The College of Business will recognize more than 100 graduates during the University of Nebraska–Lincoln's Commencement Saturday, Aug. 15, at Pinnacle Bank Arena. The college’s graduates are among approximately 600 university-wide degree recipients and include 67 bachelor’s, 39 master’s and three doctoral degree recipients.
For marketing graduate Ryan Pickell, commencement marks the culmination of a college experience in which he quickly found community after transferring to Nebraska as a junior.
Pickell, an Elmhurst, Illinois, native, will receive his bachelor's degree in marketing. After arriving at Nebraska, he found a sense of belonging through the College of Business and Husker Athletics.
"Graduating from the University of Nebraska–Lincoln means I had endless opportunities to be a part of something. Coming to a new state and school as a junior, I had less time to find my community, so it was imperative that I found somewhere to fit in quickly," he said. "I never imagined how easy it would be to find a place that felt like 'home,' make lasting friendships and see the vast opportunities at the University of Nebraska and in Lincoln as a whole."
A longtime athlete, Pickell stayed connected to sports by working as a student manager for Husker softball and a video assistant for Husker Football while also playing club baseball.
"When I came to Nebraska, sports was my main identity. When I stopped playing at the college level and came here, I didn’t know where that would leave me. Being a part of prestigious programs here gave me a sense of belonging and feeling I actually mattered. Seeing how sports are ran on the business and organization side of things was fascinating and something I will forever be thankful that I had the opportunity to be a part of."
After graduation, Pickell will remain in Lincoln and work full time as a sales representative at Sandhills Global.
Bryan Davis, who previously earned Nebraska degrees in 2006 and 2015, pursued his Master of Business Administration while serving as senior vice president of marketing at People's City Mission in Lincoln. Davis said the MBA program taught him to view what he has to offer through the lens of strengths-based leadership.
"After 30 years in nonprofit leadership, the MBA program has helped me grow as an industry leader by strengthening my ability to think strategically, manage resources wisely and lead through change. I use these skills every day at People’s City Mission to better serve our community," he said.
The Class of 2026 is already making an impact in the community by challenging themselves, asking bold questions and looking to the future as they complete their programs at Nebraska Business.
“I am thrilled to congratulate every graduate and celebrate what the class of 2026 accomplished during their time with the College of Business. As Husker alumni, we know they will continue to drive discovery, create opportunity and lead the future of business in Nebraska or around the world,” said Kathy Farrell, James Jr. and Susan Stuart Endowed Dean and professor of finance. "We encourage them to stay connected in our supportive Nebraska Business community through mentoring and supporting the next generation of business leaders."
Graduate Advantage Program
Recent graduates can continue building their skills through the Nebraska Graduate Advantage Program, which provides 15% savings on graduate tuition for the online Master of Science in Business Analytics and Master of Science in Supply Chain Management programs. The program is available to students who earned a bachelor’s degree from the University of Nebraska at Kearney, University of Nebraska–Lincoln or University of Nebraska at Omaha within the past five years and graduated with a GPA of 3.2 or higher.
“This opportunity helps meet the workforce needs in Nebraska and nationwide for professionals with in-demand technical skills,” Farrell said.
