Who says it takes years to start your own business, climb the corporate ladder, travel the world or make a difference in your community? Not the hundreds of University of Nebraska-Lincoln young alumni around the country who have already accomplished these things and more! Read their stories here, and check back often as we add to our library of young alumni stories.
Nominate Someone
Do you know any young alumni who have excelled in their careers or have made a difference in their communities? Tell us! Send an email with some brief background information to alumni@huskeralum.org, and be sure to put "Young Alumni Stories" in the subject line.
The alumni association also features outstanding young alumni in our members-only publication, Nebraska Magazine. Check out these stories about recent graduates:
Abby Miller
An actress, musician and screenwriter, Abby doesn't spend her days at a 9-to-5 job. She loves her life as a "professional interviewee", going to auditions and collaborating with a community of artists in Los Angeles. Abby has appeared in "Mad Men," "Justified," "The Nine" and "Private Practice", as well as commercials for T Mobile, Target and more.
UNL Graduation year and major: Theatre Performance - 2002
Q: Tell us about your career focus. What is your current job, and what is your long-term goal?
A: I am an artist living and working in L.A. I make my living mainly through acting in films and on television. However, I have also been in a band for over five years, and we've generated income through that. I've recently started screenwriting as well. So, like I said, I would categorize myself as an artist, and a performer. My long-term goals would be to keep doing what I'm doing. To keep creating art, through writing and performing, and to keep making a living at it. And to enjoy the journey. It's all about the journey.
Q: Name one thing about your job people might be interested to know.
A: When my mom came out to visit for the first time she was amazed at how little I "worked." I remember her turning to me and saying, “I can't believe you do this every day.” I always thought that was interesting because although I may not spend my days at a 9-to-5 job, this was work for me. I go to auditions and collaborate with friends on potential projects. I attend events and go and see plays, films, etc., for inspiration. I use all of it. And to me this has become my version of work, because I go to countless auditions, and I do not book them all. I am constantly interviewing for jobs. And I get rejected a lot. I have become a professional job interviewee. There are times when I book a job. And sometimes, that one day of work will take care of me for months. And I also, just so happen to love it. It's amazing. So it makes it worth it. But there's down time; time to just hang at coffee shops with friends. Unfortunately, mom saw more of the downtime than the work itself. Oops.
Q: How do you give back to your community?
A: To be honest this was something I grappled with when I moved here, and still do, to a lesser degree. I'd meet people or hear from friends back home who were social workers or doctors or had just finished up working with the Peace Corps, and I couldn't help but immediately feel, “Does what I do matter?” But then you realize, whether it be a song that you've written and performed that really inspired and touched someone in the audience, or a fellow actor living in L.A. that sees what you're doing and says, “I can do that too,” that what you do does matter. I feel like I give back to my artist community by staying involved, by supporting my fellow artists and attending they're performances, exhibits, etc. If they are raising money for an organization I help out. If they need me to play a gig or help them out with a table read, whatever the case may be, I say yes. If they need someone to just be there for them and listen I do that too. I have an amazing community in L.A., and I'm thankful for that.
Q: Anything else you would like to share about your life after UNL?
A: Being away from Nebraska has made me realize how thankful I am to be from there; to have been raised by amazing parents and to have come from a supportive community. Nebraska and the hard work that I did there (both as a young adult and then through college) really prepared me for this city. And I love what I do. And I love where I live. So thank you. :)
Q: How did UNL help to prepare you for success in your career?
A: I am very thankful to the theatre department, to Virginia Smith and Harris Smith for pushing me when I needed to be pushed. For supporting me when I needed to be supported. For casting me when I needed to be cast...seriously though, they knew when I was ready for a role, or at least what I was capable of, before I did. That's for sure. Looking back I was so malleable. And at times that was good, great even, and other times that was not so good. I feel like I grew up a lot at the University. I also studied abroad my senior year, at MiddlesexUniversity in London, and UNL totally supported me with this. The department helped me get there through transferring scholarships, and that experience changed me in ways that I cannot (even to this day) describe. I realized, there, just how much I wanted to perform. And I came back confident, for the first time, that I could do this for the rest of my life.
Q: Who was your favorite faculty/staff member at UNL, and why?
A: There are lots of professors and faculty I loved while attending UNL. Obviously Virginia and Harris from the theatre department (and Todd Cuddy...great man), then there's Larry and Caroline Routh who helped me out a lot during my time at UNL, Caroline with getting scholarships and Larry with my next career move, and I loved Patrick McBride. I worked with him over a summer for New Student Enrollment. But funny enough, the one I was most influenced by was Paul Steger, because if it wasn't for him, I don't know if I would have gone to UNL. He auditioned me for the program and convinced my parents that UNL was the place for me. He was the first person to see my potential. Funny enough, he was never my teacher and it wasn't until after I'd left UNL that he came back and became the department head. But I think he's a great man, and a passionate artist. I remember, he directed Picasso at the Lapin Agile my freshman year. I loved that play, and I loved watching him work with his actors. I'm so glad he's back at the university. I just wish I could have worked with him during my time there. Who knows? Maybe someday.
Q: What is your favorite campus memory?
A: Playing Evelyn in Shape of Things (Written by Neil Labute, directed by Virginia Smith) my senior year, because I feel like it really was the perfect ending for my time at UNL. Like most young adults, I felt like I flailed a bit my first couple years at UNL. I didn't exactly know what I wanted, with my career and my personal life, and I was all over the place. And then, through opportunities within the department and the study abroad program, I found my niche. And I wanted to act. I wanted to be on stage the rest of my life. I was ready to be an artist. And my character in Shape of Things just so happened to be an artist who would do anything for her art. I felt like I really related to her at that moment in my life. And I had found out who I wanted to be, and what I wanted to do. I was ready to take the next step and that play really helped me do it.
Q: As an alum, what makes you most proud of UNL today?
A: Well, being a Cornhusker is pretty cool. I get together with a group of Nebraskans (there are a lot of us out here!) and watch game days...I'm proud to be a Cornhusker. There is an honest integrity that comes along with being from Nebraska. And you carry it with you through your life. So much of my writing involves Nebraska. So much of my past is Nebraska, having spent 22 years of my life there. It will always live in me and I'm thankful for that.
Q: What is your advice for other recent graduates?
A: Focus on the things in life that you want. Don't focus on the things you don't want. So much of your life is filled with the intangibles, the “what if's”, and you could spend countless hours worrying unnecessarily. Trust me, I've done it. I find that the older I've gotten the more I've been able to switch focus. Do the things you want to do. Focus on what makes you happy. Ask for what you want and make it positive. And the sooner you can do this the better, because I can promise you, your life will improve.
Misti (Kuenning) Hogan
Misti is the senior marketing representative for Mid-Tractors at Deere and Company, where she works closely with her counterparts in Germany and Mexico to align global customer requirements with product and information delivery. Constant dedication to her work has allowed her to continuously move forward with John Deere.
UNL Graduation year and major: Agribusiness and Agricultural Economics - 2003
Q: Tell us about your career focus. What is your current job, and what is your long-term goal?
A: My current position focuses on marketing John Deere’s 6D, 6030, and 7030 small-frame Series tractors in the United States and Canada. This includes preparing sales material, training programs, and launching new products into the marketplace. I work with my counterparts in Germany and Mexico to make sure that our marketing messages are consistent in the global marketplace. My long-term goal is to work within upper management in the development of our dealer network.
Q: Name one thing about your job people might be interested to know.
A: A major part of my job at this time is developing class material on the new products that we will be introducing. This class will be presented 48 times to more than 4,500 of our John Deere Dealer personnel. Since the products I cover are produced globally, I also get the chance to travel overseas yearly.
Q: How do you give back to your community?
A: I am an active volunteer with Junior Achievement. I have spent time volunteering in kindergarten, 1st grade, and 2nd grade classrooms. It is very rewarding to bring the concepts of community and business to the students.
Q: Anything else you would like to share about your life after UNL?
A: Since graduation, I have had the opportunity to move five different times with John Deere. Beyond work and volunteering, I’ve been married 3 ½ years to my husband, Chad, and a mother to our 1-year-old daughter, Madilyn.
Q: How did UNL help to prepare you for success in your career?
A: UNL prepared me for success in my career by offering a good balance of work and life. The knowledge I gained in the classroom set the foundation for the principles used in my various positions within John Deere. Working as a teaching assistant on campus provided me with mentoring and development opportunities. Finally, my involvements in clubs on campus allowed me to fine-tune my leadership and relationship skills. UNL provides strong educational and extracurricular experiences, creating a well rounded candidate.
Q: Who was your favorite faculty/staff member at UNL, and why?
A: Dr. Ron Hanson. Dr. Hanson really pushes his students and takes a strong interest in their success.
Q: What is your favorite campus memory?
A: Time spent with my Delta Gamma sorority sisters at social events and football games.
Q: As an alum, what makes you most proud of UNL today?
A: I volunteer to interview candidates for summer marketing internships with John Deere. I am proud of the caliber of candidates that come from UNL’s College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources.
Q: What is your advice for other recent graduates?
A: Take each opportunity that comes your way, as you never know where it will take you and what doors it will open up for your future.
Daniel Dawes
Daniel advises recent graduates to focus on community interests, rather than self interests. He lives this doctrine every day as an attorney in Washington D.C. During the recent health reform negotiations, Daniel worked closely with the White House and Congress, to ensure the legislation included reduced disparities in health status and health care among vulnerable populations.
UNL Graduation year and major: Law - 2006
Q: Tell us about your career focus. What is your current job, and what is your long-term goal?
A: My career focuses on federal health law, policy and ethics. More specifically, I am involved in efforts to transform our public health and healthcare systems as we implement health reform. Currently, I am a healthcare attorney and manager of federal affairs and grassroots network for a major healthcare organization in Washington D.C. My long-term goal is to continue to advance sound health laws and policies impacting vulnerable populations.
Q: Name one thing about your job people might be interested to know.
A: I have had the privilege of working on some of our country’s most recent landmark laws, including the Mental Health Parity Act, Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act and the Affordable Care Act (health reform law). I am frequently consulted by prominent federal, state and local government leaders as well as by numerous organizations and coalitions about various public policy issues.
Q: How do you give back to your community?
A: I travel across our country speaking to diverse groups, and publish various articles and resources intended to dispel the myths and misconceptions around the health reform law and inform and empower individuals about opportunities and benefits under this historic law. I serve on various commissions, boards and committees, and work with coalitions to harness the collective power of collaboration to effect the positive changes we need in health care, and secure the results imagined by recent healthcare laws.
Q: How did UNL help to prepare you for success in your career?
A: UNL provided me with the knowledge, skills, foundation, work ethic, support system and confidence I needed to build myself as an expert and thought leader in healthcare law and policy.
Q: Who was your favorite faculty/staff member at UNL, and why?
A: I have fond memories and tremendous respect for several outstanding individuals who mentored me and owned my success. Without the august administration, faculty, staff and alumni of the College of Law, I would not have achieved the successes I have so far. I am eternally grateful to UNL for providing me an excellent education and the ability to compete successfully in our global society.
Q: What is your favorite campus memory?
A: Eating dinner with my colleagues from Fedde Hall and discussing the latest issues of the day. I enjoyed conversing with folks who came from diverse disciplines and backgrounds.
Q: As an alum, what makes you most proud of UNL today?
A: The fact that UNL is an evolving institution with a stellar reputation. I am proud of UNL for providing innovative and practical courses designed to strengthen students’ skills so they are prepared to tackle the complex challenges awaiting them in their careers.
Q: What is your advice for other recent graduates?
A: Your reputation certainly does precede you, so share the gift of yourselves with the world. As future professionals you will gain invaluable knowledge and develop unique skills that will give you power that few in our society possess. You can choose to use your skill for self-serving purposes, but eventually people will see right through you, or you can choose to use your skill to uplift your community and make a lasting impact.
Kiersten Runnels
A 2003 graduate of the fashion merchandising program, Kiersten has worked as an assistant buyer for notable companies throughout New York such as Escada USA, Yves Saint Laurent and Saks Fifth Avenue. She continues to maintain close ties to the University of Nebraska through participation in the College of Education and Human Sciences Professional Advisory Committee and the Nebraska Society of New York.
UNL Graduation year and major: Fashion Merchandising - 2003
Q: Tell us about your career focus. What is your current job, and what is your long-term goal?
A: Ever since I started my first job at the Gap in high school, I knew I wanted to work in fashion, particularly in buying. Since then, I have focused and worked very hard to achieve those goals. I am currently an Associate Buyer at Saks Fifth Avenue, specifically buying Armani Collezioni and Loro Piana. Within the next year or so I am hoping to be promoted to Buyer, and thus achieve my primary goal. In terms of long-term, I want to continue to work hard, buying women’s designer collections, and continue to make a name for myself within the fashion industry.
Q: Name one thing about your job people might be interested to know.
A: Being a buyer is much more analytical than many people think. It is true, about four times a year I do get to go “shopping”. I am given a budget and essentially get to buy what I think it best. That is the fun part of the job! But, there is a lot of analysis which goes into preparing for the “shopping” part of my job. I need to know what has been successful or not successful in the past, and really understand who our customers are, and what they would like to buy, rather than just what I like.
Q: How do you give back to your community?
A: I currently serve on the University of Nebraska College of Education and Human Sciences Professional Advisory Committee. I spend time traveling back to UNL for meetings, as well as throughout the year meeting and communicating with students in New York City on career advice and helpful tips on getting a start and being successful in fashion. For the past two years, I have served as the Treasurer for the Nebraska Society of New York (the official New York alumni chapter), and am one of the lead board members planning the Taste of Nebraska, which we host every other year. In addition, I am actively involved and volunteer regularly with many New York-based charities.
Q: Anything else you would like to share about your life after UNL?
A: I grew up in Nebraska as well as went the college there, and the more time I spend away from home, the more I appreciate Nebraska. However, I absolutely love New York City, and wouldn’t want to live anywhere else. From a very young age I always knew I would live in New York City. I cannot get enough of the history and culture here, and after more than seven years living here, I discover new things almost every day. I make it a point to take advantage of everything this city has to offer. If I am not at work, I am generally eating out at a new restaurant, having drinks at a new bar, shopping at a new boutique, seeing an exhibit at one of the museums, or just exploring the city!
Q: How did UNL help to prepare you for success in your career?
A: I think in general the support and encouragement I received from the faculty at UNL set the tone for my success. When I set up a meeting with my advisor my freshman year to talk about studying abroad my junior year, they told me it was a little early to start thinking about that, but gave me all the resources I needed to start working towards goals. When I said I was going to intern in NYC for a summer, they not only encouraged me, but again provided me with tools I needed to make it happen and be successful. I think the mindset of the department in continuously encouraging excellence, and the confidence if you have a goal you can achieve it, helped me to be on the path for a successful career.
Q: Who was your favorite faculty/staff member at UNL, and why?
A: I honestly don’t think I could pick just one person. First, when I was applying for college and making my decision as to where to go, Dr. Rita Kean spoke so highly of the fashion merchandising program at UNL, it was hard to say no. Throughout my time at UNL, and into my professional career, she has been such an inspiration and mentor. During my time as a student, Dr. Barbara Trout was such an amazing supporter as well. When I spoke about the department always supporting each student and striving for excellence, I think of Dr. Trout. She has been such an amazing supporter of me and my career, but also the students at UNL. As I became more involved with the Textiles, Clothing, and Design department as a professional in the fashion industry, I have had the opportunity to better get to know Michael James. Although I was never a student of his, it has been so fantastic to continue to get to know him and work with him to better the education and experience for students of the department. All three of these faculty members exemplify all of the great attributes of UNL and thus are my favorite!
Q: What is your favorite campus memory?
A: I think it would be when another UNL student and I hosted the first “fashion career panel” at a Montage (the Textiles, Clothing, and Design Club) meeting. We had both just come back from amazing internships; mine in NYC, and hers in San Francisco. We had other students who also had interned that summer on the panel, and we had more than 30 fashion students and faculty turn out. To see so many students make time to learn and ask questions about our experiences in the fashion industry was so inspiring. This is one of the many reasons why I continue to go back and speak with students as a professional in the fashion industry.
Q: As an alum, what makes you most proud of UNL today?
A: I am most proud of the opportunities I had, the support I had, and the education my professors worked hard to give me. I am proud to say I went to UNL, specifically for Fashion Merchandising. After having worked in the fashion industry for more than seven years, I am can truly say I received a great education to prepare me for working and excelling in this industry.
Q: What is your advice for other recent graduates?
A: I think we are all very lucky to call ourselves Nebraskans. Even people who I have met who did not grow up in Nebraska but went to UNL, grow such a strong identification with Nebraska, they are proud to say they went to UNL. This is such an amazing gift to have, and something that sets UNL grads apart from others. With this (being a graduate of UNL), you are already assumed to be hard working, honest, and posses great integrity, among many other positive things. So my advice is to never prove anyone wrong! Once a graduate enters the workforce he/she will encounter many different types of people, good and bad, but at the end of the day working hard and being honest will make you the most successful person in whichever field you choose to enter.
Matthew DeBoer
Upon graduation, Matthew was a finalist for the Alpha Rho Chi Bronze Medal Award, a high honor for architecture students. He then started his professional career with Leo A Daly, where his primary roles are the design and production of buildings and their construction documents along with the supporting presentation graphics, including three-dimensional modeling and photo-realistic renderings.
UNL Graduation year and major: Architecture – 2007 (BS), 2009 (MA)
Q: Tell us about your career focus. What is your current job, and what is your long-term goal?
A: My career focus is in the field of Architecture and I am currently with Leo A Daly, a multi-discipline architecture and engineering firm in Omaha, Nebraska. Ultimately, I am working towards becoming a licensed architect and eventually expanding my roles and responsibilities on the projects I am working on.
Q: Name one thing about your job people might be interested to know.
A: During the design process we utilize many different types of media to represent our ideas, from physical study models all the way to finished photo-realistic renderings. These representations are critical as they are both a design aid and help to sell our ideas to clients and peers.
Q: How do you give back to your community?
A: Along with returning to UNL for student reviews I am also an active member of Leo A Daly’s Young Professionals Committee, and we have teamed up with several organizations that give back to our community, including Together Inc. and InCommon, which are both located in Omaha. We are also partnering with SAC Federal Credit Union to participate in this year’s Sand in the City, which is a fundraiser for the Nebraska Children’s Home Society.
Q: Anything else you would like to share about your life after UNL?
A: Soon after graduating in May of 2009 I married my very patient fiancé and moved to Papillion Nebraska, which was my home town growing up.
Q: How did UNL help to prepare you for success in your career?
A: I can attribute a lot of my discipline and drive from my years in the College of Architecture, and many of the skills I learned while a student I use every day at my job.
Q: Who was your favorite faculty/staff member at UNL, and why?
A: There are too many influential faculty members to just list one, as it seemed each semester brought many new challenges and important lessons that were critical to my development. I had great studios with Chris Ford and Rumiko Honda, and I spent a year-and-a-half with Peter Hind in the design and production of houses for Neighborworks, and these were very important to my growth as a designer. My final semester introduced me to Martin Despang and Erhard Schutz, who are my mentors to this day and continue to support and encourage me in my career.
Q: What is your favorite campus memory?
A: The many very late nights in Arch Hall working and hanging out with my classmates, especially in the early years of school.
Q: As an alum, what makes you most proud of UNL today?
A: To be able to come back as a guest critic and see the excellent work that is still being produced by the Architecture students.
Q: What is your advice for other recent graduates?
A: To always stay motivated and driven, you are your own key to success!
Angel McMullen-Gunn
Angel discovered she didn’t need to leave Nebraska to work for a top aerospace and defense company. As Manufacturing Business Manager and Senior Mechanical Engineer at Hamilton Sundstrand’s Mechanical Operations in York, she is the Primary Test Engineer for hydraulic aerospace components. Angel was also a founding member of the Seward County Young Professionals.
UNL Graduation year and major: BS Mechanical Engineering (2003), MEng Engineering Management (2007)
Q: Tell us about your career focus. What is your current job, and what is your long-term goal?
A: As Manufacturing Business Manager and Senior Mechanical Engineer at Hamilton Sundstrand’s Mechanical Operations in York, Nebraska, my assorted responsibilities include managing Ram Air Turbine (RAT) Manufacturing, as well as Primary Test Engineer for hydraulic aerospace components. As the RAT Manager I work with a diverse group, including leading cross-functional teams within operations, quality, engineering, and finance. Long term, I would like to continue on the management-tract, as I really enjoy working with people. Assuring my team has the opportunity to grow, while helping others reach their goals, is quite a rewarding experience!
Q: Name one thing about your job people might be interested to know.
A: Many find it quite interesting to learn there is an aerospace manufacturing facility right here in NEBRASKA! I work at a full-service manufacturing, assembly, and test facility specializing in precision machining, heat treating, plating, and nondestructive testing. We are ISO-9001 registered, AS9100B certified, and ISO-14001 certified. Hamilton Sundstrand’s systems are found on nearly every aircraft on earth. We count dozens of the world’s commercial airlines and every major air framer among our customers. Today, our company includes 16,400 employees located at 150 facilities in 20 countries around the world. Hamilton Sundstrand is a subsidiary of United Technologies Corp. (UTC), a diversified company that provides high technology products and services to the building and aerospace industries worldwide. UTC, which also includes Pratt & Whitney and Sikorsky Aircraft, was ranked the No. 1 Aerospace and Defense company in ‘Fortune’ magazine’s list of America’s Most Admired Companies, in both 2009 and 2010. That is correct, right here in YORK, NEBRASKA!
Q: How do you give back to your community?
A: I feel it is important to make a commitment to our communities and local youth, and therefore stay active in several rural Nebraska communities. I am very active in the Society of Women Engineers (SWE), currently serving as the Eastern Nebraska Vice-President/President-Elect, Membership Coordinator, and UNL’s Counselor, as well as sitting on several regional and national SWE Committees. Additionally, I am a member of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) and American Society of Quality (ASQ). I actively support our country, service members, veterans and their families as a 20+ year member of the Pleasant Dale American Legion Auxiliary Unit #354. In 2007, I was a founding member of the Seward County Young Professionals to actively promote attraction and retention of young professionals to the many opportunities in my rural community. Furthermore, I enjoy volunteering at the York Middle School as mentor for the Nebraska TeamMates Program.
Q: How did UNL help to prepare you for success in your career?
A: My BS Mechanical Engineering gave me a great knowledge base to build upon in the manufacturing industry. I was then able to continue my education as a working professional through UNL’s MEng program. I was able to focus specifically on industrial and management systems engineering, coupled with pertinent business classes, therefore I was able to tailor my education to my business needs and goals. I was able to select coursework and create my own “Operational MBA” if you will, focusing on important core concepts of lean manufacturing, quality and supply chain management. The return on investment from grad school has been quite substantial because continuing my education gave me the opportunity to control my career path and future. It helped me not only expand my technical knowledge, but increase my willingness to take on new functional challenges in management. As an engineer, my philosophy is that the more information I have, the more comfortable I am in unknown settings. I gained great insight on topics that were relevant to my present career and career goals. In retrospect, my experiences at UNL have given me the knowledge and confidence to work with all levels of an organization and enjoy the challenges therein. I have found great personal and professional satisfaction in what I do as a manager and an engineer: solve problems to improve someone’s quality of life.
Q: Who was your favorite faculty/staff member at UNL, and why?
A: Favorite UNL Staff Member: Lark Bear, Professional Services Coordinator for the College of Engineering. She was such a great resource and sounding board during my undergrad, and I continue to call on her to find the best UNL engineering students to hire today. She helped me take advantage of several co-operative education rotations during my undergrad career so that I could find my niche within engineering. After graduation, I needed to remain in the Lincoln metro area at a time when the job market in manufacturing was extremely weak. Lark helped me to reassess my priorities and explore new avenues in pursuit of my goal so that I was able to secure employment locally. I am very grateful that I have been fortunate to succeed at home in Nebraska; to raise a family while attaining my career goals.
Favorite UNL Faculty Member: Dr. Brian Robertson, Mechanical Engineering Professor. I must thank Dr. Robertson, as he was the one that gave me an engineering jump-start with the opportunity to work in his research lab. His semiconducting boron carbide neutron detector project was a lot of hard work, but also a rewarding learning experience. I would not trade my research experience for anything, as I have been able to use that technical knowledge and logic throughout my career, in a number of industries.
Q: What is your favorite campus memory?
A: UNL E-week. Every year, the Engineering College celebrates the end of the academic year with fun events including Quiz Bowl, Scavenger Hunts and an Open House. It was fun to let loose and have a good time before finals. I remember Engineering Scavenger Hunts carrying stuffed animals around campus and quiz bowl on random trivia for some extra cash. We would also get to show off our projects and labs to the public; I greatly enjoyed sharing my research endeavors and leading hands-on activities to show the public how fun the field of engineering is!
Q: As an alum, what makes you most proud of UNL today?
A: I am proud of the research and technological development that continues in the Engineering College and at UNL as a whole. We continue to pioneer an abundance of new research ventures: from creating nanomagnets to produce more energy from wind turbines to improving military computer systems; better and safer roadways to biotechnological tissue engineering applications; UNL has an amazing list of accomplishments and I am very excited as we further expand with the new Nebraska Innovation Campus. What better way to develop and showcase our cutting edge research than by translating our very own discoveries to economic growth potential for great state? Creating learning opportunities for students that transform into local jobs is a win-win situation for all!
Q: What is your advice for other recent graduates?
A: Build a broad-based resume and seek positions outside your comfort zone. You do not have to go straight to the top after graduation, as life is quite a winding road. There is no prescribed path to get where you want to go, so gain experience in various disciplines of your chosen field; and even outside of your chosen field for that matter. In 2009, I was promoted to Shipping & Receiving Manager at my plant site. I supervised warehouse persons and processing staff to support the logistics of our supply chain, and while I was really out of my element, it was a great learning experience! Finally, if you have the opportunity to manage people someday, make sure to do an honest self-assessment: Would you want to work for you?
Andy McEntee
2006 UNL graduate Andy McEntee is a reality television producer who currently calls Los Angeles home. When "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition" came to Lincoln his senior year in college, he turned a stint as a "go-fer" for the show into a full-time television career with his sights set on producing shows that "do good things."
A. I am currently a reality television producer for NBC. My long-term goal is to become an executive producer and eventually run my own production company.
Q. Name one thing about your job people might be interested to know.
A. The biggest misconception about my job is that because it's television it's glamorous. That couldn't be further from the truth. It's long hours, and with shows that I've done like "Extreme Makeover Home Edition" and "School Pride," you're outside for a large part of the day. Snow, rain, 118 degrees... We've seen it all, and are working in it 14, 16 hours a day.
Q. How do you give back to your community?
A. In Los Angeles, I attend a lot of fundraisers, but my favorite way of giving back is working with an organization called Project Kindle. Project Kindle is a group for children infected with and/or affected by HIV/AIDS. The project actually got its start in Nebraska 11 years ago. I got involved with them my sophomore year at UNL. The organization has now moved to California as well as Nebraska, so luckily I still get to be a part of it.
Q. How did UNL help to prepare you for success in your career?
A. UNL prepared me in so many ways for my career. I worked in the Graduate Studies department for three years while in college. The things I learned while working there I use everyday on set. Also, I was a psychology major, and to work with some of the people I have to work with in reality television, I couldn't have chosen a better major.
Q. Who was your favorite faculty/staff member at UNL, and why?
A. I knew/know so many fantastic people at UNL. It's hard to pick just one, but if I have to, I would pick Dr. Ellen Weissinger. She was the Dean of Graduate Studies when I was there. I was always very impressed with her. She was obviously very smart, and very good at what she did, but she was also so approachable. She taught me a lot about professionalism, how to be a good boss, and how to just be a good person. I know that if I am half as good of a boss and mentor as she was to me, then I'll go far.
Q. What is your favorite campus memory?
A. I think my favorite campus memory is my very first day of school at UNL. Leaving my dorm and walking the campus to my first class, I felt like such an adult. I was so excited about not just the next four years, but about the future in general.
Q. As an alum, what makes you most proud of UNL today?
A. The thing that makes me the most proud of UNL is the people. I travel the United States with this job, and every time people find out that I went to UNL, all they talk about is how nice the people there are. Whether it was an encounter at a football game, or they just know someone that graduated from there, all I hear about is how polite and friendly Cornhuskers are.
Q. What is your advice for other recent graduates?
A. My only advice is to do what you enjoy. I don't care if it's not what you majored in, I don't care if it doesn't pay as well as other jobs; do what you are passionate about. I was always interested in television, but never thought there was any way that a kid from Kimball, Nebraska, could make it in Hollywood. Ten prime-time shows, and two Emmy nominations later, I'm proof that you just have to go for it!
Amanda McGill
A 2002 UNL graduate, Amanda was elected to the Nebraska Legislature at age 25. She continues to serve as a state senator, and is also the executive director of the YWCA Lincoln.
Current City: Lincoln, Neb.
UNL Graduation year and major: Bachelor’s degrees in broadcasting and political science (2002)
Q: Tell us about your career focus. What is your current job, and what is your long-term goal?
A: When I graduated from UNL, I expected to work as a television reporter and anchor for the majority of my career. However, I found myself wanting to more directly impact my community through government and politics. At 25 years old, I decided to run for a seat in the Nebraska Legislature and succeeded. Along with being a state senator, I am also the Executive Director of the YWCA Lincoln.
Q: Name one thing about your job people might be interested to know.
A: Most of the bills discussed in the legislature are supported unanimously. The press makes elected officials seem very partisan, but the majority of what we pass has no dissenting votes.
Q: How do you give back to your community?
A: I am very involved in the community through both my roles as a state senator and executive director of the YWCA. What I enjoy most is speaking to students of all ages about how to be successful and believe in yourself. I realize that part of my job is to be a role model for other young women.
Q: How did UNL help to prepare you for success in your career?
A: I feel my participation on the UNL Cornhusker Forensics Team did more to prepare me for my career than any single class I took at the University. It taught me how to study issues, articulate my views clearly, handle criticism, and be gracious in success and defeat.
Q: Who was your favorite faculty/staff member at UNL, and why?
A: I had many professors that touched my life deeply, mainly the coaching staff for the Forensics Team and the faculty in Journalism. It was through their coaching sessions and classes that I learned the skills which most directly impacted my career…and had the most fun!
Q: What is your favorite campus memory?
A: The single day on campus that sticks out the most in my mind is September 11. I remember how comforting it was to have my forensics team family to meet with that day; to be with my closest friends and feel some sense of normalcy.
Next, I had a journalism class where we all talked about where we were when we heard about the attack. Dr. (Mike) Stricklin taught us about collective healing; how in our media driven society, many people find it healing to share their stories of grief or shock. Sharing what they are experiencing helps them work through it. That experience showed me how important it is to listen to people’s stories and to learn from them.
Q: As an alum, what makes you most proud of UNL today?
A: It makes me proud to see how the University is growing and changing. I love driving through campus and seeing the new facilities and dorms. I’m looking forward to seeing Innovation Campus materialize. And, the caliber of students continues to rise. These are all things to be proud of and excited about.
Q: What is your advice for other recent graduates?
A: The first few years out of college can be a rude awakening as you transition into new levels of responsibility. Trust your instincts and take good opportunities as they present themselves. Don’t be afraid to make changes in your career if you aren’t satisfied. While I loved being a broadcast journalist, I find being a state senator even more rewarding. You may leave college expecting life to take you in one direction, and in reality your best path could lay elsewhere.
To learn more about Amanda McGill, visit http://www.amandamcgill.com/
David Graff
A graduate of UNL's Raikes School of Computer Science and Management, David is co-founder and CEO of a company that supplies cutting-edge game preparation software to three NFL teams, 10 Division I college football teams, and over 1,300 smaller colleges, high schools, and youth teams.
Current City: Lincoln, Neb.
UNL Graduation year and major: BSBA, Accounting – 2005; MBA – 2006
Q: Tell us about your career focus. What is your current job, and what is your long-term goal?
A: I work at Agile Sports, a company that I and two of my fellow Raikes School graduates, Brian Kaiser and John Wirtz, started here in Lincoln. We provide online tools for sports teams to collaborate on their video, playbooks, and presentations. We started in 2006 with the Huskers, and have grown our partners to now include three NFL teams, 10 Division I college football teams, and over 1,300 smaller colleges, high schools, and youth teams.
Our long-term goal is to see all 32 NFL, 120 Division I football teams, and 18,000+ smaller colleges and high schools on board with Hudl (Agile Sports' interactive playbook system).
Q: Name one thing about your job people might be interested to know.
A: We spend every day at our offices trying to figure out ways to help our coaches win, so when one of our teams struggles we definitely feel it around the office. Back before we added our high school packages, it was a lot easier to keep track of each of their wins and losses, but we still try to keep track of which of our teams are playoff-bound or are playing big rivalry games. The offseason is also very interesting for us with the coaching changes that occur at all levels. Seeing where coaches who currently use Hudl end up going or which coaches end up joining teams that currently use Hudl keeps us very busy.
Q: How do you give back to your community?
A: Since our company is built around sports, we have kept our community involvement focused in the same area. For the second year in a row, we were a corporate sponsor for the Nebraska Shrine Bowl and this year, a member of our team was able to fly down to visit the St. Louis Shriner's Hospital with one of the Shrine Bowl squads. It was an awesome experience and it was great to see the Shriner's efforts firsthand.
A number of our coaches who use Hudl also run charity camps in different locations around the country and we are involved with many of those camps, including Pete Carroll's Win Forever Academy that benefits his charity, "A Better LA".
Q: Anything else you would like to share about your life after UNL?
A: During my five years at UNL, I only missed six total football games (home, road, or bowl games). Since starting the company, a lot of my fall weekends have been spent at games that don't involve the Huskers, but I still try to make it to as many Husker games as possible.
Q: How did UNL help to prepare you for success in your career?
A: Our education at UNL put us in an awesome position to start our own company. Right away in our freshman year in the Raikes School, we were working on projects that gave us real-world experience and by our junior years, through the Raikes School Design Studio, we were working directly with paying clients on year-long software projects. We were getting real-world experiences collecting business requirements, laying out timelines, and developing and testing deliverable software that would actually be put to use in a business setting. This put us way ahead when starting our company.
Q: Who was your favorite faculty/staff member at UNL, and why?
A: Chancellor Perlman taught us Intellectual Property Law during one of our seminars my senior year at the Raikes School and he was an awesome professor. I learned a lot in that course, and he also provided us with a lot of advice as we first were starting the company.
Q: What is your favorite campus memory?
A: That's a tough one...I had a lot of good times during my five years at UNL. The ones that probably stick out the most are Husker sports related, so I'd probably choose the 2001 football season (my freshman year) when I got to see the Huskers beat Notre Dame and Oklahoma at home, witness the emotional post-9/11 Thursday night game, and make the trip out to the Rose Bowl for the National Championship (although that game itself was not one of my fondest memories…).
Q: As an alum, what makes you most proud of UNL today?
A: 16 of our 18 full-time employees are UNL graduates and all of our interns have been UNL students. The talent pool that comes out of the university and the excellent job that the school does preparing students to immediately enter the workforce makes me very proud.
Q: What is your advice for other recent graduates?
A: Stay connected with your classmates, your professors, and everyone you built relationships with when you were at the university. Even though I am only a few years removed from UNL, these connections have already paid huge dividends for me and our company.
To learn more about David Graff's company, Agile Sports, visit www.hudl.com.
Rachel Enstrom
Rachel graduated just four years ago but already serves as president of Chicagoans for Nebraska, volunteers for several Chicago civic organizations and has started a successful career at CareerBuilder.com, where her clients include NBC Universal, Sonic, Arby’s, UPS and more.
Current City: Chicago
UNL Graduation year and major: Bachelor of Journalism (Advertising) - 2006
Q: Tell us about your career focus. What is your current job, and what is your long-term goal?
A: I currently work at CareerBuilder.com as a product manager for Design Services, specifically in Careerbuilder Media. I help clients design and enhance their current recruitment branding by providing agency-like creative services. We help our advertisers target the most relevant candidates, while delivering their message through a variety of media products.
I love working in Downtown Chicago surrounded by tall skyscrapers that I dreamt of living amongst when I was younger. My long-term goal is to eventually become a creative director on the agency side specializing in consumer brands. I have not owned a car for four years and commute by Chicago transportation – bus or train – to and from work every day. Even though I live about five miles away from Downtown Chicago, it takes me about an hour to get home because of traffic! P.S. – My neighbor is Wrigley Field!
Q: Name one thing about your job people might be interested to know.
A: My client list includes NBC Universal, Pepsico, Sonic, Arby's, UPS, United Airlines, Hostess Brands and much more! I get the privilege of working with several companies (largest in the world to small business owners) on a daily basis to help enhance their recruitment brand!
Q: How do you give back to your community?
A: I am the president of Chicagoans for Nebraska Alumni Chapter, which gives me the opportunity to work with alumni from all over the world to share the common experience of being a Nebraska Cornhusker fan! I work with a network of former Nebraska coaches and players living in the city of Chicago and surrounding areas to help sponsor their individual charitable organizations (i.e., Matt Davison and his foundation, Creating Captains). Living in the heart of the Big Ten Conference, I get to educate and entertain people on the loyal fan base of Nebraska that I was born into and have cheered for over 26 years!
Serving as the president of the Downtown Chicago Chi Omega Alumnae Chapter, I work closely with members of Chi Omega Fraternity to enrich the lives of women in the Chicago area through networking, philanthropy and social events. I also work closely with the undergraduate women of Chi Omega at DePaul University and Northwestern University to help with recruitment and advising of their collegiate chapters. Our philanthropy is Make-A-Wish, and I have become a regular volunteer with the local Illinois chapter in Chicago. I am also a freelance designer and I help out with many annual Chi O fundraisers in Chicago.
My older sister was diagnosed at birth with Tuberous Sclerosis (TS), a genetic disease that causes tumors to form in the vital organs causing seizures to happen. I was lucky enough to join the Tuberous Sclerosis Alliance in Illinois right away when I moved to Chicago to ensure I always keep my sister's disease visible to people around me.
I volunteer and help organize the Comedy for a Cure, an annual event raising money for research for TS with support from local businesses and individuals that have been affected by this disease.
I also volunteer my time to Chicago Cares, which provides opportunities for individuals and businesses to improve the Chicago community through participation in creative, structured group volunteer programs that address Chicago's most pressing needs. The program helps meet the needs in education (adult and children), health and wellness and senior services.
Q: Anything else you would like to share about your life after UNL?
A: I would have to say that I miss the simple life of Lincoln, where it's an easy drive to the grocery store, and you can see your family on the weekends. I have never regretted my decision of buying a one-way ticket to Chicago after graduation to follow my dreams; however, to those still living in Lincoln: embrace the trees, grass and your local surroundings that make Nebraska such a warm state to be from. While I now call Chicago home, Nebraska is always in my heart!
Q: How did UNL help to prepare you for success in your career?
A: I was lucky enough to be involved in some great organizations and clubs that taught me teamwork, multitasking, organization, dependability and, most of all, leadership. I was able to communicate with senior level faculty and staff at the university, which prepared me for the level of client interaction I deal with daily. I put my heart and soul into every college experience I was involved in, which I have continued in Chicago through my volunteer involvement and alumni chapter work.
Q: Who was your favorite faculty/staff member at UNL, and why?
A: Stacy James, lecturer in advertising, gave me the specific steps to take to be ready for an agency-like career. I realized her level of commitment was like no other. She was determined to help me succeed above and beyond my expectations from the first class I took with her, to helping me with her circle of networks to interview for a job outside of Chicago. I not only learned the creative side of advertising through campaigns class but I was able to gain knowledge of her strategic business style, helping prepare me for the "real world" that lay ahead. I also loved brainstorming with her in her office because of the décor – storyboards, client props and agency materials. I knew my office was going to be like that someday! We are still in communication to see where I am going to land next in the city!
Q: What is your favorite campus memory?
A: One of my favorite campus memories is game day Saturdays. The game day experience was enhanced for those of us living on campus. Everywhere the campus was adorned with red decorations and the air was filled with the smell of Fairbury hotdogs. Waking up at 8 a.m. and donning a red T-shirt, an "N" stuck on my cheek and beads around my neck, all while humming the Nebraska fight song with my sorority roommates, was our Saturday ritual. Strolling through downtown, it was high-fives all around for the red-clad Nebraska fans and proud Cornhuskers in foam cob hats.
Q: As an alum, what makes you most proud of UNL today?
A: That no matter where I am or who I am talking to, I am reminded why we are the best fans in all sports! I truly believe our character and loyalty are easily noticed by any Husker fan. Not only am I proud to have my desktop screen saver a picture of the university campus and my cube decorated red and white, but I am most proud of the level of knowledge and achievement I received as an undergraduate that helps me as an alumni chapter president in Chicago.
Q: Tell us more about your involvement with the Chicago alumni chapter.
Yes, I serve as president! As an executive board, we have worked hard to provide an environment in Chicago for newly graduated alums to "legacies" who have the passion and drive for Nebraska athletics! Watch out Big Ten in Chicago – Nebraska is here! I truly never dreamt I would be taking Chicago transportation to a suburb to watch Nebraska play football against Northwestern! I can't wait!
Q: What is your advice for other recent graduates?
A: Get involved in your local alumni chapter right away! If there is not one in the area, don't be afraid to reach out to the Alumni Association to get interest in starting one. It was the best experience I had when moving to a big city where I knew no one. I was joined by people who proudly wore red to show their support anywhere in the city. Not only have I gained a network of contacts, but I’ve met amazing friends along the way, while sharing the Big Red!
To learn more about Nebraska Alumni Association chapters, visit our Chapters & Groups page.
Nathan Silva
A 2006 UNL graduate, Nathan has already proved that you don't need years of experience to be successful as a financial advisor. In 2009, he was recognized as the top new organization associate of the year nationally for Ameritas and Unifi companies.
Nathan Silva
Current City: Omaha, Neb.
UNL Graduation year and major: December 2006, Marketing & Management
Q: Tell us about your career focus. What is your current job, and what is your long-term goal?
A: As a financial advisor with Ameritas and Unifi companies, I share information with people that can drastically change their financial futures. With social security at a deficit, Medicare nearing bankruptcy, healthcare undergoing a major restructuring plan, AND the U.S. government nearly $13 trillion in debt, the only way to relieve the financial strain on this country is to drastically increase taxes and reduce benefits. My responsibility is to make sure people's hardearned money ends up in their families’ pockets and not the pockets of the government, hospitals, or nursing homes.
Long term, I am 100 percent focused on continuing to deliver good, honest financial information to those who are seeking it. If you have further questions about these areas in particular, please feel free to contact me at njsilva99@gmail.com or 402-617-7600.
Q: Name one thing about your job people might be interested to know.
A: Being a financial advisor allows you the freedom to not only truly help as many people as you can, but to make a good living while doing so. It doesn't take high net-worth clients or a few millionaires to be successful in this business, but there are two things that are imperative. First, you must have a driving motivator to continually do the daily things needed to be successful (aside from money or the spotlight). For me, it's my wife and family that keeps me going. Second, you've got to have a good support structure around you. I'm an agent of the Nebraska Financial Center in Lincoln and have a group of 8-10 young people (and a few older) who are continuously making each other better by discussing client situations, business practices, marketing ideas, etc.
In 2009, I was recognized nationwide as the top new organization associate of the year for Ameritas and Unifi companies. Of several hundred people across the nation who were in their first three years in the business, my level of production was at the top and without those other team members, none of the success I've experienced would have been possible.
Q: How do you give back to your community?
A: Well, I truly believe that the work I do for people is one extraordinary way to give back to my community. Many times, clients I meet are smart, fun, family-oriented people that have a real desire to protect their financial future – without my guidance, several of them would be in a position where the rug could be pulled out from under them at any given time. Without proper insurance and financial planning, it's almost impossible for families to really feel safe and secure about their situation and I'm able to help with that. Aside from that, I like to volunteer for Habitat for Humanity. It gives me an opportunity to give back to those who are in need AND I get to learn some handyman skills at the same time.
Q: How did UNL help to prepare you for success in your career?
A: UNL gave me the opportunity to really challenge myself in several life-like scenarios before I ever even entered the "real world". In my entrepreneurship class, I was able to create a business and marketing plan for a new concept and then go out and implement it. We also were assigned to go to several networking events and learn how to communicate with local business professionals. As the National Society of Collegiate Scholars president, I also had the chance to participate in several philanthropic events which later led to connections with some of my current clients.
Q: Who was your favorite faculty/staff member at UNL, and why?
Q: Amit Saini from the CBA marketing department. His level of enthusiasm was often extremely high, and I think the most important thing he did was rather than teach the class by reading through the book and giving out a few exams, he engaged us in several discussions and mentally put us in a place to really face some of the challenges that businesses go through every day. If you have the opportunity to take any of his courses, I highly recommend it.
A: What is your favorite campus memory?
Q: When Bill Gates and Warren Buffet came and spoke to the student body. I had the chance to attend the event and it was amazing to be face-to-face with some of the wealthiest people in the world and realize they were happy to give us their time because they wanted all of us to succeed.
A: As an alum, what makes you most proud of UNL today?
Q: I've traveled all across the nation, and every time I tell someone I'm a Nebraska graduate, nothing but great things are said. The reputation that follows our school is second to none. Opportunities seem to present themselves simply because of my affiliation with UNL. With all of the ethical issues, financial problems, and outright poor programs that are out there, I consider myself lucky to be a UNL graduate.
A: What is your advice for other recent graduates?
Q: If you haven't found your career yet, I would highly recommend attending the next event that brings in local businesses to recruit from our student body. Of the classmates I've stayed in contact with, the ones who attended those events are always the ones with a job/career that makes them happy and keeps them passionate. Posting resumes online and responding to ads can work, but the best way to get an opportunity is to meet with people face-to-face.
Also, if you're interested in entering the financial services industry, then you should contact Corey Poulosky with the Nebraska Financial Center (402-436-2500). This agency is a wonderful place for young people to learn the fundamentals to success, and then have the freedom to implement them how they see fit.
Bryna Keenaghan
As a UNL student, Bryna was a student manager for the Nebraska volleyball team. Seven years after graduation, she is an account planner at a San Francisco advertising agency and is now part of the team that helped create and launch the Gatorade Performance Series.
Bryna Keenaghan
Current City: San Francisco, Calif.
UNL Graduation year and major: Bachelor of Journalism – Advertising, December 2003
Q: Tell us about your career focus. What is your current job, and what is your long-term goal?
A: I started my career within the planning discipline at a full-service advertising agency in San Francisco (Venables Bell & Partners) after attending a two-year masters program at the VCU Brandcenter. Currently, I'm a strategist at Redscout, a strategy and innovation firm that helps brands grow through creative, brand-driven solutions. Recently, we helped create and launch the Gatorade Performance Series, which helped transform the company from a sports drink company to a sports nutrition company that meets all needs of an athlete.
My long-term goal is to revolutionize a brand as a Chief Marketing Officer (CMO) and/or use my marketing skills to drive a non-profit that helps transform people's lives.
Q: Name one thing about your job people might be interested to know.
A: It's always new and exciting, and it doesn't feel like a job because it's something I'm extremely passionate about and love to do.
Q: How do you give back to your community?
A: Within my professional community, I find extreme pleasure in giving advice to people trying to break into the advertising/marketing industry.
When I was in grad school and starting my career it was extremely useful to talk to people in the industry for guidance. However, it could be difficult to find the right people to talk to. Now that I'm in the industry, I love to share my knowledge and expertise.
Feel free to reach out (bryna.keenaghan@gmail.com) if you are interested in planning/strategy.
Q: Anything else you would like to share about your life after UNL?
A: After graduating I've lived in amazing big cities like New York and San Francisco, but I would never trade being raised and going to school in the Midwest. It has given me a work ethic and perspective that most people living on the coasts will never have.
Q: How did UNL help to prepare you for success in your career?
A: UNL helped me find the passion that I wanted to pursue, as well as giving me a foundation of knowledge to build upon. It also instilled a strong work ethic in me. I had to work 30+ hours during college in addition to putting in long hours for classes – this set me up to work hard, multi-task and adjust to the craziness of life.
Q: Who was your favorite faculty/staff member at UNL, and why?
A: Magno, my Portuguese professor. I had to take classes with him three days a week, twice a day. It was an intense course, but he made it fun and bearable with his unique spirit.
Q: What is your favorite campus memory?
A: Any time the drum line came to the NU Coliseum and rocked it out during volleyball games – it took the experience to a whole new level.
Q: As an alum, what makes you most proud of UNL today?
A: It's great that the campus has seen so many renovations and new additions – the growth has been tremendous since I left. The Innovation Campus is especially exciting as it will bring more recognition to the university.
I’m also extremely proud of the women's volleyball program – I was lucky enough to be a part of the team as a student manager, and I love to see their continued success.
Q: What is your advice for other recent graduates?
A: I have a few:
- An interview goes both ways: you should evaluate them, just as much as they are evaluating you because it's important to find a company that’s a good cultural fit if you want to be happy with your job.
- Find your passion(s) and follow it. There are no limits when you believe in what you're doing.
- Trust your gut instincts.
- Stay true to yourself.
