An annual newsletter from the UNO College of Arts and Sciences.
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cultivating generations of problem-solvers
50 YEARS OF BLACK STUDIES
EXPLORING PREJUDICE CONFRONTATION
The Current is an annual newsletter published by the Office of the Dean, College of Arts and Sciences at the University of Nebraska at Omaha. Editors: Courtni Kopietz Kayla Sheehan Photographers/Videographers: A.J. Olnes, Ryan Soderlin, Elsie Stormberg, Stephanie Veloso, and other collaborators. Story text is adapted from pieces written by Courtni Kopietz or members of the UNO MarComm team.
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2021/2022 HIGHLIGHTS
OLLAS STUDYING COVID-19 IMPACT
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CHUCK HAGEL FORUM
TRANSFORMING MATH LEARNING
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EXPLORING HUMAN RIGHTS VIA MUSIC
I AM THE ROI
FACULTY ON CURRENT EVENTS
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SERVICE-LEARNING SUCCESS
EXPLORATORY STUDIES
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OPPORTUNITIES ON THE PRAIRIE
AWARDS & HONORS
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Our students make up the next generation of problem-solvers, and we work to help them match their passions with purpose.
Now that I’m stepping away from being dean, folks ask me, “What accomplishments are you most proud of?” and “How were you able to serve as dean for so long?” These are essentially the same question, and they both have the same answer: people. My principal core value as dean has been to work with the faculty, staff, students, colleagues, alumni, and donors of the College of Arts and Sciences to help everyone achieve their goals, our college’s goals, and UNO's goals. Our college focuses on helping students understand the integral connections between their college education and their readiness to tackle the “big questions” or “grand challenges,” both contemporary and enduring. I ask students to begin their college career by answering “What problem do you want to solve?" The College of Arts and Sciences is full of problem-solvers, faculty and staff who are motivated to make the world a better place; our students make up the next generation of problem-solvers, and we work to help them match their passions with purpose. I'm pleased to be passing the torch to Dr. Melanie Bloom who will serve as interim dean while a national search for permanent dean begins. We’re very fortunate to have someone as qualified and dedicated as Melanie to serve as interim dean for the College of Arts and Sciences. I’m confident the college will be in good hands with her at the helm as a proven leader committed to the success of our college and community. I will continue to serve UNO as a faculty member in the Department of English and as part of the team developing a center dedicated to the art of Samuel Bak. I look forward to what the future holds, and thank everyone for the support over the years.
I have had the honor and privilege of serving as Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences for 14 years, and as I make plans for the future, I've been reflecting on my tenure in this position.
My goal is to ensure that faculty, staff, and students feel heard and supported as we look forward to the future of the college.
welcome interim dean melanie bloom
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I am honored to be entrusted with the leadership of the College of Arts and Sciences. We are uniquely poised as we impact the lives of so many UNO students through our diverse academic programs.
a farewell from dean david boocker
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Melanie Bloom, Interim Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences
David Boocker, Departing Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences
I want to thank Dean Boocker for his leadership and mentorship. It's been great to work with and learn from him, especially over the last two years when I took on my role as an associate dean. Taking on the new role of interim dean of the College of Arts and Sciences will bring its own challenges, and this moment is all about transitions. Not just the transition of college leadership, but also our transition to whatever new normal will be established in the wake of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. What is it we want to prioritize? Moving into this new environment, what can we do to build community in the college? My goal is to ensure that faculty, staff, and students feel heard and supported as we look forward to the future of the college. I'm hopeful that we can continue to build on the foundations that have been successfully established while adapting to our ever-changing reality. In this newsletter you'll learn about faculty, staff, and students who are making a difference in their communities and in the classroom. Service-learning courses provide opportunities to enrich learning through giving back to communities in meaningful ways; innovations in supporting students, such as the Exploratory Studies program or the transformation of the general education math curriculum, promote student success; and, five decades of hard work by committed students, faculty, and staff have helped make the Department of Black Studies what it is today. While we look optimistically toward the future, join me as we celebrate the remarkable achievements of the College of Arts and Sciences and the people who made them possible.
The 38-acre Tri-Faith campus brings together a synagogue, mosque, church, and interfaith center, serving as a model for interfaith learning and collaboration, and includes elements like the community garden and orchard. Students work in the garden and orchard alongside the garden committee which is made up of members of the three congregations. As part of the experience, students learn about the Tri-Faith Initiative, interreligious dialogue, the impact of food donations on the community, and Native American perspectives on the land, including food sovereignty. Through the work of volunteers, the Tri-Faith garden committee is able to donate hundreds of pounds of beans, peas, tomatoes, peppers, potatoes, carrots, radishes, and much more to local service organizations or food pantries. “The garden serves multiple purposes,” said Laura Alexander, Ph.D., Assistant Professor of Religious Studies. “It helps make the land flourish, brings people together in interreligious cooperation, and it provides nourishment for the community.” In addition to exploring how to garden in organic and environmentally friendly ways — including how the different crops benefit the soil and each other — students learn about Native American traditions of caring for the land and its people as a spiritual and cultural practice, and how eating healthy foods contributes to physical and spiritual health. The human right to a standard of adequate living includes the right to food that contributes to health and wellbeing; the garden committee and volunteers cultivate and harvest food that is distributed throughout the Omaha community. Piper Smith, a religious studies major at UNO, said the service opportunity has been a valuable learning experience. “I’m really passionate about human rights and social justice and all those things so I wanted to see how they combined with religion,” Smith said. “You learn more about yourself, your classmates, and the community around you.” Alexander said she finds it valuable to teach at a place like UNO where there are opportunities to combine her intellectual academic pursuits with engagement in the community. “I can do that in the classroom alongside my students who have some of those same ideas and same concerns because UNO has made a pretty strong commitment to community engagement and service learning,” Alexander said.
WATCH VIDEO
Students in Laura Alexander's "Religion and Human Rights" service-learning course explored gardening, interreligious dialogue, and community nourishment at Tri-Faith.
Garden lead Bonni Leiserowitz, center, shows students how to use a chainsaw at the Tri-Faith garden. Left is UNO Assistant Professor of Religious Studies Laura Alexander, and right is UNO student Bella Dirks, a special education major.
UNO instructor Becky Brusky teamed up with the Service Learning Academy to help students become more confident in math skills while supporting Omaha non-profits. Service-learning is meant to provide life-changing experiences to students as they serve the community. Students are encouraged to reflect on their role within the community and the multitude of ways that their newly-learned skills can bring value and insight. One example of this method was recently demonstrated through UNO's “Data Literacy” service-learning course where students worked with community partners, such as MilkWorks and Raise Me to Read, to provide new ways of visualizing data to help the organizations make better informed decisions. As the final project, students presented their data creations to their assigned community partners. “I’m not a math person, so I thought the class was going to be a hard experience for me,” Ghiwa Zeineddine, a student in the Data Literacy class, said. “[Professor] Brusky made everything easier; you were engaged in it. I think it was a great experience for us. It’s a great way to learn.” Brusky said the course will continue to be offered for students who want a different approach to learning key math skills. She hopes for students to learn and become more confident in their math abilities while also serving their community. “A lot of the difference with volunteer work versus service-learning is that there’s so much more reflection,” Brusky said. “You are not just doing something and leaving, you’re trying to impact the rest of your life, the way you think about your education, and about what you do.”
Faith Olsen, a UNO psychology major, picks peas at the Tri-Faith garden as part of the service-learning project.
service-learning fosters community engagement throughout omaha
Math and Meaning: Students Make Data Visualization Projects for Non-Profits
It was more than 50 years ago when, on Nov. 10, 1969, a group of 54 Black UNO students arrived at the offices of then-president Kirk Naylor demanding equal treatment as well as campus investment in education around what we know today as Black History. In this singular act of non-violent protest, the group who would go on to be known as the “Omaha 54” began to tip the scales and turn public opinion towards representation and equity. In the wake of the Omaha 54’s protest, individual arrests, and public response, UNO formally launched one of the very first Black Studies departments in the country in 1971. Over the course of the 2021-2022 school year, the Department of Black Studies and UNO Libraries have been celebrating the past, present, and future of what is now one of the oldest departments of its kind in the country. For decades, champions like Marvin Wade, George Garrison, Daniel Boamah-Wiafe, James Conyers, and more kept the Department of Black Studies moving forward even as many similar departments across the country were disbanded or absorbed by other programs. Today, Cynthia Robinson, Ph.D., serves as Chair of the Department of Black Studies and much of her vision for the department is shaped by her own time as a Black Studies major at UNO in the 1990s. She was tasked with leading the very department she credits with inspiring her love of UNO and love of teaching in 2015 after spending years as a faculty member in the School of Communication. Robinson said when she took the role, she felt she had the institutional knowledge to begin addressing the things she knew could help UNO’s Department of Black Studies, the only one of its kind for hundreds of miles, thrive and draw more majors. This included changing the Bachelor of Arts degree to a Bachelor of Science, offering more advanced courses, and making sure the department was more visible on campus and in the community. It's a mission Robinson said she continues to pursue because of how much the department changed her life, despite the many challenges. “UNO changed my life. The discipline of Black Studies changed my life. The discipline of Broadcasting and Speech Communication — both of those sides changed my life,” she said. “African American History, African History, just knowing things changed my life and that’s why I stay because I want to offer that to my students.”
Cynthia Robinson, Ph.D., has led the UNO Department of Black Studies since 2015.
Members of the original Omaha 54 group reunited at a kickoff event celebrating the 50th anniversary of the Department of Black Studies.
Charting a Path: From 'Omaha 54' to 50 Years of Black Studies
A peaceful protest in 1969, organized by Black students seeking equal treatment, helped set the stage for five decades of Black Studies at UNO. Despite being one of the oldest departments of its kind in the U.S., the story of UNO's Department of Black Studies is just beginning.
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Janet Napolitano, former U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security, and Chuck Hagel discuss the importance of U.S. leadership during the next stages of international diplomacy in April 2022.
TOP: Former U.S. Secretary of Defense and UNO alumnus Chuck Hagel, left, and Chancellor Joanne Li, right, talk before the Chuck Hagel Symposium in Public Service on Tuesday, Oct 19, 2021. BOTTOM: Millard South student Phoenix Nehls asks Chuck Hagel a question at the Chuck Hagel Symposium in Public Service.
Tom Ridge, former U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security and former Governor of Pennsylvania, joined UNO alumnus Chuck Hagel, former U.S. Secretary of Defense and former U.S. Senator from Nebraska, for a discussion on global leadership in March 2021.
WATCH THE 2021 FORUM
With an ever-growing list of foreign and domestic challenges facing the new presidential administration, the two former U.S. Secretaries said the United States has an opportunity to redefine its position in the world and the role it takes as a global leader. Former U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security Tom Ridge and former Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel sat down to discuss what the nation’s path forward may look like as it confronts domestic terror, strengthens traditional alliances, and utilizes existing tools to take on new and emerging threats as the focus of the 2021 Chuck Hagel Forum in Global Leadership. The presentation also featured a discussion moderated by Michelle Black, Ph.D., an Assistant Professor of Political Science at UNO and a research fellow for the National Strategic Research Institute (NSRI). The virtual event, hosted by the University of Nebraska at Omaha (UNO) and the Atlantic Council, was the third installment of the series, which has previously featured then-former Vice President Joe Biden in 2019 and former Secretary of State John Kerry in 2020. During his introductory remarks, Hagel, a UNO graduate and former Nebraska Senator, thanked his longtime friend, Ridge, the nation’s first Secretary of Homeland Security, for his “careful, wise, focused leadership” that has “facilitated so much good for this country.” During the presentation, Ridge provided three tips for the next generation of leaders. “Be involved in the political process; hold those who represent you at the local, state and federal level accountable; and lastly, if you believe in your country and you want to make a difference, don't ever, ever miss a primary or a general election,” Ridge said. “And I don't care what it's for, it's not a privilege, it's a responsibility.” The presentation also featured remarks from Atlantic Council President and CEO Frederick Kempe, UNO Chancellor Jeffrey P. Gold, M.D., and UNO Student Body President Jabin Moore.
WATCH THE 2022 FORUM
chuck hagel forum in global leadership
Janet Napolitano, former U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security, and former Governor of Arizona and UNO alumnus Chuck Hagel, former U.S. Secretary of Defense, and former U.S. Senator from Nebraska, came together over one hour to discuss a varity of topics, including: The impact of climate change on national security How Russia's invasion of Ukraine may shape geopolitics in the future Ways the international community can hold Russia accountable for its actions The impact of misinformation and disinformation worldwide UNO's work with NCITE and the role of the Department of Homeland Security today How we can inspire the next generation of civic leaders The event included opening remarks from Napolitano, who is currently a Professor of Public Policy at the Goldman School of Public Policy and the founder of the Center for Security in Politics at UC Berkeley, before a discussion moderated by Jody Neathery-Castro, Ph.D., Distinguished Associate Professor of Political Science at UNO. The presentation also featured remarks from Atlantic Council President and CEO Frederick Kempe, UNO Chancellor Joanne Li, Ph.D., and UNO Student Body President Maeve Hemmer.
hagel symposium in public service First launched in 2018, the Chuck Hagel Symposium in Public Service brings young people together — high school students from the Omaha metropolitan area — for expert discussion on public service and an introduction to the impact and value of civic engagement, leadership, and service. This annual one-day event begins with a keynote address from Secretary Hagel, followed by breakout sessions chosen by the students and led by faculty from UNO and the University of Nebraska Medical Center. Presentations focused on the fields of international affairs, law, medicine, public policy, and many other topics — all related to public service.
"Be involved in the political process; hold those who represent you at the local, state and federal level accountable." - Tom Ridge
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2021/2022 highlights
1) Short plays on healthcare themes written by students in the "Writing about Sickness and Health" course were performed live on April 27, 2022. JNS Theater for Social Change conducted a workshop with students and helped develop their plays. 2) Students attending the Aim for the Stars science and math camps visited the Aviation Institute at UNO to experience flight simulators in July 2021. 3) Michael Peterson, Ph.D., Professor of Geography, led a10-day field trip in ecotourism and sustainability, immersing students in the vibrant landscapes and culture of Costa Rica in January 2022. 4) Brandon Villanueva-Sanchez, an honors student and Johns Hopkins fellow majoring in neuroscience, won a Goldwater Scholarship for work on the differences between male and female rats in dependency on opioids when exposed to early life stressors such as social isolation. 5) The Teacher's Law School, a workshop for high school social studies teachers, is held at the Omaha federal court house and includes tours and activities on the constitution, juvenile court, the role of prosecutors, state versus federal court systems, and other related topics. 6) Arte LatinX is a biennial art exhibition bringing together Latinx artists from all over the Great Plains. 2022 programming included a culinary workshop with Viva Fit Kitchen in March 2022. 7) Maia Bennett, a bioinformatics major and INBRE scholar who plans to pursue a Ph.D. in biomedical sciences, won a Goldwater Scholarship for her work in the Denton Lab on combination immunotherapies that help natural killer (NK) cells kill B cell lymphoma and leukemia cells more effectively. 8) The UNO Audubon Student Conservation Chapter witnessed the 2022 Sandhill Crane migration from blinds along Platte River, getting close-up views of the 50,000+ roosting cranes.
Enrolled across all Quantitative Reasoning courses
The UNO Mathematics Department hired nine faculty members to transform the teaching of algebra, pre-calculus, and general education mathematics courses. The Quantitative Reasoning Team comes from a variety of backgrounds, bringing lifetimes of experience and passion to UNO.
“It’s not about choosing the best major and sticking to it. It’s about finding what you love and learning how you can make that part of your future, your degree, and your career.” —Savanna, former Explorer Peer Mentor
2,280 Students
Exploratory Studies is an academic home for students who haven't quite decided on a major or need more time to make sure their plans for a major are a best-fit. This program offers a network of support and unique opportunities to help students explore majors and make connections.
Incoming UNO freshmen review Math and English skills during the Summer Booster camp held in August of 2021. Karina Uhing, Ph.D., Assistant Professor of Mathematics, (center) was one of the faculty hired to help redesign math quantitative reasoning courses at UNO.
giving students an academic home & community via exploratory studies
Enrolled in MATH 1210/1220 (a path that leads to calculus)
The chart reflects a subset of 271 students from the 2020 cohort who have chosen a major. Depicted is the number of students gained per college.
Exploratory Studies was developed and first piloted in the fall of 2019 to help ensure that all enrolled UNO students are able to achieve their academic goals and earn a degree. Around 800 to 1,000 students enter the program each year. All Explorers take the EXPL 1000 course which empowers students to define their passions, talents, and interests while exploring different disciplines and majors/minors at UNO. The experience draws on happiness and well-being theories to help students better define the meaning of success in college and in life and provides mentorship from faculty, staff, peer mentors (students themselves), and EXPL ambassadors (faculty, staff, and community members who volunteer to work with Explorers). Now a couple years in, the program has seen students take control of their future and find their academic paths, funneling into every college across UNO. The most popular majors include Business Administration, Multidisciplinary Studies, Psychology, and Computer Science.
70-75% of Students
in fall 2021
novel quantitative reasoning effort launched to transform uno math courses
Though the word “math” can strike fear in the heart of many students, it is a necessary step to progress through their major — even those not pursuing a STEM degree. Associate Professor of Mathematics Nicole Infante, Ph.D., Director of the newly formed Quantitative Reasoning team, oversees efforts to implement active learning environments instead of traditional lectures into UNO’s first-year courses. The overhaul of the first-year math courses is part of an effort to bring about a change in the department's teaching philosophy and, ultimately, improve general education mathematics. Infante joined UNO in summer of 2021 and immediately began adjusting courses to make students feel more connected to their peers and, therefore, comfortable asking for help. “We know that a lot of learning takes place in more social situations and when questions can arrive more naturally in those social situations.” Infante explains. Infante was able to address issues caused by isolation by combining the best elements of the lab and the lecture. This meant decreasing class sizes and increasing the number of sections offered while also placing an instructor, graduate assistant, and undergraduate teaching assistant in each class. “A lot of students aren’t comfortable saying ‘I’m stuck.’ The more small group opportunities you can provide helps ease students into being comfortable asking those questions and getting more support.” Since the change, Infante says they have had hundreds fewer students drop or withdraw from math courses. These higher rates of success have meant more students are able to matriculate though their individual degree programs.
1,108 Students
Earned at least a C grade in MATH 1210/1220. This is an increase of 5-25 percentage points compared to previous fall semesters.
psychology researcher to Explore Prejudice Confrontation
UNO's Glacier Creek Preserve, untouched by technological development, is an ecological oasis; letting aspiring scientists heed the call of the wild.
BIG OPPORTUNITIES ON THE PRAIRIE
Abby Folberg, Ph.D., an Assistant Professor of Psychology at UNO, was awarded a Visionary Grant through the American Psychological Foundation’s EnVISION Antiracism Campaign to examine how prejudice confrontation diffuses through social networks.
Research on prejudice reduction indicates that confronting someone who says or does something that is perceived as racist reduces the likelihood that the person will express racism in the future. Imagine a scenario in which two people are talking face-to-face and one of them makes a racist comment. If the other person indicates their disapproval, for example, by saying, “that was really racist!” or “I’m uncomfortable with what you just said or did,” the original speaker may feel bad and be less likely to exhibit prejudice in the future. Folberg’s work takes this scenario a few steps further. Although the example above may appear to be an isolated incident that occurs between two people, other people are likely impacted by it. A third bystander may witness the interaction, or one of the original people involved may later relate the story to someone else. In either case, these additional people are gleaning information about the costs and benefits of confronting prejudice, and lessons learned can inform their actions in future scenarios. “That's really the thrust of this work,” Folberg says. “We want to see how that information about prejudice confrontation travels through people's social networks among Black, White, and Latinx individuals. And we're interested to see whether that affects their intentions to confront prejudice in the future.” The research will also look at scenarios in which nobody spoke up and examine how that implied tolerance or passivity in response to racism travels through social networks. Folberg says that the group dynamics impacts these scenarios. White people often perceive White confronters as more credible and less self-interested than people of color, whereas people of color may perceive White confronters as more self-interested and less sincere than Black confronters and be more suspicious of their motives. Thus, what constitutes a successful or effective confrontation may be different across different groups. As another example, a person central to a friend group may have more influence than a person peripheral to the friend group. Folberg and her collaborators are collecting survey data and asking people to answer questions about the last incident of this kind they remember. Although Folberg is focusing on confrontations that happened face-to-face, the medium through which the incident is recounted to others may vary — such as sharing on social media, recounting the story via text or phone call, etc. As you might imagine, mapping these networks, communications, and psychological impacts can get complicated quickly, making the interdisciplinary expertise of Folberg and her collaborators that much more important. Her collaborators at the University of Kentucky have expertise in network dynamics and in the psychology of racism and prejudice confrontation. Recognizing intersectional identities and the role they play is also an important piece. In society today, social justice topics and racial equity are front of mind for many people, and Folberg is glad to contribute to research that could be used to inform future efforts. “Preliminary evidence suggests that bystander intervention trainings tend to be more effective than conventional diversity trainings because they give people actual tools to use in response to an incident,” Folberg says. “This work could be used to inform bystander intervention projects and figure out how we could more effectively, for example, reduce racism in our community or empower people to confront prejudice when they witness it.”
The sound of electronic beeps filled the air around scientist Tracy Coleman as she radio-tracked fox snakes at UNO'S Glacier Creek Preserve. The beeps grew stronger and then weaker as she tried to pinpoint the snake’s location in thick, shoulder-high grass. As the afternoon sun beat down on the preserve’s reclaimed prairie, Coleman persisted. She developed her love of snakes studying biology as a UNO undergraduate, when a researcher brought a rattlesnake to a herpetology class she was taking. “I was instantly taken away by that snake,” she said. “Meeting that person and then meeting that snake inspired me to get my master’s in biology at UNO.” This desire to know more about snakes and their habitat led her to a position at the preserve, where she works as the Outreach and Administrative Specialist. “I chose to work at UNO because of the preserve. I’m interested in the conservation of the flora and fauna of Nebraska, and I’m also really interested in outreach,” Coleman said. The preserve’s 525 acres, located northwest of Omaha, satisfies those interests. As a research institution, the preserve and Coleman’s work enhance the university’s capacity for research and education. She conducts research on the preserve’s amphibian and reptile populations. The more she learns about these animals’ seasonal habitats and where they live in the preserve — such as high, mid, or low slope — the better the preserve can be managed for those species. Thanks to Coleman and others’ baseline data collection, these provide knowledge that contributes to tallgrass prairie management and ongoing restoration of the Preserve’s native habitats. Coleman uses radio-telemetry to locate the fox snakes and collect data. After capturing a snake, she records its body measurements, species and tags it with a microchip. The tag lets her know if she’s captured a snake she’s previously studied and helps her monitor growth rates and movement within the preserve. Over time, radio-telemetry has led to discoveries such as where fox snakes hibernate and where they deposit their eggs. The preserve is a protected site. It’s not going to be developed, making it a great place for research, Coleman said. The 1900’s era historic barn on the property, The Barn at Glacier Creek Preserve (aka the Barn) has been restored and serves as the research and education facility at the preserve. It’s a home — a home for UNO science and research based in biology, chemistry, geology, and geography.
ollas study examines impact of covid-19 on latino-owned businesses
A study conducted by the Office of Latino/Latin American Studies (OLLAS) at UNO shed light on the impacts of COVID-19 on Latino-owned businesses in South Omaha. Two out of three Latino-owned businesses had to reduce their staff, and three out of four had to reduce their budget in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Nearly 70% of business owners interviewed considered the pandemic to be the most difficult crisis their business had faced. “Latinos contribute extensively to the Nebraska and Omaha’s economy through their participation in business and workforce,” Cristián Doña-Reveco, Ph.D., director of OLLAS and co-author of the report said. “The results of this study present an important opportunity for city and state government officials to develop policy actions to increase support to these businesses and the community that surrounds them.” Beginning in August of 2021, UNO students from Spanish language service-learning courses taught by OLLAS faculty Steven Torres, Ph.D., and José Sequeros-Valle, Ph.D., joined with community organizations to interview more than 120 Latino business owners in South Omaha. A key finding is that the pandemic resulted in significant reductions of staff, budget, and services or products provided during 2020 by these businesses. While these conditions tended to improve slightly in 2021, Latino owners expect to see less clients, revenue, and investments in 2022. Business-owners, however, were cautiously optimistic about the future. Only one- third of them believed their business would take a year to recuperate, while about 40% said that the recuperation process would take one to three years. Overall, the effects of the pandemic have been harder on female business owners, with female-owned business declining by around 25% in the early months of the pandemic. Women were significantly more likely than men to state that this crisis has been harder for their business. This report also describes the difficulty of accessing federal, state, and city aid, while highlighting the importance of community organizations and personal networks in the distribution of aid-related information. Funding for the study came from the Omaha Community Foundation’s Community Resilience Fund.
1) UNO's Soil Judging team placed second overall in the 2021 Region 5 Soil Judging Contest held in Crookston, MN, qualifying them for the national contest for the first time in UNO's history. The competition involves students working in soil pits for a timed period in which they use a variety of tactile, sensory tests to build a profile of their soil sample. Their results are then compared against conclusions drawn by soil scientists from the USDA-Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS). 2) Kenneth Bayles, Associate Vice Chancellor for Research and Creative Activity, congratulates students Maia Bennett and Maverick Berkland who were awarded the Best and Outstanding distinctions, respectively, for their undergraduate oral presentations at the 2022 Student Research & Creative Activity Fair. 3) The Bay Area music group Audiopharmacy plays a show in honor of renowned Santee Dakota activist, John Trudell, at the Trudell Lecture on April 21, 2022. 4) Ramón Guerra, Ph.D., Associate Professor in the Department of English, (third from left) competed in the Jeopardy Professors Tournament episode that aired on December 9, 2021. 5) UNO Chancellor Joanne Li, left, presents Natan and Hannah Schwalb with the Order of the Tower award during the December 2021 commencement ceremony.
From January 2021 to April 2022, College of Arts and Sciences faculty have been featured more than 250 times in journalistic publications with local, national, and international reach. Topics covered range from the impacts of colonialism in paleontology and human relationships with canines to athlete activism and refugee crises. A newer opportunity for faculty is writing for The Conversation, an independent source of news, analysis, and expert commentary written by academics and researchers working with professional journalists. UNO became a member of The Conversation in 2020, and 32 faculty members (10 from CAS) have since published 40 articles that were picked up by other outlets and read more than 976,000 times in total.
500+
A&S FACULTY AND COLLABORATORS OFFER EXPERT INSIGHTS ON BREAKING UKRAINE NEWS
march 3, 2022: the russian invasion of ukraine A special Human Rights Forum was convened about ongoing developments related to the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Experts discussed the situation on the ground; the response of the USA, NATO, and the EU to the invasion; military developments; and International Humanitarian Law in times of war. March 15, 2022: Access the experts with austin doctor Austin Doctor, Ph.D., Assistant Professor of Political Science and Director of counterterrorism research initiatives for NCITE, answered “What does the war in Ukraine tell us about the nature of modern warfare?” march 23, 2022: access the experts with jody neathery-castro Jody Neathery-Castro, Ph.D., Distinguished Associate Professor of Political Science at UNO, answers the question: "Why should Americans care about the Russian attack on Ukraine?" April 7, 2022: The War in Ukraine and Refugee Movements This Human Rights Forum included a panel of experts discussing refugee issues, including international and domestic law about refuge and asylum. The panelists talked about current facts about the status of refugees from the war in Ukraine, as well as contemporary concerns about refugee populations worldwide. april 27, 2022: The Conflict in Ukraine: Views from Europe & the U.S. This panel discussion on the conflict in Ukraine featured speakers from Pedagogical University in Krakow, Poland, as well as experts from UNO's Department of Political Science. media insights Media outlets across Nebraska and beyond have relied on UNO experts to understand the impacts, at home and abroad, of Russia's invasion of Ukraine. The rapidly changing situation in Ukraine has raised questions about cybersecurity, misinformation, infrastructure and oil supply. And as the world focused its attention to Eastern Europe, local and national news outlets have turned their attention to the UNO campus to hear from faculty, including those in Arts & Sciences.
250+ MEDIA MENTIONS
Following the Russian invasion of Ukraine, experts in political science, international studies, national security and deterrence, religion, and human rights presented public discussions and participated in media sharing their expertise as events unfolded.
people tuned into discussions related to the invasion of ukraine
remembering Dr. james fawcett from TALENTED CLARINETIST to NOTED HERPETOLOGIST
James Fawcett at the Allwine Prairie Tract, Glacier Creek Preserve. Photo by Thomas Bragg.
Mia Bourek, a graduate of the M.A. in Sociology program with a minor in History, was inspired by human rights courses and the art of Holocaust survivor Samuel Bak to write and record music on human rights topics. Bourek remembers first being introduced to the concept of genocide on a visit to the U.S. Holocaust Museum in Washington, D.C. as a young child. Bourek’s learning progressed in the years since, and as a master’s student at UNO, Bourek attended an exhibit on campus featuring the work of Holocaust survivor Samuel Bak, an artist whose body of work extends back to his childhood wartime experiences. “When Samuel Bak came and shared such intimate work, it inspired me to do something more without putting all that emotional labor on the victims,” Bourek says. "I was inspired to be a part of the public education process of making people aware of human rights issues. Part of my desire to learn more is realizing that these things happened frequently, and the world largely stayed silent, each time. It made me want to help others understand more as well.” Bourek has always been interested in music and said she feels that she’s a better song writer than communicator — it has been the outlet for understanding and expression. “Music has been there for me when I’m trying to make sense of these tough issues such as systemic oppressions or genocide,” Bourek says. “It helps me work through my own shock but it’s also a way to bring awareness to the larger community.” Bourek usually writes her music and lyrics in tandem, fiddling with a series of notes or a chord progression that stands out and then vocalizing words or phrases until they work themselves into lyrics that make sense. Bourek has performed in public venues via open-mic nights and tries to incorporate storytelling into the performance by sharing the context of a song or a quick history lesson. Bourek’s latest album covers a breadth of human rights topics, but a recurring theme would be “challenge your worldview.” The opening song, (Intro) the tragedy, is a rewrite of a poem Bourek wrote in high school. She saw a lot of parallels between the themes of the original poem and modern white supremacy, misinformation, and how it fuels hatred. Another song, Fresh Apples in Rotten Barrels, was written after the death of James Scurlock and reflects on the history of policing going back to slavery patrols. Album proceeds will go to the Sam and Frances Fried Holocaust and Genocide Academy at UNO, which facilitates study of genocides and provides students, faculty, and community members tools to assist in the prevention of crimes against humanity.
James D. Fawcett, a respected researcher and Associate Professor Emeritus in the Department of Biology at UNO, passed away in early 2020, but his legacy lives on in his home country of New Zealand and beyond. As a boy, James studied the clarinet and would eventually go on to perform professionally with the Auckland Wind Ensemble and various orchestras, as well as teach the instrument to others. At the same time, James was expanding his knowledge of biology, completing both a bachelor's and a master's degree in the subject at the University of Auckland. He came to the U.S. to study under renowned herpetologist Hobart Smith at the University of Illinois, leaving behind his career as a professional musician. He later completed his Ph.D. in zoology at the University of Colorado, and found a position working at the University of Nebraska at Omaha in the Biology Department where he would spend the next several decades. Moving up from an instructor position to an Assistant Professor and then Associate Professor of Biology, James was named an Associate Professor Emeritus upon his retirement in 2015. In his years of teaching and research at UNO, James directed more than 50 graduate student thesis projects, countless undergraduate projects, and mentored numerous others. James was a sought-after instructor who taught courses in herpetology, vertebrate embryology, comparative vertebrate anatomy, histology, and human anatomy and physiology, among others. He was an instructor who challenged his students academically while exuding enthusiasm for his subjects. He also built a reputation among fellow scientists in his field worldwide. James' own research focused much on reproductive biology and herpetofauna native to New Zealand, particularly the iconic tuatara, which includes more than 110 lizard species like skinks and geckos and less than a handful of frog species. He was a co-founder of the Nebraska Herpetological Society in 1978, as well as the World Congress of Herpetology where he represented New Zealand in 1982. To honor his storied legacy, James' wife Georgene established the James Fawcett Postgraduate Research Award with the Auckland Museum and the James Fawcett New Zealand Herpetofaunal Postgraduate Research Award at the University of Auckland. The awards are meant to elevate herpetological researchers whose work focuses on New Zealand native reptiles and/or amphibians, supporting the field that James was so dedicated to.
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Mia Bourek, a recent M.A. of Sociology graduate, was inspired by human rights coursework and the art of Holocaust survivor Samuel Bak to write and record an album on human rights topics.
TWO Cas faculty recognized by the nu system
2022
2021
Ramazan Kilinç | 2021 Outstanding Teaching and Instructional Creativity Award This award honors honors members of the NU faculty who have developed meritorious and sustained records of excellence in teaching and creativity related to teaching. Kilinç is a Professor of Political Science and Director of the Islamic Studies Program who teaches courses on comparative politics and international relations.
Maia Bennet, Bioinformatics, and Brandon Villanueva-Sanchez, Neuroscience, were awarded prestigious Barry Goldwater Scholarships. Jazmyn Cruz, Foreign Languages & Literature, won a Fulbright Award to serve as an English Teaching Assistant (ETA) in Germany. Keshia Greve, School Psychology, won the Helen Hansen Outstanding Graduate Student Award. Sheri McVay, Psychology, won the Chancellor's Award for Outstanding Student Leadership. Sydney Meier, Mathematics and Women's & Gender Studies, won the 2022 Dean's Award. OUTSTANDING MAJOR AWARDS Elizabeth Bender, Foreign Languages & Literature Cara Booth, Environmental Science Alexa Callahan, Psychology Ayush Chataut, Molecular and Biomedical Biology Grant Cole, Economics Jametria Conner, Medical Humanities Nathaniel Evenson, Geology Joshua Franzen, Biology Erina Funatsu, International Studies Allyson Glaser, Neuroscience Darlene Gomez, Political Science Sydney Kerkman, Chemistry Erick Lopez-Quintana, Latino/Latin American Studies Marcella McGuire, Religious Studies Sydney Meier, Mathematics and Women's & Gender Studies Aleksander Miller, History Rhett Milner, English Afrah Rasheed, Sociology Quinton Rasser, Philosophy Jocelyn Reed, Black Studies Gary Saul, Interdisciplinary Studies Gustavo Servin-Maciel, Geography
Christine Cutucache | 2021 Innovation, Development and Engagement Award (IDEA) This award honors members of the NU faculty who have extended their academic expertise beyond the boundaries of the University in ways that have enriched the broader community. Cutucache is the Haddix Community Chair of Science and Associate Professor of Biology, as well as director of UNO's STEM TRAIL Center.
student awards and HONORS
Andrea Daves, Neuroscience & Foreign Languages and Literature, won the Outstanding Student Athlete Award. Bridget Lillethorup, English, won the Helen Hansen Outstanding Graduate Award. Matt Pile, Chemistry, won the Outstanding Student Athlete Award. Jessica Wooley, Biology, won the Chancellor's Award for Outstanding Service Learning. Aya Yousuf, Political Science & Economics, won the 2021 Dean's Award and the Chancellor's Award for Excellence in Research and Creative Activity. OUTSTANDING MAJOR AWARDS Josiah Aakre, Mathematics Kaleb Ball, History Brooke Beckius, Psychology Cassidy Brocaille, Latino/Latin American Studies Julia Cormack, English and Foreign Languages & Literature Megan Czerwinski, Environmental Science William Danze, Philosophy Brady Dodds, Women’s & Gender Studies Brooklyn Larimore, Medical Humanities LeeAnna Lui, Molecular and Biomedical Biology Guadalupe Najera, Sociology Josie Nelson, International Studies Pranav Ojha, Neuroscience Grahm Peschel, Geography Kaia Phelps, Black Studies Matt Pile, Chemistry Luis Rodriguez, Economics Elias Smith, Biology Jimmy Wood, Geology Aya Yousuf, Political Science
Alumni Outstanding Teacher Award winners: Danielle Battisti, History Roxi Kellar, Biology Adam Weaver, Psychology Michelle Black, Political Science, won the A&S Excellence in Research/ Creative Activity Award. Mark Celinscak, History, won the A&S Excellence in Research/ Creative Activity Award. Christine Cutucache, Biology, won a Fulbright Award to Finland to build collaborations and share research in STEM learning. Farrah Grant, Geography/Geology, won the A&S Excellence in Teaching Award for a full-time instructor. Clare Maakestad, Sociology and Anthropology, won the A&S Excellence in Teaching Award for a part-time instructor. David Peterson, English, won the Mary Ann Lamanna Award for Excellence in Women’s and Gender Studies. Cecilia Tocaimaza-Hatch and Tara Toscano, Foreign Languages & Literature, won the Outstanding Innovation in Teaching with Technology Award.
Alumni Outstanding Teacher Award winners: Samantha Ammons, Sociology and Anthropology Robert Darcy, English Paul Davis, Biology Paul Davis, Biology, and Guoqing Lu, Biology, won the UNO Award for Distinguished Research or Creative Activity. Ramazan Kilinç, Political Science, won the A&S Excellence in Research/ Creative Activity Award. Elisha Novak, Sociology and Anthropology, won the A&S Excellence in Teaching Award for a part-time instructor. Lana Obradovic, Political Science, won the UNO Faculty Excellence in Engagement Award. Katie Shirazi, Biology, won the A&S Excellence in Teaching Award for a full-time instructor. Ryan Wong, Biology, won the A&S Excellence in Research/ Creative Activity Award.
faculty awards and HONORS
When alumna Leah Whitney Chavez first came to UNO, her future plans began in one direction but soon shifted. Little did she know that she would launch a nonprofit dedicated to removing language barriers in Omaha and promoting cultural awareness by the time she graduated.
In her second year as a student, Leah Whitney Chavez had an idea to bring together her passion for expression of diversity and foreign language as well as providing opportunities to give a voice to underrepresented populations in the Omaha area. Through encouragement from UNO faculty and partnerships with community organizations, the idea grew into what is today known as World Speaks Omaha, where Chavez serves as Founder and Executive Director. This 501(c)(3) non-profit organization works to bridge social-economic gaps through cultural education, inclusion initiatives, and advocacy services. They also provide programming and translation or interpretation services for 12 different languages to the Omaha community. World Speaks Omaha hosts an online series called Justice Speaks, which is an ongoing dialogue where local people of color can come to talk about their culture and the different issues they face, and the videos are available on YouTube. “Our mission is really to give a voice to the voiceless,” she said. “Being able to give folks a platform where they can talk about their culture or about things that they’re going through and being empathetic, I think that is my Maverick Spirit.” Her desire to begin working with diverse communities was influenced by UNO’s Global Diplomat program which allows students to help promote campus to incoming international students and help them settle in upon arrival in Omaha. “[The Global Diplomat Program] was an amazing opportunity to meet people from all over the world and engage with them,” she said. Chavez also credits the Goodrich Program for shaping who she is today, “The program is very supportive. You have friends, mentors, peers that help you get through your college journey. Even when [my plans] shifted, they were still behind me 100%. It feels like a family and I’m so happy to be a Goodricher.”
The College of Arts & Sciences Cross the Finish Line Scholarship assists students who, due to unexpected or exceptional circumstances, need additional financial support to complete their final graduation requirements. This scholarship is an incredibly powerful tool to help students achieve their goals and dreams in education and beyond.
Lindsey Mayer, senior, women’s and gender studies “I am a first-generation student and will be the first person in my immediate family to graduate from a four-year university. This scholarship has given me the opportunity to achieve that and helped to take some of the burden off my mom’s shoulders. Instead of focusing on finding work to pay for school I have been able to get internships and jobs that are helping me gain hands-on experiences that will benefit my future career.” Tyler Rafter, senior, biology and forensic psychology “For me, this scholarship provided security so that, despite being furloughed for the majority of this past year, I was secure enough to continue my education and complete my degree.”
Find more stories about scholarship recipients and learn how you can donate to help a student cross the finish line to graduation.
I Am the ROI: leah whitney chavez
HELPING STUDENTS CROSS THE FINISH LINE
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