The Public Service Award recognizes UNO alumni who have a record of outstanding public service benefiting the advancement of the university and higher education in general.
Negil McPherson, Jr, Mayor John W. Ewing, Jr., Joanne Li, Ph.D., CFA
John W. Ewing, Jr. is a proud son of Omaha, born and raised on the city’s north side. He knows firsthand the impact affordable housing can have — when he was 15, his parents purchased their first home, where his initials remain etched in the cement. His parents still live there today. He is the oldest of three children, the husband of Dr. Viv Ewing, the father of two daughters and the grandfather of one grandson.
Ewing is a graduate of Northwest High School and UNO, where he earned a Bachelor of Science in criminal justice and business and a Master of Science in urban studies. He served the Omaha Police Department for 25 years, retiring in 2006 at the rank of deputy chief. He is also an associate minister at Salem Baptist Church.
In 2006, Ewing was elected to the Douglas County Treasurer’s Office and served for 18 years, having been elected five times. On June 9, 2025, he became the 52nd mayor of Omaha.
He is a passionate advocate for the city and is committed to advancing initiatives that improve the lives of all Omaha residents.