UNO Alumni Engagement Staff
The UNO Alumni Association Board of Directors hires a president/CEO who directs a full-time staff to manage alumni records, conduct fund-raising activities, operate the alumni center, plan alumni activities and coordinate communication between alumni, the university and the community.
Executive Director of Alumni Engagement — Lee Denker
504-3340, ldenker@unoalumni.org
Lee Denker was named president/CEO of the Association in 2006. He is responsible for the overall management of the Association and is the primary liaison with the board of directors. With an emphasis on collaboration to advance UNO, Lee and the UNOAA team have refocused their efforts to strengthen alumni programs, and expand communications and social media. As a result, the UNO Alumni Association has earned many CASE (Council for the Advancement and Support of Education) awards, including a 2012 CASE International Circle of Excellence Award for “New Program Initiatives” for the UNO Young Alumni Academy.
Director, Alumni Communications — Anthony Flott
504-3341, aflott@unoalumni.org
Anthony is managing editor of UNO Magazine and oversees all of the Alumni Association’s communicaitons efforts, including the website and social media channels. He also writes, produces various brochures, fliers and other promotional pieces for the association. He joined the Alumni staff in 1993. He has a BA (1990) and MA (1999) from UNO
Director, Alumni Programming — Elizabeth Kraemer504-3343,
ekraemer@unoalumni.org
Elizabeth joined the UNO Alumni Association in June 2009. She is responsible for organizing and producing the Association’s numerous functions throughout the year, including the Golden Circle program for graduates of 45 years ago or longer, Homecoming, the Chancellor Scholarship Swing, Roundtable Luncheons and other events. She also works with affiliate groups such as the UNO Young Alumni Academy and the ROTC Alumni. Elizabeth earned a BSBA (2006) and MPA (2008) from UNO. In 2013 Elizabeth received the first-ever CASE VI Rising Star Award honoring a professional of fewer than seven years who belongs to the Council for the Advancement and Support of Education. Her work has been honored with numerous CASE awards, including the association's first International Circle of Excellence award, a silver award recognizing the Young Alumni Academy.
Staff Associate — Bianca O'Shaughnessy
504-3342, boshaughnessy@unoalumni.org
Bianca joined the UNO Alumni Association staff in May 2019. She schedules and organizes meetings for the board of directors, assists all members of the staff on various projects, and staffs the Thompson Center reception desk when needed.
Assistant Director, Alumni Engagement — David Starkweather
502-4102, dstarkweather@unoalumni.org
David Starkweather is the newest addition to the team, filling a new position in November 2019 as assistant director of UNO Alumni Engagement. A Papillion, Nebraska, native, Starkweather most recently lived in Orlando, Florida, where he worked for the Walt Disney Company and Sodexo. He will focus on student and young alumni programming.
Thompson Center Staff
The UNO Alumni Association Board of Directors hires a president/CEO who directs a full-time staff to manage alumni records, conduct fund-raising activities, operate the alumni center, plan alumni activities and coordinate communication between alumni, the university and the community.
Director, Alumni Facilities
— Steven Summers
554-3368, ssummers@unoalumni.org
Steve joined the Alumni Association in May 2013. His primary responsibility is managing the Thompson Center, one of Omaha's most popular event facilities. He previously was an adjunct instructor at Metropolitan Community College's Institute for the Culinary Arts. He has 16 years of managing experience in the restaurant industry with companies including Brinker International and Darden Restaurants International. He has a degree from Bellevue University.
Thompson Center Receptionist — Joni Fichtl
554-2444, jfichtl@unoalumni.org
Joni is the newest addition to the UNO Alumni Association staff, joining it as the Thompson Center receptionist in October 2014. She previously was the group coordinator for the Saint Benedict Center in Schuyler, Neb.