Chancellor Li and world-renowned artist and Holocaust survivor Samuel Bak chat at the recent opening of Samuel Bak Museum: The Learning Center.
Standing on a Strong Foundation
We are Nebraska’s urban metropolitan university.
So much of what we do at UNO revolves around community impact and engagement because we are in the business of building the future for the city and the state that we call home. This past month was a busy one, starting with UNO opening our Samuel Bak Museum: The Learning Center. This space adds a new hub for critical thought and the kinds of important discussions that leave you feeling truly inspired. This landmark project forms a great foundation that will help us all to reach for a bright future, together.
On a more personal level, so much of what we do helps guide students in their individual journeys, as well. I want every Maverick to know that with UNO at their side they have everything they need to embrace opportunity, because Nebraska has so much to offer. Recent research conducted by UNO’s Center for Public Affairs Research (CPAR) has given important insights around the workforce landscape and how young professionals perceive the potential for growth within our state. It was found that nearly 25% of those who had left the state did so to seek employment.
To fight this trend and shift the tide from “brain drain” to “brain gain,” UNO is focused on helping our students not only see current opportunities but to embrace and even potentially create new opportunities for themselves and their fellow Mavericks. This is why we are fully committed to working with our community partners to expand paid internship and experiential learning opportunities – because the relationships created during these experiences often lead to more fulfilling careers and social connections, so that our young professionals see a place for themselves within our state.
Yes, we are facing challenges, Nebraska, but we already have a strong foundation that puts a brighter future within reach.
Joanne Li, Ph.D., CFA UNO Chancellor
Mavericks Supporting Mavericks
A cornerstone of UNO’s mission to support workforce development is letting our Mavericks gain first-hand experience while helping each other grow, and Anthony Roberson is a great example of that in action. As a fourth-year Ph.D. candidate in industrial and organizational (I-O) psychology, his opportunity to work alongside his fellow researchers in NCITE’S STEM Innovation Fellows program allows him to use his expertise to help shape the potential growth and social mobility for future Mavericks.
From a young age, Dr. Adler has fostered a deep connection with the field of public health that has only grown along with her passion and desire to keep her community healthy. This Western Nebraska native brings to UNO the experiences she has gained through work as an international nurse, educator, and public health professional, where she teaches and prepares a new generation of public health professionals to take the lead, right here in Nebraska!
UNO’s Center for Public Affairs Research, under the direction of Josie Gatti Schafer, Ph.D., has been an important tool in building UNO’s strategic vision and path. We are so proud to see her gain this amazing recognition from the Coalition of Urban and Metropolitan Universities (CUMU) as the 2023 CUMU-Philadelphia Fed Research Fellow. This research will help not only UNO, but all CUMU institutions gain greater insight into the impact they have on their regional economies. That deeper understanding will help us work together to strengthen the social mobility for our learners.
Our connection to the Omaha community runs deep and is fostered by the outstanding work of Mavericks like Michael Smith and his talented team at Baxter Arena, who are committed to making Baxter Arena, alongside all of UNO, an accessible, inclusive space full of memorable events that can have a tremendous impact on the community. That’s why I was so excited to see that work get recognized with the University of Nebraska’s KUDOS Award during the February Board of Regents Meeting.
WOWT interviewed Chancellor Joanne Li, Ph.D., CFA to discuss her time as chancellor so far, the university’s strategic priorities of student performance and workforce development, the importance of experiential learning opportunities, and her own personal background. The full interview is also available.
KFXL (Kearney) interviewed George Grispos, Ph.D., assistant professor of cybersecurity at UNO, about how cyberattacks have impacted agriculture in Nebraska and what threats continue to face the agriculture industry.
The Nebraska Examiner reported on a presentation given at Friday’s University of Nebraska Board of Regents meeting by Josie Schafer, Ph.D., director of UNO’s Center for Public Affairs Research, on the state of the workforce in Nebraska. It mentions that high-skilled jobs are growing quickly, providing an opportunity for Nebraska’s educational institutions to train the next generation of workers. However, while job openings are up, the state’s brain drain has worsened in recent years.
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