UNO Commencement Book | August 2021 by University of Nebraska at Omaha

COMMENCEMENT A U G U S T 2 0 21

THE IDEA OF A UNIVERSITY A university is not bricks and mortar, not solely bricks and mortar. It is flesh and bone, dreams and reality, promise and fulfillment. Its totality is too broad for canvas, too elusive for print. It has moods and ages, like a person. Its seasons are all growing seasons and the harvests ever secure. A university is, above all, an experience. It exists in the hearts and minds of those who draw from its wisdom and add to its reputation. A university is a place, yes, but a place of the spirit. It is described, forever after, by its family, not as architecture, but as personality and precept and conversion. A university is what its alumni have become. They are its voice to the world. Some alumni achieve headlines, bear titles, manage corporations, represent constituents, build, create, publicize, minister, protect, teach. Some labor less conspicuously, contributing from the depths of their talents, fostering understanding, transmitting appreciation. They speak for us, our alumni. And they speak well. Robert T. Reilly, UNO Professor Emeritus

Administration and Regalia History . . . . . . . 4 Tassel Colors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 Undergraduate Honors . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7

AUGUST 2021 CEREMONY | 9 A.M. Order of Program . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 Chancellor's Medal and Student Speaker . . . . 9

2020 GRADUATION CELEBRATION | 1 P.M. Order of Program . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 Student Speaker . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11

AUGUST 2021 GRADUATE NAMES Graduate Degrees . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 Graduate and Undergraduate Certificates . . . 16 Honors, Air Force, and Collegiate Learning Assessment . . . . . . . . 17 Undergraduate Degrees . . . . . . . . . . . . 18 Select UNO Academic Highlights . . . . . . . . 25

UNIVERSITY OF NEBRASKA AT OMAHA ADMINISTRATION Joanne Li, Ph.D., CFA Chancellor Sacha Kopp, Ph.D., Senior Vice Chancellor, Academic Affairs Dan Shipp, Ed.D., Vice Chancellor, Student Success Doug Ewald, M.P.A., Vice Chancellor, Business, Finance and Business Development Deborah Smith-Howell, Ph.D., Associate Vice Chancellor of Academic Affairs and Chief of Staff Mike Kemp, Interim Athletic Director THE COLLEGES Juan Casas, Ph.D., Acting Dean, Graduate Studies David Boocker, Ph.D., Dean, College of Arts and Sciences Nancy A. Edick, Ed.D., Dean, College of Education, Health, and Human Sciences Michelle Trawick, Ph.D., Dean, College of Business Administration John Bartle, Ph.D., Dean, College of Public Affairs and Community Service Martha Garcia-Murillo, Ph.D., Dean, College of Information Science & Technology Michael Hilt, Ph.D., Dean, College of Communication, Fine Arts and Media David Richards, M.A., M.L.I.S., Dean, Criss Library Cathy Pettid, M.S., L.M.H.P., Assistant Vice Chancellor for Student Success, Dean of Students University of Nebraska-Lincoln Academic Programs: Lance C. Pérez, Ph.D., Dean, College of Engineering

UNIVERSITY OF NEBRASKA Ted Carter, President, University of Nebraska THE BOARD OF REGENTS Timothy Clare, J.D. Jack Stark, Ph.D. Jim Pillen, D.V.M. Elizabeth O'Connor, J.D. Robert Schafer, J.D. Paul Kenney Bob Phares Barbara Weitz, M.P.A., M.S.W. STUDENT REGENTS University of Nebraska at Omaha, Maeve Hemmer University of Nebraska at Kearney, Noah Limbach University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Batool Ibrahim University of Nebraska Medical Center, Taylor Kratochvil

The University of Nebraska does not discriminate based on race, color, ethnicity, national origin, sex, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, disability, age, genetic information, veteran status, marital status, and/or political affiliation in its programs, activities, or employment. UNO is an AA/EEO/ADA institution. For Title IX concerns, please contact the Title IX Coordinator (phone: 402.554.2120). For ADA/504 accommodations or assistance, please call/ contact the ADA/504 Coordinator (phone 402.554.2463) or the Accessibility Services Center (phone: 402.554.2872). The University of Nebraska at Omaha will be taking pictures at this event for use in advertising and other promotional materials, whether in print, electronic, or other media.

History of the Hood and Robe Identification of the hood and robe as academic apparel is believed to have originated at the English universities of Oxford and Cambridge during the 12th and 13th centuries. The hoods are a carry-over from a time when monks, who operated these universities, wore them to protect their shaved heads in winter. The robes are an adaptation of the shoulder capes also worn by the monks while collecting alms. Use of the academic robe came to the United States in 1754, with the founding of what is now Columbia University. In 1895, a commission of university officials adopted a universal code of design and color for the academic garb. The code has undergone several revisions over the years. Styling of the robes varies for the bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degrees, with the width of sleeve borders and length of the hood increasing with each advanced degree. Hoods are not normally used for bachelor’s degrees today. Instead, tassel colors are used to indicate the degree program. All doctoral degree recipients are indicated by a gold tassel.

History of the Mace

Pi Gamma Mu

University maces symbolize the authority and independence of a chartered university and the authority vested in the chancellor. They are typically carried in at the beginning of a convocation ceremony or commencement.

Blue and white cords with blue tassels honor graduating members of Pi Gamma Mu, the International Honor Society in Social Science.

Omicron Delta Kappa Active student members of the UNO Circle of Omicron Delta Kappa, the National Leadership Honor Society, shall be recognized by blue, white, and black honor cords, the official colors of the society.

U.S. Military Veteran Red, white, and blue cords signify military service members and/or veterans.

Phi Kappa Phi Members of Phi Kappa Phi, the nation’s most selective all-discipline academic honor organization, shall be recognized by navy and gold honor cords or stoles.

TASSEL COLORS

Graduate College

Doctoral Programs

Educational Specialist

Bachelor of Science in Management Information Systems

Executive Master of Science in Information Technology

Bachelor of Science in Computer Science

Bachelor of Science in Bioinformatics

Master of Accounting

Bachelor of Science in Cybersecurity

Master of Architectural Engineering

Bachelor of Science in IT Innovation

Master of Arts

Master of Arts for Teachers of Mathematics

Master of Business Administration

Master of Business Administration —Executive MBA

College of Communication, Fine Arts, and Media

Bachelor of Arts in Art History

Bachelor of Arts in Communication

Bachelor of Arts in Music

Master of Fine Arts

Bachelor of Arts in Studio Art

Master of Music

Bachelor of Arts in Theatre

Master of Public Administration

Bachelor of Fine Arts

Master of Public Health

Bachelor of Music

Master of Science

Bachelor of Science in Communication

Master of Social Work

College of Arts and Sciences

UNL College of Engineering

Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering

Bachelor of Arts

Bachelor of Science in Computer Engineering

Bachelor of Science

Bachelor of Science in Architectural Engineering

Bachelor of Science in Construction Engineering

Bachelor of Science in Construction Management

Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering

College of Education, Health, and Human Sciences

Bachelor of Science in Education

Bachelor of Science in Biomechanics

Bachelor of Science in Public Health

College of Business Administration

Bachelor of Science in Business Administration

College of Public Affairs and Community Service Bachelor of Science in Criminology and Criminal Justice

College of Information Science & Technology

Bachelor of Multidisciplinary Studies

Bachelor of Science in Social Work

Bachelor of Science in Aviation

Bachelor of Science in Emergency Management

Bachelor of Science in Gerontology

UNDERGRADUATE HONORS

Baccalaureate Degrees with Honors

Degrees with Distinction

Grades awarded in all courses taken at all colleges and universities attended are included in computing the Grade Point Average (GPA) for determining eligibility for honors. It should be noted that the GPA included in the student grade reports issued by the Office of the University Registrar reflects only courses taken at UNO, UNL, UNMC, and UNK.

In recognition of outstanding academic excellence, the UNL College of Engineering recommends bachelor’s degrees with Distinction, High Distinction, and Highest Distinction.

• To all graduates whose scholastic average for their entire university career and at UNO is 3.87 or above, the degree is conferred summa cum laude. • To all graduates whose scholastic average for their entire university career and at UNO is 3.63 or above, but below 3.87, the degree is conferred magna cum laude. • To all graduates whose scholastic average for their entire university career and at UNO is 3.51 or above, but below 3.63, the degree is conferred cum laude. • To qualify for honors, a student must have earned at least 60 semester hours within the University of Nebraska system, 30 hours of which must be completed at the University of Nebraska at Omaha and in which letter grades of “A,” “B,” “C,” or “D” are received.

Baccalaureate Degrees with Honors Extra Muros These degrees are awarded to transfer students who have not completed the required 60 semester hours of credit within the University of Nebraska system required for cum laude, magna cum laude, or summa cum laude honors.

University Honors Program The University Honors Program is a Universitywide program providing maximum educational opportunities for students of high ability through specially designed multidisciplinary seminars and participation in an academic level not generally possible in usual curricular offerings. Honors at UNO began in the College of Arts and Sciences and became Universitywide in 1978. It is governed through the office of the Senior Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs and administered through the Honors Director. All UNO colleges implement the University Honors Program curriculum. As part of their Honors Program requirements, students undertake a project that results in a Senior Honors Thesis or Capstone or Practicum. Students who have been designated in this booklet as Honors Program students have fulfilled the academic requirements of this program. Honors Program graduates wear red stoles.

• Candidates for the bachelor’s degree who have successfully completed the program to which they were admitted and achieved a 3.97 cumulative GPA and above and a recommendation from the department will receive a degree with Highest Distinction. • Candidates for the bachelor’s degree who have successfully completed the program to which they were admitted and achieved a 3.97 cumulative GPA and above will receive a degree with High Distinction. • Candidates for the bachelor’s degree who have successfully completed the program to which they were admitted and achieved a 3.89 cumulative GPA and above will receive a degree with Distinction.

Honors Legend Students graduating with honors are distinguished with the following abbreviations listed after their names. Summa Cum Laude

scl

Magna Cum Laude

mcl

Cum Laude

4.0 grade point average

Highest Distinction High Distinction Distinction Extra Muros

HD hd d em

Medallion Colors Students receiving their bachelor's degree with honors will be presented medallions in the colors indicated below. Summa Cum Laude Magna Cum Laude Cum Laude

Red/White White Red

UNL College of Engineering students receiving their bachelor's degrees with honors will be presented medallions in the colors indicated below. Highest Distinction High Distinction Distinction

Red/White White Red

AUGUST 2021 CEREMONY | 9 A.M. ORDER OF PROGRAM

Prelude

Doctoral, Educational Specialist, and Master's Degrees

Presentation of the Colors Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps Detachment 470

Juan Casas, Ph.D. Acting Dean for Graduate Studies

Bachelor's Degrees National Anthem Felicia Ariza

College of Arts and Sciences Dean David Boocker, Ph.D.

Master of Ceremonies and Welcome Remarks Sacha Kopp, Ph.D. Senior Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs

UNL College of Engineering Associate Dean Yusong Li, Ph.D. College of Education, Health, and Human Sciences Dean Nancy Edick, Ed.D. College of Business Administration Dean Michelle Trawick, Ph.D.

Chancellor's Remarks Chancellor Joanne Li, Ph.D., CFA

College of Public Affairs and Community Service Dean John Bartle, Ph.D.

Chancellor's Medal Presented to Hank Robinson

College of Information Science & Technology Dean Martha Garcia-Murillo, Ph.D.

Alumni Association Congratulations Anthony Flott

College of Communication, Fine Arts and Media Dean Michael Hilt, Ph.D.

Student Speaker Carrie Anderson

Closing Remarks Sacha Kopp, Ph.D. Senior Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs

Presentation of Degree Candidates Academic Deans

Recessional Graduates and families will reunite outside of the arena.

Conferral of Degrees Chancellor Joanne Li, Ph.D., CFA

Morgan Vogel

Jack Beal

Jenna Irwin

Juliana Monono

Aaron Smith

Student Marshal Graduate College

Student Marshal College of Arts and Sciences

Student Marshal College of Engineering (UNL)

Student Marshal College of Education, Health, and Human Sciences

Student Marshal College of Business Administration

CHANCELLOR'S MEDAL After graduating from Nebraska Wesleyan, Hank Robinson earned a law degree from the University of Nebraska and served as an attorney for both Legal Services and the State of Nebraska. He earned a Ph.D. in criminology from UNO in 2002 and led the Juvenile Justice Institute and Consortium for Crime and Justice Research between 2002 and 2011.

T. Hank Robinson

He was also Director of Policy, Research and Accreditation at the Nebraska Department of Corrections. In 2013, Robinson returned to UNO as Director of the Office of Institutional Effectiveness, providing crucial operational decision support, fiscal management, student

success, and accreditation. He has fostered invaluable relationships between UNO and local, state and federal agencies, school districts, and employers. He has also served as UNO’s representative in a number of initiatives with both the University of Nebraska and UNMC. Hank and his wife Susie have been married for 33 years. All of their sons and daughtersin-law are UNO graduates and now pursue successful careers in business and academics.

STUDENT SPEAKER Carrie Anderson is graduating with her Master of Science degree in criminology and criminal justice, with a 4.0 GPA. She graduated summa cum laude with a Bachelor of Arts in political science with concentrations in government affairs and civic engagement and foreign and national security affairs. She was a member of the University Honors Program, a distinguished honors scholar, and was named to the dean’s and/or chancellor’s list every semester of her undergraduate career.

Carrie Anderson Graduate College College of Public Affairs and Community Service

Anderson was in UNO Band, playing in both athletic and concert bands. She is also a proud Life Member of the Kappa Iota Chapter of Kappa Kappa Psi, National Honorary Band Fraternity, where she served as Chapter President and was a proud recipient of many fraternity awards including top chapter scholar and chapter brother of the year.

Some of her favorite memories of UNO include speaking at the 2019 TEDx UNO conference and serving as the keynote speaker for the 2019 UNO admitted student’s day. She will be returning to her hometown of Minneapolis to continue her education at the University of St. Thomas School of Law after which she hopes to become a public defender and run for political office. She is incredibly grateful for everyone who has helped her build resilience and strive for the highest, especially her incredible mentors.

Mariyah Jackson

Jake Johnson

William Kunkle

Felicia Ariza

Student Marshal College of Public Affairs and Community Service

Student Marshal College of Information Science & Technology

Student Marshal College of Communication, Fine Arts and Media

National Anthem College of Communication, Fine Arts and Media

2020 GRADUATION CELEBRATION | 1 P.M. ORDER OF PROGRAM

Prelude Presentation of the Colors Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps Detachment 470 National Anthem Felicia Ariza

Doctoral and Master's Graduates Juan Casas, Ph.D. Acting Dean for Graduate Studies

Baccalaureate Graduates College of Arts and Sciences Dean David Boocker, Ph.D. UNL College of Engineering Associate Dean Yusong Li, Ph.D.

Master of Ceremonies and Welcome Remarks Sacha Kopp, Ph.D. Senior Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs

College of Education, Health, and Human Sciences Dean Nancy Edick, Ed.D.

Chancellor's Remarks Chancellor Joanne Li, Ph.D., CFA

College of Public Affairs and Community Service Dean John Bartle, Ph.D.

Alumni Association Congratulations Anthony Flott Student Speaker Michael Mazgaj Acknowledgement of Degrees Academic Deans Recognition of 2020 Graduates Chancellor Joanne Li, Ph.D., CFA

College of Business Administration Dean Michelle Trawick, Ph.D.

College of Information Science & Technology Dean Martha Garcia-Murillo, Ph.D. College of Communication, Fine Arts and Media Dean Michael Hilt, Ph.D.

Closing Remarks Sacha Kopp, Ph.D. Senior Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs Recessional Graduates and families will reunite outside of the arena.

STUDENT SPEAKER Michael Mazgaj is from Omaha, Nebraska. He received his undergraduate degree in geology with an emphasis in sustainability from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. After five years of environmental consulting, he worked as a graduate assistant/researcher for the University of Nebraska at Omaha. He was involved in research and support for the USSTRATCOM Leadership Development Program within the Center for Collaboration Science.

Michael "Maz" Mazgaj Graduate College College of Information Science & Technology

He received his MBA with a concentration in international business, enrolled in the Master of Science in IT Innovation within the College of Information Science & Technology, and worked in the Human-Machine Collaboration Lab. His research and thesis explored emotion and social presence in hologram communication. During his graduate studies, he was involved in supporting research through the Malevolence, Innovation, Security, &

Felicia Ariza National Anthem College of Communication, Fine Arts and Media

Leadership (MISL) Lab, which is notable for its collaboration of disciplines between Management, Criminology, Psychology, and IT. Mazgaj participated in the Collegiate Entrepreneur Organization (CEO). He and other students designed “Holler Scholar,” a mobile platform for listening and searching academic articles. In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, he and Scott Wethor-Poulin invented “Leave-it,” a wearable prototype for essential workers that alerts the user when touching their face. Their idea won a “2020 Innovators of the Year Award” from UNeMed. Following graduation, he was accepted into Intrado’s 2-Year Future Leadership Development Program. He eventually would like to lead and empower others with their ideas, support learning and development, and explore unorthodox solutions to current challenges.

CANDIDATES FOR AUGUST 2021 GRADUATE DEGREES While our ceremony also recognizes our 2020 graduates, this program book features only the names of August 2021 graduates.

DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY Farahnaz Fallahtafti BS, Amirkabir University of Technology, 2011; MS, Amir Kabir University of Technology, 2013; Exercise Science, “Stability of Human Walking During Steady State and Perturbed Conditions” Advisors: Jennifer Yentes, Ph.D. and Sara Myers, Ph.D.

Sahra Nina Kaboli-Nejad

Kathryn Jean McWilliams

Adam Matthew Bridges

BS, University of Nebraska at Omaha, 2002; MA, University of Nebraska at Omaha, 2013; Master of Education, Midland University, 2016; Educational Administration, “Identity and Image: The Process of Cultivating Perceptions of Secondary Schools” Advisors: Kay Keiser, Ed.D. and Jeanne Surface, Ed.D.

Language Teaching

EDUCATIONAL SPECIALIST

Amanda Diane Hayworth

BA, Creighton University, 2014; MA, University of Nebraska at Omaha, 2018; Psychology, “Women’s Engagement in the Technology Industry: The Roles of Work-Life Balance, Benefit Offerings, and Perceived Gender Inequity” Advisor: Carey Ryan, Ph.D.

Kaitlin Ann Cloonan

Namwoong Kim

Miranda Cormaci

BS, Seoul National University of Science and Technology, 2011; MS, Yonsei University, 2013; MA, University of Nebraska at Omaha, 2017; Exercise Science, “Development of Visual Biofeedback Strategies to Reduce Joint Loading Asymmetry in Individuals Post ACL Reconstruction” Advisor: Brian Knarr, Ph.D.

Yunseung Kim Bachelor of Public Administration, Chung-ang University, 2005; Master of Public Policy, Seoul National University, 2012; Public Administration, “Fiscal Impact and Allocation of Water and Wastewater Funding Sources” Advisor: Carol Ebdon, Ph.D.

Gabrielle Elizabeth L’Esperance BA, James Madison University, 2015; Master of Public Administration, James Madison University, 2016; Public Administration, “African Nongovernmental Organizations and Their Relationships with Globally Northern Funders: A Study of the Expression of Everyday Creative Agency” Advisor: Angela Eikenberry, Ph.D.

Eric Michael Scheller BS, South Dakota State University, 2014; MA, University of Nebraska at Omaha, 2018; Psychology, “Pay Transparency and the Wage Gap: The Effects of Pay Transparency, Gender, and Race on Job Searching and Negotiating” Advisor: Wayne Harrison, Ph.D.

Morgan Draves Vogel BA, University of Dayton, 2015; Master of Public Administration, University of Dayton, 2017; Public Administration, “Advancing a Discourse of Vocation for Public Administration: Understanding the Experiences of City Managers Through Narrative Inquiry” Advisor: Gary Marshall, Ph.D.

DOCTOR OF EDUCATION Michelle M. Klug BA, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, 2000; Master of Education, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, 2001; Master of Education, Doane College, 2008; Educational Administration, “Leading Through Educational Distress: An Autoethnography of the Journey of a School Administrator” Advisor: Tamara Williams, Ed.D.

Jill Kristine Kumke BS, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, 1999; MS, University of Nebraska at Kearney, 2001; Educational Administration, “An Exploration of the Relationship Between Graduate Admission Criteria and Academic/Clinical Student Outcomes for Speech-Language Pathology Graduate Students” Advisors: Tamara Williams, Ed.D. and Elliott Ostler, Ed.D.

BS, Truman State University, 2016; MS, University of Nebraska at Omaha, 2019; School Psychology, “Youths’ Likelihood of Using Crisis and Suicide Prevention Hotline Services” Advisor: Brian McKevitt, Ph.D. BS, University of Nebraska at Kearney, 2017; MS, University of Nebraska at Omaha, 2019; School Psychology, “Current Practices and Perceived Treatment Integrity of Behavior Intervention Plans Developed by School Psychologists” Advisor: Adam Weaver, Ph.D.

Laura Elizabeth Dilley BA, University of Nebraska at Omaha, 2017; MS, University of Nebraska at Omaha, 2019; School Psychology, “Impact of School Climate on the Wellbeing of LGBTQ+ Students in High School and College” Advisor: Brian McKevitt, Ph.D.

Haley Nichole Ferguson

Angela Nicole Gifford Psychology, “Understanding the Impact of Loneliness on Chronic Stress in Older Adults and the Role of Stress Management” Advisor: Janelle Beadle, Ph.D. English

London Homer-Wambeam Communication

Erika Jean Jacobson Gerontology

Emily Kern English

Katie Louise Lloyd Communication

Laurie Ann Matthews Tullius Critical and Creative Thinking

Rebecca Faith Mills Athletic Training

Judith Sedegnan Language Teaching

BS, University of Nebraska at Omaha, 2015; MS, University of Nebraska at Omaha, 2019; School Psychology, “Evaluation of the Effectiveness of the SPARKPositivity Program in Teaching Prosocial Behaviors” Advisor: Brian McKevitt, Ph.D.

Rachael Sommer Smith

Alexa Ann Pickett

Gerontology

BA, The University of Iowa, 2017; MS, University of Nebraska at Omaha, 2019; School Psychology, “Four-Week Play Intervention in an Early Childhood Setting” Advisor: Lisa Kelly-Vance, Ph.D.

MASTER OF SCIENCE

Yesenia Rodriguez Contreras

Mathematics

BS, University of Nebraska at Omaha, 2017; MS, University of Nebraska at Omaha, 2019; School Psychology, “Implementing a Participation Enhancement Intervention to Increase Parent Adherence in a Parent-Child Reading Intervention” Advisor: Adam Weaver, Ph.D.

Carrie Anderson

Jared James Torell BA, Hastings College, 2017; MS, University of Nebraska at Omaha, 2019; School Psychology, “The Effects of School-Based Biofeedback Training on Student Anxiety Symptoms” Advisor: Adam Weaver, Ph.D.

Anna Caroline Welch BS, University of Arkansas, 2017; MS, University of Nebraska at Omaha, 2019; School Psychology, “A Play and Language Intervention in a Head Start Class” Advisor: Lisa Kelly-Vance, Ph.D.

Vincent Michael Winkler BA, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, 2014; MS, University of Nebraska at Omaha, 2019; School Psychology, “Examining the Effects of Principal Turnover on Student Behavior” Advisor: Brian McKevitt, Ph.D.

MASTER OF ARTS Shane Garrett Adams History

Gretchen Elizabeth Boxdorfer Mathematics, “A Study of Visualization Approaches and Fractal Dimension Classification of Certain Boolean Networks” Advisor: Dora Velcsov, Ph.D.

English

Chelsea Ann Vaught

Alfred Adi

Criminology and Criminal Justice

Bailey Anstey Biology, “Filamentation of Candida Albicans in Genetic Model Caenorhabditis Elegan” Advisor: Jill Blankenship, Ph.D.

David Dietrich Bahwawsi Biology

Emily Vivian Blunck Counseling

Jennifer Bright Elementary Education

Lauren MacKenzie Cross Elementary Education

Rachel Lynn Culross Nielsen Speech/Language Pathology

Alexandria Claire Curttright Political Science

Nicholas Emmanuel Falcon Counseling

Ellison Dawn Fedders Speech/Language Pathology

Shaylen Jo Ferguson Speech/Language Pathology

This list includes names of persons who were candidates as of July 30, 2021. Degrees to be awarded are subject to completion of the academic requirements. 2020 graduate names are not a part of this program, they appear in the May and December 2020 programs.

Gib Hunter Filter

Lindsay Mary Koltas

Katherine Margaret Pickering

Cybersecurity

Elementary Education

Kacie N. Fischer

Mackenzie Christine Lambert

Emily Joan Pugh

Elementary Education

Speech/Language Pathology

Katelyn Michelle Fischer

Jiahao Ma

Maria Fernanda Reyes Vazquez

Speech/Language Pathology

Computer Science

Secondary Education

Micaela Rae Fox

Lakin Chandler MacGregor

JulieAnn Genevieve Rippke

Elementary Education

Special Education

Kiley R. Frans

Jessica Martys

Elizabeth Ann Robertson

Elementary Education

Special Education

Elementary Education

Kelsey Joan Gansebom

Mackenzie Lynn Maschka

Simon Elliot Rohde

Speech/Language Pathology

Mathematics

Educational Leadership

Lindy Gates

Paris Skyla Mather

Courtney Lynn Ruff

Biology, “Assessment of the Relationship Between Browsing and Cortisol Levels in Zoo-Managed African Elephants (Loxodonta Africana)” Advisor: James Wilson, Ph.D.

Speech/Language Pathology

Elementary Education

Madeline Ivy McMeen

Kelsey Lauren Schense

Speech/Language Pathology

Elementary Education

Joseph Edward Meyer

Cora Mercedes Scoville

Computer Science

Speech/Language Pathology

Nicole Marie Meyer

Emma Lorraine Shattuck

Literacy

Special Education

Olivia Lynn Michael

Natalie Elizabeth Sjostedt

Elementary Education

Ardena Vallery Mrasek

Zechariah Michael Stangl

Literacy

Special Education

April Faith Neidig

Taryn Steckler-Houle

Elementary Education

Political Science

Abigail Alice Newcomer

Yalei Tang

Elementary Education

Mathematics

Laura Michele Ney

Shashank Tankasala Computer Science

Secondary Education

Biology, “Impact of Temperature Stress on Reproduction, Offspring Development, and Social Immunity in the Burying Beetle Nicrophorus Orbicollis” Advisor: Claudia Rauter, Ph.D.

Leah Catherine Hile

Conor Robert O’Donnell

Elementary Education

Tierra Hills

Jerico Cheyne Olson

Elementary Education

Alexandra Hodges

Melissa Ann Olson

Computer Science

Elementary Education

Gabrielle Jo Hoegermeyer

Oluwagbotemi Cosmas Omojola

Special Education

Biology, “Functional Genetics of MindMeld Using RNA-Interference and CRISPR Techniques” Advisor: Bruce Chase, Ph.D.

Grace Catherine Goaley Elementary Education

Bhavana Gopisetty Computer Science

Justine Griess Elementary Education

Paulami Guha Economics

Sarah Marie Haley Speech/Language Pathology

Molly Elizabeth Hare Secondary Education

Leslie Ann Heise Educational Leadership

Elizabeth M. Henderson

Lauren Kay Arwen Houston Elementary Education

Christopher Hudek Secondary Education

Yuanyuan Jiang Secondary Education

Sarah Sue Johnson School Psychology

Madison Kangior Special Education

Kristi A. Kimbril Industrial/Organizational Psychology

Brittany Kohl Counseling

Nicholas P. Palacio Computer Science

Jorge Alberto Perez Computer Science

Payton Perez Special Education

Jaden Riley Thiem Elementary Education

John Thome Elementary Education

Bryan Anthony Tomey Cybersecurity

Brendan Paul Vander Weil Geography, “Frequency and Distribution of U.S. Social Studies Climate Standards and Their Relationship to Public Opinion on Climate Change Education” Advisor: Zachary Suriano, Ph.D.

Emily Vavra Educational Leadership

Erin Kathryn Violi Elementary Education

Michael M. Vogel Elementary Education

Mary Jean Von Seggern

Elementary Education

Health and Kinesiology, “The Association Between Children’s Participation in Organized Activities and Physical Activity in Rural Communities” Advisor: Michaela Schenkelberg, Ph.D.

Lydia Phillips

Emily Ann Weber-Curtis

Biology, “Comparative Structural Analysis of the Genomic 5’ Untranslated Region RNA from Virulent and Avirulent Coxsackievirus B3” Advisor: William Tapprich, Ph.D.

Elementary Education

Mickayla Maree Petersen

Tanya Westbrook Educational Leadership

CANDIDATES FOR AUGUST 2021 GRADUATE DEGREES CONTINUED Lindsay Leigh Wilson

Daniela Mariana Gonzalez Suarez

Tana Lee Buoy

Computer Science Education, “Using Micro:Bits for Automated Analysis of Posture Among Adolescent Singers” Advisor: Brian Dorn, Ph.D.

Business Administration

Writing

Randy Dean Groh

S. Cambria Rosales Engstrom

Business Administration

Writing

Robert William Harvey

Natasha Tryci Fuehrer

Business Administration

Writing

Karissa Marie Holton

Allison Guenette

Business Administration

Writing

Galina Wood Counseling

Emily Denise Work Health and Kinesiology, “Impact of Acute Exercise on MicroRNAs Related to Concussion Symptoms” Advisor: Matthew Heesch, Ph.D.

Zachary Joseph Jones

John Wayne Jackson

Minmin Zhang

Business Administration

Writing

Computer Science, “Heterogeneous Resources Cost-Aware Geo-Distributed Data Analytics” Advisor: Kwangsung Oh, Ph.D.

Samantha Khalil

Emily Marie Marvin

Business Administration

Writing

Sean Owen MacBride

Regina G. Points

Business Administration

Writing

Maxson R. Malnack

Kate Rebecca Schwartz

Business Administration

Writing

Stephen Joshua McCoy

Patrick O’Brien Strickland

Business Administration

Writing

Jenny McLaughlin

Samantha Lee Vraspir

Business Administration

Writing

Alec Christofer Meyer

Nancy Rae Zmek Lorenz

Business Administration

Writing

EXECUTIVE MASTER OF SCIENCE IN INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY Eva L. Breault Executive Master of Science in Information Technology

Bill Arthur Jansen Executive Master of Science in Information Technology

Indubala Muthunarayanan Executive Master of Science in Information Technology

Ryan Patch Executive Master of Science in Information Technology

Scott J. Smith Executive Master of Science in Information Technology

Marco Antonio Ortiz Business Administration

Madeline Jane Peterson Business Administration

MASTER OF ACCOUNTING

Latrice Rice

Xuhan Liao

Business Administration

Accounting

David Martin Schlumberger

Joseph Robert Sweetwood

Business Administration

Accounting

Michael Daniel Shukis Business Administration

MASTER OF BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION

Martin Per Sundberg

Matthew Mark Bahle

Cassandra Tusa

Business Administration

Matthew James Richard Burdyny

Lyvan Vandermouten

Business Administration

John Carter

Vanessa Anne Weaver

Business Administration

Marco Alonso Castro Salcedo

Brody Ray Welchert

Business Administration

Levi Cermak

Zachary Scott Wineinger

Business Administration

Morgan Evan Chapman

Benjamin N. Young

Business Administration

Hayley Grace Chicoine

Cassidy T. Zych

Business Administration

Lien De Buyser

Business Administration

MASTER OF ARTS FOR TEACHERS OF MATHEMATICS Steven John Emmerich Mathematics

MASTER OF MUSIC Rebecca Ainsley Andersen Music

Bethany Marie Butsyak Music

Thomas J. Krueger Music

MASTER OF PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION Rachel A. Bahl Public Administration

Giselle Jane Bergmeier Public Administration

Meghan Taylor Capps Public Administration

Kersten D. Crate Public Administration

Morgan Elizabeth Daniel Public Administration

Business Administration

MASTER OF FINE ARTS

Samantha Rose Flynn

Elizabeth Anne Dement

Anne Elizabeth Barker

Business Administration

Writing

Ashley Miller

Amber G. Evenson

Mimi Boswell

Business Administration

Writing

Public Administration Public Administration

Rachel Kaylyn Nelson Public Administration

Eliza Wallis Perry

Kodjovi S. Dogbevi

Elizabeth Neal

Public Administration

Social Work

Latrice Renee Estell

Rachel Kaylyn Nelson

Social Work

MASTER OF SOCIAL WORK

Darren John Flores

Nyawuor Mayang Paljor

Social Work

Susan Marie Albertus

Taylor Rae Ainsworth

Makayla DeeShey Heard

Mikala Chane’l Patterson

Social Work

Fatima Alliyani-Narez

Claudia P. Herrera

Leslie Carolina Rivera

Social Work

Mustapha Barry

Danae Hyde

Megan Lynee Snodgrass

Social Work

Karli Nicole Blank

Melissa Anne Inzauro

Dulce Karizia Valdez Espinoza

Social Work

Hannah Elizabeth Brown

Alexandria Christine Jungck

LaNita J. Whitlow

Social Work

Zachary J. Davison

Sabrina Marie Knerr

Social Work

Andrew Denman

Keely Raye Burnette McGee

Social Work

AUGUST 2021 GRADUATE AND UNDERGRADUATE CERTIFICATES ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE

HISTORY

SYSTEMS DEVELOPMENT

Minmin Zhang

Angela Nicole Ecabert

Blake Beran

BIOMEDICAL SCIENCE

HUMAN RESOURCES AND TRAINING Mathew Christian McMahon

Alana Alexander

COMMUNICATION NETWORKS Troy M. Green

Jake Robert Johnson

Rebecca Anne Carr

MANAGING JUVENILE AND ADULT POPULATIONS Hannah Elizabeth Brown

DATA ANALYTICS Pubali Das Chowdhury

NONPROFIT MANAGEMENT

Panawe Mewenemesse

Jona Lynn Beck Jennifer D. Sharrick

GEOGRAPHIC INFORMATION SCIENCE

PUBLIC MANAGEMENT

Joseph Andrew Knapp

Stacy L. Burris Stanfield

GERONTOLOGY

Daniel Norell Rue

Shacara Lorraine Pierce

SUPPLY CHAIN MANAGEMENT

Punam Rai

Michael L. Biegler

Ranjita Subba

Donell D. Brown

GOVERNMENT

SYSTEMS ANALYSIS AND DESIGN

Lacey Lea Glasford

Sakthipriya Senthilkumar

Nathan David Patterson Thadeous Robert Phipps Ricky N. Pruitt

TECHNICAL COMMUNICATION Brian P. Crouse

TRIBAL MANAGEMENT AND EMERGENCY SERVICES Adam Christopher Gadsden Jordan P. Matula Michael Joseph Palmer Diamond Renee Todd

Aaron Michael Martin Joshua Steven Wendell

HONORS PROGRAM, AIR FORCE, AND COLLEGIATE LEARNING ASSESSMENT

UNIVERSITY HONORS PROGRAM STUDENTS Reed Hofer

Shane Sazzman

Adele Kanley

College of Arts and Sciences Major: Political Science, English “Tolstoy and Serving Mentality and Moral Imperative” Advisor: Tammie Kennedy

College of Business Administration Majors: Business Administration “A Financial Analysis on Firms During COVID-19: a Focus on Microeconomic Analysis with Macroeconomics” Advisor: Larry Hughes

College of Information Science & Technology Major: Computer Science “Vue 3 Independent Study: Transitioning from Vue 2 to Vue 3” Advisors: George Royce and Harvey Siy

AIR FORCE ROTC DEPARTMENT OF AEROSPACE STUDIES RECEIVING PRESIDENTIAL COMMISSIONS TO THE USAF:

Patrick J. Finan University of Nebraska at Omaha

AIR FORCE NURSE ENLISTED COMMISSIONING PROGRAM Rayanna Shirley University of Nebraska at Omaha

COLLEGIATE LEARNING ASSESSMENT (CLA)

The following graduates successfully completed the Collegiate Learning Assessment (CLA), a nationwide exam designed to demonstrate the value of a UNO education.

Jennifer Lynn Garber

CANDIDATES FOR AUGUST 2021 UNDERGRADUATE DEGREES While our ceremony also recognizes our 2020 graduates, this program book features only the names of August 2021 graduates.

COLLEGE OF ARTS AND SCIENCES Bachelor of Arts William Henry Arce Stephanie Renee Baars Trinity Morgan Buchholz mcl Nathan Allen Preston Cech John Connolly Adam Cortes Ruby Delgado-Lopez Karissa Reilly Dymond scl Hayden Elizabeth Engle Austin Christopher Exline Jennifer Lynn Garber Valeria Gaytan Sita Maya Gurung Elijah Edward Karbowski cl Antonette Marie Kirby mcl Nezha Labouini cl Miriam Lucia Lopez-Garcia Karissa Madrigal mcl Erin Boyle Manganaro Abby Martinez Germain Farel Mba Nguema Nsa Mecenzie Renee Miranda cl Karina Seleste Morales cl Kyle Jacob Muller mcl Ran Murakoshi cl Alice Nyberg mcl Bryan Orozco Grahm Lee Peschel mcl Julisa Guadalupe Prieto Garcia cl Sandra Emely Rivera Aidan Padrac Robbins Armando Rodriguez Jr. Griselda Salgado Gomez Caroline Rose Sondag mcl Eli Stolze cl Morgenne Christine Stutzman Hannah Jane Targy Thao Truong Jacob Daniel Vinter Bachelor of Science Madalyn M. Adair cl Birat Adhikari

Kam Lony Lueng Bany mcl em Jack Russell Beal scl*

Bachelor of Science in Architectural Engineering

Whitney Ruthanne Beets mcl

Jenna Noelle Irwin

Madison Kathleen Bragg

Zachary Michael Nannen

Lisseth Chavez Zach Michael Coartney Shawn Lavell Corppetts Inga Kristine Denholm

Bachelor of Science in Construction Management Brenden James Huls

Haoze Ding

Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering

Kelley Dodge mcl

Houd Saif Al Shariyani

Samuel J. Ficenec mcl

Julie M. Galbraith

COLLEGE OF EDUCATION, HEALTH AND HUMAN SCIENCES

Grace Kathryn Hamik scl

Bachelor of Science in Education

Jordan Kaylee Ann Finch scl Steven Thomas Fox mcl

Yvan Dimitry Hanscom-Trofy Nicholas Hanson Vanessa Aracely Hernandez Lopez Reed Hofer scl Sabrina Janse Van Noordwyk cl Everbless Khu Chase D. Kratochvil Whitney Lembit Lätt Ashley Nicole Luckey April Melody Matthies Devin Michael Miller Rose Sindjeu Monga Sarah Morse mcl Pranav Ojha scl Joya Elizabeth Riege Madison Schreffler cl Charlee Jo Sharp cl Samantha Sims scl Anna Lee Spencer scl Jessica P. Stewart Kelcy D. Swope cl Sydney Doris Vann Hannah Elizabeth Weber mcl Wen Wei Andrew James Wheeldon scl em Alex Jane Wirth

UNL COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING (Degrees awarded by the University of Nebraska-Lincoln)

Jason Armando Albeno Balaqis Juma Al Musheifri Sara Hassan Alshalwani Elizabeth Amira Barsoom mcl Gwendolyn Burns Ana P. Cancino Alexander Belizario Carabantes Napat At Chairatanatrai Adam Jeffrey Dobbs Sierra Nicole Eastridge cl Kenzie Elizabeth Emodi Riley Timothy Finley Danielle Louise Gochenour Joseph Matthew Hamilton Kyle Devon Haskell Allison Ann Hughes mcl Macey Alynn Jones Marie Eugenia Kapelevich mcl Jesse Kracht Claire Leonard cl Aaron William Martin Olivia Kathleen McMahon scl Madison Mae Otte Aaron Jacob Pfortmiller Ariele Adele Schaecher cl em Cassidy Ruth Stenger Bachelor of Science in Public Health Mallorie Babcock Kimberly Barajas Budhi Maya Biswa

Myles Azevedo

Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering

Hannah Christine Buswell mcl

Hunter Rose Marie Backhaus

Mehdi Jawad Hassan Al Ajmi

Martha Hernandez cl

This list includes names of persons who were candidates as of April 26, 2021. Degrees to be awarded are subject to completion of the academic requirements.

Arlette Noreli Hernandez Moreno

BingChang Huang

Lauren Marie Kirke

Jingjing Huang

Juliana Mbese Etombi Monono mcl

Ying Huang

Ashlyn Frances Plooster

Yuhang Huang

Nicole Poppert

Zachory Tyler Imig mcl

Maria Isabel Pulido

Kayla Johnk

Punam Rai mcl

Alexis Jones

Heather Saarela

Susan Alyne Keating

Ranjita Subba

Tanner Lee Kirchhoff

Bachelor of Science in Business Administration Kosi Agbevor Miaad Alalawi Mohammed Ali Mohammed Al-Senaidi Valerie Lee Anderson Dalton Thomas Ashby Marbella Avalos Rosas Akouavi Dela Azankpo Maha Azer Nicole Marie Batenhorst Nathaniel Robert Beacom Kelsey Claire Beaudin Heather Bekale-Mba Samuel James Bench Abriel Lauren Bonnstetter Maria Isabel Breton cl Ryan Joseph Buscher Matthew A. Cabrera Rachael Ann Capps cl Megan Renee Carlson Zhuo Chen Brandon Keanu Crisman Qisheng Dai Htoo Day Carson Renaye Dean Daisy Rae Dean Joshua Adam DelSenno Keith Donald DeSandro mcl David James Douglas Christopher Pat Esposito cl em Bailey Marie Finn Sharayah Tyanne Green Jinzhuo Guo Christopher M. Guthery Shelby D. Hawkins Joshua Alan Herbst Bailey Jo Hiser mcl Katherine Louise Hoffmann Rachel Marie Hoyer

Adam Kane Kluza Taylor Krajicek Haoyang Lan Zhenhao Li Sijin Liao Sumin Lin Zhongyue Lin Cade K. Linville Daniel Marquez Jozlyn G. McIntyre Blake Nolan Minden Tammy Van Nguyen Alice Nyberg mcl Travis Odom Jiafeng Ou

COLLEGE OF PUBLIC AFFAIRS AND COMMUNITY SERVICE Bachelor of Science in Criminology and Criminal Justice Wini Leno Atem Dakota James Beck Erykah Carter Amanda Clements Courtney Christine Crouch Patrick James Finan Jr. Audassi Yvonne Foster Joshua David Hinnenkamp mcl Brandon Leighton Hopkins Cecelia May Ivwionrume cl Danielle Marie Kenney Jessica Marie Martinez Nathan Robert Peacock Alicia Marie Raphael Ashley Rose Roper Zaire Thomas Taylor Lauren Thurman Lance Wemhoff Seth Michael Wiesen

Peter Owens

Bachelor of Multidisciplinary Studies

Sarah K. Plith

Chandran Achutan

Kerong Qiu

Arnaud Chedrac Agbo

Jacob Matthew Rider

Mark Michailovich Akinshev

Lindsey Elle Rosenbalm-Penry

Sarah Page Anderson

Joseph Saaid cl

Melanie Robert Avelino

Shane Sazzman mcl

Christina Marie Bailey mcl

Elena Caroline Schluckebier

Molly Becker

John Stanton Schuldt scl

Nancy Sue Becker mcl em

Cynthia Lynn Sims

Alex Benz

Robert Aaron Smith mcl em

Adan Jay Biodrowski

Emily Lynn Tonnies

Juliana Renee Brehm

Nicholas J. Trude

Jordan Robert Brown

Austin Michael Voigtman scl*

Matthew Patrick Burns

Yuankai Weng

Kelly Carl

Aman Wolfe-Keyhan

Ashley Lynn Carman

Zhiqingwu Wu

Simon Morrissey Clark

Jared Michael Wyzinski cl

Erinoelle Edythe Clifton-Janssen

Haolin Xu

Erin Lynn Comfort

Yang Yuan

Jalessa Huntley Compton

Joseph Michael Zanders

Jack Thomas Connelly

Shen Zhang

Kyle Kurtis Cotton

Xuming Zhang

Kristin Michelle Culp mcl em

Jingwen Zhong

Brenda Degante Nunez

Lijuan Zhuang

Lane G. DeGroff

CANDIDATES FOR AUGUST 2021 UNDERGRADUATE DEGREES CONTINUED Madeline Deneen

Kendra Potts

Courtney Love Johnson

Wilson Gia Diep mcl

Guillermo Misael Ramirez Luna

Jean Joy Wambui Kamau

Jennifer Dawn Dotson

Andrea Leigh Reeh

Anjana Tamang

Anderson Duran

Katelyn M. Reyes mcl

Lillian Rae Worden

Sergio Estrada Parra mcl

Sara Ridder

Justin M. Fleming

Brittney Lee Rinn

Mayrim Garcia

Hunter Christian Rud scl

COLLEGE OF INFORMATION SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY

Miguel Angel Gomez

Jessica Marie Rusk

Tina Marie Renee Gunn

Christopher Scott Schaefer

Bachelor of Science in Computer Science

Ryan James Hagedorn

Victoria Marie Schuetz

Salman Hamidi

Kameron Layne Shelley cl

Matthew Alan Hanna

Tracie Norene Shockey

Justin Henry Hardin

Kourtney C. Simmerman

Melissa Harding

Delaney Jane Skretta mcl

Jeffrey Harp

Ahood Ishak Solaiman

Kierstin Bailey Hendrix

Matthew James Steed

Ariel Nicole Hernandez

Savannah Shea Suttle

Joan Hofschire

Nathanael Joseph Vallier mcl em

Tiffany Hui

Emma Claire Walker

Aaron M. Jacober

Gabriel Thomas Ware cl em

Zachary Edward Jandel

Chianda Talitha Young

Miriam Elizabeth Jimenez Ochoa

Robert Royal Youngs mcl

Amelia Rose Johnson

Myles Azevedo Tanner Richard Beaulieu cl Dylan Burton Kyle Seamus Truman Coulter Hans Gabriello Delmundo Espiritu Jonathan Paul Hermsen scl Adele Ablakpo Kanley mcl Conner Dean Kennell Shihang Li mcl Rene Ramirez-Garcia Rayanna Corinne Shirley Kyle Wieser Trent Luther Wisecup Lee Wayne Yoder mcl

Bachelor of Science in Social Work

Nataliya V. Zhuromskaya

Mariyah Rachelle Jackson Dezi Magdelann LaPierre cl

Bachelor of Science in Management Information Systems

William T. Robinson

Blake Beran

Samantha Jade Kunkel

Bachelor of Science in Aviation

Jake Robert Johnson scl em

Channa M. Lewis

Andrew Bergquist

Justin Joseph Kalhorn Ryan P. Keele Jaime Kara-Lyn Koerner Robert James Kolley

Yongqin Li scl em David R. Lounsberry Madison Janae Maldonado Sydney Mazini Fratina L. McCraney Sarah A McGrath Zachary James Melvin Adam T. Messerole Marylyn Frances Mozena Andrew M. Muellner Sajida M. Nazarie

Justin David Bowers mcl Matthew James Dunn Gage Hunter Edwards

Mathew Christian McMahon Nathan David Patterson cl Thadeous Robert Phipps Ricky N. Pruitt

Soren Hooks Richard Johnson

Bachelor of Science in Cybersecurity

Nicole Lund scl

Alexa Marie Aikens

Travis Nelson scl Micah August Schwanke Brycen Scott Svatora Rider G. Taylor Bachelor of Science in Emergency Management

Dane Massey Logan James Miller scl Joseph James O’Brien David John Van Vleet

Connor Gelecki

COLLEGE OF COMMUNICATION, FINE ARTS AND MEDIA

Jonathan David Hansen

Bachelor of Arts in Communication

Diego Jesus Ortiz

Diamond Renee Todd

Jessica Salinas

Michael Joseph Palmer

Bachelor of Science in Gerontology

Bachelor of Arts in Studio Art

Jivan Barwari

Ashley R. Bacani

Jennifer Lynn Nelson scl Alexa Rae Nichols scl Matthew Stephen Olson Gregory Thomas ONeil

Julia Baron Petrie Shacara Lorraine Pierce Christian Sherri Pitts

Adam Christopher Gadsden

Krysta Mae Jensen

Adrian Kordelle Carpenter

Tamia Renee Chatmon mcl

Bachelor of Science in Communication

William Gregory Kunkle scl

Jared Kyle Most

Alaina Leigh Alferes

Karissa Madrigal mcl

Abigail Lynn Ticknor

Seth William Bench

Stephanie Ann Mattas

Nhung Vo scl em

Kamryn Fox

Annaliese Madison McCain mcl

Gracie M. Welling

Grant Thomas Gaden

Richard Christopher Miller scl

Bachelor of Fine Arts

Brianna Gronenthal

Corey Elliott Osborne

D'Alazon Ariq Hayes

MK Roumph

Chase Alexander Kauzlarich

Robert James Slater

Victoria Katherine Killian

Jacob Thimjon scl

Emily Bourne mcl Michael J. Denetelli Morgan Robert Runice

635 TOTAL GRADUATES from 16 countries and 19 U.S. states. 218 GRADUATE DEGREES 199 master’s, 10 doctoral, and 9 educational specialist degrees 417 UNDERGRAD DEGREES 162 of which are first-generation students. 2

485

76% OF GRADS!

2 1

1 3

1 1

1 2

580

1 1 6 1 1 1

1 1

2 3

30 3

SELECT UNO ACADEMIC HIGHLIGHTS College of Information Science & Technology (IS&T)

College of Arts and Sciences (CAS)

College of Business Administration (CBA)

• The College of Arts and Sciences launched Exploratory Studies to address historic low retention and graduation rates of “undecided” students. The new program includes a learning community and an immediate, temporary academic home and identity to support “undecided” (renamed “Exploratory”) students entering UNO. In addition to professional advisement through UNO’s Academic and Career Development Center, students are supported by a core of dedicated facultymentors, life coaches, and student peer mentors.

• For Spring 2021, the College of Business Administration experienced significant enrollment growth, increasing undergraduate enrollment by 9%, and graduate enrollment by 29%. Overall, enrollment in the college increased by 12%.

• The Samuel Bak Academic Learning Center was approved by the NU Board of Regents and will launch in 2022. It will serve as a campus collaboration hub for scholarship, academic curricula, community engagement, and educational activities dedicated to human rights, genocide studies, the Holocaust, and artistic work.

• The Rod Rhoden Business Innovation Center is nearing completion and should be completed by Fall 2021. The expansion to Mammel Hall will house the School of Accounting and the National Counterterrorism, Innovation, Technology, and Education (NCITE) Center, among other units.

• IS&T has been awarded $19 million in grants and contracts over the past five years to conduct innovative research. In addition to leading research projects on our own campus, IS&T faculty have collaborated with researchers from nearly 80 different institutions across the globe on other projects.

College of Public Affairs and Community Service (CPACS)

Graduate Studies

• Since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, the College of Arts and Sciences stayed connected to campus and the larger community by hosting 70+ virtual events, including international conferences, several new seminar series, and campuswide events like the Chuck Hagel Forum in Global Leadership.

College of Education, Health, and Human Sciences (CEHHS) • The college underwent a name change from the College of Education (COE) to the College of Education, Health, and Human Sciences (CEHHS). Years in the making, the name change honors the college’s history of teacher education and reflects its current impacts in the biomechanics, health, kinesiology, and STEM education fields. • Students from CEHHS’ public health program became integral parts of the campus COVID response, providing testing and contact tracing support for the UNO Office of Health Security. Due to their efforts, the rate of COVID cases on campus were far lower than most metropolitan universities across the country and campus-based transmission was near zero. • The Teacher Education Department (TED) was the recipient of the 2020 Universitywide Departmental Teaching Award (UDTA), and Nick Stergiou, Ph.D., director of the Division of Biomechanics, was recipient of the 2021 Outstanding Research and Creativity Award (ORCA). Both honors are President’s Excellence Awards, the NU System's most prestigious awards for teaching, research, and engagement.

• The Department of Management was named the recipient of the 2021 Universitywide Departmental Teaching Award (UDTA) by NU President Ted Carter. The award is the NU system's most prestigious honor for departmental excellence in teaching.

• U.S. News & World Report showcased six CPACS programs in the top 30 in the nation. Public Budgeting and Finance is ranked No. 8, while the School of Criminology and Criminal Justice is ranked No. 13 nationally. • The School of Public Administration and the College of Business Administration jointly launched an undergraduate leadership program where students will learn the skills of collaboration across public, private, and nonprofit sectors. UNO was one of four universities nationally to receive funding for the NextGen Service program from the Volcker Alliance, founded by Paul Volcker, former chair of the Federal Reserve. • Fall 2020 enrollment in the college hit an all-time high, at 3,435 students. This represents an increase of 11.6% from last year despite the challenges of COVID-19.

College of Communication, Fine Arts and Media (CFAM) • Construction on the second phase of the Strauss Performing Arts Center renovation is nearing completion. Once finished, the building will feature new classrooms, a better entrance and lobby facilities, as well as practice room upgrades.

• IS&T established the Center for Biomedical Informatics Research and Innovation (CBIRI). CBIRI builds on 20 years of significant progress in developing biomedical informatics (BMI) infrastructure at both UNO and UNMC. The center aims to open doors for additional biomedical informatics research and discoveries; sharing and collaboration of personnel and resources across campuses and disciplines; and competition for a new Centers of Biomedical Research Excellence (COBRE) grant.

• Graduate Studies welcomed over 200 new graduate students as part of the UNO Career Currency program launched in Fall 2020. The partnership between UNO and Omaha-based companies is an innovative approach to employer-provided educational benefits that enhance workforce development and career advancement. Current UNO Career Currency partners include Union Pacific Railroad, Mutual of Omaha, Omaha Public Power District, BlueCross BlueShield Nebraska, Werner Enterprises, First National Bank, and Physicians Mutual. • Graduate Studies is celebrating its first full calendar year of supporting students through the “Jump Start Scholarship.” Awards have been granted to 61 students either beginning or exploring a graduate degree program at UNO. • The 3,056 students enrolled in UNO graduate programs in Spring 2021 represented an 8.6% increase in total enrollment from 2020. This includes a 24.4% increase in graduate students from underrepresented groups.

• UNO's competitive speech team, MavForensics, placed 11th in the nation at the American Forensics Association tournament, which was held virtually for the first time in history. • Supporting and celebrating the arts during the pandemic, UNO Theatre joined with the School of Music to perform a virtual musical called "Songs for a New World."

All facts and figures presented in this book are based off of highlights and statistics obtained from the 2020-2021 academic year

Once a Maverick, always a Maverick