I recently witnessed the power of our Nebraska Business community again. Celebrating our university’s 150th anniversary, you showed your Husker pride in a number of ways including giving to the inaugural 24 Hours of Husker Giving. Our alumni, faculty, staff and students gave to the College of Business funds, and we topped the university’s leaderboard for most donors and the most raised. From all of us at the college, we sincerely appreciate your support for student scholarships and our greatest needs. It’s because of you and your continued involvement that we can lead the future of business.
 
Inspired by your goodwill, I want to share two examples of Nebraska Business students utilizing their skills to focus on the greater good. The Sales Practicum (MRKT 371) class is currently in the middle of a competition where everyone wins. Students are competing to raise the most funds for Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation, a nonprofit organization that works to fund treatments for childhood cancer, on teams within the class led by Assistant Professor of Practice Laura McLeod. The opportunity provides students with a real-life, hands-on sales project that strengthens their goal-setting, planning, selling and communication skills. The class partnered with the Lincoln office of Northwestern Mutual, and the associates served as their coaches and cheerleaders.
 
Secondly, students in Leading People and Projects (MNGT 411) are learning more about philanthropy while providing a funding opportunity for nonprofits to make a positive difference in the Lincoln area. A gift by Nebraska philanthropist Rhonda Seacrest enabled the college to offer the grants totaling $10,000 this semester. Students in the class learn how to initiate a funding process, create a grant application, evaluate applications and make decisions on providing grants for community betterment. This course is integral in our undergraduate curriculum as it teaches our students the role of nonprofits in a community and the importance of giving back.
 
Hands-on learning opportunities like these along with providing students the opportunity to customize their collegiate experience with distinctive programs such as our law and business minor, Clifton Builders program and undergraduate certificate in professional selling enables our students to graduate better prepared for their careers.
 
It was fun to reconnect with one of my first students at Nebraska Business last month. Matt Richmond, ’94, visited Hawks Hall while on a campus visit with his daughter. Hearing about his family and how he used his degree to lead a successful life after college reminds me of why we care so deeply for our mission to drive discovery, create opportunity and empower individuals. In this newsletter, you’ll read about other examples of our mission being lived, including a student exploring the intersections of law and business in our new minor program, an assistant professor of practice using her passion of economics to impact youth around the state and an alumna working to empower developing regions with the United Nations Capital Development Fund. There is also an opportunity to nominate students for two of our pre-college programs offered this summer.
 
As always, spring is a busy time at Nebraska Business, and I hope I will get to see you at one of our upcoming events or certificate programs for professional development.

Dean Kathy Farrell Published: March 12, 2019