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Alumni Spotlight: Tina Kuriyama

  1. UNO
  2. College of Arts and Sciences
  3. Department of English
  4. Alumni Spotlight: Tina Kuriyama

From Omaha to New York City, Tina Kuriyama is an alumna unlike any other.

After transferring to UNO, Kuriyama graduated in the spring of 2016 with a degree in English. Captivated by the works of Pablo Neruda and Voltaire, she fell in love with literature, calling her time in the English program “some of the fondest and most formative years of my life.” Unsure at first where she fit in the field, Kuriyama explored multiple paths before finding her niche.

After earning her TESOL certificate, she initially pursued teaching English as a second language but soon moved to New York after graduation. Drawing on her experience at Nebraska Medicine, she shifted into healthcare, noting, “My prowess in language and the technical communication skills I gained during the English program made me a rare hire.” During the COVID-19 pandemic, she pivoted into pharmaceutical copywriting before exploring freelance work in social media marketing. Ultimately, she found her stride as a Content Marketing Manager for Consensus, a leading blockchain conference, the world’s longest-running and most influential crypto event.

“I’ve only been in this role for a few months, but I love seeing the vast impact my creative writing and marketing skills have on my team's success,” she shares. “It never ceases to amaze me that my creative abilities not only drive revenue but also foster meaningful personal and professional relationships.”

With speaking engagements at the United Nations and the Philippine Consulate, Kuriyama now aims to merge her passions for digital media with advocacy for diversity and inclusion. When asked what she wished she had known when starting her career, she reflects, “It’s okay if you don’t know what you want to be when you grow up because your dream job may not exist yet.”

She continues, “My career path has been unconventional, but one thing remained constant: I always pursued what interested me most. There’s so much opportunity out there for professional creatives with the grit and gusto to seek it out.”

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Announcements

  • English Alumni Senator Wendy DeBoer for Receives 2024 Public Service Award
  • UNO Names Jill Sutton Employee of the Month
  • TATP Hosts "Reentry Past and Present: Bridging Communities for Change"
  • Abby Swoboda receives 2024 College of Arts and Sciences Dean's Award
  • Anna Kollmeyer receives Chancellor's Award for Outstanding Service Learning
  • Tyler Ayres receives Fulbright award to teach English in Taiwan
  • Jody Keisner receives Nebraska Arts Council Individual Artist Fellowship
  • UNO English Alum Earns Nebraska English Teacher of the Year Award

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