One Chapter Closes, Another Opens

Life is about the journey, not the destination. When you are a Maverick, you are a lifelong learner, and that journey never ends. Earlier this month, we celebrated the 1,851 students who earned degrees from UNO, and every one of them has an inspiring story that shows how their journey began and gives us a preview of just how far they will go in this next chapter of their lives.

 

One of those students was Madeline Adams, who graduated at 80-years-old, completing an academic journey that began at UNO in 1960. Her journey was so inspiring that more than 150 news outlets nationwide shared her story. As an urban university, we strive to show the world through stories like Madeline’s that no matter your age or life experience, we can help you chase your dreams.

 

As many reasons that we have to celebrate as Mavericks, I must acknowledge that this month’s update comes at a moment when we are grieving as a nation for the lives lost in the Uvalde, Texas shooting – the most recent of more than 300 school shootings since the Columbine massacre in 1999.

As I shared last week, everyone deserves to feel safe as they learn and teach and so we must continue our work to create that environment. We cannot grow numb or complacent to this kind of violence. Once we have taken the time to process our grief for these hurting families, we must become the change we want to see in the world. We must use voices to advocate for causes that make our world a better place.

 

We must leverage our love for our community to make a difference.

Internships play a critical role in determining a student’s career prospects. In fact, students who take on paid internships are nearly two times more likely to receive a job offer compared to students who don’t take on an internship. At UNO, we want to ensure all students have the same opportunity to land in a career they love upon graduation. I wrote about the important work that UNO is doing in the internship space and how we are combatting “brain drain” in our state in the Omaha World-Herald.

At UNO, we believe that no matter where you are in your life’s journey, we will provide the support and flexibility that you need to pursue your dreams. Brianne Ramirez – a 35-year-old gym owner and mother of two – is the latest example of what happens when ambition meets opportunity.

A recent report from Stanford University confirmed what we have known to be true for a long time at UNO: we are home to some of the world’s sharpest minds. The study reported that nine current and former UNO faculty rank among the top 2 percent of researchers in the world for single-year and career-long impact. Please join me in celebrating our incredible faculty.

Our Business and Finance office is where the rubber meets the road in our work to improve student outcomes be a leader in Nebraska’s workforce development efforts. For that reason, I am thrilled to introduce Carol Kirchner, MBA, CPA, as our next vice chancellor for Business and Finance. A UNO Alumna, she brings more than 30 years of experience in the field – including four at UNO – and a passion for higher education. Please join me in welcoming Carol back to UNO.

We all understand the negative impacts that prolonged sitting can have on our health, but did you know that the air where people sit could have just as much of an impact if not worse.

 

According to a new study from UNO researchers, as people exhale carbon dioxide (CO2) in an office space or another densely populated enclosed area, the level of CO2 can soar up to five times the normal atmospheric level, impacting heart rate, blood flow, and other cardiovascular functions, particularly in the legs.

 

Liz Pekas, a doctoral research assistant in UNO’s Vascular Research Lab, discussed how this research could impact everyday life.

 

“For anyone working a desk job or taking a lengthy flight, it isn’t always possible or ideal to stand up and walk around,” She said. “This research found that adding in some movement when seated for an extended period of time can help protect vascular function. Moving around can be as simple as tapping your foot, fidgeting, or even pedaling on an elliptical device.”

 

This work underscores why the research we do here is so important: it gives us the information and insights that we need to make the adjustments that we need to live healthier, longer, and happier lives.