Learn more about recent honors, appointments and publications at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln College of Business in this month's achievements column. The achievements of faculty, staff and students are grouped within the college’s three mission-focused goals of research + discovery, learning + transformation and connection + engagement.
Research + Discovery
- John Anderson, Baird Family Professor of Economics, was featured in an interview by the Nebraska Examiner about whether or not adopting a new system of valuing agricultural land in Nebraska based on its income-producing ability was a possible solution to the state's high property taxes. Read the article.
- Jennifer Davidson, associate professor of practice in economics, Nebraska Council on Economic Education president and Nebraska Bankers Association Faculty Fellow, offers tips in a WalletHub article about rental car insurance. Read the article.
- Rebecca Jack, Ph.D. student in economics, was published in the American Economic Association Journal of Economic Perspectives Fall 2023 edition for her research into COVID-19, School Closures and Outcomes. In the article, they look at the data and identify patterns of school closures and their effects on children. Read the research.
Learning + Transformation
- Four Nebraska Business students won the national supply chain competition at the Specialty Tools and Fasteners Distributors Association (STAFDA) conference in San Antonio, Texas. The Nebraska team claimed the championship for the second year in a row. Team members included Majid Al Harthy, junior supply chain major from Muscat, Oman; Aaron Ebrahim, senior accounting major from Lincoln, Nebraska; Aidan Linder, senior supply chain management major from Omaha, Nebraska; and Phuong Hanh Nguyen, senior supply chain management majorfrom Hai Phong, Vietnam. Read the story.
- The UNL Deloitte FanTAXtic team placed in the top two at the regional competition and is one of 16 teams out of 48 who will advance to the national competition in January. The team includes Trinity Hansen, junior accounting major from Stapleton, Nebraska; Ethan Heinemann, junior accounting major from Bennington, Nebraska; Ava Hollingsworth, sophomore accounting, finance and computer science major from Omaha, Nebraska; William Wooden, sophomore accounting major from Kansas City, Missouri; and Ethan Twesme, sophomore accounting and finance major from Monument, Colorado. Their advisor is Kathryn Maresh, associate professor of practice in accountancy.
- A record-breaking number of 108 University of Nebraska–Lincoln students showed their entrepreneurial, communication and presentation skills at the 15th annual 3-2-1 Quick Pitch competition, Nov. 9. Hosted by the Nebraska Center for Entrepreneurship, the event gives students representing all colleges on campus a platform to deliver a three-minute business idea to volunteer judges for the chance to win cash prizes totaling $12,000. Read the story and list of winners and see the TV news feature from KLKN TV.
- Four Nebraska Business Honors Academy seniors created and coordinated the inaugural Cornhusker Business Case Competition. They are: Victoria Diersen, senior economics major from Brookings, South Dakota; Lexi Jeffryes, senior business and law and economics major from Columbus, Nebraska; Nick Lauver, senior actuarial science major from Papillion, Nebraska; and Drake Vorderstrasse, senior finance major from Hastings, Nebraska. Read the story.
- Business faculty and staff participated in the First Scholars Planning Summit at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln, including Madison Cappellano, academic advisor in Business Advising and Student Engagement; Kaitlin Ferris, assistant director of the Clifton Builders Program; Rachel Larson, assistant dean of academic and career development; and Jennifer Mostek, director of Business Advising and Student Engagement. Read the Nebraska Today story.
- Four College of Business Center for Sales Excellence students attended the International Collegiate Sales Competition in Orlando this fall. They networked and gained sales experience with in-depth role play and a speed-selling presentation. Attending were Sabrina Gates, senior supply chain management and marketing major from Lincoln, Nebraska; Amanda Smolsky, junior marketing major from Omaha, Nebraska; Josh Schweizer, junior marketing major from St. Charles, Illinois; and McKenzie Wager, junior marketing major from Centennial, Colorado. Their advisor and coach is Chad Mardesen, associate professor of practice in marketing.
Connection + Engagement
- Beta Alpha Psi was recognized as a Superior Chapter for the 2022-23 academic year by the international organization. Under advisor Debra Cosgrove, professor of practice in accountancy, the chapter receives a $500 award sponsored by KPMG and KPMG Foundation. The chapter "far exceeded the baseline requirements of Beta Alpha Psi and has excelled in the areas of academics, professionalism, and leadership," according to the organization.
- Eleven Gamma Iota Sigma members traveled to Baltimore, Maryland, for the Gamma Iota SigmaNational Conference. They were able to network with chapters and employers from across the nation, hear from keynote speakers and attend breakout sessions on relevant topics. They were also honored as Superior Chapter by Gamma Iota Sigma for excellent attendance, superior meetings, and overall chapter involvement in our communities.
- Erin Burnette, director of the Nebraska Business Honors Academy, and Rebekah Neary-DeLaPorte, assistant director of the Nebraska Business Honors Academy, presented "Keeping Them Interested: Maintaining Student Engagement Through the College Years and Beyond" at the 2023 Business Honors and Leadership Conference in Norman, Oklahoma, in October. They shared how generating and maintaining student engagement is critical to the success of business honors programs and the Nebraska Business Honors Academy has maintained high levels of engagement through the years with limited staff.
- Kathy Farrell, James Jr. and Susan Stuart Endowed Dean and professor of finance, spoke in a Nov. 10 interview on NewsChannel Nebraska about the $5,000 Future of Nebraska Scholarship, which can transform lives for students in the state who want to attend the university. See the video.
- Jenna Pieper, Donald and Shirley Clifton Chair of Organizational Behavior and associate professor of management, presented in the webinar series "Future Management Professor: How to Succeed in the Ph.D. Admissions Process" in November to help prepare management scholars seeking to pursue their doctoral degrees in the field. She joined 30 faculty and Ph.D. students from high-research universities from around the nation leading sessions.
- Bruno Salles, junior accounting and finance major from Porto Alegre, Brazil, was named Student of the Month by the Nebraska Business Student Advisory Board. Read more about him.
- Nathan Ray, sophomore supply chain management major from Elkhorn, Nebraska, was named Student of the Month by the Nebraska Business Student Advisory Board. Read more about him.
- Macy Keller, a freshman business administration major from Falls City, Nebraska, and member of the Iowa Tribe of Kansas in Nebraska was featured in a Nebraska Today post about expanding her leadership on campus and celebrating her Native American heritage as an Inclusive Business Leader in the college. Read the story.
- Tutu Wah, a junior accounting major from Lincoln, Nebraska, serves as the Nebraska Center for Entrepreneurship's military community advocate, helping empower 1,600 military-connected students at the university to start or grow business endeavors. Read the story.
- Kyle Potratz, a senior actuarial science student and U.S. Marine Corps veteran from Spearfish, S.D., helps veterans succeed in the campus Military & Veteran Success Center. He was featured in Nebraska Today and on KLKN TV news.
This column is a monthly feature of the College of Business. Faculty, staff and students can submit achievements to be considered for this column via the News Proposal Form at the bottom of https://business.unl.edu webpage. On the form, select Recognize Achievement and fill out the related questions.
Published: December 8, 2023