Fall 2018 | Volume 38
DARK MAGIC Keurig Dr. Pepper’s Matt Morris
Walmart Partnership Announced Tough & Tenacious – MVSC’s Wade Jensen New Intelligence Systems Lab
The Magazine for Alumni and Friends of Bellevue University
2 | The View
Fall 2018 | Volume 38 Cover: Matt Morris, a Developer Analyst III for Keurig Dr. Pepper, has taken advantage of his company’s Green Mountain Dark Magic Extra Bold Coffee to help power his way to a Master of Science in Computer Information Systems – with a 4.0 grade point average. Student Speaker Jason Snow . . . . . . . . . . 2 Dean Rebecca Murdock . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 Nursing Program . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-5 Walmart’s Jared Napier . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-7 Wade Jensen Leads MVSC . . . . . . . . . . . 8-9 Keurig Dr. Pepper’s Matt Morris . . . . . . 10-11 Intelligence Systems Lab . . . . . . . . . . . 12-13 Sarpy County’s Brian Zuger . . . . . . . . . . . 14 Cardiac Bruins . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15 Carrie Carbajal . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
Mission Statement Bellevue University effectively engages students in earning awards and degrees that prepare them to thrive in a connected, competitive world. We provide students with a powerful foundation for personal value creation, instilling the confidence they need to take control of their lives and to be responsible citizens of the global community. We teach the value of a free market, capitalist economin system and the importantance of preserving our American heritage of a democratic and free way of life.
Vision The vision of Bellevue University is to be the premier open access university in the United States.
Values Integrity in all we do Belief in the transformational value of education Student-centric Market-focused Innovation
Uber-Student Eyeing Medical School The word “uber” denotes an outstanding or supreme example of a particular kind of person or thing. It also happens to be a perfect description of Spring 2018 Commencement student speaker Jason Snow. In addition to being an uber-student, Snow is an uber-husband, an uberfather, and, yes, an Uber driver. He has taken advantage of the flexibility offered by his current occupation to earn his degree, as well as to spend quality time with his wife, Cami, and 5-year-old son, Austin. “When I decided to go back to school I knew I would need a job that allowed me to juggle the many roles that I have,” Snow said. “I currently fill the roles of husband, father, student, and researcher among other things. Looking at my schedule it became clear that I could not have a job that required regular hours. Driving for Uber allowed me to get up early in the morning and earn a little money to help support my family while I went to school.”
other undergraduates at larger universities can only dream of. The opportunity to engage outside of class has really enriched the experience I have had learning here.” Following graduation, Snow plans on taking the Medical College Admission Test (MCAT) and applying to medical school. In his commencement address, he encouraged others to pursue their own goals as well. “If a college degree is what you need to pursue your dream, there is no better place than Bellevue,” Snow said. “The opportunity to learn in an environment where professors know your name is a huge advantage.”
Snow began pursuit of his Bachelor of Science in Biology at Bellevue University in 2016, just in time to take advantage of the newly refurbished science labs. “The new labs are amazing,” Snow said. “One of the things that I’ve enjoyed most about Bellevue is that as an undergraduate in the science program we have access to machines
Uber student Jason Snow served as the student speaker at the 2018 Spring Commencement ceremony. In addition to his role as a student and an Uber driver , Snow had to juggle responsibilities as a husband, father, and researcher.
Rebecca Murdock | 3
Students at the Center of Dean Murdock’s Motivation Innovation works a bit like gravity – at least at Bellevue University. Embracing innovation and outside-the-box thinking draws not only students into orbit, but also faculty and staff. Such is the case with Rebecca Murdock, Dean of the College of Business (COB). Murdock came to the University as an Assistant Dean in 2014 after 13 years at the University of Sioux Falls. “Bellevue University had a reputation for taking innovative stances in the higher education market. Innovation and learning are very important to me especially when integrated with leadership,” Murdock said. “Therefore, when I was contemplating a change and an opportunity was open at BU, it was clear to me that I needed to seriously consider the opportunity.” She took over the reins of the College of Business in April of 2015, after Dr. Pamela Imperato departed for Davenport University. As Dean, Murdock has the opportunity to foster innovation in a variety of ways with the people, students, and faculty. “The role of dean is a unique leadership role. It is one of those roles where you have the opportunity to lead on several different levels – with the people – the students and faculty – with the programs, and with the learning process,” Murdock said. “I enjoy the complexity and the variety of the work. And, it is really fun when it all comes together to accomplish the goals we had in mind for the students.”
one. Another said, “She is respected due to her determination and dedication.” “We certainly have some unique programs that offer differentiation, but really as an institution we have a ‘can do’ attitude,” she said. “In other words, we take the stance and reinforce it in our work with students, that barriers and hurdles should not stand in the way of working with students on the journey to achieve their goals. “This does not mean we set aside academic standards and expectations. It means we find a way to work with those standards and expectations and help students overcome the financial, social, and academic challenges to achieving their goals.” Murdock may be able to relate to students even more of late. She has been one herself recently, pursuing her Ed.D. in Interdisciplinary Leadership at Creighton University. The title of her dissertation will be “The Significance and Integration of Transformational Instructor Leadership Behaviors to a University Performance Management System: A Sequential Mixed Methods Study.” Murdock is on track to complete the program in late fall of 2018.
Murdock never loses focus
Dean Murdock earned the President’s Award at the University’s Annual Meeting on June 22. She was nominated by several people, but their statements followed a similar theme.
“I know (the title) is a mouthful, but many studies have focused on identifying transformational leadership behaviors that lead to outcomes that are important to followers. There are very few studies that have focused on those same behaviors in an instructional context,” Murdock said. “The faculty – both full-time and adjunct – are in a unique position of influence as instructor-leaders. Their students are their followers. In this unique relationship, do the students strive to go ‘above and beyond’ in their courses as a result of the leadership portrayed by their professors? We will see what I learn!”
“Rebecca is respected and known for being a smart, educated, dedicated leader who supports academics,” read
Family has been a key to helping Murdock pursue her Ed.D. and lead Bellevue University’s College of Business.
“I am very blessed to have unwavering support from my husband, Doug, and my sons, Thomas and Steven. They have always been by my side through every academic endeavor,” she said. “Also, my parents passed away some time ago, but they really valued education, particularly because their life experience had not allowed them to pursue their educational goals. My parents found a way to support my eduational goals at every level possible.”
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Nursing Takes Root Dr. Meisinger Leads Nursing Program to Accreditation
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r. Kimberley Meisinger has put down some roots in her almost six years at Bellevue University. She serves as Director for the Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN), Bachelor of Science in Public Health Education and the Bachelor of Science in Health Sciences. A longtime Bellevue resident, she has even deeper roots in the nursing community. The program recently achieved a significant milestone when it earned accreditation through the Commission of Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE). The validation is important on several levels, Dr. Meisinger said. “While I always thought that the program was tremendous even before accreditation, this is recognition from outside experts saying, ‘We validate everything that you’ve done meets the standard we’ve outlined,’ ” Meisinger said. “As students graduate, they can go out into the workplace and those people who are hiring them are going to say,’ ‘they’re CCNE accredited.’ It ensures the employer that a graduate has the kind of skills they need and they can hire them knowing that they are coming from a program that has a quality education. It’s important for the program, but equally as important for the students.” Dr. Meisinger came to Bellevue University while finishing up her dissertation for her Doctor of Nursing Practice and Clinical System Administration at Creighton University. A graduate of Bellevue West High School, Meisinger began her academic career earning her bachelor’s degree in Nursing at the University of Nebraska Medical Center. She followed that up with a Master of Science in Nursing Education from Nebraska Wesleyan University. She earned a second master’s degree in Alternative Dispute Resolution from the Creighton University School of Law.
She began her Bellevue University career working with Dr. Mike Freel in the Master of Healthcare Administration program. An opportunity to lead the BSN program opened up about a year and a half later. Getting the program into shape to earn the CCNE accreditation has been a large part of her job since that time. “It’s been an immense amount of work, probably more work than I’ve ever done on one specific project,” Dr. Meisinger said. “I’m excited for the students because they wanted this for such a long time — to hear the excitement on the phone when I called them or to see the excitement when I saw them at graduation. They were jumping up and down, they were hugging, they were just thrilled. That probably was more satisfying than anything.” Going forward, establishing a National Honor Society for nursing at the University is a high priority for Meisinger. The honor would add the potential for an additional credential that might help a resume stand out. Additionally, Dr. Meisinger is laying the groundwork for a Master of Science in Nursing program. “That’s the next academic step that we want to make. It will allow our BSN students to have another place to come back to,” Dr. Meisinger said. “A doctorate in nursing is always on the back of my brain. We have a very small amount of nurse educators available across the country and we are requiring those educators to have a doctorate.”
The Bellevue University Bachelor of Science program is devoted to creating nurse leaders. “Everything is kind of geared toward that. Our content is very leadership focused,” Dr. Meisinger said. “One thing that I like about our program is the students get to choose their practicum experience. We meet them where they’re at, so they can create the experience they need to have. We’ll just guide them down the path. It makes it more personal for the students, but is also beneficial for the organizations because at the very end, they have a project or an outcome they can actually do something with.”
Dr. Kimberley Meisinger led Bellevue University’s Bachelor of Science in Nursing to accreditation through the Commission of Collegiate Education (CCNE).
Nursing | 5
A Lot to Applaud With Nursing Student’s Graduation
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wall of Bellevue University faculty and staff, all clad in purple robes, cheer on graduating students as they exit the Mid-America Center following the commencement ceremony. For Dana Corwin, this wasn’t the first time she’d encountered supportive faculty and staff throughout her time at the University. Corwin enjoyed that support as she navigated the Bachelor of Science in Nursing program, graduating with a 4.0 grade point average in Spring 2018. Corwin had praise for faculty and staff from her first interaction with the University all the way to the last. An online student from Mayville, New York, Corwin first became aware of Bellevue University when a friend pitched it to her following a presentation at a local government office. Kerri Brown, Bellevue University’s representative at nearby Jamestown Community College, reached out to Corwin directly to let her know the details about what Bellevue University had to offer. Once enrolled, Student Coach Holly Richie helped keep Corwin on the right track. “She was unbelievable. She called me at home in New York to check in with me,” Corwin said. “She gave me reminders and information and support that was so helpful! I really valued that service and Holly was fantastic in every way.” Dr. Kimberley Meisinger, the director for the nursing program, as well as Associate Professor Michelle Bahr, and Adjunct Professor Laurel Chadek all received praise from Corwin for covering a wide of range of classes in her undergraduate experience. “Dr. Meisinger, the department chair, was wonderful. She was encouraging
and supportive, giving quick and ready communication. She was an amazing professor and such an important role model,” Corwin said. “Her ability to model the professional side of nursing and the academia was inspiring. Cool, calm, and collected, she is a strong personification of strength and grace. Her approach is collaborative, and her organizational skills and mentoring are awesome.”
my job well, the people I am working for feel empowered, capable and engaged in improving and maintaining their independence and dignity.” Although Corwin is across the country and graduation is in the rearview mirror, Bellevue University faculty and staff are still applauding her efforts.
While Bahr and Chadek don’t teach in the nursing program, their impact occurred while Corwin completed general education requirements and the Kirkpatrick Signature Series. Bahr taught an oral communications course that impressed Corwin, already an experienced public speaker. The nursing program was accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE) just as Corwin was finishing up her degree requirements. “I appreciate the implications of achieving accreditation and was very interested in the process,” she said. “Personally, it paves the way to pursue a master’s degree in nursing.”
Dana Corwin added BSN to her nameplate after completing her degree at Bellevue University. Corwin is the Director of Aging Health Services for the Chautauqua County Office for the Aging in New York. Photo by Kerri Brown
Corwin works in Chautauqua County, New York, on the southwest side of the state where she is the Director of Aging Health Services for the local agency on aging. “I love the ability to understand and work with the social determinants of health and effect change in managing the challenges of community health,” Corwin said. “I also adore the population I work with. If I have done
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Opening Up the Aisles of Education Walmart’s Jerad Napier benefited from a Bellevue University education; Now, Walmart employees across the country are able to do the same for $1 a day. Getting from Point A to Point B – Jerad Napier knows a thing or two about that as a Supply Chain Analytics Manager at Walmart headquarters in Bentonville, Arkansas. But back in 2012, when he was looking for a school where he could complete his bachelor’s degree, he also found a partner who could deliver in Bellevue University. A U.S. Air Force veteran, Napier was working for a government military contractor at the time, General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, and frequently deployed (four times to Afghanistan and twice to Ethiopia). The Bachelor of Science in Management cohort program not only meshed well with his non-traditional schedule, it simplified communication. “I was looking around trying to find the best degree that would fit my situation,” he said. “I really thought the cohort program was a great thing especially for deploying. I wouldn’t have to explain to a new instructor that I was going overseas and that I might have limited internet access for three to four days.” Napier had already earned associate’s degrees from both Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University and the Community College of the Air Force before enrolling at Bellevue University. “Bellevue University applied all the credit from both places,” Napier said. “They accepted my credits basically to where all that was required were the classes for my degree.”
Walmart’s Jared Napier The View || 7 7
Seeing the World Following high school, Napier had embarked on a military career, enlisting in the U.S. Air Force in July 2001. Love of country was his primary motivation. “I love America and that was how I felt I could give back. The benefits for serving were definitely great,” he said. “Once 9/11 happened, it just reconfirmed why I was doing what I was doing.” Napier’s Air Force experience took him around the country and around the world including stops in Alamogordo, New Mexico; Gunsan, South Korea; and Fairbanks, Alaska. During that time, he worked on some of the most advanced fighter jets in the world, including the F-16 Fighting Falcon and the F-117 Nighthawk stealth fighter. He separated from the military in 2009 as an E-5 staff sergeant and went to work with General Atomics. Napier had joined the Air Force in part to see the world beyond his hometown of Springdale, Arkansas. But after almost eight years in the military and another four years as a government contractor, he was ready to return to his roots. With his degree from Bellevue University in hand, Napier took a job with JB Hunt Transport Service in Lowell, Arkansas, before landing his current position with Walmart.
Getting the Result In his role as a Supply Chain Analytics Manager for Walmart, Napier is charged with developing, creating, and maintaining analytics tools and
Photo by Jenny Quilty
processes. “My ultimate goal is to make my co-workers job easier with analytics tools,” Napier said. “I enjoy the challenge involved with the data – getting it, conditioning it, cleaning it – basically making it play nice with all the other data not only to get a result, but to get the result.” Getting the result is what has allowed Walmart to leverage advances in supply chain technology and turn it into a competitive advantage. Napier’s employer maximizes its supply chain in a number of ways, using technology to accurately forecast demand, track and predict inventory levels, create efficient transportation routes, and manage customer relationships. That technology infrastructure, the largest of any private company in the world, is the foundation of Walmart’s supply chain. Napier, who has gone on to earn a master’s degree, was pleased to hear that his employer and his alma mater, through Guild Education, had partnered to help other Walmart employees further their education. “That’s absolutely awesome,” Napier said. “The fact that Walmart is only going to charge employees a dollar a day is astounding. It’s a tremendous benefit and I’m really happy that Walmart is doing it.” And he expects that Bellevue University will continue to deliver for his fellow employees. “Everyone at Bellevue University that I spoke with – from the professors, to the administrators, to the counselors – was phenomenal,” he said. “I know my fellow Walmart employees are in for a first-class experience and a first-class education.”
As a Supply Chain Analytics Manager for Walmart, Jerad Napier helps the largest employer in the United States operate at peak efficiency. Napier was in the U.S. Air Force for just under eight years and logged another four years with defense contractor General Atomics Aeronautical Systems. During that time, he worked on some of the most sophisticated aircraft in the world. Photos by Jenny Quilty
Guild, University Sign Walmart Partnership Bellevue University and Walmart have partnered through Guild Education, a leading education benefits platform, to open up the aisles of education for the retail giant’s massive workforce. The partnership, will provide Walmart associates access to affordable, high-quality bachelor’s degrees in Business, Management, and Leadership and Supply Chain, Transportation, and Logistics Management. “We’re extremely excited about the opportunity to work with Walmart and to open up access to education for their employees,” said James Nekuda, Vice President, Strategic Partnerships at Bellevue University. “We have a long history of partnering with corporate clients to provide education to partner employees that allows them to maximize their impact within their organization.” The partnership will be administered by Guild Education, a leading education benefits platform. Guild serves in a similar role with other Bellevue University partners such Chipotle, Taco Bell, and DaVita to name a few. Walmart will subsidize the cost of higher education, beyond financial aid and an associate contribution equivalent to $1 a day. Degrees will be offered through the University of Florida, Brandman University and Bellevue University – non-profit schools selected for their focus and outcomes on serving working adult learners. “Investing in the personal and professional success of our associates is vital to Walmart’s future success. We know training and learning opportunities empower associates to deliver for customers while growing and advancing in their careers,” said Greg Foran, CEO of Walmart U.S.
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TOUGH & TENACIOUS, CARING & COMPASSIONATE Meet the MVSC’s Wade Jensen Bellevue University was designated as a Purple Heart University in May 2018. A “Purple Heart Garden” was created to commemorate the event and includes a hybrid flower designed by Bellevue University staffer and Navy veteran Johnny Farnen.
Bellevue University Recognized As
PURPLE HEART UNIVERSITY
Bellevue University was designated as an official Purple Heart University by the Military Order of the Purple Heart (MOPH) on May 5, 2018. The designation is awarded in recognition of a university’s support of military members, including veterans and their families. Wade Jensen, MVSC Manager, said the Purple Heart University designation recognizes the center’s interactions with both the University and the community. “Service to the military and our veterans is embedded in Bellevue University’s past, present and future,” he said. “We are honored to have the opportunity to serve our military servicemen and women, and their families with resources ranging from transition assistance to an easily accessible Department of Veterans Affairs office.” The University also dedicated a new Purple Heart garden on the grounds of the MVSC in May. The garden features two new local cultivars, or flowers, that are purple in color to honor those veterans who have received the Purple Heart. The Purple Heart is a military decoration awarded to those who are wounded or killed during military action. The flowers are strains of prairie flowers that were selectively cultivated by Johnny Farnen, Manager of the Bellevue University science labs. Farnen is also a U.S. Navy veteran. The flowers were planted at the MVSC by volunteers from the local Wounded Warrior Project chapter and representatives from Bellevue University’s Student Veterans Organization (SVO).
The battle was hot. Bullets were flying everywhere, whizzing over their heads, and ricocheting off the desert rocks. An enemy round struck the Marine in the right shoulder, it exited out the left side of his neck, and he fell to the ground. A few moments later, he got up, fought on, and led his men away alive. Within 24 hours, still in pain and his wounds barely beginning to heal, the Marine checked out of the hospital, reunited with his men, and then proceeded to lead the unit through more engagements. Meet determined and tenacious Wade Jensen, Manager of Bellevue University’s Military Veteran Services Center (MVSC). Jensen was born in a small farming community about 100 miles west of Bellevue, Nebraska. At the age of 13, he was involved in a horrible motorcycle accident which nearly cost him his leg and was told that he’d never be physically the same again. Jensen, who isn’t the type to be told he can’t, rehabbed himself becoming even stronger than he was before. In 1990, Jensen joined the United States Marines. The same naysayers who said he’d never recover from his accident now tried to discourage him, warning him that he’d never survive boot camp. Instead, Jensen served in the Marines for 21 years, and the naysayers were silenced again. During his military career, Jensen led many service men into battle, especially post 9/11, and earned the Purple Heart medal. After serving honorably, he retired as a First Sergeant in 2011. “I was born to do this,” said Jensen summing up his military career, “every decision I made, and everything I did was because I believed it was the right thing to do.” Jensen still keeps in touch with his military colleagues. “I believe it’s still part of my job to keep an eye on them, and they know if they ever need anything, if they shoot up a red star cluster – which means emergency – I will drop whatever I am doing to be there for them.” Jensen retired from the U.S. military on a Friday and started a new job as a federal police officer at Offutt Air Force Base the following Monday. While serving as a police officer, Jensen went to Bellevue University to pursue his bachelor’s degree. “One day while I was at Bellevue University,” explained Jensen, “I saw a friend of mine who filled me in about a guy on campus who kept talking about a veterans’ center. “Having led and taken care of my unit in battle, I was skeptical and tired of businesses rolling out the carpet for veterans and
MVSC’s Wade Jensen The View || 9 9
Wade Jensen, a Purple Heart recipient, serves as Manager of Bellevue University’s Military Veteran Services Center.
and pretending they were ‘veteran friendly.’ So I decided to go visit this center, but I went with a big chip on my shoulder thinking it was another sham.” “It was an April day, 2013, when I walked into the center,” Jensen continued. “I heard someone in an office talking on a phone, but there was nobody else there. I smelled coffee, so I helped myself, and then sat down to read a paper. Then the guy steps out of his office, points his finger at me, and says, ‘Hey, I’ve been waiting six months for this to happen. I’ve been waiting for a veteran to come in here, drink my coffee, sit in my chair, and read my paper. My name is JR, how are you?’” JR was Jerome Richardson, Director of the MVSC. Richardson, after sharing his vision for the Military Veteran Service Center, convinced Jensen the center
was sincere in its mission and unique. Richardson recognized something special in Jensen, and believing he’d be a perfect fit to help get the new MVSC off the ground, offered him a job on the spot. Jensen accepted immediately. “It was the most spur of the moment thing I’ve ever done,” said Jensen, “especially since my wife Heather and I now had a newborn, but I took the position because it was the right thing.” Meanwhile, Jensen continued his education at Bellevue University earning his Bachelor of Science in Management of Human Resources and then a Master of Science in Organizational Performance. “When I started going to school there were the same naysayers once again,” said Jensen. “They told me I was too old to go to school and that I should just get a part-time job
instead. Their objections fueled me to prove them wrong – again! That’s what warriors do. The warrior sees the threat, seeks it out, destroys it, and moves on.” If Jensen had listened to the naysayers at any point in his life, he would not be where he is today. Countless veterans who shot up a red star cluster would have gone unrescued, left behind on their transitional battlefield in their hour of need. Those years of overcoming adversity only toughened Jensen, made him a better person, more understanding and compassionate. “I am here at the MVSC,” said Jensen, “to help a student or transitioning military member surmount whatever barriers are before them so that he or she can create their own path.” Spoken like a compassionate man who has surmounted barriers of his own.
10 The View View 10 || The
DARK MAGIC Coffee Provides Boost to Student’s CIS Studies
Matt Morris lauds Bellevue University’s flexibility. “With two small children, a wife, and a busy career, it would be hard to commit to a specific class schedule,” he said. “I’m able to learn and do the required work on my own schedule.” Photos by Herb Swanson
What’s the secret to successfully navigating your master’s degree program? It’s simple — Dark Magic.
M
att Morris, a Developer Analyst III for Keurig Dr. Pepper, can attest to that. His company’s Green Mountain Dark Magic Extra Bold Coffee, described on the Keurig website as deep, dark, and intense with a spellbinding complexity, has provided the necessary boost to power through some weekend homework or to stay alert after a relatively sleepless night with a newborn. That boost has Morris on track to graduate from Bellevue University in late 2018 with his Master of Science in Computer Information Systems – with a 4.0 grade-point average, no less. “I’ve been with the company for 11 years. I spent the first five as a non-coffee drinker, but converted as soon as my first child
was born,” said Morris, who works out of the South Burlington, Vermont location. “As the sleepless nights added up, the average coffee intake also increased. These days, I usually keep it to just one cup a day.” A lifelong Vermonter, Morris discovered Bellevue University through some extensive research. “I chose Bellevue University after evaluating many different programs. It seemed to offer the most rigorous and comprehensive technical training. Most other IT M.S. programs were geared toward experienced IT employees that were looking to develop management skills,” Morris said. “I was in
Keurig Dr. Pepper’s Matt TheMorris View | 11 11
the opposite boat as my undergraduate degree was not extremely technical, but I was already in a management position. While I was able to hone a lot of technical skills on the job and in self-directed study, I wanted to immerse myself in a technical program to fill in the remaining gaps.” Morris is looking forward to graduation as he finishes out his last class.
Flexibility, Support “I really appreciate the flexibility afforded by this program. Of course, there are strict deadlines and deliverables, but there is no need to show up to a class at a specific time. This has been critical to my success. With two small children, a wife, and a busy career, it would be hard to commit to a specific class schedule,” he said. “I’m able to learn and do the required work on my own schedule.” In addition to the wonders of Dark Magic, Morris is grateful for the support he receives both at home and at the office. “First and foremost, my wife and kids for putting up with many weeknights and weekend days of me doing homework instead of performing my other household and family duties,” Morris said. “Without their support, I could never have succeeded in this program. I’m also grateful to Keurig Dr. Pepper for paying for my degree and my manager for supporting me in this process.”
An Inquisitive Mind At Keurig Dr. Pepper, Morris’ duties include database development with a strong emphasis on marketing
technology solution design and architecture. “I support a marketing automation application suite that is used by Keurig Dr. Pepper to merge various sources of user data and provide a personalized user experience on site and in various marketing channels,” he said. “As you can imagine, specific tasks vary from day to day. Some days, I’m heads down writing code all day, other days I’m creating documentation or working with business team members to develop technical solutions to fit their business initiatives.” An inquisitive mind has played well for Morris with both his academic and career endeavors. “This position allows me to come up with creative solutions for technical puzzles all day long and requires that I develop a deep understanding of the underlying technology,” he said. “As a kid, I enjoyed disassembling electronics and then seeing if I could successfully put them back together, just to get some idea of how they worked. Radios, TVs, VCRs, pocket calculators, you name it, I probably took it apart and then put it back together, sometimes successfully, sometimes not.” While Keurig Dr. Pepper keeps him challenged, an engaged corporate culture also contributes to his work-life balance. “It truly is a great place to work. There is a palpable spirit of ownership and excitement in the employee base,” Morris said. “As an organization, we’ve got a rich history of corporate social responsibility and we’re pioneers in the fair trade movement. We truly do walk the talk and that’s evidenced by things like the organization paying employees 52 hours per year to perform community service, employee donation matching and various other programs aimed at improving our local communities and the communities from which we source coffee.”
Morris, a Developer Analyst III for Keurig Dr. Pepper, has taken advantage of his company’s Green Mountain Dark Magic Extra Bold Coffee to help power his way to a Master of Science in Computer Information Systems – with a 4.0 grade-point average.
12 | The View
Mary Dobransky (left), Dean College of Science and Technology, and Larry Courtnage (right), Owner and Chairman of C&A Industries, celebrate the opening of the Intelligence Systems Lab.
Cyberlab | 13
New Intelligence Systems Lab Will Build Digital Workforce Capacity Major grant support from Omaha-based C&A Industries, Inc., will help Bellevue University prepare students for rewarding jobs and careers and build the technology workforce. Larry Courtnage, C&A’s founder and Chairman, and his wife, Kathy, Vice Chair and Co-Owner, have made a $1 million commitment to establish the C&A Industries Intelligence Systems (IS) Lab on the University’s campus. Their grant, and other donor gifts, will provide a spacious, technology-enabled space with multiple workstations, large-screen video displays, and a powerful data center to support a range of collaborative education offerings and activities. New data science, business analytics and math degrees were introduced recently, and the lab’s capabilities for rapid analysis, computation, and visualization of large amounts of data also could help launch programs in emerging fields like artificial intelligence, machine learning, and even drone technologies. Versatility is a hallmark of the lab, which is part of a multi-million-dollar University investment in Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) workforce education. The investment also includes science, math, and learning technology lab facilities, backing program offerings aimed at supply-demand gaps in the workforce. “The IS lab will facilitate learning, applying, and integrating emerging technology tools and capabilities,” said Mary Dobransky, Dean of the University’s College of Science and Technology. “They will be a venue for program-specific and open,
interdisciplinary activities in areas like cybersecurity, network administration, data science, and artificial intelligence.”
company start-ups” are components of the Chamber’s 2019-2023, “Prosper Omaha 2.0,” development program.
Courtnage, who is a member of the University’s Board of Directors, is a longtime advocate and strategic technology leader at the company he launched in 1969 with a phone, a Rolodex, and recipe cards. “I always felt the winner was going to be the person who uses technology,” he said in an interview prior to being inducted into the Greater Omaha Chamber of Commerce’s Business Hall of Fame in April.
Cybersecurity programs will be a top priority for the new space, due to a critical worker shortage in the field and because data security is so critical across a range of disciplines. A recent Global Information Security Workforce Study showed two-thirds of employers already are short-handed, a shortage that could persist for five years, according to University Associate Professor Douglas Rausch, Cybersecurity Program Director.
“With all the new emerging technologies, it is hard to find qualified people,” said Courtnage’s daughter and C&A Corporate Strategist Vicki Witovski, who sees the need for experienced tech talent on a daily basis. National tech skills gap estimates range from 200,000 to 500,000 unfilled positions. Cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, virtual- and augmented-reality development, and
Rausch, who is hoping for a soft opening for the initial lab and data center spaces this fall, with full implementation of the labs for cybersecurity courses during the winter 2018-19 term, said the IS Labs will provide a working Security Operations Center. Having a well-equipped physical space will enhance the impact of the University’s current nationally ranked cybersecurity programs, which attract a growing enrollment of well over 300 students, the majority enrolled online. “This will open up more The new space will bring students and interdisciplinary program options for security professionals together for cyber and real-time events, exercises the University and for students.” and simulations.
- Dr. Mary Hawkins
data science skills are in high demand. Emerging fields include machine learning, wireless technology, the Internet of Things, and drone technology. Locally, the Greater Omaha Chamber of Commerce and the non-profit AIM Institute want to add 4,000-plus trained IT workers by 2020, and “high-impact and emerging technologies” and “tech
The C&A IS Lab exemplifies Bellevue University’s ongoing strategy of building on its strengths in real-world, applied learning, as well as its established program competencies, according to University President, Dr. Mary Hawkins. Anticipated growth and new interdisciplinary courses could require a second Operations Center Lab within two years, Dobransky said.
14 | Brian Zuger
ROLE MODEL Zuger Provides Template for New Sarpy County Partnership
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arpy County, Nebraska, employees won’t have to look hard to find an example of how a Bellevue University education can pay off. County Treasurer Brian Zuger holds two degrees from Bellevue, including a Bachelor of Arts in Leadership and a Master of Public Administration. Sarpy County employees can take advantage of a new program, offered in partnership with Bellevue University, which features tuition reimbursement of up to $5,250 for County employees and $2,500 for employees’ immediate family members. The program is available to full-time, degree-seeking students at Bellevue University. There is no cost to the county or taxpayers for the program.
Age Isn’t a Barrier Zuger, who ran unopposed for Sarpy County Treasurer this fall after serving for two years as a County Commissioner, earned his bachelor’s degree when he was 40 and his master’s at 42. He didn’t let age stand in his way, and others shouldn’t let it stop them either, he said. “For a lot of people, age is a barrier to entry. They think, ‘I’m an old dog, what am I going to learn in this program?’ or ‘It’s too late for me.‘ ” But Zuger said being an adult student today makes more sense than ever before. “There’s less risk for them to go do this now because it’s not as big a financial burden. I think it’s going to be very beneficial for Sarpy County.”
Brian Zuger, who ran unopposed for Sarpy County Treasurer this fall, has earned two degrees at Bellevue University.
Zuger first enrolled at Bellevue University in 2010, 18 years after he graduated from high school. “I was looking for an education that catered to professionals,” he said. “I took both of
my degrees online, but it was nice to know that if I ran into an issue I would have a local person to talk to.”
Leadership Junkie Zuger describes himself as a “leadership junkie” and felt his undergraduate program was a great fit. “It really challenged my perceptions as to what it meant to be a leader. I think it helped me to find my leadership style,” he said. “I really enjoyed that part. It allowed me to be very introspective and challenged the perceptions that I had.” Zuger credited longtime University professor Del Stites as being particularly influential during his bachelor’s degree program. “He taught a logic class and challenged us quite a bit,” Zuger said. “I like to be really challenged to test my thought processes and how I processed information.” These days Zuger is passionate about Sarpy County and his upcoming term as County Treasurer. “I’m going to miss my time on the Board (of Commissioners). I love being a policy maker and having the ability to impact the direction of Sarpy County,” he said. “I think our Treasurer’s Office is run very well. I’m really looking forward using the skills I learned at Bellevue to build on the culture of collaboration.”
Cardiac The Bruins | 15| 15 View
“Cardiac Bruins” Inducted into Hall of Fame Dubbed the “Cardiac Bruins” for good reason, the 1995 Bellevue University baseball team won half of its regular-season games by two runs or less. The team lived up to that nickname at the 1995 World Series, as well, losing the series opener before charging back to win five-straight games to claim the national championship – only the third time in NAIA World Series history a team had won the title after losing its opening game. The team became the first full squad inducted into the Bellevue University Athletics Hall of Fame during an Aug. 4, 2018 ceremony. Playing in the World Series was something brand new for the 1995 Bellevue baseball team. The Bruins had advanced to regional play seven straight years before finally qualifying for the school’s first-ever NAIA World Series appearance in 1995. The 1995 NAIA World Series got off to a shaky start for Bellevue University, as the team dropped a nail-biter in its opening game to
Birmingham-Southern (Ala.), 2-1, a game that – of course – came down to the ninth inning. The Bruins’ bats came alive in their second game, after managing only one run on five hits in the opener. Coach Mike Evans stuck with pitcher Germaine Hunter in the sixth inning, even after the senior from Kentucky gave up six runs. Hunter responded and shut down Wilmington College of Delaware during the final three innings, securing a 9-6 victory for the Bruins. The next victim was St. Francis of Illinois. Senior shortstop Nic Deluca smashed
two home runs, including a two-run shot in the 10th inning that gave the Bruins the walk-off victory. Before that, Bellevue University blew a five-run lead in the ninth inning to force extra innings. Once again, this team showed it wasn’t one for doing things the easy way. After the stirring victory over St. Francis, the Bruins faced No. 1-ranked and perennial national power Lewis-Clark State of Idaho, the winner of six straight national titles during the late ‘80s and early ‘90s. The Bruins were sparked by a three-run homer from Blake Brice that hit the foul pole and survived a three-run rally in the ninth to prevail, 8-7. From there, the Bruins knocked off Birmingham-Southern, 7-5, in a semifinal contest – payback for the opening-round loss.
Then and now -- Members of the 1995 NAIA Baseball Championship squad gathered earlier this year to be inducted into the Bellevue University Athletics Hall of Fame.
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Overcoming Obstacles: Carrie Carbajal There will be obstacles. There always are en route to anything worth achieving. Certainly that is the case for any endeavors within higher education. Carrie Carbajal overcame obstacles, including a hearing disability, to earn her two master’s degrees from Bellevue University. “I am deaf in one ear with partial hearing in the other,” she explained. “I wear a hearing aid and have a cochlear implant. I learn best with the assistance of a CART (Communication Access Real-time Translation) provider.” A CART provider delivers real-time captioning that is composed of text that can be used by people who are deaf or hard of hearing to access content delivered by spoken words and sounds. Carbajal certainly isn’t afraid of a challenge. Not ready to stop with her first two degrees, she is now pursuing her Ph.D. in the University’s Human Capital
Management program. Carbajal first enrolled at Bellevue University in 2010 while she was a Contracting Officer for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency in San Franciso, California. She completed her Master of Business Administration in 2013 and followed that up with a Master of Science in Contract & Acquisition Management in 2017. Carbajal credited Terra Beethe, a Training and Organizational Specialist at the University, with helping her get the assistance she needed. “She was instrumental in listening to me explain about my disability and how I best learn and what accommodations that I need to succeed,”
Carbajal said. “In the beginning, it was a rough transition, but ultimately with a commitment to learning, compassion and patience, it all worked out.” Carrie Carbajal has not let a hearing disability stand in her way as she pursues her Ph.D. at Bellevue University.