by Melissa Lindell Kozak, Senior Director of Communications & Marketing, UNO College of Business Administration
Ten years ago, Dr. Erin Pleggenkuhle-Miles and Emeritus Management Professor Rebecca Morris were searching for a new way to bring strategy to life for their students when Pleggenkuhle-Miles stumbled across a case competition that intrigued her.
“The case competition we modeled after was a one-day competition with a live case – an actual business. We wanted to embed ours in a class and made it more of a tournament-style competition,” said Pleggenkuhle-Miles.
And with that, UNO’s College of Business Administration’s Capstone Cup was born. Originally called the Case Study Competition, it was designed to provide students with a unique and valuable educational experience, but it looked much different in 2014.
“We wanted them to focus on the information in the case and use the tools they’d learned in class. So, we didn’t allow any technology!” said Pleggenkuhle-Miles. “We still invited external judges to come in and participate because that’s where the real value of all of this lies. Right away we had support from different community members, which continues today.”
When Dr. Erin Bass joined the faculty, she and Pleggenkuhle-Miles continued to change and improve the competition. To further engage organizations, they developed a sponsorship opportunity that provides prizes for winning teams, professional headshots for all students and other support along the way.
The Capstone Cup is a semester-long event and an opportunity for seniors to translate classroom learning into practical solutions for Omaha businesses. Students work in teams and spend months doing diligent research to develop detailed poster presentations. The finals include live presentations and interactive Q&A sessions with judges made up of community members, local professionals and experts in their fields.
“I initially chose to be a judge to get connected to the university for recruiting purposes as well as get connected to other business leaders in the community,” said Brian Woolfolk, head of the Institutional Division at Pacific Life. “I keep coming back year after year because I really enjoy it.”
Previous Capstone Cup case study businesses include Scooter’s Coffee, Quantum Workplace, Rocket Car Wash, Right At Home, and the Omaha Supernovas – Omaha’s new Pro Volleyball team.
“The Capstone Cup experience was one of the highlights of my undergraduate program at UNO. It brought my business education to life,” said William Scheopner, Spring 2023 Capstone Cup winner. “The real-world experience provided by it helped me to prepare for the next step of my career and gave me a concrete experience to talk about in interviews.”
Today, the Capstone Cup is a flagship experience for CBA students. The experiential learning aspect equips students with the practical skills and confidence needed to thrive in today’s competitive market.
“I think it has helped the students get a deeper understanding of strategy and the integration of business,” said Bass. “It helps them see everything they’ve learned in their business degree in one cumulative project.”
by Amanda Craig
In February, UNO’s Department of Biomechanics received an $11 million grant from the National Institutes of Health’s (NIH) Centers of Biomedical Research Excellence (COBRE). With this grant, researchers can develop innovative solutions for cardiovascular disease treatment in the newly established Center for Cardiovascular Research in Biomechanics (CRiB). This landmark grant underscores UNO’s commitment to advancing cardiovascular health through cutting-edge research and innovative solutions.
Alexey Kamenskiy, Ph.D., Chair of the Department of Biomechanics and leader of the CRiB initiative, emphasized the significance of this COBRE grant and the impact it will have.
“It provides essential funding to build the biomedical research infrastructure needed to address critical challenges in cardiovascular health. We aim to achieve significant advancements in creating more durable and effective vascular stents and grafts, enhancing the healing of ischemic ulcers, and improving overall patient outcomes. The center’s interdisciplinary approach and strong industry collaborations are expected to accelerate the translation of laboratory discoveries into clinical applications, ultimately benefiting patients globally,” Kamenskiy said.
This recent milestone is just the latest in a long line of developments for the Department of Biomechanics. This is actually the second COBRE grant that UNO’s biomechanics program has received; the first was a $10.1 million award in 2014, funding human movement variability research and the start of the Center of Research in Human Movement Variability (MOVCENTR).
The MOVCENTR, led by Nick Stergiou, Ph.D., studies motor related disorders in the neuromuscular system and has created new tools and techniques for diagnosis, rehabilitation and therapeutic intervention of movement disorders.
“The establishment of MOVCENTR through the first COBRE grant has been a resounding success,” Kamenskiy said. “MOVCENTR has supported over 200 students, more than 50 faculty members and over 400 research projects. It has produced numerous scientific publications and had a $27.5 million economic impact on the Omaha metropolitan area, delivering a $1.87 return on investment for every $1 of federal funding.”
When the biomechanics program at UNO was established as its own department in 2016, there were three faculty members who all specialized in human movement variability. Since then, the department has grown substantially, now home to 18 tenured and tenure-track faculty members, a 53,000-square-foot Biomechanics Research Building and a range of interdisciplinary studies. It remains the only department in the U.S. that is solely dedicated to biomechanics.
That dedicated focus on biomechanics has garnered national recognition and considerable funding from federal and private organizations. The department has greatly benefited from partnerships and collaboration between industry partners like Live On Nebraska, clinicians, researchers and community members.
This has allowed cutting-edge research and the ability to implement their discoveries in real-world applications. It is a leader in the field, drawing in myriad researchers and students at all levels.
Elizabeth Caldwell earned her bachelor’s degree in biomechanics from UNO and is now a Ph.D. student in UNO’s Biomechanics and Kinesiology program. Immediately interested in the research aspect of biomechanics, she stayed because of the knowledge, investment and collaborative spirit of the professors and students in the department.
“One of the projects I am currently working on involves the manufacturing of electrospun nanofiber stent grafts that are currently undergoing pre-clinical testing,” Caldwell said. “I learned so much over the course of this project; I learned lab skills like electrospinning, SEM imaging and mechanical testing practices, but I also discovered that I would like to pursue a career in research.”
She has also begun work with the CRiB program and is excited for the potential of those projects.
The Department of Biomechanics’ push for interdisciplinary collaboration created an easy pathway for Ph.D. student and graduate research assistant, Ali Zolfaghari Sichani. His bachelor’s and master’s degrees in engineering provide him with specific skills and knowledge that have strengthened his research at UNO.
“I am eager to enhance my scientific expertise and apply practical knowledge to both academic and industry challenges. I aim to innovate medical devices that address clinical challenges, particularly in cardiovascular health, ultimately improving patient outcomes,” he said. “I am currently involved in the CRiB program, which provides invaluable resources, including access to clinicians and experimental facilities.”
Looking ahead, Chair Kamenskiy sees a great deal of potential for the department to continue its mission of learning and improving people’s lives.
“The department will strengthen its cardiovascular biomechanics portfolio, focusing on the development of personalized treatment approaches, advancing the use of endovascular surgical technologies, wearable devices for real-time health monitoring and develop interventions that improve the quality of life for the elderly,” he said. “Additionally, the department will continue to strengthen its interdisciplinary collaborations and industry partnerships to drive innovation and translate research findings into practical healthcare solutions.”
by Jaci Lindburg, Ph.D. and Cassie Mallette
We are over a year into the launch of generative artificial intelligence (AI) to the public. While the common initial response from the public was often one of fear or uncertainty, more people are starting to see AI as a tool and an opportunity rather than a replacement and a threat.
According to Lightcast, a program that analyzes trends in the job market, the number of monthly job postings mentioning AI skills has increased by more than 6600% in the past year, with additional market research showing that AI is a “top three” digital skill needed in today’s workplace. This already massive demand will continue to grow as AI becomes more advanced and companies understand the benefit of using programs such as ChatGPT in the workplace. With artificial intelligence skills being more in demand, it is crucial for higher education to be at the forefront of preparing students for what their future occupations will ask of them.
When people think of students using AI tools like ChatGPT, they may jump to the misguided conclusion that they would only use AI to do their work for them. This notion is incredibly limiting and does not give students the credit they deserve. Students are embracing AI and learning how it can benefit them in their studies as one of many “tools in their toolbox.” Students want to learn how to use AI effectively and believe they will need to know how to use AI in their future careers. By teaching students how to use AI to brainstorm, problem solve and think through decision-making scenarios, we make our students more marketable to employers. Teaching them the future-ready skills they can implement into their careers can increase their ability to work more efficiently, make complex decisions faster and improve a company’s production output.
While it is perfectly natural to be fearful of a technology developing as rapidly as AI, the University of Nebraska at Omaha (UNO) community is actively shaping a different approach that broadly embraces AI. Rather than dismissing this technology as a fad or seeking strategies to decrease or even prohibit its use, the campus is coming together to engage in critical dialogue, training and professional development on this critical development.
Many faculty and staff at UNO are already embracing the power and potential of AI, learning how to leverage AI in the classroom and in their careers. Several are focusing on how we can equip our students with these future-ready skills and how to be ethical consumers of AI. Through panel discussions, workshops, events, and AI resources such as the ChatGPT/AI Prompt book, UNO’s Division of Innovative and Learning-Centric Initiatives (ILCI) is taking the lead in supporting faculty who are ready to integrate AI and helping students learn how to use it effectively.
The UNO Chat GPT/AI Prompt Book is one such resource developed for the UNO community that demonstrates how students can use AI in their studies and how faculty can incorporate it into their courses and daily work. Ultimately, our aim with this resource is to teach individuals how to be better prompt engineers and develop the skills needed to utilize this emerging technology as one of the many tools available to them in the workforce.
At UNO, we are excited to see how the promptbook enables faculty to better understand how they can use AI in the classroom, teach students how to use AI for future careers and in their studies and how they can use AI to work more efficiently. We are not only dedicated to helping prepare students for the workforce, but also helping upskill our faculty so they feel empowered to utilize AI appropriately and proactively in the courses they teach.
The ultimate goal at UNO? Ensure that students are well-prepared – including on the appropriate use of AI – for not only their future careers, but also to be engaged, productive, well-informed citizens. As AI continues to advance, UNO’s Division of Innovative and Learning-Centric Initiatives will continue to not only support our campus, faculty, and students but also share effective practices and innovative ways to implement AI with the broader Omaha community.
How can alumni, and those already in the workplace get involved in our campus efforts with AI? Twice each year, UNO hosts a Future of Work Symposium Series dedicated to unpacking critical issues and co-creating solutions. Much of our content of the first three events in this series has included elements of AI. Watch for our next event in this series coming up in early Summer 2024.
In addition, UNO is rapidly developing a number of short-form, skills-based microcredentials, perfect for the working professional. These non-degree offerings typically take 15 hours to complete and are focused on the development of a specific competency or area of focus. We like to say – “give us three of your lunch breaks a week for five weeks and you can complete a microcredential.” In 2024, UNO plans to launch its first AI microcredential, with the intent of adding additional offerings on this topic throughout the year. More information on microcredentials at UNO is available at online.unomaha.edu.
We frequently get asked the question: “Will AI replace humans?” Simply put, our answer is no. AI is not a tool that is here to replace us; rather it is a tool that can help us work more efficiently, productively and creatively. By embracing AI, particularly to assist in the most mundane and repetitive elements of our work and lives, we free up our highly valuable time to focus on uniquely human and highly rewarding opportunities for critical thinking, problem-solving, adaptability, collaboration, consulting
and analysis.
Through continued collaboration with our community partners and employers, UNO is in a great position to deliver the AI skills that the workforce demands.
Jaci Lindburg, Ph.D. serves as Associate Vice Chancellor for Innovative and Learning-Centric Initiatives at the University of Nebraska at Omaha. Her seventeen-year career in higher education has largely been focused on using technology to innovate and align campus offerings with what’s needed most in the workplace and communities we serve.
Cassie Mallette serves as an Instructional Designer at UNO, where she also teaches Sociology. Her work focuses on mentoring and supporting new online faculty, having led numerous seminars on effective practices for teaching online and artificial intelligence.
The authors can be reached for questions or comments at [email protected] or [email protected]. For more about UNO’s Division of Innovative and Learning-Centric Initiatives, visit innovate.unomaha.edu.
Artists Corbin and Cates create things that make you go hmmm...
Many ventures begin on a small scale, but Quinn Metal Corbin and Chelsea Cates launched their collaborative photo project C+C Mini Factory on a really small scale.
“Basically, we take miniatures and toys and create miniature worlds around them. Sometimes we like to think of it as miniature installations or miniature theater stages. And then we take the pictures and create sort of these whimsical, magical worlds,” Cates said.
When they began their creative collaboration in 2012, Corbin and Cates were both far from home in Brooklyn; Corbin is a UNO graduate and the daughter of retired UNO professors David Corbin and Josie Metal-Corbin, Cates is from the West Coast. With her background including photography and art, Cates was originally interested in creating large-scale installations as she’d done for thesis work.
“Quinn’s idea was, ‘Why don’t we get together and try to do that on a miniature scale?’” Cates said. “Neither of us had the space or the money, so that was sort of the impetus, and we were both working at jobs we didn’t really love and wanted a more creative outlet.”
Animals are typical subjects, sometimes in natural backgrounds like an Appaloosa perched high on a Columbia River Gorge overlook or a wolf in the foreground of Bash Bish Falls in Massachusetts; sometimes the scenes are surreal, like a stage lit cockatoo singing into a microphone, a raccoon playing The Oregon Trail on a computer or canine bachelors vying for attention on the set of “Puppy Love Connection.”
“A lot of it was actual toys from the ‘90s that I had with me; I’d recently brought a suitcase of them back after I visited Omaha,” Corbin said. “We were just playing around with that, and that’s where it started.”
The name came easily. “C+C Mini Factory” not only alludes to the last names of its creators, but also to the era of their youth and one of its quintessential music groups, C+C Music Factory, known for “Gonna Make You Sweat (Everybody Dance Now).”
“When we were thinking of a name for our project, that was just a really great pun, and also a fun throwback that gave a nod to the nostalgia of the ‘90s, which we are also very much about,” Cates said.
C+C Mini Factory had an unexpected early boost with the rise of social media.
“We ended up being featured by Instagram,” Corbin said. “We had like 75 followers (at first), and then at the peak, we probably got up to 60,000 or something. It was a very quick rise.”
In 2015, C+C Mini Factory received a Shorty Award (introduced in 2008 to honor creators in the social media world) for Best Instagrammer, winning over six other finalists including big names like Mindy Kaling and Kate Spade. Cates and Corbin received recognition from various other media sources, too, which led to collaborations with the likes of Starbucks and Mozilla Firefox. They even had their work exhibited in New York and San Francisco galleries.
Buoyed by their early success, Cates and Corbin began pursuing a book project for C+C Mini Factory. Unlike their social media experience, however, this channel proved to be challenging as they struggled for years to find the right concept. “We had some failed attempts,” Corbin said.
A friend in the publishing business, Allison Cohen, pitched C+C Mini Factory at Running Press Kids, an imprint of Hachette Book Group. A farm theme arose from the discussions.
“We weren’t necessarily thinking a children’s book, but it became a natural fit as we had these conversations,” Corbin said.
“A Night at the Farm: A Bedtime Party,” co-authored by Cates and Corbin under the C+C Mini Factory brand, was published by Running Press in 2021. The 32-page children’s book featured a cast of miniature farm animals and their bedtime adventures: “The long day is over. Now it’s time for some fun. Because when the farmer goes to sleep… the party’s just begun!”
By 2022, Cates had relocated to Portland, Oregon, and Corbin had returned to Omaha and her roots in theater, working as a manager for Great Plains Theatre Commons. Through various creative connections, the concept of creating a musical adaptation of “A Night at the Farm” for The Rose Theater gelled over time. Jackie Kappes served as playwright, Liz Stinman came on as music director, and Matt Gutschick was the artistic director for the eventual world premiere of “Night at the Farm: A Bedtime Party” that ran from January 19 to February 4 this year.
Suzanne Withem, who served as director, already knew Corbin from local youth performing arts activities and, later, UNO classes. “It was really cool to get to work with Quinn,” she said.
The book was a great fit for adaptation for children’s theater, she said, not only because of the lively characters, but also because the story was especially suitable for younger children eager to interact.
“The way that Jackie adapted the book into the play, she really wanted audience participation,” Withem said. “Jackie also wrote in opportunities for the kids to do singing, call-and-response and even get up on their feet and dance along with the characters on stage.”
“It was so inviting for the kids to just be free to laugh out loud, to be a part of what’s happening and express that during the show,” said actor Candace Gould, who played the character Kitty. Gould said she also enjoyed helping refine a new production with a diverse team of creative individuals.
“What a great book Quinn and Chelsea wrote. It would be such an honor, I would imagine, to have your book adapted into theater, kids’ theater, especially,” she said. “It was so well-received by my nieces and nephews… And I talked to so many different parents who were like, ‘This is my very first show, but we are definitely going to be bringing them again.’ It was a great show.”
UNO alumna and Corbin’s Great Plains Theatre Commons colleague TammyRa’ (who uses one name professionally) played the part of Mama Goat and made an appearance as DJ Rabbit. She’s known for recent dramatic roles like Celie in “The Color Purple” at the Omaha Community Playhouse, but TammyRa’ said she enjoyed the novelty of performing for a young audience.
“I loved it,” she said. “It was a fun time.” She added that as a mother and grandmother, she appreciated that families with small children could enjoy the musical without “shushing.”
“Here you have these preschoolers that are just excited about it. We have some fun music in there, and they want to get up and dance,” she explained. “It is wonderful to take your child to a show where they don’t have to be quiet.”
The adults in the audience also had a good time, TammyRa’ added. “I loved seeing the adults jumping up and dancing, too… Although it was a show for preschoolers, I think everybody can get something from it. It’s a wonderful story.”
According to Corbin, the show played to over 5,000 audience members over its three-week run and was enthusiastically received. TammyRa’ said she felt “Night at the Farm” could live beyond its debut performance at The Rose. “I truly think that this show could go on tour.”
Corbin coordinated a successful crowdfunding effort to support a cast recording of the musical — with the original Omaha-based composer and arranger Graham Ulicny managing its mixing — to share “original, playful earworms with children and adults alike; aid in potential future licensing of the show; and give a wonderful opportunity for Omaha artists to add to their portfolio.” Studio time was scheduled for mid-March and updates for the release of the cast recording should be announced on C+C Mini Factory’s social media.
And much like the book “Night at the Farm” took on new life on the stage, there may be more ahead for C+C, too — like a television series, Corbin said.
“We’re in different phases of that being explored and shopped around,” she said. “So, hopefully…”
For more information about C+C Mini Factory and their miniature masterpieces go to cargocollective.com/ccminifactory; and follow them as they continue to explore the boundaries of the imagination on Instagram @ccminifactory.
by Juli Oberlander
While traditional science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) programs focus on technical and problem-solving skills, the Walter Scott, Jr. Scholarship Program (Scott Scholars) stands out due to its commitment to help students build empathy, understand human behavior and prioritize organizational needs.
For STEM students at UNO, Scott Scholars is the premier educational experience to increase their technical, creative and leadership skills. Established by the Suzanne & Walter Scott Foundation in 1997, Scott Scholars provides undergraduate tuition, room and board and multi-disciplinary learning opportunities.
An important component of this program is the Scott Scholars Design Studio, where students help community organizations resolve challenges using human-centered design thinking, a problem-solving technique that involves understanding a client’s pain points, wants and needs as a part of the idea development process.
Harnoor Dhaliwal, associate executive director for Scott Scholars, says the internship prepares students for careers by developing their emotional and social competencies.
“We’re building those into this experience,” Dhaliwal says. “So that when they enter the workforce, they are a valuable member of whichever organization they join, not only because of the technical expertise they possess but because of the whole-person education they received.”
Community Action Projects allow Scott Scholars to collaborate with Omaha-area organizations to identify a problem, discover how the challenge affects people and brainstorm potential solutions. Using the five steps of design thinking — empathize, define, ideate, prototype and test — student teams select one solution to prototype and work with community partners to analyze the impact of the prototype in solving the problem.
Kaitlyn Baysa, a former Scott Scholar and current Design Studio program coordinator, says empathy-building is key. One of her favorite Scott Scholars projects is Sisters in STEM, an event that promotes STEM to young Omaha girls. After determining that elementary and middle school students needed more access to STEM opportunities, Scott Scholars created the event in partnership with Prairie STEM, an education-based nonprofit. Sisters in STEM has since spread to other areas, and Baysa says many girls have expressed interest in STEM careers as a result of the event.
“They [Scott Scholars] really set the foundation for it,” Baysa says, “and for other programs to build upon, which is really cool.”
Although Baysa provides guidance, Scott Scholars work in teams to facilitate community action projects. Baysa says the students’ leadership and collaborative skills set them apart as future workforce members.
“It’s very much led by the students,” said Baysa.
Currently, Scott Scholars are working with the University of Nebraska Medical Center Emergency Department to address language barriers between physicians and non-English speaking patients. Inspired by the video game Super Mario Maker, the students developed a similar drag-and-drop platform that uses graphics to explain the emergency room discharge process.
Esther Samuel, a Scott Scholar, says students collaborate with physicians to understand pain points, create empathy training and increase doctor-patient trust.
“It’s just a joy to meet with them because they’re excited about the project we’re working on, and we’re excited about it,” Samuel says. “It’s a great partnership.”
Dhaliwal says UNMC will implement the technology over the next few months and he foresees its potential to revolutionize patient care on a national scale.
“I couldn’t be more proud of all of the empathy work they did with patients and physicians to learn about this problem set, and these are the future leaders that healthcare needs,” Dhaliwal says.
To further the impact of Scott Scholars, the Suzanne & Walter Scott Foundation recently committed another $23 million to the program. At UNO, a $20 million pledge expands the capacity from a total of 128 students to 168 students. A $3 million pledge supports the program’s expansion at the University of Nebraska Medical Center where an inaugural class of 12 Scott Scholars began their first year of medical school in the fall of 2023.
As a pre-med student, Samuel says Scott Scholars has been instrumental in shaping her academic and professional trajectory. Beyond financial support, the program offers personalized mentorship and career guidance, paving the way for her success.
She says the program even helped her obtain a job at the UNO Health Careers Resource Center.
“That constant and consistent checking in on students is really helpful to keep us on track on what we want with our lives and how we want to enter our careers,” Samuel says. “I think all of that has prepared me for my future.”
Dhaliwal says Scott Scholars seeks to offer a first-class STEM education nationally and internationally.
“I think we have an immense task ahead of us,” he says, “but one that we’re fully committed to achieving so that we can realize that goal of being the gold standard, the most prestigious and successful STEM scholarship program in the country.”
by Melodae Horst
Jacob Eitzen employs an unconventional approach to engage his students, often initiating class discussions with intriguing challenges such as guessing the top 10 downloaded apps on an iPhone from the previous year.
If students are disengaged, he uses a ‘commercial break’, an opportunity to inject some fun and recapture their attention.
In November, Eitzen, a Bellevue West High School Teacher and University of Nebraska at Omaha alumnus was presented with the Milken Educator Award, nicknamed the ‘Oscars of Teaching’ Award, and a $25,000 prize. Recognizing his exceptional teaching skills, the award highlights his dedication to fostering a dynamic learning environment. Eitzen, who earned a master’s degree in mathematics in 2018 through a scholarship from UNO, now leads the AP Statistics program at his school.
Bellevue West High School Principal, Kevin Rohlfs, nominated him for the award and said Etizen’s passion and compassion make him a good teacher. His innovative teaching methods are also key to his success.
Rohlfs said Eitzen’s classes begin with thought-provoking questions, such as the odds of winning the lottery or the economics of a monthly Panera “Sip Club” subscription, which immediately captivate his students.
For Eitzen, it isn’t just about entertainment; it’s about forging connections with each student.
“As a teacher, you’ve got to be a Swiss army knife of relationships just to know what is it that this kid needs versus that kid,” he said, highlighting the importance of understanding and catering to the unique needs of every individual.
Eitzen’s curriculum emphasizes not only mathematical reasoning but also effective communication of findings and conclusions. For example, he often utilizes scenarios from a TV series featuring legal proceedings to challenge students to decipher the underlying mathematics and articulate their interpretations.
“The math is going say some pretty powerful things, but it won’t mean anything if you can’t communicate about it,” Eitzen said.
Beyond the classroom, Eitzen extends his innovative approach to other roles, particularly as a leader of Bellevue West’s Multi-Tiered System of Support (MTSS). He said the master’s program at UNO deepened his expertise in mathematics. It fueled his interest in leveraging spreadsheets and statistics to extract meaningful insights from vast amounts of educational data, benefiting the staff and the school district.
Reflecting on the evolving landscape of statistics education, Eitzen underscores the importance of nurturing critical thinking skills.
“We need to continue to educate students who can rationally and critically think, analyze a situation and follow a set of process steps,” he said.
Debunking the notion of mathematics becoming obsolete in the era of artificial intelligence, he asserts, “It still needs a human to tell it what to do.”
As a father of three young children, Eitzen is driven by the belief that mathematics serves as the cornerstone for shaping the future. “We want to raise young adults to be the generation who will take our world and our communities to greater heights,” he said.
Kelsey Larsen, one of Eitzen’s first AP Statistics students, earned math and computer science degrees at UNO and is now employed by CATCH Intelligence as a data science consultant. She reflects on his impact.
“He shared personal and public examples of ways statistics could not only be applied to our own lives but also the world around us,” Larsen said.
Similarly, Nathan Walther, inspired by Eitzen’s passion for teaching, is now pursuing degrees in mathematics and education at UNO, aiming to follow in his footsteps.
“Through his actions, [he] showed how great it can be to be a teacher, and I wanted to be like that for future generations.”
Entrepreneurs tap into Nebraska’s innovation ecosystem through the Nebraska Business Development Center
by Kelly Jefferson Minty, Communications Director, Nebraska Business Development Center
“That’s happening in Nebraska?” is a phrase Josh Nichol-Caddy hears more than he’d like to in his role as the director of the Innovation and Technology program at the Nebraska Business Development Center (NBDC).
“The innovation space has really gained momentum here,” says Nichol-Caddy. “From ag tech to health tech to cybersecurity there are some really cool ideas taking off here. When I talk to people about the things our clients are doing, they’re surprised — but really, they shouldn’t be. Nebraska is doing big things right now.”
Situated within the College of Business Administration at the University of Nebraska at Omaha (UNO), NBDC helps entrepreneurs and business owners along their company journeys. With offices across the state, NBDC provides no-cost business consulting, welcoming anyone with a dream of starting or expanding a company. Nichol-Caddy’s program specifically caters to the visionaries working to transform their ideas into viable commercial opportunities.
“It’s really exciting that UNO, through NBDC, can offer support to these innovators at no cost,” he says. His role, he explains, is a bridge — a connection between the brightest minds in Nebraska and the resources that can turn their idea into a real business or product.
He and his team, a group of UNO graduate students, work directly with clients on essential business functions, from customer discovery to navigating the application process for Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) grants and exploring patent options.
One example of a company that received SBIR support from NBDC’s Innovation and Technology program is Grain Weevil, a company founded by Chad Johnson and his son Ben, a former UNO student. Grain Weevil is developing a robot designed to enter grain bins, keeping people from doing one of the most dangerous jobs on a farm and one that claims several lives a year. Grain Weevil was named NBDC’s 2022 Innovation Business of the Year.
“As an undergrad at UNO, I met many of the people that would become huge contributors to Grain Weevil’s success,” said Ben Johnson. “Most importantly Zane Zents, our Lead Software Engineer, who was my roommate through the Engineering Living & Learning Community. Since graduating, NBDC has been a fantastic resource for Grain Weevil’s development. They worked with me to refine our pitch before our largest innovation contest and helped us achieve over $1 million in grant funding.”
But the program goes beyond just what NBDC can provide technical support for; it’s about fostering a robust ecosystem of collaboration. The NBDC team actively works to connect innovators with other key players in Nebraska’s innovation landscape. One shining example of a company NBDC regularly works with is Appsky, founded by UNO alumni Jade Wicks, Taylor Korensky, Spencer Robinson and Tyler Reher. Appsky works with entrepreneurs who have great business ideas but need technical support to bring them to fruition. Together with the entrepreneur, they collaborate to find a software solution that makes sense, and then build it.
“As an entrepreneur, tapping into Nebraska’s innovation ecosystem offers a significant advantage: once you establish a connection within this network, you instantly gain access to a wealth of resources to help drive business success,” said Wicks.
“The collaborative efforts made by different players in the ecosystem are what help Nebraska’s entrepreneurs and small business owners thrive. You’re only one or two degrees away from having a meeting with an investor, funder, future customer, fellow entrepreneur or educational resource. We wouldn’t be where we are as a business if it wasn’t for this community. We are grateful we are in the position to introduce new founders to resources they didn’t even know existed.”
Building on Appsky’s success, Wicks, Korensky, Robinson and Reher are now at work on their second business – VisionSync, a Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) platform that empowers organizations to plan, track and align the execution of their strategic plans.
The type of clients Nichol-Caddy and his team work with at NBDC are diverse. One company is pioneering an innovative method to grow cells, a breakthrough that will allow researchers to develop treatments for a variety of medical conditions such as Parkinson’s disease and certain cancers. Another is working on a device designed to enhance focus and patient safety in operating rooms by adjusting the music surgeons are listening to automatically based on a patient’s changing conditions. Yet another is creating an app to streamline the loan application process for agricultural producers.
“Being part of NBDC, particularly the Innovation and Technology program, is really exciting. We’re helping creators and innovators break new ground,” said Nichol-Caddy. “It feels like a true embodiment of the UNO Maverick spirit.”
Students interested in health care start their careers at UNO
by Robyn Murray
For Cami Bisson, it was a class called Introduction to Health Careers that got her started. Now a senior at the University of Nebraska at Omaha, Bisson discovered a career she’d never considered: genetic counseling.
When Bisson, a first-generation college student, first enrolled at UNO, she didn’t want to work in health care. Her mother is a medical assistant, and Bisson had seen the long hours she put in and how she sometimes took a second job to support her family. But when Bisson learned more about her options, she changed course. 
“There was something about being in the medical field, of having a knowledge base and being able to share that with people, while also getting to hear other people’s perspectives and stories based on their experiences, that really drew me in,” Bisson said.
Bisson is just the kind of student Nebraska needs. The state is facing a severe shortage of health care professionals. From physicians to dentists, pharmacists to occupational therapists, counties across the state are in dire need.
As the University of Nebraska Medical Center’s closest partner by proximity, UNO plays an essential role in tackling this challenge by providing foundational STEM classes and a path to a health professions education. But that can be a tall order, because pursuing a career in health care requires a lot — of education, money, time and, critically, confidence.
“It’s intense,” said Paul W. Denton, Ph.D., assistant professor of biology at UNO. “The competition is very high to get into health care, and students feel the pressure even before they walk onto campus. They wonder if one mistake can remove their potential.”
Denton said one setback can get in the way of a student completing their undergraduate degree before they’ve even had a chance to get into their health care training program. That is particularly true for first-generation college students, who may not have support networks at home or resources to draw from. He recalled a student whose car was totaled after she was rear-ended. She couldn’t afford to replace it, so she struggled to get to class.
“It’s heartbreaking to see somebody who, if something bad happens, can’t get themselves out of that hole,” Denton said. “It can change their trajectory completely.”
Denton said an emergency fund would go a long way to supporting pre-health students. One resource currently on campus is shepherding pre-health students through graduation. The Urban Health Opportunities Program (UHOP), which is partly supported by private donations, offers full tuition assistance, wraparound support and guaranteed entry to UNMC if program requirements are met. For students like Winnie Ladu, a pre-health senior at UNO, UHOP made all the difference.
Ladu is the daughter of South Sudanese immigrants and aims to attend UNMC in the fall with plans to become a physician. She said the South Sudanese community in Omaha will celebrate with her.
“I think it’ll be a great accomplishment for not only myself, but for all of us,” Ladu said, “because we all hold each other up.”
As a physician, Ladu hopes to serve the South Sudanese community in Omaha as well as other refugee and immigrant groups. She believes she will connect with them as a health care provider who shares their background. Diversity in the health care workforce is another critical need, as Nebraska’s demographics continue to change.
“Studies have clearly shown that when you train someone from a community and they return to that community, the payback is awesome,” said Paul Davis, Ph.D., professor of biology and the director of the Health Careers Resource Center, which manages UHOP. “The community feels more connected, the individual patient feels connected to their provider, and providers are able to give back beyond just their day job. Those things really move the peg.”
Davis said as the state’s metropolitan university, UNO draws people from various backgrounds, which is particularly helpful to address the health care shortage but also means students enter UNO at all levels of preparedness.
“The undergraduate university experience is really where it should all come together,” Davis said. “The goal of coming to a place like UNO is to help bring everyone up to the same level, so that by the time they leave they’re ready for the challenges.”
Davis said he wants to ensure UNO’s STEM education continues to excel, and he hopes to reach more students earlier. Denton works with UNO students who serve as STEM mentors in Omaha’s public schools, which he said pays dividends.
“If you try to engage students at the college level and they’ve already convinced themselves that they can’t do math, or that they’re not a science person, you can’t really reach them,” Denton said.
“I think we need to help build our K12 students up even before they get to UNO, because we might bring some students to campus who otherwise would never have created a shadow on our door.”
Through Only in Nebraska: A Campaign for Our University’s Future, UNO and the College of Arts and Sciences are focused on securing philanthropic funding that helps ensure pre-health students receive the support they need to succeed throughout their academic careers. This support includes expanded scholarship opportunities, advising and mentoring services and learning communities. This investment will offer enormous dividends for each student, the future health care workforce in the state and ultimately the health and well-being of Nebraskans. Visit OnlyinNebraska.org/uno to learn more.
Mary Perkinson, D.M.A., an award-winning artist, associate professor, and community leader, brings together the power of music, service and research
by Samantha Pastorino
Perkinson’s inspiration comes from the Madison Symphony Orchestra’s HeartStrings® program, a music therapy-informed program that brings live, interactive presentations to healthcare and residential facilities.
“I thought, how cool would it be to model that program in Omaha,” Perkinson says, “I wanted to focus on one group of culturally underserved individuals and get to the heart of a best practice by working with experts in the field.”
Perkinson, a University of Nebraska at Omaha (UNO) music professor, founded Nebraska Heartbeats in 2018.
“Our mission is to engage individuals with dementia in meaningful ways through music that’s joyous,” Perkinson says. “The music listening and engagement brings about a sense of well-being for the listeners and caregivers alike.”
Nebraska Heartbeats is a platform for musicians to engage with their community in ways that build relationships and make a difference. The curriculum was developed by Vaishali Phatak, Ph.D., ABPP-CN (neuropsychologist, UNMC); Steven Wengel, M.D. (geriatric psychiatrist, UNMC); the UNO Maverick Quartet (Gregory Clinton; Mary Perkinson, D.M.A; Brian Sherwood; and Olga Smola, D.M.A.); and Bridget Shevlin, MT-BC (music therapist).
During Nebraska Heartbeats sessions, UNMC researchers study music and memory while UNO faculty and students engage with participants through music-making, listening and reminiscing.
Dementia deteriorates the mind in stages; it can develop to the point of patients becoming non-verbal. Nebraska Heartbeats seeks to connect with patients through all stages of dementia, which makes music a vital stimulant.
“Music has a unique durability that individuals at all stages of dementia are able to enjoy,” says Perkinson.
Through the power of music, patients with dementia become more energetic and active when they hear their favorite songs from the past.
“Someone will be relatively non-verbal, but when they hear a song that they remember from their 20s or 30s, all of a sudden their eyes will just light up, they become more energetic and alert,” Perkinson says. “Music has the ability to tap at the tip of the iceberg of exploring music and memory research.”
Perkinson remains steadfast in her passion for service and research, and Nebraska Heartbeats demonstrates that passion.
“I want musicians to be educated about the dementia community so they can work with individuals in ways that are joyful and effective.’’
This story was originally published by UNO’s Office of Engagement in partnership with MaverickPR is a full-service, award-winning, student-run public relations firm in UNO’s College of Communication, Fine Arts, and Media.
by Connie White
An outdated computer lab at the University of Nebraska at Omaha was recently refurbished as a modern professional technology space thanks to a generous gift and input from FNBO (First National Bank of Omaha).
Located on the second floor of the Peter Kiewit Institute Building on UNO’s Scott Campus, the FNBO Code Studio was redesigned with oval tables, docking stations and whiteboards to provide flexibility and encourage student collaboration. Renovations occurred over the spring and summer, and the refurbished space opened in fall 2023.
“This partnership with FNBO allows faculty to experiment with new pedagogical approaches while supporting student teamwork and innovation,” said Martha Garcia-Murillo, Ph.D., Lee D. and Willa Seemann Distinguished Dean of the College of Information Science & Technology (IS&T). “The FNBO Code Studio closely resembles the workspaces in technology-centric companies such as FNBO, helping to prepare students for their future careers.”
FNBO also made a gift through the University of Nebraska Foundation to create a scholarship to forever provide financial assistance to students pursuing an IS&T degree. The gift was matched by other funds to establish the FNBO Information Science & Technology Endowed Scholarship Fund. The amount of the gift was not disclosed at the donor’s request.
“FNBO Code Studio is an amazing opportunity that will allow students access to great resources throughout their education. I am excited about this partnership as it will continue to support workforce development,” said UNO Chancellor Joanne Li, Ph.D., CFA.
FNBO’s investment expands on the Omaha-based company’s involvement with IS&T. FNBO participates in the college’s Learn and Earn initiative, which launched in the 2022-23 academic year to increase students’ access to professional experiences while encouraging graduates to stay in the region to pursue tech careers. The initiative connects students with local companies such as FNBO through job shadowing, class projects and paid internships.
Sammy Sufian, vice president of technology at FNBO, said it’s important for employers in the information technology sector to connect with students early and often throughout their university careers to prepare them for life post-graduation.
“We can’t afford to view academia and corporate America as two sequential, mutually exclusive entities anymore,” he said.
The company’s decision to invest in the FNBO Code Studio reflects a desire to create a hub where students can interact with industry professionals and learn in a studio environment that encourages project collaboration.
“We want to make sure students have access to modern technology and modern facilities that really mirror our own workspaces here at the bank,” Sufian said.
Brian Dorn, Ph.D., associate dean for academic and faculty affairs for IS&T, said students typically sit at their own machines in front of a lecturer for computer science and engineering classes, but that’s not how tech industry professionals operate.
“It’s collaborative, it’s centered around teams of people solving problems together,” he said.
UNO student Zaid Kakish, an undergraduate majoring in computer science and cybersecurity, believes the FNBO Code Studio is a great addition to the Peter Kiewit Institute Building.
“I have enjoyed my class in the FNBO Code Studio room a lot this semester as it provides a super fun and interactive environment to work, discuss and socialize with other students in the classroom,” he said.
FNBO’s gift was made as part of Only in Nebraska: A Campaign for Our University’s Future. The campaign is a historic effort to engage at least 150,000 benefactors to give $3 billion to support University of Nebraska students, faculty, academic and clinical programs and research to address the needs of the state.