University of Nebraska–Lincoln alum Michael Rubach, '97, says he’ll never forget the friendships he made or the experiences he had during years of international travel as a student and professor.

“I always felt that my study abroad experience during my undergraduate years, together with subsequent travel, dramatically altered my professional, educational and personal development,” said Rubach, professor emeritus of management at the University of Central Arkansas. “These experiences opened my mind to new and different influences.”

Inspired by those experiences and motivated to give back, Rubach established an endowed scholarship fund to support College of Business students who want to study abroad but lack the financial means to do so. Preference for the Michael Rubach Study Abroad Scholarship will be given to students pursuing a degree in management with demonstrated financial need.

Nebraska Business Abroad programs offer students from across the university opportunities to study and intern in various countries. Each academic year, approximately 150 to 200 students participate. Among the diverse programs offered, Nebraska at Oxford is the university's longest-running, and this summer’s cohort will mark the 35th year of the program. Others take students to Barcelona, Spain; Pieve del Grappa, Italy; and Kawasaki, Japan. Future plans call for establishing opportunities in Central and South America.

“Studying abroad helps you see the world in new ways, adapt to different situations and gain experiences that set you up for success in today’s global world,” said Laurie A. Miller, associate dean of undergraduate programs and curriculum in the College of Business. “The newly endowed Michael Rubach Study Abroad scholarship will be transformative for College of Business students, as it will lower the cost barrier, which often prevents students from accessing these life experiences. Dr. Rubach is making sure financial challenges won’t stand in the way, empowering generations of students to build global competencies and thrive in an interconnected world.”

Rubach, who lives in Conway, Arkansas, practiced law in Omaha before earning a Doctor of Philosophy in Management from the College of Business in 1997. His experience at Nebraska took him on a new career path, where he taught for 25 years at the University of Central Arkansas (UCA). While there, he also taught study abroad classes in the Netherlands and Italy. During his time at UCA and UNL, Rubach also had opportunities to travel to Albania, Argentina, Belgium, Canada, Cuba, Egypt, France, Germany, Great Britain, India, Mexico and Poland.

Rubach shared how he decided to create the study abroad scholarship because he felt a need, almost an obligation, to give back. He said he believes it is important for business students to study abroad to increase their understanding of the global, interconnected business environment.

“I have received so much,” he said. “I was able to travel extensively. Immersion in another country changes you. It opens your mind and viewpoints in ways that cannot otherwise occur. Given my experiences, I want future University of Nebraska business management students to have this opportunity.”

Students will be able to apply for this scholarship for the 2026 spring term and can schedule a Global Experience Advising appointment by emailing businessabroad@unl.edu.

The Michael Rubach Study Abroad Scholarship was established as part of Only in Nebraska: A Campaign for Our University’s Future. The campaign is a historic effort to engage 150,000 benefactors to give $3 billion to support University of Nebraska students, faculty, academic and clinical programs and research to address the needs of the state. Student scholarships are the campaign’s top priority. Rubach made his gift through the University of Nebraska Foundation.