At Nebraska Business, every person and every interaction matters, which highlights the importance of community. This includes looking after each other’s well-being, including focusing on serious issues like mental health and suicide prevention. In September, known as National Suicide Prevention Month, we came together to dedicate a yellow bench promoting the national Suicide and Crisis Lifeline number (988) in the lower level of Hawks Hall. The bench, in memory of Ben Longley, a finance major who died in 2020, was donated by his parents, Paul and Leigh-Ann, who shared, "It is our hope this bench will give students and faculty a place to reflect, a message of knowing help is available and reminding people how much they are loved.” I hope you'll read more about their story (content warning: suicide).

We are fortunate to have a college community like ours — one that champions community values and believes in the power of every person. It's part of what makes us Huskers. We appreciate how you stay engaged in our community and support our mission through your time, talent and treasure. Whether it is giving advice to current students through Husker Connect, an informal mentoring platform similar to LinkedIn, supporting students by creating presidential chairs to attract and retain top faculty and doctoral fellowships, or spreading the word about our latest partnership with UnitedHealthcare and News Channel Nebraska to offer five Future of Nebraska scholarships to Nebraskan high school seniors, you play a pivotal role in enabling students at Nebraska to lead the future of business.

As we move further into October, we have several ways for you to reconnect and learn with us at one or more of the following events or upcoming professional development opportunities.

• Please join us at our annual Business Alumni Tailgate, held Saturday, October 21, starting three hours before the Nebraska v. Northwestern game. Reconnect with alumni, faculty and staff while enjoying Hawks Hall as we celebrate our 110th year as a college. The $10 registration fee will be donated to the N Business Start Something Fund, which supports the college for priority needs. (No minors under 21 may attend due to university policy.) Don’t miss out, register today!
• Homecoming Events for Alumni and Friends include two great events on Friday, October 27: Cornstock, a carnival-like celebration for Husker fans of all ages goes 4-8 p.m. at Memorial Stadium East Plaza, and the Homecoming Parade, which starts at 6 p.m. and goes by Hawks Hall and Cornstock.
• Our new Nonprofit Management Institute offers two more executive certificate programs this fall. The virtual programs enable nonprofit professionals to refine skills in management, finance, marketing and fundraising.
• Our Federal and State Income Tax Institute provides tax education and recommendations on ways to advise clients regarding recent changes. Earn continuing education credits and ethics training in a location convenient to you, whether online, self-study or at one of our six two-day institutes held in November and December around the state in Scottsbluff, Kearney, Grand Island, Omaha, Norfolk and Lincoln.

I hope you will join us to relive old memories and make some new ones. We'd love to welcome you back home!

Together, we are Nebraska Business.

Dean Kathy Farrell