This page's main content:

Taking the pilot's seat means more to Jennifer Howell than just flying an airplane. It's about being a leader, too. The California native started out as a pre-med major. But she changed at the beginning of her sophomore year, lured back to her interest in business. A Principles of Marketing class sealed the deal.

A conversation with some friends interested in aviation made Jen consider something else, too. She's always wanted to learn how to fly and the UNO Aviation Institute had just what she was looking for.

She combined her interests into a double major — marketing and aviation. Set to get her private pilot's license and graduating soon, Jen is looking forward to a career in the aviation industry.

Meantime, though, she's made the most of getting involved in campus organizations. Some are related to her career path, some are all about community service. In both cases, they've given her a way to flex her leadership skills.

"I wanted to have the traditional college experience," Jen says. "I thought it was a good starting point, to get out of my comfort zone, and get involved." She found lots of options at UNO — including the Emerging Leaders program, Omicron Delta Kappa honor society, the Student Marketing Association, Student Ad Club and the Project Achieve Student Advisory Council.

One of the highlights has been to serve as president of the local chapter of INROADS, a nonprofit that nurtures and trains minority students for professional careers. Jen is one of 35 members, all who participate in internships with Fortune 500 companies.

It's been a wide range of experiences, but they've all helped her grow as a leader. "I'm not sure if I'd have gotten that if I'd gone to another school. Most of the places I considered were bigger than UNO. I think that, overall, UNO has been a great choice for me."