Achievements for November 2026

Highlights of achievements by faculty, staff and students at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln College of Business in November 2026 include awards, milestones, research, leadership, service, media appearances, and notable involvement in the college and university.

New Program

• The Hogan Franchise Leadership Program was established through a gift from Paul and Lori Hogan to elevate franchise education at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln. The program brings together franchise courses, experiential learning, internships, and the Husker Franchise Club and is open to students from all majors. Read the story.

Honors and Awards 

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  Nebraska's Delta Omicron chapter of Beta Alpha Psi, the international honor organization for financial information professionals, achieved Silver Chapter international recognition for 2025-26. The award recognizes chapters that exceed the organization's requirements and demonstrate excellence in academics, professionalism and ethical leadership. The chapter received the recognition at Beta Alpha Psi's annual meeting in Baltimore. Deb Cosgrove, professor of practice in accountancy, serves as faculty adviser. 

• Nebraska's Gamma Iota chapter of Gamma Iota Sigma earned Distinguished Chapter recognition for the second consecutive year at the organization's 55th annual conference in Charlotte, North Carolina. Sixteen Nebraska chapter members attended the conference.

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  Daniel Sutherland, senior actuarial science major from Tucson, Arizona, was selected to serve as the Grand Chapter Student Representative on the 2026–2027 Gamma Iota Sigma Board of Trustees along with professionals from the industry. He also received the organization's Diversity Award at the annual conference.

• Kouther Al-Ghanemi, senior accounting and management major from Lincoln, was named a Student of the Month by the Nebraska Business Student Advisory Board.
• Theran Nitsch, senior accounting and finance major from North Platte, Nebraska, was named a Student of the Month by the Nebraska Business Student Advisory Board.

Competitions

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  The Nebraska Business team won the Penn State HR Undergraduate Case Competition at PepsiCo's global headquarters in Purchase, New York. The students presented their recommendations to chief human resources officers. Team members included Emanuela Casadei, senior business analytics and finance major from Cesena, Italy; Aidan Chrisman, senior management major from Lincoln; Kendall Clark, junior management major from Omaha; George Kolb, junior accounting and finance major from Elkhorn, Nebraska; and Theran Nitsch, senior accounting and finance major from North Platte, Nebraska. They were coached by Shawntell Kroese, assistant professor of practice, and Jenna R. Pieper, Donald & Shirley Clifton Chair of Organizational Behavior and associate professor of management. 

• A record 195 University of Nebraska–Lincoln students registered for the 18th annual 3-2-1 Quick Pitch competition Nov. 3, representing 40 majors across eight colleges. Hosted by the Nebraska Center for Entrepreneurship, the competition awarded $18,000 to 36 winners and connected students with experienced entrepreneurs and business leaders. Read the story.
• Ava Fedje, senior management and marketing major from Thornton, Colorado, and Riley Ultican, junior marketing major from Omaha, competed against students from nine other universities at the inaugural Stetson Collegiate Sales Management Invitational. Fedje placed first in her room during the Coaching and Development round, demonstrating her ability to guide, motivate and develop a sales representative. The competition challenged students to apply sales management skills through case studies and role-playing scenarios. 

Research

• Justin Balthrop, assistant professor of finance, had research “Gambling Away Stability: Sports Betting’s Impact on Vulnerable Households,” published in the Journal of Financial Economics in September and featured in articles including on Casino.org online gambling industry news website. The study analyzed financial transactions from 183,821 U.S. households to examine how investing, spending and debt management changed following the legalization of online sports betting in 26 states. It reveals how its convenience can come at a significant cost to their long-term financial security. Read the Casino.org article.
• Yingchao Lan, associate professor of supply chain management and analytics, had research called "Operational Implications of Diagnostic Discrepancies: The Weigh-In of Focal and Related Physician Experience" accepted for publication in Manufacturing & Service Operations Management in October. Read the research.
• Andrew A. Hanna, assistant professor of management and Seacrest Teaching Fellow, was named to the editorial review board of the Group and Organization Management Journal, an international forum for research and analysis in organizational behavior, organization theory, business strategy and human resources.

Notable Involvement

• The College of Business selected 34 first-year students into its sixth cohort of the Integrity in Business Leadership program this fall. Representing eight states and 13 majors, the students learn to make ethical business decisions while building relationships that support their transition to college. Read the story.
• Twenty-five students were selected for the seventh class of the Investors With Purpose program, learning about investing and wealth management while building connections with industry professionals. Read the story.
• Özgür M. Araz, department chair of supply chain management and analytics and U.S. Bank Distinguished Professor of Business, was selected to participate in the Big Ten Academic Alliance Department Executive Officers Program. The program develops academic leadership skills through workshops on conflict resolution, time management, faculty development, performance reviews and collaborative problem-solving. Read the Nebraska Today story.
• Kathy Farrell, James Jr. and Susan Stuart Endowed Dean of the College of Business, and a panel of experts were selected among 1,500 submissions to present at the South by Southwest EDU conference and festival in March 2027. Their panel discussion "Work Reimagined: The Brain Economy Goes to Business School" will share how brain health and cognitive, emotional and social skills are now the most valuable assets in the work force and how business schools can adjust to prepare future leaders. Read the press release.
• Rachel Vrable, sophomore finance and management major from Papillion, Nebraska, was selected for the Girls Who Invest Scholars Program. The nonprofit organization works to increase women's representation in portfolio management and executive leadership within the asset management industry.
• The new Nebraska Women in Finance student organization launched this fall. Open to all majors, it aims to provide networking and mentoring opportunities.

In The News

• The University of Nebraska–Lincoln and Southeast Community College in Lincoln announced On Course, a student transfer partnership offering more than 50 pathways across all nine colleges at the university, including all 12 College of Business majors. Read the Lincoln Journal-Star story.
• Five Nebraska Business students appeared on "Spare Time" on Lincoln's 93.7 The Ticket to discuss their Monetizing Identity: NIL and Branding (MRKT 490) course and why they chose Nebraska. The students included Cassie Arnold, a senior marketing major from Minden, Nebraska; Olivia Arnold, a junior marketing major from Minden; Rylie Freeman, a junior marketing major from Fremont, Nebraska; Liz Levenhagen, a senior management major from Syracuse, Nebraska; and Kayla Starr, a junior marketing major and Husker bowler from Crofton, Maryland. Derrick Pearson and Rebecca Pearson teach the course. See the Facebook post.
• Jennifer A. Davidson, Nebraska Council on Economic Education president, Nebraska Bankers Association Faculty Fellow and associate professor of practice in economics, spoke to 10/11 News about Economics Education Month and how economics influences everyday decisions. Watch the video.
• Niklas Hüther, assistant professor of finance, explained the differences between private equity and venture capital in an Oct. 22 Omaha World-Herald story about Proven Ventures' plans to invest $1 million in Nebraska startups. Read the story.
• Reagan Pelster, junior agribusiness major from Wallace, Nebraska, spoke with Husker Radio host Corey Andersen about her selection to the Ameritas Emerging Leaders Academy at Nebraska Business. Listen to the Podcast Recording.