From left, new board members Ryan Curtis, Negil McPherson, Jamalia Parker, Tammy Voisin
New 2020-21 board members installed
The UNO Alumni Association Board of Directors at its annual meeting Tuesday, Aug. 25, confirmed four new members to serve three-year terms.
Brian Allison presided over the meeting, his first as the 97th chairman of the board of directors. Allison is vice president at Children's Hospital & Medical Center in Omaha. He graduated from UNO in 2005 with an MPA and has been a member of the board of directors since 2014.
The following alumni were confirmed to the board:
Ryan Curtis (BS-2005/MS-2008), senior associate, Leo A. Daly
A former UNO basketball player, Curtis is an award-winning Architecture, Engineering and Construction (AEC) leader who was named one of the nation’s top 15 rising stars by C+S Engineering Magazine. He is a member of the NU Architectural Advisory board and the Omaha By Design advisory council. He also is a youth mentor and published author.
Negil McPherson (BS-1985/EMBA-2015), senior consultant, HDR
McPherson actively serves the Omaha community in a variety of roles, including chair of the City of Omaha Personnel Board and president of the PBC/Omaha Economic Development Board. He has been involved in various roles with Pilgrim Baptist Church, Opera Omaha, the Omaha Community Council for Racial Justice and Reconciliation, the Boy Scouts and other organizations.
Jamalia Parker (MSW-2003), director of family engagement services, Learning Community of Douglas and Sarpy County
Jamalia is extensively involved in Omaha and serves on the Pipeline to Success Health Careers Board, the Omaha Bridges out of Poverty board, and the Head Start Policy Council. She is a graduate of Leadership Omaha Class 38 and was a 2019 Tribute to Women Honoree from the Women’s Center for Advancement.
Tammy Voisin (MEA-2004/Ed.D.-2014), director of special services, Papillion LaVista Community Schools
Voisin is a member of the Nebraska Association of Special Education Services board of directors and a board member at Heartland School. She formerly served on the Papillion LaVista Schools Foundation board, chaired the Autism Spectrum State board and was treasurer/membership director for the NSEA local chapter.
Also at the annual meeting, Laurie Ruge was presented with a Maverick monument replica given to outgoing board chairs. Ruge, a 2001 MBA UNO graduate, was the 95th alum to chair the board, doing so in 2018-19. She joined the board in 2008 and served terms as treasurer, secretary and vice chair. Ruge is vice president of internal audit at ACI Worldwide.
Outgoing board member Monique Farmer was given a Director Appreciation Award in recognition of her six years of service to the board. Farmer, a 2003 UNO graduate, is founder/CEO of Anvil Ready, a marketing, public relations and communications strategy firm.
Other meeting notes include CBA Dean Michelle Trawick and Student Regent Jabin Moore making reports to the board during their first sessions as ex-officio members.
A complete board roster is provided at www.unoalumni.org/board.