A Legacy of Learning: Leonard Sommer's Commitment to Faculty Excellence

When Leonard Sommer stepped onto UNO’s campus as a young accounting student in the 1970s, he didn’t know how much his professors would shape the trajectory of his life. Now, nearly five decades later, he’s giving back, investing in the very people who made his journey possible. Sommer has established a named professorship in UNO’s School of Accounting to help retain top-tier faculty and ensure students receive a high-quality, relevant education.

Sommer, who graduated in 1976, credits his professors’ industry experience and classroom enthusiasm as pivotal to his growth. “They brought theoretical concepts to life,” he said. “That kind of teaching helped me learn faster—and ultimately, use what I learned throughout my career,” Sommer said.

In fact, it’s the faculty, those dedicated, innovative instructors, that inspired Sommer’s own journey. He remembers professors with private sector experience weaving real-world examples into their lessons, translating dry balance sheets into tools for problem solving. This blend of enthusiasm and expertise helped him find his footing. “Those problem-solving skills,” he says, “served me long after graduation, from founding a CPA firm to co-owning an asphalt maintenance business.”

Fast-forward nearly five decades, and Sommer’s UNO experience are foundational to his accomplishments in local leadership: CPA, nonprofit and private company board member, entrepreneur. Yet when asked what catalyzed his success, he returns to that classroom energy.

"It wasn’t just accounting principles," he explains. "It was learning how to communicate, how to collaborate. On the boards I serve, those interpersonal skills have been invaluable."

Between students, faculty and the business community, Sommer places teachers at the core: "They’re the facilitators of transformation, the glue that binds knowledge and opportunity. Retaining great faculty means retaining that spark. Quality faculty makes the student experience stick," he says. "They turn a curriculum into a community."

“Our faculty not only bring academic and research expertise, they also bring a passion for student learning. This professorship is a reflection of our collaborative spirit and high standards,” says Dr. Roopa Venkatesh, Director of the UNO School of Accounting.

Lori Simonsen, a lecturer in UNO’s School of Accounting and a licensed CPA with nearly two decades of tax experience was named the inaugural recipient of the Sommer Family Professor of Accounting. She plans to use the honor—and the resources that come with it—to launch a hands-on workforce initiative focused on experiential learning in tax preparation. Simonsen hopes this hands-on model will eventually expand into other areas of accounting.

Sommer is pleased to hear that the new generation of students will benefit from the same high-quality, relevant education he received. “Invest in faculty, and you invest in the university’s future,” he says. “You don’t always realize it while you’re in the grind," he smiles, "but great teachers make all the difference."

“I am hoping this initiative provides our students with opportunities to apply the knowledge from their course work into real-world experiences in accounting. The goal is for students to gain important critical thinking and communication skills that will prepare them for their future careers after graduation,” Simonsen said.

“Lori leads by example. One of the best features about the work that she does is she sets a high quality in terms of performance and quality. By setting these high standards, it serves as a signal to other faculty not to hold back, to move forward with big ideas and create new opportunities for our students and help them build better opportunities for careers in the future,” said Interim Dean of the College of Business Administration Dr. Steve Schulz.

“I am so grateful to have this opportunity to bring my vision of experiential learning to fruition for our students,” Simonsen said.

Behind every great initiative is a network of champions. For the School of Accounting, that means alumni, friends, and community partners who believe in the mission. Their generosity doesn’t just provide financial support—it fuels transformation. “This support allows us not just to dream about the future,” Venkatesh shares, “but to build it.”

And at the heart of this support is Leonard Sommer, whose decades of dedication to the university and its students culminate in a gift that will echo for generations.

“We’re extremely grateful to Leonard Sommer,” Venkatesh says. “His 50 years of giving is a testament in itself. This professorship is a recognition of the collaboration, the innovation, and the excellence that defines our school.”

Sommer hopes this gift sparks a ripple effect—encouraging others in the business community and beyond to invest in UNO. “There are many ways to support this university,” he said. “This is my path, and I hope it inspires others to find theirs.”