Skip to main content
University of Nebraska Omaha logo University of Nebraska Omaha
APPLY MY UNO DIRECTORY

University of Nebraska Omaha logo
College of Arts and Sciences
APPLY MY UNO DIRECTORY
  • About Us Backback to Main menu
    • About Us
    • CAS Dean Search
    • Departments & Programs
    • Statement on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
    • News & Events
    • Dean's Office Staff
    • Faculty/Staff Resources
    • Organizational Chart
  • CAS Dean Search
  • Academics Backback to Main menu
    • Undergraduate Programs
    • Graduate Programs
    • Love Your Major
    • Pre-Health
    • Pre-Law
    • Arts and Sciences Minors
    • Academic Advising
    • Academic Support
  • Admissions
  • Student Opportunities Backback to Main menu
    • Scholarships
    • Student Organizations
    • Internships
    • Study Abroad
  • Community Engagement Backback to Main menu
    • Community Engagement
    • Academic Engagement
    • College Centers
    • Conferences
    • Nature Preserves
    • Professional Services
    • Teacher Training
    • Youth Programs
  • Research Backback to Main menu
    • Research
    • Student Research Support
    • Social Science Research Commons
  • Support Us

College of Arts and Sciences News

Friday, September 29, 2023
  1. UNO
  2. College of Arts and Sciences
  3. CAS News
indextrue1695884412452systemNews RoomMavericks are making news. Follow the latest headlines to learn about our dedication to students, our national recognition for community engagement and Division I athletics, and the opportunities to excel in scholarship and research. Students, faculty, staff and alumni are changing the landscape of our community every day.News from the College of Arts & Sciences at the University of Nebraska at OmahaNews Room/news/indexCASsite://CAS/news/indexearenner1411059168684ckopietz16951617127121515391200000
News ReleaseNoNoYesYes1695099600000Researchers and defense practitioners from the U.S., Europe, and Scandinavia—including Michelle Black, Ph.D., associate professor of political science at UNO—congregated in Norway in early September to discuss trends and challenges in regional security in the High North. //news/2023/09/img/michelle-black-lead_1200.jpgnavigationYessite://CAS/news/2023/09/img/michelle-black-lead_1200.jpgCASmichelle-black-lead_1200.jpgmichelle-black-lead_1200.jpg3934901200801The “Security and Defense on NATO’s Northern Flank” conference was hosted by the Norwegian Defense University College (NDUC) and the Arctic University of Norway on the campus of UiT in Breibika, Tromsø, Norway as part of an Arctic Defense research project. Photo by Michelle Black./news/2023/09/img/4740-9ea5-c446ff47d650_confprogram_1200.jpgnavigationYessite://CAS/news/2023/09/img/4740-9ea5-c446ff47d650_confprogram_1200.jpgCAS4740-9ea5-c446ff47d650_confprogram_1200.jpg4740-9ea5-c446ff47d650_confprogram_1200.jpg4626381200800The “Security and Defense on NATO’s Northern Flank” conference was hosted by the Norwegian Defense University College (NDUC) and the Arctic University of Norway on the campus of UiT in Breibika, Tromsø, Norway as part of an Arctic Defense research project. Photo by Michelle Black./news/2023/09/jmb03234-jamie-michael-bivard_1200.jpgnavigationYessite://CAS/news/2023/09/jmb03234-jamie-michael-bivard_1200.jpgCASjmb03234-jamie-michael-bivard_1200.jpgjmb03234-jamie-michael-bivard_1200.jpg5973891200800Photo by Jamie Michael Bivard/news/2023/09/jmb03562-jamie-michael-bivard_1200.jpgnavigationYessite://CAS/news/2023/09/jmb03562-jamie-michael-bivard_1200.jpgCASjmb03562-jamie-michael-bivard_1200.jpgjmb03562-jamie-michael-bivard_1200.jpg5617221200800Photo by Jamie Michael Bivard/news/2023/09/img/3011d29a4f0c_onboard_1200.jpgnavigationYessite://CAS/news/2023/09/img/3011d29a4f0c_onboard_1200.jpgCAS3011d29a4f0c_onboard_1200.jpg3011d29a4f0c_onboard_1200.jpg5112731200800The “Security and Defense on NATO’s Northern Flank” conference was hosted by the Norwegian Defense University College (NDUC) and the Arctic University of Norway on the campus of UiT in Breibika, Tromsø, Norway as part of an Arctic Defense research project. Photo by Michelle Black./news/2023/09/img/img_3203_birdseye_1200.jpgnavigationYessite://CAS/news/2023/09/img/img_3203_birdseye_1200.jpgCASimg_3203_birdseye_1200.jpgimg_3203_birdseye_1200.jpg8283201200800The “Security and Defense on NATO’s Northern Flank” conference was hosted by the Norwegian Defense University College (NDUC) and the Arctic University of Norway on the campus of UiT in Breibika, Tromsø, Norway as part of an Arctic Defense research project. Photo by Michelle Black.YouTube

Researchers and defense practitioners from the U.S., Europe, and Scandinavia—including Michelle Black, Ph.D., associate professor of political science at UNO—congregated in Norway in early September to discuss trends and challenges in regional security in the High North. The “Security and Defense on NATO’s Northern Flank” conference was hosted by the Norwegian Defense University College (NDUC) and the Arctic University of Norway on the campus of UiT in Breibika, Tromsø, Norway as part of an Arctic Defense research project.

Black, who is co-director of the Nebraska Deterrence Lab and lead researcher for NCITE and NSRI, presented her past and current research on Arctic Deterrence threats. After a day of presentations and discussions, conference participants broke into groups to identify key challenge areas that should be investigated to help NATO in their defense of the High North against possible aggression, such as: artificial intelligence, technology, survivability, decision-making, influence operations, non-state actors, and alliance coordination. 

In 2019-2020, Black worked with NATO on the ‘Enabling Coherent Deterrence’ project with nine of her students to examine all types of threats (state and non-state) during a Deterrence scenario set in the timeframe of 2040. Today, Black is working with Deanna House, Ph.D., co-director at the Nebraska Deterrence Lab and assistant professor in the Information Systems Quantitative Analysis Department of the College of Information Science and & Technology, to use and advance the methodology built during that project to address current day challenges and threats in the High North. 

Last spring, the Nebraska Deterrence Lab had their student researchers start investigating current day threats with actors that had an “interest” in Arctic security and defense.  

"We are examining the Arctic scenario, based on today’s situation,” Black says. “We feel this area needs to be investigated due to its changing environment as well as certain actors’ increased interest in the area.” 

Black explained that there has been increased activity because of climate change, due to the new survivability of certain capabilities, along with scientific research, that could make this area ripe for conflict. She also took away a few interesting points from the conference that confirmed how important the lab and its affiliated faculty and student’s research is to current issues. 

“I walked away from that conference with the understanding that the U.S. security apparatus is not prepared to defend in the Arctic, and they rely mainly on their alliances such as NATO, especially Norway.” 

Defense practitioners acknowledged that Arctic security is further down on the list of concerns, well below issues with China, Russia, and the current conflict in Ukraine, Black explains. For the past 20 years, the U.S. has been training and defending against threats in the Middle East, specifically in terms of capabilities and troops surviving in those environments. Today, focus has shifted to Russia and the Indo-Pacific areas of interest, which keeps Arctic security still at the bottom.

“Before, that would seem logical, as the harsh Arctic environment deterred any future conflict in the area,” Black says. “However, I don’t know if we can say that for the near future, especially since Russia is increasing their capability and maneuverability, as well as their partnership with the Chinese in the Arctic region.”

Black, with her colleagues and students, will continue examining complex subjects, such as the Arctic, in their work at the Nebraska Deterrence Lab.

/
///No
/news/2023/09/uno-researcher-shares-expertise-at-arctic-defense-conferencedepartmentphoneemailcategoryCollege of Arts and SciencesResearchAlumniGeneral PublicStaffFacultyMediaCurrent Studentslocationevent-startsevent-endssite://CAS/news/2023/09/uno-researcher-shares-expertise-at-arctic-defense-conferenceCASuno-researcher-shares-expertise-at-arctic-defense-conference[Article Heading]UNO Researcher Shares Expertise at Arctic Defense ConferenceResearchers and defense practitioners from the U.S., Europe, and Scandinavia—including Michelle Black, Ph.D., associate professor of political science at UNO—congregated in Norway in early September to discuss trends and challenges in regional security in the High North.Researchers and defense practitioners from the U.S., Europe, and Scandinavia—including Michelle Black, Ph.D., associate professor of political science at UNO—congregated in Norway in early September to discuss trends and challenges in regional security in the High North.Sep 19, 2023 12:00 AM
News ReleaseNoNoYesYes1691730000000//news/2023/08/img/20230817_bold_01.jpgnavigationYessite://CAS/news/2023/08/img/20230817_bold_01.jpgCAS20230817_bold_01.jpg20230817_bold_01.jpg9291191200800/news/2023/08/img/20230814_bold_05.jpgnavigationYessite://CAS/news/2023/08/img/20230814_bold_05.jpgCAS20230814_bold_05.jpg20230814_bold_05.jpg10397781200800/YouTube

The University of Nebraska at Omaha (UNO) Department of Political Science and Office of International Programs are delighted to extend a warm welcome to 37 youth leaders hailing from the Balkans region. These remarkable students and young professionals — representing Bosnia & Herzegovina, Serbia and Montenegro — are participants in the BOLD (Balkan Youth Leaders) Civic Engagement Fellowship, an exchange program sponsored by the U.S. Embassies in their respective countries.

These three countries experienced armed conflict and turmoil during the breakup of Yugoslavia in the 1990s, and the legacy of the past continues to influence various aspects of civic society development. The Fellowship provides a unique opportunity to these future leaders to foster dialogue, build trust and collaborate on regional civic engagement challenges.

In 2019, UNO proudly assumed the role of administering the BOLD Program on Civic Engagement, but due to COVID-19, welcomed its first cohort of 30 students from Bosnia and Herzegovina in 2022. Building on this success, the program has now expanded its reach to encompass Serbia and Montenegro.

The 2023 BOLD Fellowship will run from Aug. 12 to Sept. 15, and it promises a transformative experience for the emerging leaders, including an academic residency at UNO where they will learn about civic engagement, conflict resolution, leadership, collaboration and gain a deeper understanding of the U.S., its governance, diversity and cultures. The program's culmination will be an educational study tour of New York City and Washington, D.C.

Guided by dedicated UNO faculty and staff, as well as wider Omaha government and non-profit community leaders, the Fellows will develop Action Plans to address critical civic issues within their own communities. Once the U.S portion of the program concludes, the Embassies will help the Fellows implement projects in their home countries, creating a lasting impact.

In preparation of BOLD 2023, UNO BOLD Program Team members have visited the region. Lana Obradovic, Ph.D., Director of International Studies and BOLD Principal Director, visited the U.S. Embassy in Sarajevo, met with BOLD Alumni from the previous year and connected with incoming BOLD Fellows.

“BOLD empowers youth leaders to actively engage in their communities and societies, create spaces for regional dialogue and foster lasting positive change, ensuring a more just and peaceful future in the Balkans,” Obradovic says. “I am very proud to make Omaha and UNO home to such an initiative that can build stronger democracies and bring more stability to the region.”

Patrick McNamara, Ph.D., a UNO faculty member serving as the BOLD Academic Director, visited Bosnia and Herzegovina for the first time this summer to reconnect with alumni and establish connections with the incoming cohort.

“It was a delight to see the BOLD alumni in their home environments,” McNamara says. “Each fellow I met, talked about how the program was transformational. I even saw the couple — Sara and Srdjan — who got engaged in Times Square when we were with the fellows in New York!”

McNamara adds that the natural beauty of Bosnia and Herzegovina is unforgettable and the hospitality amazing.

“I got to present two workshops collaborating with alumni while there,” McNamara says. “I lived into the different narratives around the conflicts of the 1990s and the tensions of today. It gave me a better understanding of the situation and great hope to be there with these changemaking Mavericks!”

There are many ways to get involved with the BOLD program and other visiting international groups through International Programs. If you’re interested in getting involved with the BOLD Civic Engagement Fellowship at UNO, please reach out to Dr. Lana Obradovic via email: lobradovic@unomaha.edu. Follow us on Facebook to receive updates.

KMTV reported on the BOLD program and spoke with organizers and one of the youth leaders. See the full story on KMTV's website.

/
///No
/news/2023/08/uno-welcomes-37-youth-leaders-from-the-balkans-region-for-the-bold-civic-engagement-fellowshipdepartmentBOLD Program Directorphoneemaillobradovic@unomaha.educategoryCollege of Arts and Scienceslocationevent-startsevent-endssite://CAS/news/2023/08/uno-welcomes-37-youth-leaders-from-the-balkans-region-for-the-bold-civic-engagement-fellowshipCASuno-welcomes-37-youth-leaders-from-the-balkans-region-for-the-bold-civic-engagement-fellowship[Article Heading]UNO Welcomes 37 Youth Leaders from the Balkans Region for the BOLD Civic Engagement Fellowship UNO will welcome 37 youth leaders from the Balkans region for the BOLD Civic Engagement Fellowship from Aug. 12 to Sept. 15, 2023.Lana ObradovicUNO will welcome 37 youth leaders from the Balkans region for the BOLD Civic Engagement Fellowship from Aug. 12 to Sept. 15, 2023.Aug 11, 2023 12:00 AM
News ReleaseNoNoYesYes1686200400000UNO’S NCITE is living out its mission to aid the U.S. in its counterterrorism efforts in the physical world and online through the race to understand emerging threats in the Metaverse./news/features/uno-magazine/img/spring-2023/sam-hunter-ncite.jpgnavigationNosite://www/news/features/uno-magazine/img/spring-2023/sam-hunter-ncite.jpgwwwsam-hunter-ncite.jpgsam-hunter-ncite.jpg2076971200800Sam Hunter, NCITE’s Lead of Strategic Operations, left, leads, Christine Abizaid, Director of the National Counterterrorism Center, through a demonstration of virtual reality technology.Sam Hunter, NCITE’s Lead of Strategic Operations, left, leads, Christine Abizaid, Director of the National Counterterrorism Center, through a demonstration of virtual reality technology.///YouTube
From the Spring 2023 UNO Magazine

The Metaverse seems innocent enough.

When the vision of making the internet completely immersive via virtual reality headsets was introduced by Meta CEO and Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg in 2021, it was done with playful-looking characters and colorful virtual spaces. In the initial public relations campaign, Zuckerberg painted a picture of a future where users could hang out in virtual meeting rooms, interact with digital objects and transport their digital avatars to new worlds.

But Sam Hunter, Ph.D., and Austin Doctor, Ph.D., look at the world around them — both virtual and physical — a little bit differently as scholars in UNO’s National Counterterrorism Innovation, Technology, and Education (NCITE) Center. Hunter, professor of Industrial and Organizational Psychology who leads strategic initiatives for NCITE, and Doctor, an assistant professor of political science who leads NCITE counterterrorism research initiatives, study the way extremists collaborate and communicate so they can help the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) — its funding organization — and other national security agencies get ahead of terror threats.

When they saw news of Meta’s announcement, Hunter recalled that their first thought was, “What if the bad guys get ahold of this stuff?”

That day, they connected with Joel Elson, Ph.D., an assistant professor for IT innovation at UNO, to work on an analysis of the Metaverse that would eventually be published in an article headlined “The Metaverse offers a future full of potential — for terrorists and extremists, too” for The Conversation, an online news organization.

In the piece, they described how the Metaverse could be used as an entirely new world where extremist organizations can recruit new members, plan terror attacks in virtual settings, and more, all in an environment where tracking the activity of extremists would be a massive undertaking, if not impossible.

For example, instead of a terror organization planning an attack on a building by looking at blueprints in a room together, they could recreate the environment in the Metaverse and practice the attack as if it were a video game without ever needing to meet in reality.

To make matters worse, the technology is relatively inexpensive and broadly available.

“It caught on like wildfire,” Hunter said. “Congressional staffers read it and we started to get requests for briefings on Capitol Hill; the FBI also wanted a briefing. Joel just gave a talk to the United Nations around this topic.”

The quick turnaround from having an idea to being able to reach stakeholders who are responsible for national security is what NCITE was designed to do when it launched at UNO with a grant from DHS in 2020.

“We’re not in the Washington, D.C. area, we’re not a think tank, we’re not a defense contractor,” Doctor said. “We are an academic center of excellence, and something that comes with that is the ability — and in some ways the responsibility – to work together…and think downrange about what the emerging threat landscape is going to look like.”

So, what does the threat landscape look like in this virtual world? As Doctor, Hunter and Elson described in their piece for The Conversation, when people develop a connection — whether financial or emotional — to something in a digital space, it can have real-world impact. Nike is already selling shoes to users who want to equip their avatar with virtual gear, so a threat could be as mild as stolen assets. Now that Barbados has opened an embassy and Interpol has opened a police office, infiltration of those organizations through the Metaverse is a real possibility. For a stronger real-world connection, the terror organization ISIS is involved in using non-fungible tokens (NFTs) as digital assets. The virtual world is becoming more like the physical one every day, which means security threats are growing at an exponential rate.

Understanding a space that is growing and evolving at a breakneck pace is a tall task for Hunter and Doctor, but they aren’t in it alone. NCITE’s offices on UNO’s Scott Campus are at the center of a web composed of researchers from a consortium of universities across the country. In addition, researchers like Hunter and Doctor in Omaha are supported by students who are gaining experience to become the next generation of national security professionals.

“I firmly believe that UNO is capable of giving students at this university an elite, unique experience that they could not get at any other university in the country,” Doctor said. “They are exposed to different disciplines, complex problems and working with the government, they get an experience that you can’t get anywhere else."

/
//
About the UNO Magazine

UNO Magazine is the flagship publication of the University of Nebraska at Omaha (UNO) and is published three times a year as a collaborative effort of UNO, the University of Nebraska Foundation, and the UNO Alumni Association.

/No
/news/features/uno-magazine/spring-2023/a-brave-new-virtual-worlddepartmentOffice of Strategic Marketing and Communicationsphoneemailunonews@unomaha.educategoryGeneral Publiclocationevent-startsevent-endssite://www/news/features/uno-magazine/spring-2023/a-brave-new-virtual-worldwwwa-brave-new-virtual-worldUNO Magazine: A Brave New Virtual WorldUNO Magazine: A Brave New Virtual WorldUNO’S NCITE is living out its mission to aid the U.S. in its counterterrorism efforts in the physical world and online through the race to understand emerging threats in the Metaverse.UNO MagazineSam PeshekUNO’S NCITE is living out its mission to aid the U.S. in its counterterrorism efforts in the physical world and online through the race to understand emerging threats in the Metaverse.Jun 8, 2023 12:00 AM
News ReleaseNoNoYesYes//news/2023/08/img/20230724_laura_alexander_13.jpgnavigationYessite://CAS/news/2023/08/img/20230724_laura_alexander_13.jpgCAS20230724_laura_alexander_13.jpg20230724_laura_alexander_13.jpg5124581200800Laura Alexander, Ph.D., Executive Director of the Leonard and Shirley Goldstein Center for Human Rights at UNO./news/2023/08/img/20200902_ramazan_kilinc-1.jpgnavigationYessite://CAS/news/2023/08/img/20200902_ramazan_kilinc-1.jpgCAS20200902_ramazan_kilinc-1.jpg20200902_ramazan_kilinc-1.jpg3453731200800Ramazan Kılınç, Ph.D., Goldstein Family Community Chair in Human Rights./news/2023/08/img/20190809_goldstein_exhibit_010.jpgnavigationYessite://CAS/news/2023/08/img/20190809_goldstein_exhibit_010.jpgCAS20190809_goldstein_exhibit_010.jpg20190809_goldstein_exhibit_010.jpg6104131200800Opening reception for the 2019 exhibit of "Shirley Goldstein’s Immigration Rights Legacy: Operation Exodus in Omaha" in Criss Library.YouTube

Laura Alexander, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Religious Studies, has been named Executive Director of the Leonard and Shirley Goldstein Center for Human Rights at UNO. Alexander previously served as the Goldstein Family Community Chair in Human Rights, a position that extends academics and research into the community and catalyzes engagement on issues of human rights. Ramazan Kılınç, Ph.D., Professor of Political Science and Director of Islamic Studies at UNO, was selected to serve as the new Community Chair.

Alexander says her work as Goldstein Family Community Chair in Human Rights provided a remarkable opportunity to connect students to community partners, deliver educational programming on human rights, and work with the Goldstein Center on ongoing events such as Human Rights Forums. Moving into the executive director position is a chance to elevate the work further.

“I look forward to working even more closely with the Goldstein Center’s executive and affiliated faculty to continue our strong community partnerships and to develop signature Goldstein Center research projects that build on our strengths in religion and human rights, migration and human rights, and health and human rights, among other areas,” Alexander says.

With a shared commitment to fostering impactful community connections, Alexander and Kılınç look forward to harnessing existing strengths while developing new programming.

“I plan to develop an eco-system to deepen the relationship between scholars and activists of human rights in the community,” Kılınç says. “Omaha received many refugees from across the world in recent years, and I plan to prioritize programming on refugees in our community. I hope to catalyze research, teaching, and community engagement in human rights with a focus on refugee experiences in Omaha in the next few years.”

Since its founding in 2017, led by inaugural Executive Director Curtis Hutt, the Goldstein Center has built a local, national, and international reputation as a major hub for education and engagement in human rights studies.

“I’m grateful to previous Executive Director Curtis Hutt, Associate Director Paul Williams, and our faculty-led Executive Committee for positioning the center as a leader in this area,” Alexander says. “The Goldstein Center has developed major community and academic partnerships and facilitated the scholarly, teaching, and community engagement work of dozens of UNO faculty members.”

Highlights include:

  • Launching an ongoing series of Human Rights Forums that engage UNO and the wider community (including international reach) in learning about specific contemporary human rights issues.
  • Bringing scholar, journalist, and activist Sharmila Seyyid to UNO as an Artist in Residence in partnership with the Artist Protection Fund, from 2021-23. During her time sponsored by the Goldstein Center, Fried Holocaust and Genocide Academy, and other partners, Seyyid published four new works and had two of her books translated into English.
  • Hosting two hundred local teachers for training and sponsoring multiple community engagement events in conjunction with Alejandro Iñarritu’s Carne y Arena virtual reality installation on migrant journeys, in partnership with KANEKO, in 2022.
  • Sponsoring, with the Fried Academy, a symposium on art and human rights in conjunction with the inaugural exhibit of Samuel Bak’s works at UNO in 2019.
  • Initiating and funding the exhibition, “Shirley Goldstein’s Immigrant Rights Legacy: Operation Exodus in Omaha,” displayed at the UNO Criss Library in the fall of 2019.
  • Supporting the scholarly journal ID: International Dialogue for the past five years.

Find more information about the Goldstein Center for Human Rights on their website, and stay connected to learn about upcoming events and opportunities for engagement.
/
///No
/news/2023/08/goldstein-center-for-human-rights-announces-new-leadershipdepartmentphoneemailcategoryCollege of Arts and Scienceslocationevent-startsevent-endssite://CAS/news/2023/08/goldstein-center-for-human-rights-announces-new-leadershipCASgoldstein-center-for-human-rights-announces-new-leadership[Article Heading]Goldstein Center for Human Rights Announces New LeadershipLaura Alexander, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Religious Studies, has been named Executive Director of the Leonard and Shirley Goldstein Center for Human Rights at UNO. Ramazan Kılınç, Ph.D., Professor of Political Science and Director of Islamic Studies at UNO, was selected to serve as the new Community Chair.Aug 30, 2023 12:00 AM
News
News ReleaseNoNoYesYesLast year a new study provided hope for a cure for HIV, and now the researchers behind it have released a larger, international study that seem to bring us even closer. The key may lie in experimental medicine, which in both studies has been shown to enhance the immune system's own ability to suppress the virus./news/2022/10/nature-medicine_1200_new.jpgnavigationYessite://CAS/news/2022/10/nature-medicine_1200_new.jpgCASnature-medicine_1200_new.jpgnature-medicine_1200_new.jpg806581200800///YouTube

Today, HIV can be managed with medical treatment. However, despite 40 years of intensive research, scientists have not yet succeeded in finding a cure for the disease, and people with HIV experience a flare-up of the virus only a few weeks after stopping treatment. But now, scientists at Aarhus University and Aarhus University Hospital, together with an international team of researchers — including Dr. Paul W. Denton, Assistant Professor of Biology at the University of Nebraska at Omaha — may have moved another step closer to a medication-free existence for the millions living with HIV today.

Last year, the researchers demonstrated that individuals who had just been diagnosed had a stronger immune response against the virus and lower levels of the virus in their blood when they were given so-called monoclonal antibodies against HIV, along with starting regular medical treatment. Monoclonal antibodies against HIV are very specific and highly potent antibodies that are synthetically produced in large quantities and used for experimental treatment.

In a new study, recently published in the journal Nature Medicine, the researchers have shown that patients who have been on treatment for years also benefit from this therapy. Specifically, the antibody treatment allows the study participants to suppress the virus for more than three months. Some of the participants continue to spontaneously suppress HIV for more than 18 months after their regular HIV treatment has stopped. 

Professor Ole Schmeltz Søgaard from the Department of Clinical Medicine at Aarhus University, is the lead author of the new study and he hopes the new findings will bring us closer to a cure:

"The study is one of the first placebo-controlled trials conducted on humans, where we have shown a way to boost the body's own ability to fight HIV—even when standard treatment is paused. We therefore see the study as an important step towards a cure," he said.

The study was conducted in close collaboration with researchers from Denmark, Norway, Australia, and the USA.

Antibodies restore immunity

In the trial, study participants from Denmark, Norway, and Australia were randomly divided into four groups. One group received the drug Lefitolimod, designed to enhance immune cell response against the virus, while another group received two monoclonal antibodies (3BNC117 + 10-1074) against HIV, which can eliminate the virus and strengthen the cells' immune system. The third group received standard treatment without experimental medication, while the fourth group received both types of experimental medicine.

And the results of the study are very encouraging, says Dr. Jesper Damsgaard Gunst from Aarhus University Hospital, who is also one of the lead authors of the study:

"Unfortunately, there was no extra benefit from Lefitolimod, but our study shows that people with HIV who receive monoclonal antibodies before pausing their regular HIV medication experience a period of about three months before the virus reappears. Additionally, the immune system in a third of those who received monoclonal antibodies can partially or completely suppress the virus, even after the monoclonal antibodies have left the system," he explained.

Continued need for treatment optimization

Despite the remarkable results of the study, there is still a long way to go before a cure is available, emphasises Professor Ole Schmeltz Søgaard. First, the researchers need to optimize the treatment and enhance its effects. Therefore, more trials are on the way.

"The hope is that we will gradually improve our experimental treatment strategy to a level where the effect of our treatment is that up to 50%, 70%, or even 100% of patients become medication-free and neither relapse nor can infect others. If we can achieve that, we will have developed a cure for HIV that will change the lives of approximately 38 million people living with the disease today."

The research group is now recruiting participants for a large UK-led clinical trial funded by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, which also tests the effectiveness of two monoclonal antibodies against HIV. The group is also planning a larger study across Europe to optimize experimental treatment with monoclonal antibodies. And Ole Søgaard Schmeltz has high expectations for the new trials. 

"Our hypothesis is that the optimized treatment will have an even stronger effect on both the virus and patients' immunity. In this way, we hope to improve the immune system's ability to permanently suppress the remaining virus in the body."

The Research - more information:

  • Study type: Randomised, placebo-controlled, double-blind clinical trial.
  • Partners: Departments of Infectious Diseases at university hospitals in Aalborg, Odense, Rigshospitalet and Hvidovre, Gødstrup, Oslo University Hospital, The Rockefeller University, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Weill Cornell Medicine, University of Nebraska in Omaha, The Doherty Institute, and The Alfred Hospital.
  • External funding: Gilead Sciences, Central Denmark Region Research Fund, Aarhus University, Lundbeck Foundation, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases of the National Institutes of Health. Experimental medicine was provided free of charge by The Rockefeller University, Mologen AG, and Gilead.
  • Possible conflicts of interest: None.
  • Link to the scientific article: [Nature Medicine Article] https://www.nature.com/articles/s41591-023-02547-6
/
///No
/news/2023/09/researchers-take-another-big-step-toward-hiv-curedepartmentphoneemailcategoryResearchCollege of Arts and Scienceslocationevent-startsevent-endssite://CAS/news/2023/09/researchers-take-another-big-step-toward-hiv-cureCASresearchers-take-another-big-step-toward-hiv-cure[Article Heading]Researchers Take Another Big Step Toward HIV CureLast year a new study provided hope for a cure for HIV, and now the researchers behind it have released a larger, international study that seem to bring us even closer. The key may lie in experimental medicine, which in both studies has been shown to enhance the immune system's own ability to suppress the virus.Vibe Bregendahl Noordeloos, edited for local release by Courtni KopietzLast year a new study provided hope for a cure for HIV, and now the researchers behind it have released a larger, international study that seem to bring us even closer. The key may lie in experimental medicine, which in both studies has been shown to enhance the immune system's own ability to suppress the virus.Sep 19, 2023 12:00 AM
News ReleaseNoNoYesYesWildlife photographs donated by CAS alumnus Dr. Larry Boersma now grace two UNO campus buildings, Allwine Hall and Mammel Hall. //news/2023/05/boersma_w82a0026_1200.jpgnavigationYessite://CAS/news/2023/05/boersma_w82a0026_1200.jpgCASboersma_w82a0026_1200.jpgboersma_w82a0026_1200.jpg6845471200800Dr. Larry Boersma (left) with CAS Interim Dean Melanie Bloom (center) and CAS Associate Dean LaReesa Wolfenbarger (right), pictured in Allwine Hall./news/2023/05/boersma_w82a0041_1200.jpgnavigationYessite://CAS/news/2023/05/boersma_w82a0041_1200.jpgCASboersma_w82a0041_1200.jpgboersma_w82a0041_1200.jpg6037661200800/news/2023/05/boersma_w82a0065_1200.jpgnavigationYessite://CAS/news/2023/05/boersma_w82a0065_1200.jpgCASboersma_w82a0065_1200.jpgboersma_w82a0065_1200.jpg5428001200800/news/2023/05/boersma_w82a0010_1200.jpgnavigationYessite://CAS/news/2023/05/boersma_w82a0010_1200.jpgCASboersma_w82a0010_1200.jpgboersma_w82a0010_1200.jpg4685881200800/news/2023/05/boersma_w82a0076_1200.jpgnavigationYessite://CAS/news/2023/05/boersma_w82a0076_1200.jpgCASboersma_w82a0076_1200.jpgboersma_w82a0076_1200.jpg7884141200800/news/2023/05/boersma_w82a0083_1200.jpgnavigationYessite://CAS/news/2023/05/boersma_w82a0083_1200.jpgCASboersma_w82a0083_1200.jpgboersma_w82a0083_1200.jpg4394321200800YouTube

UNO alumnus Dr. Larry Boersma has been a wildlife photographer for decades, but it wasn't always his intended career. He shared his journey with current UNO students on a recent campus visit, detailing his path from English student to journalism instructor and public relations professional, before he eventually moved on from a business in pet photography to pursue more wild subjects.

He went on to win many awards for his photography, under the name Larry Allan, and you can find more examples of his work at his website.

Boersma recently donated 30+ prints of his wildlife photographs to hang in Allwine Hall on UNO's Dodge campus and in Mammel Hall on the Scott campus.

Over the years Boersma captured images of everything from leaping wildcats and feasting raptors to foxes thriving in the remote Arctic Circle. When photographing the Arctic fox, Boersma had to keep the film close to his body so it didn't freeze, and patience was required to document the shy animal. By the end of the encounter, the fox's curiosity led to it leaving nose prints on the camera lens.

Today, Boersma is a speaker and advocate for wildlife species and the habitats they require to thrive.

"I hope that seeing wildlife as art helps induce some interest and connection between the viewer and the animal," Boersma says. "If you look at a photo and see something cute or beautiful or strong, you’re making a connection. And hopefully, people think, 'We've got to make sure these animals are around not just for me to enjoy but for generations.’"

/
///No
/news/2023/05/preserving-our-wildlife-photos-donated-by-uno-alumnusdepartmentphoneemailcategoryCollege of Arts and Scienceslocationevent-startsevent-endssite://CAS/news/2023/05/preserving-our-wildlife-photos-donated-by-uno-alumnusCASpreserving-our-wildlife-photos-donated-by-uno-alumnus[Article Heading]Preserving Our Wildlife Photos Donated by UNO AlumnusWildlife photographs donated by CAS alumnus Dr. Larry Boersma now grace two UNO campus buildings, Allwine Hall and Mammel Hall. Wildlife photographs donated by CAS alumnus Dr. Larry Boersma now grace two UNO campus buildings, Allwine Hall and Mammel Hall. May 10, 2023 12:00 AM
News ReleaseNoNoYesYes1667365200000/news/2022/11/img/chalecki-symposium_1200.jpgnavigationYessite://CAS/news/2022/11/img/chalecki-symposium_1200.jpgCASchalecki-symposium_1200.jpgchalecki-symposium_1200.jpg1660651200800///YouTube

Heat waves don't stop at borders; neither do microbes and viruses, floods and droughts. Beth Chalecki, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Political Science and Director of the Sustainability minor at UNO, says the world needs a new theory of international relations that deals with ecological stability.

“Preserving the ecosystem has got to be the primary value of nations around the world,” Chalecki says, “then you can build economic, political, cultural, scientific and technological systems on top of that. But if you ruin the environment, nothing else above it is stable or productive.”

Portrait of Beth ChaleckiChalecki has expertise in the intersection of climate change, national security and international relations, and her work in this arena resulted in the award of two prestigious fellowships, as well as connections to a branch of NATO called the Supreme Allied Command Transformation (ACT). Her relationship to the NATO ACT branch started back in 2017 when she was invited to give a talk for a strategic foresight assessment on climate change and security. Fast forward to the spring of 2022 when the same NATO ACT contact reached out again, just as she was about to start her Canadian Fulbright Fellowship.

“He said, ‘we are having a symposium in Poland in the beginning of May, and we need somebody to talk about climate. Would you like to do it?’ So, I got to Canada, say hello to everybody, turned around, and flew to Poland for the resilience symposium in Warsaw. It was very interesting to listen to what everybody thought about resilience.”

This resilience symposium, exclusive to only NATO members, opened up new conversations and future opportunities essentially all addressing: how can NATO remain resilient (or become more resilient) in the face of all these different threats? Chalecki chaired and presented on a panel to discuss international relations and climate resilience, while other panelists weighed in on climate resilience from the operational planning side.

The panel generated a lot of interest, and as soon as Chalecki returned from Poland, another invite arrived — this time for a summer symposium in Geneva, Switzerland. Called Partnerships 360, this symposium included NATO partners and participants from non-member states like New Zealand, South Korea, and Ukraine. Conversations took place against the backdrop of the war in Ukraine, and discussions focused on how international partnerships — even with non-NATO members — can be leveraged for the benefit of all parties in the face of changing threats.

“NATO is starting to take climate security more seriously as a strategic backdrop for their future planning,” Chalecki says. “We're going to start to realistically assess how changing climate is going to affect what NATO needs to do, the security situations it has to address, and how its member states and partners will contribute.”

And now, in November 2022 in Berlin, Germany, another piece of the larger puzzle will be discussed: strategic foresight. It’s an opportunity for blue sky thinking and looking over the horizon five, 10, 50 years into the future. Chalecki will be leading a climate panel, which she recommended take place before all other agenda items, because ultimately, it influences all other aspects. 

“Climate is going to be the backdrop for everything else people want to know about military operations, refugees, public health concerns, and food and water security,” Chalecki says. “If you want to know about relations, energy, trade and everything that goes into security, it's going to have to start with the backdrop of a changed climate, a globally warmed world.”

Decarbonization of the global energy supply

One of the major approaches to addressing the acceleration of climate change is pursuing decarbonization, both through technologies that remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and a transition to energy sources — like solar, wind, or hydro — that produce less carbon emissions. 

Chalecki says the decarbonization of the global energy supply is going to cause strategic shifts between countries. Countries that export large amounts of fossil fuels and petroleum, like Saudi Arabia, Nigeria, and Russia, for example, are used to holding a particular position in the international trade community because of their exports. If no one is buying the product, this decreases their political and economic power, which can cause political unrest in the countries themselves. It's a complicated situation, with no easy answers.

“As we move away from fossil fuels, the countries that don't adapt or can't adapt, are going to find themselves further and further behind — and the rest of the world, what is their responsibility to those nations? This is going to cause unrest in the international arena from a security point of view, from a political point of view, and from an economic point of view,” Chalecki says.

An October 2022 report from UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change highlights that current climate commitments are not enough to limit global temperature rise to 1.5 degrees Celsius by the end of the century, a goal set to help the world avoid the worst impacts of climate change. Still, there are reasons for hope as countries work to strengthen commitments. 

NATO also announced this year that Canada will host a new Climate Change and Security Centre of Excellence, a move that demonstrates a commitment to understanding the strategic ramifications of a changing climate.

“It's really inspiring to see; we have planetary-level problems, but we also have people that are working to solve planetary-level problems,” Chalecki says. “And that is something that I'm glad to be part of.”

/
///No
/news/2022/11/beth-chalecki-engages-global-community-on-climate-resiliencedepartmentCollege of Arts and SciencesphoneemailcategoryCollege of Arts and SciencesAlumniCommunity EngagementGeneral PublicFacultyStaffCurrent Studentslocationevent-startsevent-endssite://CAS/news/2022/11/beth-chalecki-engages-global-community-on-climate-resilienceCASbeth-chalecki-engages-global-community-on-climate-resilience[Article Heading]Beth Chalecki, Ph.D., Engages Global Community on Climate ResilienceHeat waves don't stop at borders; neither do microbes and viruses, floods and droughts. Beth Chalecki, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Political Science and Director of the Sustainability minor at UNO, says the world needs a new theory of international relations that deals with ecological stability. Courtni KopietzHeat waves don't stop at borders; neither do microbes and viruses, floods and droughts. Beth Chalecki, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Political Science and Director of the Sustainability minor at UNO, says the world needs a new theory of international relations that deals with ecological stability. Nov 1, 2022 12:00 AM
Upcoming Events
/
/
/
/http:///http:///////Media Mentions/https://omaha.com/news/local/spices-found-to-be-a-significant-source-of-lead-poisoning-in-douglas-county/article_f64db444-8c47-11ed-9240-2b90c7ed6d19.html/https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/protective-friendships/202211/how-friends-buffer-the-link-between-bullying-and-sleep-problems/https://theconversation.com/theres-no-one-latino-vote-religion-and-geography-add-to-voters-diversity-191721/news/cas-media-mentionsnavigationYessite://CAS/news/cas-media-mentionsCAScas-media-mentionsArts and Sciences Media MentionsSee more Media MentionsCollege of Arts and Sciences Mavericks are thought leaders, innovators, and news-makers. We'll be updating this page weekly with media stories featuring Arts and Sciences faculty, staff, and students.College of Arts and Sciences Mavericks are thought leaders, innovators, and news-makers. We'll be updating this page weekly with media stories featuring Arts and Sciences faculty, staff, and students.http://Stay Connected/https://www.facebook.com/unocas//https://twitter.com/UNOmahaCAS//http://
News ReleaseNoNoYesYes1585458000000In a new study published in Ecological Applications, UNO professor David Manning, with other researchers, analyzed data to better understand nutrient transport in streams and rivers across the United States./news/2020/03/img/nutrient-transport-manning.jpgnavigationYessite://CAS/news/2020/03/img/nutrient-transport-manning.jpgCASnutrient-transport-manning.jpg10429351200800An aerial view of the Missouri River through downtown Omaha, Neb. Photo by UNO University Communications.///YouTube

Water is a precious resource, one that plays an important role in everything from public health and environment to agriculture and economics and is vital to sustaining life on Earth.

One of the major challenges threatening our waterways today is a phenomenon known as nutrient pollution. Nitrogen and phosphorus, nutrients that are a natural part of aquatic ecosystems like streams and rivers, can have lasting impacts on the environment and public health when their concentrations exceed certain thresholds.

In a new study published in Ecological Applications, researchers analyzed data to better understand nutrient transport in streams and rivers across the United States.

David Manning, assistant professor of biology at the University of Nebraska at Omaha and lead author on the paper, says the findings suggest most U.S. streams and rivers have higher levels of nitrogen and phosphorus than is recommended for protecting ecological integrity.

“High concentrations of nitrogen and phosphorus in our waterways are concerning because they threaten both human and ecosystem health,” Manning says. “Nutrients are essential for all life, but when they get too high in our waterways, they can fundamentally change the way a stream looks and operates.”

High concentrations of nitrogen and phosphorus in our waterways are concerning because they threaten both human and ecosystem health.David Manning, Assistant Professor of Biology at UNOLeft

These elevated nutrient concentrations can lead to a lack of species diversity, oxygen depletion, and algal blooms, large growths of algae that overwhelm the ecosystem and harm habitats and water quality, threaten fish and insect communities, and even produce toxins that are harmful to humans.

High nutrient concentrations can also affect the purity of the water we drink. Here in Omaha, more than half the drinking water comes from small streams similar to the ones analyzed in the study. Nationwide, more than a third of the population relies on drinking water sourced from small streams.

The study found that even minor amounts of human activity can increase nutrient concentrations in freshwater sources. Higher concentrations of nitrogen are more likely to come from transportation, industry, agriculture and fertilizer application, while increased phosphorus is more commonly the result of sewage waste, amplified soil erosion and runoff from urban watersheds. 

Concentrations of both nitrogen and phosphorus were higher in streams and rivers with more agricultural and urban land cover as opposed to forested land cover.

“The consequences of our actions that affect the small streams flowing through our cities, like Omaha, eventually affect larger rivers, such as the Missouri, before finally reaching the coast,” Manning says. “Because of this upstream-downstream connection, smaller streams serve as a first line of defense between a nutrient source, and its potential trip downstream.” 

Nutrient pollution is a complex problem. While there’s still a lot of work to be done to develop management tools and set thresholds for nutrient concentrations in streams and rivers, better understanding of how nutrients are transported through the interconnected network of waterways can help lead to solutions. 

And there are some actions that could be implemented today.

“We all live close to headwater streams, and so we can all play a role in promoting the health of streams in our backyard,” Manning says. “Some steps to take might include rethinking how much and how often we apply fertilizers, picking up pet wastes (a potential source of phosphorus), and supporting new, creative stormwater management infrastructure, including green infrastructure.”

/
///No
/news/2020/03/new-study-finds-nutrient-concentrations-in-us-waterways-are-too-highdepartmentphoneemailckopietz@unomaha.educategoryResearchCollege of Arts and Scienceslocationsite://CAS/news/2020/03/new-study-finds-nutrient-concentrations-in-us-waterways-are-too-highCASnew-study-finds-nutrient-concentrations-in-us-waterways-are-too-high[Article Heading]New Study Finds Nutrient Concentrations in U.S. Waterways Are Too HighIn a new study published in Ecological Applications, UNO professor David Manning, with other researchers, analyzed data to better understand nutrient transport in streams and rivers across the United States.Courtni KopietzIn a new study published in Ecological Applications, UNO professor David Manning, with other researchers, analyzed data to better understand nutrient transport in streams and rivers across the United States.Mar 29, 2020 12:00 AM
News ReleaseYesNoYesYes1581400800000Kathy Radosta's experiences of loss and seizing opportunities have helped her become a 'mom' to hundreds of UNO students, ready support them at any turn as they complete their degree./news/2020/02/img/20200123_kathy_radosta_001.jpgnavigationNosite://www/news/2020/02/img/20200123_kathy_radosta_001.jpgwww20200123_kathy_radosta_001.jpg20200123_kathy_radosta_001.jpg1574601200800Kathy Radosta helps UNO student Kenshiro Tanaka during an ESL class. She began her UNO journey as a student in 2004 and now serves as associate director of the Writing Center.Kathy Radosta, right, works with student Kenshiro Tanaka.///YouTube

When Kathy Radosta came to Omaha with her family on a military assignment in 2002 being a teacher - let alone at the college level - wasn't on her radar; then, her husband passed away unexpectedly.

"Within a year of us getting here I found myself with a 5-year-old and a 7-year-old, transplanted."

With previous teaching experience, but no certification, she turned to UNO in 2004 and began a 15-year journey to her current role as an ESL instructor in the UNO Department of English and associate director for the UNO Writing Center.

"It was never a path I set out on - I was going to be high school Spanish teacher," she says. "But these opportunities arose that UNO gave me and here I am."

It is exactly because of those opportunities that Radosta, who earned a master's degree from UNO with a TESOL certification in 2010, has become more than just an instructor for many students - but a lifeline on their path to completing their college degree.

"Kathy is probably, by far, the biggest advocate I know on this campus for students, in particular students where English is their second, third, fourth, fifth, six language," says Travis Adams, Ph.D., director of the UNO Writing Center and assistant professor of English.

"You have all these different kinds of students that traveled all these difference paths and so you can't treat them all the same because they are not the same,"- Kathy Radosta, Associate Director of UNO's Writing CenterRight

This was certainly the case for Shiqing Zou, a native Chinese student who took Radosta's ESL II course in 2015. Last year, she completed Boston University's graduate TESOL program, planning to become an English teacher for other non-native speakers herself.

"When communicating with her students from all over the world, she always made us feel at home," she writes. "When I had difficulties in life, I would go to her office to seek help. She helped me every time, without hesitation and with all efforts."

Radosta says that through her experiences, she has seen the many varied backgrounds of students attending UNO. Even beyond the cultural differences, it is the difference in access to support that stands out most to her.

Whether it was the student without her own computer that she worked with to rent a laptop from the Help Desk every two weeks because assignments needed to be turned in online, or the student who could only access internet at the autobody shop where she worked part time, being open to communication and understanding was key to helping them succeed.

"You have all these different kinds of students that traveled all these difference paths and so you can't treat them all the same because they are not the same," she says. "Yeah, I'm going to hold you to a standard - always - in my class, in your writing and in being a responsible adult in getting things in on time, but if as a university and as a community we can't accommodate life situations it doesn't make sense to me."

Adams says one only needs to step into Radosta's office to understand the impact she has had on her students.

"She has maps in her office and the first time a student of hers comes to talk with her she puts a pin in this map," he explains. "Over the course of the six years I've been here Kathy has had to add more maps.

"I think that's huge in terms of welcoming students - our international students - to campus ... and the wonderful thing is to see the way that pays Kathy back because these students come back and visit when they are in town or they continue to see here as part of their lives afterwards."

Radosta says she is more than happy to be a resource - a stabilizing force - for students, especially those whose support systems may be thousands of miles away.

"My colleagues would tell me that I've got the 'mom' factor going on. But I feel I see my children in each one of my students and, if it was them, I would hope that somebody would stop, take a breath and go 'that is a young 21-year-old trying to make their way in the world and how can I help them?'"

/
///Yes
/news/2020/using-lifes-challenges-to-help-students-find-lifes-rewardsdepartmentUniversity Communicationsphone402.554.2129emailcdreed@unomaha.educategoryGeneral PublicCollege of Arts and Scienceslocationsite://www/news/2020/using-lifes-challenges-to-help-students-find-lifes-rewardswwwusing-lifes-challenges-to-help-students-find-lifes-rewards[Article Heading]Using Life's Challenges to Help Students Find Life's RewardsKathy Radosta's experiences of loss and seizing opportunities have helped her become a 'mom' to hundreds of UNO students, ready support them at any turn as they complete their degree.completion imperative, graduation, success, writing centerCharley SteedKathy Radosta's experiences of loss and seizing opportunities have helped her become a 'mom' to hundreds of UNO students, ready support them at any turn as they complete their degree.Feb 11, 2020 12:00 AM
News ReleaseYesYesJohn Kerry to Headline Hagel Forum in Global Leadership YesYes158274000000015827652000001582770600000The former U.S. Secretaries of State and Defense provided guidance and perspectives on current issues that will become challenges for tomorrow's leaders.//news/events/chuck-hagel-forum-in-global-leadership/img/20200226_hagel_kerry_025.jpgnavigationNosite://www/news/events/chuck-hagel-forum-in-global-leadership/img/20200226_hagel_kerry_025.jpgwww20200226_hagel_kerry_025.jpg20200226_hagel_kerry_025.jpg1486461200800John Kerry speaks at StraussAt the Hagel Forum on Global Leadership, John Kerry, former U.S. Secretary of State and former U.S. Senator from Massachusetts, discussed the role of U.S. leadership in a changing world with Chuck Hagel, former U.S. Secretary of Defense and former U.S. Senator from Nebraska./news/events/chuck-hagel-forum-in-global-leadership/img/20200226_hagel_kerry_026.jpgnavigationNosite://www/news/events/chuck-hagel-forum-in-global-leadership/img/20200226_hagel_kerry_026.jpgwww20200226_hagel_kerry_026.jpg20200226_hagel_kerry_026.jpg1410121200800John Kerry stands in front of a group of students on stage at the Strauss Performing Arts CenterFormer Secretary of State John Kerry speaks during the second installment of the Chuck Hagel Forum in Global Leadership in the Strauss Performing Arts Center./news/events/chuck-hagel-forum-in-global-leadership/img/20200226_hagel_kerry_031.jpgnavigationNosite://www/news/events/chuck-hagel-forum-in-global-leadership/img/20200226_hagel_kerry_031.jpgwww20200226_hagel_kerry_031.jpg20200226_hagel_kerry_031.jpg1342981200800Chuck Hagel stands at a podium to introduce John KerryFormer Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel, a UNO alumnus, speaks during the second installment of the Chuck Hagel Forum in Global Leadership./news/events/chuck-hagel-forum-in-global-leadership/img/20200226_hagel_kerry_032.jpgnavigationNosite://www/news/events/chuck-hagel-forum-in-global-leadership/img/20200226_hagel_kerry_032.jpgwww20200226_hagel_kerry_032.jpg20200226_hagel_kerry_032.jpg1428811200800John Kerry stands backstage at the Strauss Performing Arts CenterJohn Kerry, former U.S. Secretary of State, waits to arrive on stage at the Chuck Hagel Forum on Global Leadership. The forum took place on Feb. 26, 2020./news/events/chuck-hagel-forum-in-global-leadership/img/20200226_hagel_kerry_028.jpgnavigationNosite://www/news/events/chuck-hagel-forum-in-global-leadership/img/20200226_hagel_kerry_028.jpgwww20200226_hagel_kerry_028.jpg20200226_hagel_kerry_028.jpg1300341200800John Kerry holds his hand over his chest on stage at the Hagel Forum in Global LeadershipFormer Secretary of State John Kerry acknowledges the audience as they give him a standing ovation following his speech during the second installment of the Chuck Hagel Forum in Global Leadership./news/events/chuck-hagel-forum-in-global-leadership/img/20200226_hagel_kerry_030.jpgnavigationNosite://www/news/events/chuck-hagel-forum-in-global-leadership/img/20200226_hagel_kerry_030.jpgwww20200226_hagel_kerry_030.jpg20200226_hagel_kerry_030.jpg1530121200800Kerry and Hagel engage in a discussion on stageElizabeth Chalecki, Ph.D., assistant professor of political science, moderates a Q&A with former Secretary of State John Kerry and former Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel, a UNO alumnus, during the second installment of the Chuck Hagel Forum in Global Leadership./news/events/chuck-hagel-forum-in-global-leadership/img/20200226_hagel_kerry_027.jpgnavigationNosite://www/news/events/chuck-hagel-forum-in-global-leadership/img/20200226_hagel_kerry_027.jpgwww20200226_hagel_kerry_027.jpg20200226_hagel_kerry_027.jpg1346341200800A side profile shot of John KerryFormer Secretary of State John Kerry speaks during the second installment of the Chuck Hagel Forum in Global Leadership in the Strauss Performing Arts Center./news/events/chuck-hagel-forum-in-global-leadership/img/20200226_hagel_kerry_029.jpgnavigationNosite://www/news/events/chuck-hagel-forum-in-global-leadership/img/20200226_hagel_kerry_029.jpgwww20200226_hagel_kerry_029.jpg20200226_hagel_kerry_029.jpg1407891200800A wide shot of UNO assistant professor Beth Chalecki, Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel and Secretary of State John KerryElizabeth Chalecki, Ph.D., assistant professor of political science, moderates a Q&A with former Secretary of State John Kerry and former Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel, a UNO alumnus, during the second installment of the Chuck Hagel Forum in Global Leadership.YouTube

Two national leaders in international policy came together on the UNO campus Wednesday, Feb. 26, to discuss the role of the United States, and its citizens, as global leader now and in the future.

Former U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry, who served from 2013 to 2017, and former Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel, who served from 2013 to 2015, spoke to a sold-out crowd at the second annual Chuck Hagel Forum in Global Leadership, held in UNO's Strauss Performing Arts Center.

Hagel introduced Kerry as "a decorated Vietnam war veteran, prosecutor senator, and Secretary of State," adding that it was "not a bad resume."

"I am particularly proud and privileged he would accept an invitation to speak here tonight," Hagel said. "I don't think there is anyone I've known and worked with over the years that embodies, understands global leadership like John Kerry does."

The event also featured remarks from UNO Senior Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs Sacha Kopp, Ph.D., and UNO Student Body President Aya Yousuf.

"The Chuck Hagel Forum in Global Leadership launched in 2019 with a mission to explore critical issues with global leaders in search of solutions to today’s challenges," Kopp told the audience, highlighting the rarity of being able to hear from two former U.S. Secretaries.

Welcome to Secretary Chuck Hagel, here to host Sec’y John Kerry for the annual Hagel Forum in Global Leadership @UNOmaha — back in Maverick country!! pic.twitter.com/hB6AXEGGk5

— SachaKopp (@SachaKopp) February 27, 2020

Yousuf provided thanks to Kerry and Hagel on behalf of the UNO student body, a number of whom were in attendance or watching remotely.

"Thank you for your decades of public service, and for sharing your time with the Maverick community. We are thrilled and honored to welcome you to the University of Nebraska at Omaha."

In his prepared remarks, Kerry, who also served as a U.S. Senator from Massachusetts for nearly 30 years, detailed the changes in climate the world has seen in recent years and the need for international communities to come together to commit to finding ways to encourage innovation and hold each other accountable.

Kerry's remarks also touched on the impact of technological shifts due to advancements like the Internet, and how it set the stage for the next big advancement in addressing today's most pressing issues.

"We are seeing tectonic cultural, political, economic, warfare transformations that are altering the possibilities of the way we think about things," he said. "These shifts are just as big as the transformations our nation went through during the industrial revolution."

"The reality is that this one of the greatest opportunities we could ever have," he added, explaining that technological revolutions can also spur solutions to the world's problems."

Student Body President/Regent Aya Yousuf and Vice President Jabin Moore presented former Sec. of State @JohnKerry with a Mavericks jersey. Kerry will speak at tonight’s Chuck Hagel Forum in Global Leadership. #Hagel | #Kerry pic.twitter.com/GZ9FxK1cNy

— University of Nebraska at Omaha (@UNOmaha) February 27, 2020

Attendees, who included community members and university supporters, also had an opportunity to ask questions of both Kerry and Hagel.

Hagel, a UNO alumnus and U.S. Senator from Nebraska for nearly two decades, joined Kerry in a robust discussion, moderated by Elizabeth Chalecki, Ph.D., assistant professor of political science.  The discussion covered a variety of topics, ranging from divisiveness of American politics, the Iran Nuclear Deal, and possibility of ecological diplomacy over political diplomacy.

One key takeaway from the evening's discussion, was the importance of not just talking about global leadership, but engaging in it as well.

"I think it is imperative that people know how the rest of the world works; how people are living ... what we've done as a nation is remarkable, but we also have to put it in perspective," Kerry said. "There is no over there anymore. It's everywhere."

The Chuck Hagel Forum in Global Leadership returned for 2020 after an inaugural outing last February with former Vice President Joe Biden as guest. Hagel also hosts a recurring Symposium in Public Service each semester for local high school students to connect them with local experts and helped host a two-day symposium in 2016 exploring the legacies of the Vietnam War featuring government officials, national journalists and Vietnam veterans.

Hagel graduated from UNO with a bachelor's degree in 1971 after serving in the Vietnam War and enrolling through the Bootstrapper program. In 2008 Hagel named UNO home to the archives of his time as a U.S. Senator from Nebraska (1997-2009) and Secretary of Defense.

/
///Yes
/news/events/chuck-hagel-forum-in-global-leadership/uno-to-welcome-john-kerrydepartmentphoneemailunoevents@unomaha.educategoryGeneral PublicCurrent StudentsAlumniMediaFacultyProspective StudentsStafflocationsite://www/news/events/chuck-hagel-forum-in-global-leadership/uno-to-welcome-john-kerrywwwuno-to-welcome-john-kerryChuck Hagel Forum in Global LeadershipJohn Kerry, Chuck Hagel Discuss Global Leadership at UNO ForumThe former U.S. Secretaries of State and Defense provided guidance and perspectives on current issues that will become challenges for tomorrow's leaders.Chuck Hagel, Global Leadership, John KerryUNO EventsThe former U.S. Secretaries of State and Defense provided guidance and perspectives on current issues that will become challenges for tomorrow's leaders.Feb 26, 2020 12:00 AM
BelowCSS/http://

Featured

UNO Researcher Shares Expertise at Arctic Defense Conference

Researchers and defense practitioners from the U.S., Europe, and Scandinavia—including Michelle Black, Ph.D., associate professor of political science at UNO—congregated in Norway in early September to discuss trends and challenges in regional security in the High North.

UNO Welcomes 37 Youth Leaders from the Balkans Region for the BOLD Civic Engagement Fellowship

UNO will welcome 37 youth leaders from the Balkans region for the BOLD Civic Engagement Fellowship from Aug. 12 to Sept. 15, 2023.

UNO Magazine: A Brave New Virtual World

UNO’S NCITE is living out its mission to aid the U.S. in its counterterrorism efforts in the physical world and online through the race to understand emerging threats in the Metaverse.

Goldstein Center for Human Rights Announces New Leadership

Laura Alexander, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Religious Studies, has been named Executive Director of the Leonard and Shirley Goldstein Center for Human Rights at UNO. Ramazan Kılınç, Ph.D., Professor of Political Science and Director of Islamic Studies at UNO, was selected to serve as the new Community Chair.

News

more

Researchers Take Another Big Step Toward HIV Cure

Last year a new study provided hope for a cure for HIV, and now the researchers behind it have released a larger, international study that seem to bring us even closer. The key may lie in experimental medicine, which in both studies has been shown to enhance the immune system's own ability to suppress the virus.

Preserving Our Wildlife Photos Donated by UNO Alumnus

Wildlife photographs donated by CAS alumnus Dr. Larry Boersma now grace two UNO campus buildings, Allwine Hall and Mammel Hall.

Beth Chalecki, Ph.D., Engages Global Community on Climate Resilience

Heat waves don't stop at borders; neither do microbes and viruses, floods and droughts. Beth Chalecki, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Political Science and Director of the Sustainability minor at UNO, says the world needs a new theory of international relations that deals with ecological stability.

Events

view more

Most Viewed

  • New Study Finds Nutrient Concentrations in U.S. Waterways Are Too High
  • Using Life's Challenges to Help Students Find Life's Rewards
  • John Kerry, Chuck Hagel Discuss Global Leadership at UNO Forum

Media Mentions

  • Spices found to be a significant source of lead poisoning in Douglas County
  • How Friends Buffer the Link Between Bullying and Sleep Problems
  • There’s no one ‘Latino vote’ – religion and geography add to voters’ diversity
  • See more Media Mentions

Stay Connected

  • Follow us on Facebook
  • Follow us on Twitter

If you have a story idea, news tip, or inquiry please contact:

Courtni Kopietz | ckopietz@unomaha.edu


About the College of Arts and Sciences

College of Arts and Sciences

  • Contact Us
  • 220 Arts & Sciences Hall
  • College Advising Office
Social media
  • College Resources
  • For Faculty and Staff
  • Math-Science Learning Center
  • The Writing Center

Next Steps

  • Visit UNO
  • Request Information
  • Apply for Admission
  • The UNO Advantage
  • Our City (Omaha)

Just For You

  • Future Students
  • Current Students
  • Work at UNO
  • Faculty and Staff
  • A-Z List

Popular Services and Resources

  • my.unomaha.edu
  • Academic Calendar
  • Campus Buildings & Maps
  • Library
  • Pay Your Bill
  • Course Catalogs
  • Internships & Career Development
  • Bookstore
  • MavCARD Services
  • Military-Connected Resource Center
  • Speech Center
  • Writing Center
  • Human Resources
  • Center for Faculty Excellence

Affiliates

  • University of Nebraska System
  • NU Foundation
  • Buffett Early Childhood Institute
  • Daugherty Water for Food Institute
  • National Strategic Research Institute
  • Peter Kiewit Institute
  • Rural Prosperity Nebraska
  1. University Policies
  2. Privacy Statement
  3. Accessibility
  1. 402.554.2800

University of Nebraska Omaha
University of Nebraska Omaha, 6001 Dodge Street, Omaha, NE, 68182
  • © 2023  
  • Emergency Information Alert
  • MavsReport

Social Media


Omaha Skyline

Our Campus. Otherwise Known as Omaha.

The University of Nebraska does not discriminate based on race, color, ethnicity, national origin, sex, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, disability, age, genetic information, veteran status, marital status, and/or political affiliation in its education programs or activities, including admissions and employment. The University prohibits any form of retaliation taken against anyone for reporting discrimination, harassment, or retaliation for otherwise engaging in protected activity. Read the full statement.

scroll to top of page