid by using the GI Bill and money made at my job. I was able to graduate in June of 1977 with no college debt.
THE LIFE
I am a second-year graduate student in Health and Kinesiology, concentrating in Exercise Science. I am also a STEM facilitator, mentoring young students in science and technology while advocating for representation in underrepresented fields. As a Social Media Ambassador for UNO, I use digital engagement to highlight student life, academics and campus initiatives. Here’s a look into a day in my life as a graduate student at UNO in 2025.
I live about 15 minutes away, so I drive to campus in the morning and park at the Community Engagement Center (CEC) parking lot. From there, I’m on foot for the rest of the day, walking between classes, meetings and different spots on campus. I get here early enough to settle in, check my Outlook emails, review my to-do list on Canvas and mentally map out the day.
I meet with my team at the CEC to double-check and finalize lesson plans for an upcoming STEM session. We sit in one of the collaboration rooms, throwing out ideas to make coding exercises more interactive. Before heading to lunch, I make a quick stop at the Maverick Food Pantry. The pantry is open for students to grab essentials, and I take a moment to pick up a few items.
Food is always the priority at this point. I head to the Milo Bail Student Center, where there’s a line at Chick-fil-A (as usual). I grab lunch, find my usual crew and we spend the next half hour talking about everything except school.
We’re done eating, so we head downstairs to the Maverick Store to check out some new gear.
I walk around the student center interviewing students for the upcoming posts on the UNO Instagram page.
I meet with my ambassador team to go over upcoming student engagement events. We brainstorm new ways to connect with students and discuss what’s next on the calendar.
Since I have some time before class, I stop by the Biomechanics Building to see a friend and take a walk around the lab. This is easily one of the coolest spots on campus, with all the research and motion capture technology tracking human movement in real time.
Advanced Exercise Physiology II keeps me on my toes. Today’s discussion is on control of muscle mass.
After class, I need a reset. I head to the Creative Production Lab (CPL) in Criss Library and work on some digital art.
Today’s workout at the Health & Kinesiology (H&K) Building is all about calisthenics. Pull-ups, dips, core work. I push myself to get stronger with every session. Even on tough days, this is my favorite part of my routine.
Before calling it a day, I stop by the library again to check my planner and write down what I need to do tomorrow. With that, I finally head out for the day.
THE ANDERSONS
Three Generations of Mavericks and Their Impact on Omaha Athletics
by JOHN FEY
Ethan Anderson was just seven years old when he began assisting his father, Gary Anderson, during a 29-year career as the athletic department’s sports information director.
Ethan pitched for the Mavericks from 1992 to ’95 and then became a secondgeneration Anderson to join the athletic department when he was hired in 2009 as UNO’s Operations Coordinator. Four years later, he was elevated to Assistant Athletic Director in charge of event management.
His Sapp Fieldhouse office is the same one his dad occupied until retiring in 2008, so he immediately felt right at home.
“I was the oldest of four kids,” Ethan said. “My dad had me running the scoreboard for baseball games. I was working the football scoreboard in 1985, and I was a ball boy for basketball games.”
Ethan didn’t stop helping, even while he was attending UNO. He spent 13 years as a volunteer and in his current position was recognized with the Nebraska Board of Regents Kudos Award.
During his early years as the athletic department’s publicist, Gary Anderson relied on Ethan and his three siblings (twin brothers and a sister) to help – especially once Maverick hockey began as a Division I sport in 1997. Gary was highly involved in start-up discussions and even took on the added task of directing season-ticket sales.
A big fan of watching the Omaha Knights as a youngster (he was a year old when he attended his first game), Anderson was excited about UNO starting hockey – even though it would add even more to his busy workload.
“I was charged up,” he said, “but it was the hardest I ever worked. It was just nonstop. But the driving thing was how neat this was.”
On top of his many duties, Anderson served three stints as interim athletic director. Three years before retiring, he was inducted into the College Sports Information Directors Association Hall of Fame.
Ethan said he wasn’t pushed into helping his dad at work. He enjoyed it, and he’s happy in his job that has him splitting his time between Sapp Fieldhouse and Baxter Arena, where he plays multiple management roles. Having his dad as a mentor of sorts made for a smooth entry into his new job.
“I lived it with dad,” Ethan said. “At some point, I was going to end up here. It was meant to be.”
Ethan’s wife Tracie joined the Omaha Athletics team in 2011 after working at UNO for 20 years. The two-time UNO alum has served the past ten years as Assistant Registrar, Athletic Certification.
The two have passed along the love for their alma mater to their children, Ainsley and Beckett. Ainsley, a freshman at UNO, has joined the family business working as an Omaha Athletics student worker helping with the hockey ice crew, scoreboard and official review.
Ainsley as a UNO athlete is the cherry on top of the cake.
As she was completing her first year of cross country and track, Ainsley said she’s totally at home at UNO.
“Growing up, I went to preschool here, I went to summer camps here and I helped my dad,” she said. “I spent so much time growing up here.”
As a third-generation Anderson at UNO (majoring in environmental science), Ainsley wouldn’t be surprised if someday her children will land at UNO.
“I think it’s possible,” she said.
PHOTOS I Above: Ethan, Ainsley and Gary Anderson at an Omaha Hockey game. Right column, top to bottom: Ethan in the dugout; Gary, Ethan and Beckett watch the Mavericks; Ainsley competes as UNO athlete. Near right: Ethan as a UNO athlete.
“I LIVED IT WITH DAD. AT SOME POINT, I WAS GOING TO END UP HERE. IT WAS MEANT TO BE.”
UNO ALUMNI HONORS
CITATION FOR ALUMNI ACHIEVEMENT
Two UNO alumni received the university’s highest honor, the Citation for Alumni Achievement, at the December Commencement ceremony.
1. REG CHAPMAN
2. JENNIFER HAMANN
The achievements and service of 11 University of Nebraska at Omaha alumni were celebrated at the UNO Alumni Honors Brunch. Presented by the UNO Alumni Association and Omaha Athletics, the ninth annual awards event includes the induction of members of the UNO Athletic Hall of Fame.
JIM LESLIE OUTSTANDING SERVICE AWARDS
3. JERRY CEDERBLOM, PH.D., BRIDGET WEIDE BROOKS and JON BROOKS with UNO A lumni A ssociation Board Chair VIV EWING (left)
PUBLIC SERVICE AWARD
4. SENATOR WENDY DEBOER (center) with UNO A lumni A ssociation Board C hair VIV EWING (left) and UNO C hancellor
JOANNE LI, PH.D., CFA (right)
YOUNG ALUMNI ACHIEVEMENT AWARDS
5. JARED HALL and MEGAN HOLT, CPA, FRM with UNO Chancellor
JOANNE LI, Ph.D., CPA (left) and UNO Alumni Association Board Chair VIV EWING (right)
UNO ATHLETIC HALL OF FAME
6. DAN ELLIS; MIKE DENNEY; MITCH ALBERS; ZACH MILLER; LINDSEY SLOCUM ROBERTSON (front row, center) with UNO Chancellor
JOANNE L i, Ph.D., CFA and UNO Alumni Association Board Chair VIV EWING (front row, left) and Vice Chancellor and Director of Athletics ADRIAN DOWELL (front row, right)
Learn more about each award and the recipients at unoalumni.org/awards.
Mavericks and fans cheered for the Omaha Men’s Basketball team from the Courtside Club on Feb. 22, 2025 at the annual UNO Alumni & Friends Night on the Court.
UNO ALUMNI CHAPTERS
▲ Phoenix Mavericks celebration before the Omaha Hockey vs. ASU game on Nov. 16, 2024. ▼ Kansas City Mavericks celebration before the Omaha Men’s Basketball vs. UMKC game on Feb. 19, 2025. Learn more about UNO Alumni Chapters: unoalumni.org/chapters
UNO’S FREE PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT AND NETWORKING PLATFORM FOR ALUMNI AND STUDENTS
In January, we launched a new way for UNO alumni and students to connect and advance together. This online space is exclusively for Mavericks to grow professionally and personally through mentorship, connection and career resources.
After setting up your free profile, you can:
• connect with those who share your background and interests or live in your city or region;
• reconnect with classmates;
• mentor current students who share common interests in your field of work;
• network with those in your field and get advice on how to advance your career.
There is no cost to join. Maverick Network is powered by the UNO Alumni Association and is free for UNO alumni and students.
JOIN THE 1,800+ AND GROWING NETWORK OF UNO ALUMNI AND STUDENTS TODAY.
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“ WATCHING THE UNIVERSITY GROW HAS ALWAYS BEEN EXCITING.”
ANDY ACKER
Andy Acker enrolled in classes at Omaha University, but by the time he graduated with a bachelor of fine arts degree in painting in 1973, it had become the University of Nebraska at Omaha. The late 1960s and early ‘70s were an interesting time on campus as it grew westward, he said, and he even recalls a protest or two.
“They were going to cut down some big trees… There were about three or four people that chained themselves to the trees in protest. They were just ignored,” he said, chuckling at the memory. “One guy made it about five nights in a row, and then he gave up.”
Progress marched on, and UNO’s campus already looked different when Acker returned in the 1980s and earned a bachelor’s degree in K-12 art education in 1990. He’s enjoyed seeing the changes over half a century, he said.
“Watching the university grow has always been exciting. When we started out, we had the art galleries on the third floor there in the art department of the administration building. They took a couple of classrooms, and did it really nice, with good lighting ratios,” he said. “Then they got the old Milder house, a Japanese-style house, as they started to move west into some of those mansions… Then this new building went up when we were there.”
(The distinctive Hymie Milder house was located on the then-western edge of campus where the Weber Fine Arts Building now stands. It was moved 10 blocks in 1990 to a residential neighborhood and is still there 35 years later.)
Acker said he has fond memories of studying under art professors like Peter Hill (1933-2020), who has pieces in the permanent collections of the Sheldon Museum of Art in Lincoln, Joslyn Art Museum, and the Museum of Nebraska Art in Kearney; renowned sculptor Sydney (Buzz) Buchanan, whose work entitled “Rhino Chair” is still on campus; and Wayne Higby, who became an internationally acclaimed ceramic artist.
“There was a high caliber of professors there,” he said. “I think just about every class I took had somebody that was pretty accomplished in their field.”
Acker said he was surprised to find out one of his own paintings was discovered in recent years in storage at UNO.
“There was a painting from when we used to leave a piece of artwork from our thesis show,” he said. “They recognized ‘Acker’ from (daughter and fellow artist) Jordan Acker Anderson, and asked her about me.”
From 1990 to 2001, Acker was an art teacher for Omaha Public Schools. For eight years starting in 2005, he worked for Heartland Scenic Studio on design and fabrication of museum exhibits, commercial displays, custom store fixtures and theatrical scenery. After relocating to Milwaukee for family reasons, he’s continued providing similar expertise part-time for First Stage Performing Arts’ children’s theater sets and props.
Even while engaged in full-time or part-time employment, Acker has always created art. His comprehensive art education at UNO introduced him to multiple media, but his focus has been drawing, painting and sculpture, he said. Acker’s work has been featured in numerous juried art shows and exhibitions throughout the year, including an alumni exhibition at UNO this past February (along with the work of his daughter and her husband Joshua Anderson and father-in-law Ken Anderson). He doesn’t have a website but posts to social media on his Facebook page @andy.acker.3 and Instagram @r.t.zahn. Even as he continues to create, Acker is enjoying seeing the newest generation, his grandsons, develop their own talent.
“They have always sat down and done drawings with me,” he said.
Focusing on the Beauty, 2022; Pen and Watercolor on Paper; 15 x 11”
“LIVING IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD, WE WOULD DRIVE BY ALL THE TIME. [UNO] FELT LIKE THE HOME UNIVERSITY.”
JORDAN ACKER ANDERSON
Jordan Acker Anderson is the director and a professor of studio art for Mount Mary University in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, but her first degree is from UNO. She has fond memories of the institution and the area surrounding campus that go back even further.
“My mom (a music teacher) did a lot of music competitions at UNO, so I would volunteer there. I was always on campus. It just sort of felt like part of our life. Living in the neighborhood, we would drive by all the time,” she said. “It felt like the home university.”
After graduating from Omaha Central High School, Acker Anderson studied art at the University of Wyoming before transferring in 1999 to UNO and earning a bachelor of fine art degree in painting in 2002. Her father, Andy Acker, earned a degree there nearly 30 years earlier and spoke highly of the university’s art department. The decision to transfer turned out to be doubly serendipitous.
“I felt this calling to go home, to be back in Omaha, and maybe sort of reset the stage and consider new pathways… It just felt like the right place to be,” she said. “And Josh transferred at the exact same time to UNO.”
Josh Anderson was a former middle school classmate that Acker Anderson had known only casually.
“We both ended up recognizing one another… I still remember very clearly,” she said. “He said, ‘Hey, I know you!’ and I said, ‘Yeah, you’re Josh Anderson.’ It was kind of happenstance, but when I look back, it feels really purposeful.”
The couple had much in common, including families of artists and teachers and an interest in building a career in art. They married in 2006.
“There’s a lot of synergy when we go to family events,” Acker Anderson said, adding that, not surprisingly, their three sons’ inherent creative talent began emerging at a young age.
After her time at UNO, Acker Anderson earned master of arts and master of fine arts degrees from the University of Iowa, where she was also an adjunct professor. In 2008, she joined Mount Mary’s art department, augmenting her educational credentials in 2024 with a master of business administration degree.
Wisconsin has become home; not only did husband Josh quickly find a teaching position with Mount Mary University, Acker Anderson’s parents relocated to be closer to grandchildren. Acker Anderson’s mother, Janet Blazek Acker, is also an alumna, earning a BFA in art history from UNO in 1972.
Acker Anderson (jordanackeranderson.com and @ jordan_acker_anderson on Instagram) has been published in numerous publications and her works are included in several collections and have been chosen for multiple exhibitions including a 2024 exhibit at Lauritzen Gardens and a February 2025 alumni exhibition at UNO that also featured her husband’s, father’s and father-in-law’s art. She’s also recently obtained gallery representation.
Sunrise Inventory, 2024; Acrylic on canvas; 20 x 24”
“ WHEN I TRANSFERRED TO UNO, ALL OF THE FACULTY AND CLASSES WERE… ACCESSIBLE.”
JOSH ANDERSON
Josh Anderson has a successful career in higher education as an associate professor of art at Mount Mary University, a private university in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. He’s also director of the honors program as well as the director of the institution’s Marian Gallery. When he started his college studies at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, however, Anderson certainly didn’t envision following in the footsteps of his father, Ken Anderson, a longtime art professor at Peru State College.
“Maybe it was always kind of there in the back of my mind, but I tried to avoid being an art major for a couple of years. And when I was in Lincoln, I kind of bounced around and eventually ended up with the studio classes,” he said. “At UNL, I was lost in the shuffle of things. It’s a huge campus, and the art departments were in different buildings. I had some great experiences there, but when I transferred to UNO, all of the faculty and classes were in two buildings… they were accessible.”
He decisively focused on art with a concentration in sculpture, studying under a distinguished group that included David Helm (who still teaches sculpture at UNO and has received several awards for excellence in teaching), and working as an assistant for local sculptor John Lajba. Anderson’s UNO professors encouraged him to pursue graduate school, he said.
“I was just trying to finish this degree, and they’re the ones who started encouraging us to think about grad school,” he said. “I started thinking, well, it kind of makes sense. I like this model of life, being able to make art, talk about art all day long… and kind of feel like you own your time in some regards. And you get to constantly be around creative people.”
One creative person that particularly inspired him was former middle-school classmate
Jordan Acker, who had also transferred to UNO’s art department from another institution. The two graduated from UNO and went on to the master’s program at the University of Iowa, marrying in 2006. Anderson first taught at Iowa, then at a community college. The couple relocated to Wisconsin for a job offer for Acker Anderson at Mount Mary University, and Anderson soon began teaching there as well. So, Acker Anderson and Anderson are professional colleagues in addition to being a married couple raising three sons (now ages 4 to 12) together.
“I think about, ‘How do I own my own time?’ My goal is to continue a creative lifestyle,” he said. “So, when I meet with students as an advisor, especially in their early part of their undergrad career—you know, we’re so caught up with people asking us, ‘What do you want to be when you grow up?’ or ‘What do you want to major in?’—I ask the students, ‘How do you want to be when you graduate?’ ‘In five years, how do you want to be?’ And I feel like that starts to open the path, a clear path.”
His own path includes continuing to actively create art (joshanderson.studio and @milwaukeetalky on Instagram) in several media. Anderson also enjoys seeing his sons develop their own talents as they are surrounded by working artists: their parents and both grandfathers.
“I want to continue to make work. I feel like the studio is the thing that’s always pulling me back towards something beyond my familial obligations and my academic job,” he said. “And so, I think maintaining the creative lifestyle and sharing that with my kids and also with students is something that keeps me going.”
Dark Fictions I, 2025; Gypsum and acrylic; 30 x 20”
First Shore, 2023; Hydrocal, acrylic paint; 9 x 12 x .5”
KEN ANDERSON
Ken Anderson is not a Nebraska native, but he has deep Nebraska roots in both higher education and art, earning a bachelor’s degree in art from UNO in 1980, followed by a master of fine art degree (sculpture) from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln in 1983. He then taught at Peru State College for 32 years, eventually serving as a department chair and gallery director before retiring as professor emeritus in May 2016.
So, after a lifetime in Nebraska, maybe it’s a little surprising that Anderson chose to spend his retirement elsewhere. What’s really unexpected, though, is that he didn’t move to a more temperate part of the country, but to the tiny south-central South Dakota town of Woonsocket. Anderson published a photo essay on the community in 1989. And it’s been a great place for him to continue producing art, he explained.
“I have a gallery and studio here…the studio is about two or three blocks from my house. It’s a whole hardware store building, 3,000 square feet. I do sculpture mostly. Although I’ve done drawings and prints, of course, my main focus has always been sculpture,” he said. “And I’m still lamenting that I don’t have enough time to get everything done that I want to.”
Anderson’s artworks have been featured in regional, national and international shows over the years – his windmill sculpture “House, Wind, and Water” even won a statewide competition promoting Nebraska tourism in 2008 – but he’s quick to point out with typical humor that a Google search for his name will first yield a former NFL quarterback followed by a past Disney animator
“I THINK THAT THE FACULTY, MORE THAN ANYTHING, WERE ALWAYS WONDERFUL. THEY ALWAYS CARED, AND THEY ALWAYS DID THAT LITTLE EXTRA ”
who, although a fellow artist, definitely isn’t him. He’s not even the only noted artist from Nebraska named Ken Anderson. Recognition isn’t what motivates him, anyway, he said.
“To talk about accomplishments, it gets a little much,” he said. “Having a studio and the gallery and people coming by, that’s just fun. Life is but a dream, as they say… When you get to retire, every night’s Friday night and every day is Saturday.”
Anderson said he’s happy to see his son, Josh Anderson, and daughter-in-law, Jordan Acker Anderson, also find success as artists and in higher education careers.
“The thing I think I’m most proud of is the kids. I mean, look at Josh and Jordan. They’re both teaching. They’re doing better than (I did),” he said. “When Josh and Jordan went to grad school, they had to do a seminar or something on how to teach. And then they had to shadow some faculty member that teaches the same class so they would learn. And that was wonderful…they had that experience plus the knowledge of other faculty.”
By contrast, in his day there was very little formal instruction offered on how to teach college classes, Anderson said. He may have been challenged to find his own way when he started teaching, but his long-ago UNO experience was an important influence, Anderson said, providing him with excellent role models.
“I think that the faculty, more than anything, were always wonderful,” he said. “They always cared, and they always did that little extra.”
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JOANNA LEFLORE-EJIKE, BS 10 has been named a USA Today Woman of the Year. The award is meant to recognize women who have made an impact in their community as well as nationally. As executive director of the Malcom X Memorial Foundation, JoAnna is tasked with carrying forward the missions of two Black leaders; the foundation’s namesake, civil rights leader Malcom X, and the nonprofit’s founder, Rowena Moore. Under her tenure, the foundation’s longtime goal of getting Malcom X inducted into the Nebraska Hall of Fame was realized.
BOB LINDSETH, BGS 68 and his contributions to the Space Race in the 1960s were featured in The Washington Times. Writer Ryan Lovelace detailed Lindseth’s involvement in experiments that tested the human body’s ability to endure the conditions of space travel. Lindseth underwent experiments on a tilt table and a centrifuge, that tested the effects of zero gravity on the human body. After these trials, Lindseth and other participants were forced into a period of bedrest, during which Lindseth lost 87 pounds. Despite these experiments effecting his heart and health greatly, today Col. Lindseth is still very proud of the part he played in helping get America to space. READ “‘Space Guinea Pig’ Reveals Hidden Human Experiments to Get America to the Moon” by Ryan Lovelace.
As I approach my 95th birthday, I still play golf twice a week and do my yard work. I still drive my car and am active in the American Legion, church council, golf group and American Air Museum in England. I was very lucky to be able to complete my college education after completing my combat tour in Vietnam. UNO was a great place to attend and treated us vets really great. I retired from the Airforce as a full colonel after 34 years and my family and I lived in Germany, France, Japan, Hawaii and Ethiopia. I also served Okinawa, Vietnam, Tiawan, Philippines, Italy, North Africa and Greece. We moved at least 21 times.”
CHARLES MYERS, BGS
71
DR. HENRIETTA TAYLOR KNIGHT, BS 71 has been in retirement since 2010, but is fully engaged in ministry, mentoring and counseling. knightmins@comcast.net
ALLAN VORDA, MA 75 will have a novel titled “Kamchatka Khronicle” published in June 2025 by Mallemgaard located in Denmark. The historical novel is the story of two natural scientists who were involved with the Vitus Bering Expedition of 1741-42. It will be available on Amazon and Kindle.
I am very happy to be celebrating the 40th anniversary of Habitat for Humanity of Omaha as I was only 26 when I helped start it in Omaha, digging into my own funds and donating my labor to get it started over the first two years. My oldest daughter Cathy Tegels, and grandsons Briley and Brody Smithhisler helped build a Habitat house in May at Blue Stem. On October 19, I hope to build with them another house. Our goal is a decent house in a decent community.”
MARY LYONS-CARMONA, BA 78, MA 81 mtlyonscarmona@mccneb.edu
ROBERT ARP, MS 79 is the 2024-25 chairperson of the Nebraska Lions Foundation and President of the Still Bank Collectors of America.
I am honored to now be included in this esteemed group. Congratulations to my fellow honorees.”
AILEEN WARREN, BS 83, MSW 85 was an honoree at the 2024 Women’s Center for Advancement (WCA) Tribute to Women event.
aileen@icanleaders.org
KATHY PARKINSON, BS 83, MBA 89 completed her second Fulbright Scholar in Ashgabat, Turkmenistan during the 2022–2023 academic year (her first was in the Republic of Georgia in 2005). In both Fulbrights, she offered economic education programming around the country. Since, she has been selected to lead Smithsonian Journey trips to the five stans, starting in fall 2025. kparkiso@iu.edu
MIDLANDS BUSINESS
JOURNAL 40 UNDER 40
University of Nebraska at Omaha alumni won spots on Midland Business Journal’s 40 Under 40 2024 list: RACHAEL ARENS (BA 11, MS 14), REBECCA ARMSTRONG LANGLE (MPA, 13), CHAD BENNER (BS 12), ARETHA BOEX (MS 12, MBA 12), MALLORY A. CALLAHAN (BS 09), ASHLEY CARROLL (BS 12), ELIZABETH CODINA (BS 13), JACQUELYN DENSON (BS 11), MICHAEL HELGERSON (MPA 16), DENISA LARREAU METTLER (BA 11, MS 13), MOLLY MOTSINGERO’NEIL (BGS 17, MA 19), RICK RAWLEY (BS 13), ZACH REINHARDT (BS 14), LAUREN WALAG (BA 09).
PAUL CURRIER, BA 85 celebrated his 25 Year Anniversary with AbbVie in 2024 and achieved the S2/2024 Bright Sparks Peer Award as Neuroscience Senior Field Reimbursement Manager. curripv@gmail.com
RODNEY MATUKEWICZ, BS 88 has accepted an attorney position with Berry Law, PC specializing in tort law. Matukewicz previously had been employed with AutoOwners Insurance.
SCOT BROWN, BA 89 retired on September 13, 2024 after a successful 31-year career in Information Technology at Verizon. He is enjoying his time traveling and volunteerin
DAVE MANOUCHERI, BS 92 has produced his fifth documentary with KCRA in Sacramento, Calif., where he currently works as the Special Projects Producer. Some of Manoucheri’s previous documentaries have won Emmys for best documentary, best director and reporting. His latest documentary, “Always Remember Your Name,” looks at the lives of Holocaust survivors Andra and Tatiana Bucci, who were imprisoned at both a concentration camp in Italy and in Auschwitz-Birkenau when they were just four and six years old. The documentary also covers Italy’s involvement during WWII and the treatment of Italian Jews.
RONNA HAMMER, BS 93 retired June 1, 2024, after 30 years of teaching in the Omaha Public Schools.
STEVEN HILL, BA 93 is celebrating 50 years of cartooning. Peanuts was his childhood inspiration. In 1998, Charles Schulz invited Hill to his studio in Santa Rosa. Schulz actually helped redesign Hill’s comic strip character. The cartoonist says the meeting was the best day of his life. In 2006, Hill launched bunscomic. com. Readers around the world have enjoyed thousands of strips. Do you love coffee? Hill
TIMOTHY W. HENDRICKS
JANUARY 18, 1946–SEPTEMBER 14, 2024
Tim Hendricks earned his Master’s in Exercise Physiology from UNO in 1987, where he went on to be the head coach for the women’s crosscountry and track teams. He held that position until retiring in 2006. During his career at UNO, the women’s team won National Championships five times, 129 athletes were named AllAmericans and one athlete was named 2005 Female Athlete of the Year. He was named Conference Coach of the Year in 1985, 1996, 2001, 2003 and 2004, and received the Distinguished Service Award in 2001. He coached 14 of the top 20 teams for indoor track and field, with eight finishing in the top 20 for outdoor track and field. His teams broke all indoor and outdoor school records during his tenure. He is a Navy veteran. While in the Navy, he was a member of the United States Cross Country Team which competed for the World Cross Country Championship in Vichy, France the team also competed in Germany, Belgium, England, Austria, and Denmark. Tim qualified and competed in the 1972 U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials. He finished second in the 1976 Marathon at the US Track and Field Championships. Hendricks was inducted into the Omaha Running Club Hall of Fame in 2006; The Peru State College Athletic Hall of Fame in 2007; and the Omaha South High School Athletic Hall of Fame in 2013.
has coffeehouse presentations called “Brew Ha Ha Ho-Ho Ha.” This features more than 100 of his strips about coffee. In addition, he created a cartoon presentation for teens. A guide to a better life titled “My Life Should be Better.” Hill’s comic feature is called Buns. It’s about parenting, work, friendship and coffee. Comics posted daily at bunscomic.com
JASON W. HAYES, BS 93 was elected as an At-Large Republican Party Elector at the Nebraska Republican Party Convention on May 18, 2024. In this prestigious role, Hayes will cast his presidential electoral vote on December 17, 2024, at the Nebraska State Capitol. A seasoned legal and political professional, Hayes brings decades of experience in government, law, and education
to this pivotal responsibility, reflecting his deep commitment to civic service and the democratic process.
LARRY GUENTHER, MBA 94 and his wife Traci became grandparents to a future Maverick, Wrenley Grace Kisker. Wrenley’s mom and dad were UNO college graduates, Will and Halsie Kisker. gunner100@cox.net
CHAD DUMONT, BS 95 has been hired as the new assistant vice president of Centris Federal Credit Union’s contact center. Dumont will oversee and lead the credit union’s contact center operations and staff, focusing on enhancing member experience and operational efficiency.
1948 Thomas C. Brown
Leonard L. Finnegan
We extend our condolences to the family and friends of these graduates. Reported to the University of Nebraska Foundation Oct. 3, 2024 to March 10, 2025.
Kenneth D. Rodabaugh
1950 Jean M. Effken
1951 Evelyn J. Boyer
Albert J. Carrillo
1953 William E. James
1954 Kenneth D. Roth
1955 Carolyn C. Whitham
1956 Donald R. Stewart
1957 Richard D. Langhammer
Dean P. Thompson
Sharlene A. Hearn
Howard L. Hawks
1958 William R. Barna
1959 Russell S. Gurciullo
Donald J. Wilkie
1960 Jack R. Nay
1961 Ronald D. Kvam
Douglas L. Van Horn
1962 Nina M. Little
1963 Connie Tooher
Courtland R. Braden
1964 Paul S. McMillen
Naomi K. Bourg
Gerald R. Welling
1965 Florence A. Finnicum
Gail E. Cody
Johnny J. Prichard
Lynn D. Reiff
Marie L. Johnson
1966 Donald E. Reiner
Daniel J. Rishel
Chris M. Arps
1967 John H. Hausig
1968 Carol Z. Gendler
1969
Mary J. Totten
Michael E. McAleer
LaVern L. Syring
Phyllis J. Meyer
1970 Walter E. Husten
Ronald E. Gentzler
Lucian A. Gunter
Jean J. Larson
Roger M. Peirce
1971
James F. Ramirez
Robert L. Adams
Charles R. Caniglia
Carl E. Cooper
David A. Mack
Frank G. Telich
Bernard M. Tompkins
Patrick C. Duggins
Rita J. Salucci
Linda K. Kucirek
1972 John F. Bartek
Frank J. Batko
Krista L. Moravec
Jeffrey L. Renner
David B. Scott
Sally A. Chapple
1973 Eddith J. Buis
William A. Verkest
Marita A. Hahn
Linda L. Jankowski
Daniel W. Penkert
Milton E. Weatherly
1974 Emil J. Hiykel
Allen W. Householder
Wayne H. McDermott
John E. McLaughlin
Richard L. Mitchell
Charles L. Paladino
Thomas L. Kunkel
1975 Lyle V. Hamm
Sheryl A. Jedlicka
Charles T. Kelley
Merle E. Paulsen
Nancy A. Thompson
1976
1977
1978
George R. Mills
Timothy J. Raasch
Gordon Hughett
Elizabeth K. Day
Jerry E. Snyder
Shirley A. Hanley
Frederick J. Bender
Marcelyn M. Hurst
Devra Spiegal
Phuoc H. Tran
Craig D. Barr
1979 Kevin J. Purcell
1980 Daniel G. Corcoran
Constance M. Frohling
Annie P. Haynes
Larry R. Reimer
Richard J. Wilson
1981 Steven M. Kucirek
Lynn Scott-Liedle
Rita M. Glass
1983 Ikpeme B. Ebong
1984
1985
1986
Elizabeth A. Blake
Edward M. Lehman
Virginia Bitting
Julie S. Cunningham
Sharon A. deLaubenfels
Lisa L. Dunning
Leon D. Janssen
Patricia A. Krings
Karen G. Singsaas
Richard E. Sorrells
1987 Karen K. Ausenhus
Marcia A. Renner
Betty J. Shambley
1988 William L. Rogers
1989 Mohammed B. Abou-Nasr
Gloria E. Barton
Sheryl D. Fredrick
Ruth M. Wormley
1991 Derek S. Schmid
Mary V. Bruning
Thomas P. Staebell
Daniel P. Blair
1992 Patricia A. Harris
Daniel B. Johnson
1993 Bennie J. Brightman
Claudette M. Wieseler
Gilberto M. Conti
1994 Rudy Strong
Cynthia A. Tech
1995 Mary K. Tworek
Matthew D. Kelly
1996 Rodger Stroup
1997 Katherine D. Prochazka
1998 Julie L. Baumert
2003 Rodney J. Smith
2007 Joseph S. Wellman
2010 Elizabeth A. Olson
2011 Abigail L. Handlos
2020 Christine T. Jensen
It’s been quite a journey from Saturday morning classes competing with the football team band outside the window to the pandemic ending my on-campus classes. As I enter my 20th year teaching, I’m thankful for my professors who taught me; and later as colleagues supported my career along the way.”
DAWN CRIPE, BS 00, MS 04 marked her 19th year of teaching for UNO this fall. Her classes included Women’s Studies (The Humanities), Speech, Journalism, Gender & Communication; Gender and Leadership; and Women’s
I’m deeply honored to be recognized as a Fellow of the Academy for Gerontology in Higher Education,” Holley said. “This recognition reflects the work we are doing at UNO to engage both students and the community in meaningful ways. By fostering intergenerational understanding, we are addressing key challenges facing an aging society.”
LYN HOLLEY, MPA 95 has been named a Fellow of the Gerontological Society of America alongside three of her colleagues. This is one of the most prestigious honors in her field and recognizes her individual accomplishments as well as her department’s broader impact on advancing research, education and practice related to aging. In 2019, she was also named a Fellow of the Academy for Gerontology in Higher Education. Her research focuses on public programs and services for aging populations, with an emphasis on improving intergenerational relationships and address the needs of minority elders.
I am in my 25th year of serving elementary education students! This year, my daughter will graduate high school and will start her coursework at UNO in the fall of 2025. #GoMavs”
MICHELLE SORENSEN, MS 05, MS 15
NAOMI CHAMBERS, BS 07 was recently promoted to Director of Database Operations and Annual Appeals at Mercy High School. She also received her graduate certificate in Business Analytics from Creighton University in December 2023.
ASHLEE COFFEY, BS 07, MS 22 started a new job earlier this year as a library specialist with the Omaha Public Library. She loves it and is forever grateful for her education from UNO.
YOUR PLACE FOR UNO APPAREL, MAV SPIRIT, AND BOOKS
Get 10 % off When you show your UNO Alumni Card (in-store purchases only) | omahamaverickstore.com | 402.554.2336 • themaverickstore@unomaha.edu
Construction faces some of the highest rates of mental health challenges of any industry- including instances of suicide and substance abuse. Yet, until now, there hasn’t been a comprehensive mental health program tailored specifically to the industry’s unique needs. Building Resilience is more than a certification—it’s a movement toward creating safer, more supportive workplaces in construction.”
STEPHANIE LEMEK, BBA 08, MBA 11 launched the first-of-its-kind certification program for mental health in the construction industry through her organization, The Wounded Workforce. Building Resilience-Construction Mental Health Certification is the first-ever holistic mental health certification designed and built specifically for the construction industry. Released in November 2024, this transformative program is now empowering construction professionals to address mental health, suicide prevention, substance abuse and proactive mental health care on the job and beyond.
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 AUDREY Daughter of CARRIE (GRINNELL), BA 12 and Donald Kraft 2 CORNELL Son of KRISTIN (GRAVES), BS 09 and Cornell Sudduth Jr. 3 DAHLIA Daughter of KATHERINE MUNOZ, BS 19, MS 24 and CARLOS SIBRIAN, BMS 19 4 ELAINA Daughter of DELANEY VACCARO BEDNAR, BA 19 and Tanner Bednar 5 ELIANA Daughter of KARLEE (COLEMAN), BS 09 and Mark Kistler and great granddaughter of BARBARA (BANE) KISTLER, BS 48 and PAUL KISTLER, BS 48 6 GRAYSON Son of MALERIE (DUNNING), BS 18 and DUTTON HUGHES, BS 17 7 HENRY Son of KINSEY (BROWN), BS 17 and KALE PETERSON, BS 17 and grandson of SHANNON (O’DOHERTY), BS 90, MS 96 and MATTHEW BROWN, BS 89, MS 97 8 MERLIN Son of KRISTINA (WYLIE), BS 10 and Houston Shearon 9 MIRA Daughter of TATUM KNIGHT, BS 20 and Stefan Knight 10 OLIVIA Daughter of NEIL FRIZZELL, BS 13 and Taylor Simbides 11 PALMER Son of ISAAC LINDGREN, BS 16 and Annie Lindgren 12 RIO Son of MEGHAN (MORSE), BA 19, MS 24 and RONALD RIVERA, BS 15, MS 23 13 ROSIE Daughter of LINDSAY (REDDING), BS 13 and MIKE VARONA, BBA 15
FUTURE MAVERICK LEGACY
In 1991, the UNO Alumni Association established a birth recognition program for the children of graduates, issuing certificates and bibs to newborns and announcing their arrival in the UNO Alum magazine.
Twins Megan Claire Moriarty and Kathleen Grace Moriarty, daughters of 1980 UNO graduate Michael Moriarty, were born in 1992 and were recognized in the Fall 1993 issue of the UNO Alum magazine. The two officially became alumni when they graduated from UNO in 2015 majoring in Elementary Special Education. The sisters now have Future Mavericks of their own.
“Upon graduation, I taught 4th and 5th grade for two years at Blair Christian Academy (a former satellite school of Omaha Christian
Academy). I got married in 2017 and became a stay-at -home mom. I have 3 children, ages 6, 4 and 2.” — Megan (Moriarty) Walker
“After graduation, I taught preschool at St. Paul Lutheran School in Omaha for almost four years until it closed in 2019. I then accepted an admin position for Trinity Classical Academy as their Campus Coordinator and primer art teacher for two years. I got married in 2020 and now stay home with my two young daughters.” — Kathleen (Moriarty) Kumm
TO DATE, THE ASSOCIATION HAS RECOGNIZED MORE THAN 2,000 FUTURE MAVERICKS.
CHRISTINA CLARK
OKARMUS, BS 09 was promoted to executive director of the Alabama Campaign for Adolescent Sexual Health (ACASH) in 2019. In her role, Christina leads the organization in fighting fearlessly for the rights of Alabama adolescents to have access to comprehensive sex education. christina.clark11@gmail.com
DR. SUSIE SULLIVAN, MS 10 has officially earned her Doctorate in Education. Currently the Principal of Marian High School, she received support from fellow faculty and students to earn her Ph.D.
LT. COL. JEFF LEHMKUHL, MPA 10 published a feature article in Space & Defense academic journal. Space & Defense is a peer-reviewed academic journal that focuses on the field of defense and national security. It is published through UNO in cooperation
with the United States Air Force Academy. The feature article titled “A Premature Obituary for Conventional Deterrence” was incorporated in Vol. 15, No. 2 of the journal.
JENN CZUBA, BS 13 is going back for her master’s in creative writing at UNO writers workshop. “It’s been a long time coming for this dream!”
My biggest accomplishment over the last year has been doing well. Being well has required an intentional and joy-centered approach to life … Being well, keeping well and living well has brought forth a joy unknown and I am more proud of myself and my life than I have ever been. You can find more on my work and my wellness at marquishaandco.com”
DR. MARQUISHA FROST, BA 13, MS 14
MAXIE ROCKYMORE, BA 15 Rockymore’s short film, “Fresh Cut!” won the Audience Award at the Golden Gate International Film Festival and has been nominated for other film awards. mrockymore@aol.com
RACHAEL BOGACZ, BS 16 MSW 19 completed her ASWB exam this year and became a fully licensed mental health therapist. She also became Director of Integrated Health Care last year. rbogacz93@gmail.com
TAMMY STARLING, MSW 18 celebrated four years working with Accentcare Home Health providing social work services to the Elders and their families. tamstar4c@yahoo.com
MARIA MICKLES, BS 20 is currently a Ph.D. candidate at the University of Nebraska Medical Center. She is currently on track to graduate in May 2026 and defend her dissertation over traumainformed care practices within child serving organizations and how it can impact employee burnout.
BOOKS
HERBERT C. COVEY, MA 74 After receiving his MA, he taught the following semester at UNO. He earned a Ph.D. in 1979. He has authored, co-authored, revised new editions or edited 22 books.
DARREL VANDYKE, BS 74 is the published author of “Fire of the Mind” (available on Amazon).
darrelvan@gmail.com
TRUDY KNOWLES, MS 75 has published two books available on Amazon. “Radishes and Red Badanas – A novel of the 1960s” was published in 2022. It is a work of historical fiction that tells that story of Becky Jamison’s journey through the turbulent times of the late 1960s. trudyknowles@gmail.com
PATRICK KELLY, BA 94, MA 95 published a book entitled “K-State’s Wrestling Legacy” detailing the history of Kansas State University’s wrestling program that was dropped fifty years ago. It is endorsed by Mike Denney, former UNO coach, whose program met a similar fate.
ARNOLD MALLORY, MS 98 Mallory’s book “Culture Medicine of the Spirits” published and released on the Amazon and Barnes and Nobles platforms in November 2024. armallo4956@gmail.com
WHO WAS YOUR FAVORITE PROFESSOR AND WHY?
There are three professors I had during my Master’s degree at UNO that made an outstanding and lasting impact in my life, all for different reasons. For that, I cannot choose just one. In no particular order:
1. DR. JOHN PRICE . Never have I had a more sincere, wholehearted, empathetic and compassionate teacher. Dr. Price’s teaching method is characterized by a sincerity deeper than I have ever known.
2. DR. MELANIE BLOOM . Never have I had a more consistent teacher. Dr. Bloom is the definition of practicing what you preach, evident in her lengthy, fair and caring feedback. She pushes students to give their best, holds them to high standards and cares deeply all the while.
3. DR. SARAH OSBORN . Never have I had a more relatable and engaging teacher. Dr. Osborn is incredibly passionate about students getting the most they can out of an experience, teaching by example and getting to know students. She exudes positivity, giving meaning to the term: to literally “give heart.”
These professors exemplify what quality, meaningful and engaging teaching is, because that is who they are. I am forever a better person because of these three professors, whom I am honored to now call friends.
LINDSAY SANDERS, MA 22
DR. CHARLES GILDERSLEEVE and DR. JOHN LANGAN . Both men cared deeply about students and shaped me into the educator I am today.
JAMES HULSTEIN, BS 07, MA 14
Most definitely DR. DANIELLLE SLAKOFF. She opened my eyes to a new world of empathy, activism, feminism and women in leadership. I witnessed true compassion and devotion to her students, and a depth of authenticity and wholeness to her character. Seven years later, Dr. Slakoff continues to inspire me and remind me why I chose the pathway to making a difference in the criminal justice system. Bonus, she played some good bops before class started.
MEL SYTSMA, BS 02
DR. JOHN CONRAD and MICHAEL HUMPHREY from the chemistry department. I couldn’t have done my chem minor without their support! Incredible humans and gifted educators.
AMBER GOWEN, BS 21
Dr. John Price, 2024
Dr. Charles Gildersleeve, 1979
In collaboration with Criss Library and UNO Archives and Special Collections
The first UNO Women’s Softball team in 1969 with coach Connie Claussen back row, left. Claussen played a crucial role in establishing and promoting the softball program. Her efforts not only helped the team succeed but also laid the groundwork for future women’s sports programs at the university.
In 2001, they finished the season with an impressive overall record of 54-6 and won the NCAA Division II National Championship, marking one of the highest achievements in the program’s history. This solidified UNO’s reputation as a powerhouse in collegiate softball and contributed significantly to the program’s legacy.
On March 19, 2021, UNO opened a state-of-the-art softball facility, its first on-campus home since the inception of the program. It is named Connie Claussen Field at Maverick Park.
The enactment of Title IX, the 1972 law that mandated gender equity in educational programs, including athletics, led to increased financial support for women’s sports, including softball, allowing for better equipment, facilities and eventually travel opportunities. Softball was incorporated into the Athletics department in 1975, the same year they won the Women’s College World Series held in Omaha.
A MORE EQUAL PLAYING FIELD
Fifty years since its incorporation into the Athletics department, we celebrate softball’s role in advancing women’s sports at UNO and setting a precedent for future generations of female athletes.
For the first time in the Division I era, the 2023 Omaha Mavericks were Summit League Champions, making their Division I NCAA Tournament debut. They successfully defended that title in 2024, earning back-to-back championships.
A MORE EQUAL PLAYING FIELD: CELEBRATING MORE THAN 50 YEARS OF UNO SOFTBALL BY UNO ARCHIVES AND SPECIAL COLLECTIONS IS ON DISPLAY ON THE FIRST FLOOR OF CRISS LIBRARY THROUGH MAY 19, 2025. LEARN MORE AND PLAN YOUR VISIT.
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