News Room | College of Business Administration | University of Nebraska Omaha

index

true

1759562116296

system

News Room

CBA Mavericks and Omaha are making news. Follow the latest headlines to learn about our city and our university's dedication to students, our national recognition for community engagement, opportunities to excel in scholarship and research, and continuously improving the quality of life in Omaha. Students, faculty, staff and alumni are changing the landscape of our community every day.

News Room

/news/indexCBAsite://CBA/news/indexscasey

1394560413796

21253571

1759330165733

1754024400000

News ReleaseNoNoYesYes175929480000015259698000001525975200000The University of Nebraska at Omaha (UNO) showcased the entrepreneurial spirit of its College of Business Administration (CBA) students during the fifth annual Future of Work Symposium on Sept. 17, 2025. //news/2025/10/future-of-work1.jpg

navigationYes

site://CBA/news/2025/10/future-of-work1.jpgCBAfuture-of-work1.jpg

530552

1200800"A conference room filled with attendees listening to a presentation at the ‘Future of Work Symposium.’ The audience is seated in rows of chairs facing a large projection screen that displays the event title. Two presenters stand near a podium in front of the room.The 2025 Future of Work Symposium/news/2025/10/future-of-work3.jpg

navigationYes

site://CBA/news/2025/10/future-of-work3.jpgCBAfuture-of-work3.jpg

449259

1200800wo men in business suits speak with two women after a presentation. They are standing by a table with water bottles in a conference room.Students talk about their clubs and businesses during the 2025 Future of Work Symposium/news/2025/10/future-of-work21.jpg

navigationYes

site://CBA/news/2025/10/future-of-work21.jpgCBAfuture-of-work21.jpg

662383

12001159A woman in a blue outfit holds a microphone while speaking at an event, seated and looking to the side, with blurred audience members in the foreground.Dr. Erin Bass speaks at the 2025 Future of Work Symposium

The University of Nebraska at Omaha (UNO) showcased the entrepreneurial spirit of its College of Business Administration (CBA) students during the fifth annual Future of Work Symposium on Sept. 17, 2025. Themed “The Work Revolution: Redesigning Careers with an Entrepreneurial Approach,” the symposium was led by Dr. Erin Bass, Professor of Management and Executive Director of UNO’s Competencies, Skills, and Workforce Development Hub. The event highlighted how Business Mavericks are driving innovation, launching ventures, and preparing for leadership in a rapidly changing economy.

CBA faculty and alumni played a central role in the breakout sessions. Dr. Brent Clark, Professor of Management, led “From Lab to Launch: How Ideas Become Ventures and the Role of Universities,” highlighting how higher education provides the research, mentorship, and capital connections needed to turn ideas into viable businesses. Dr. Leif Lundmark, Associate Professor of Management, guided participants through “Think Like an Entrepreneur: A Hands-On Framework for Problem Solving,” giving students and professionals tools to approach challenges with an entrepreneurial mindset.

Business Students Leading by Example

While the symposium featured national entrepreneurs and Omaha business leaders, it was CBA students and alumni who stole the spotlight by sharing how classroom experiences and UNO resources are translating into real-world success.

Alejandra Valdez (CBA alumna) described how she is scaling her cultural meal-prep business while pursuing her vision of a wellness-centered community space.
CJ Monahan (CBA Scholars Academy graduate) explained how he turned a childhood hobby into Monahan Lawn Care and Property Services, now operating with five crews. “My favorite part is waking up every day knowing I get to chase my own dreams,” Monahan said.
Sánchez Enterprises (CBA student-led project) is designing financial literacy and entrepreneurship courses for Mexico’s population, providing alternatives to illicit economic activities and strengthening long-term stability.
Zonelle Skin (CBA student startup) is innovating silk-based wearables and plant-based skincare products for those with eczema and psoriasis—addressing the needs of more than 31 million Americans.

Beyond individual ventures, two flagship CBA programs gave students a platform to demonstrate hands-on entrepreneurial learning:

The Maverick Investment Program continues to offer students experience in managing a $1.7 million portfolio while building financial literacy and industry connections.
The Maverick Venture Fund, known as UNO’s “Shark Tank,” empowers students to evaluate startups, make real investment decisions, and understand the startup ecosystem.

Both initiatives are sponsored and housed within the College of Business Administration, underscoring its role as a hub for innovation.

Building the Future of Business

The symposium also featured breakout sessions led by UNO faculty and local entrepreneurs, equipping students with strategies to align careers with their skills, values, and ambitions.

“Entrepreneurship is growing everywhere, and at UNO, we want students to know they don’t have to do it alone,” said Kirk Bramwell, Managing Director of the Maverick Venture Fund. “The connections students make here—whether with local startups, venture funds, or alumni—can open doors for years to come.”

Why It Matters

As careers continue to evolve, the UNO Center for Innovation, Entrepreneurship, and Franchising, housed in the College of Business Administration, is preparing Business Mavericks to thrive by fostering innovation, encouraging risk-taking, and building a supportive community. The symposium underscored that the future of work will be defined not only by what students know but also by their ability to innovate, collaborate, and create opportunities.

The Future of Work Symposium reaffirmed that UNO CBA students aren’t waiting for the future—they’re building it.

/news/2025/10/future-of-work

department

phone

emailmelissalindell@unomaha.edu

categoryCollege of Business Administration

location

event-starts1525969800000

event-ends1525975200000

site://CBA/news/2025/10/future-of-workCBAfuture-of-work

UNO Future of Work Symposium Spotlights Business Mavericks Shaping Tomorrow’s Careers

The UNO showcased the entrepreneurial spirit of its College of Business Administration (CBA) students during the fifth annual Future of Work Symposium on Sept. 17, 2025.

work, entrepreneur Melissa Lindell Kozak - Sr. Director of Communications & Marketing, UNO CBAThe University of Nebraska at Omaha (UNO) showcased the entrepreneurial spirit of its College of Business Administration (CBA) students during the fifth annual Future of Work Symposium on Sept. 17, 2025.

Oct 1, 2025 12:00 AM

News ReleaseNoNoYesYes1759122000000Some of UNeTech’s most enduring success stories start not in a lab, but with a conversation. This one began years ago in a campus conference room, over coffee and whiteboards, when the question was first asked: "What if we didn’t just file patents? What if we helped students, researchers, and entrepreneurs build companies?"/A group of five people are sitting around a rectangular conference table in a meeting room. One person on the left is speaking with hand gestures, while others listen and take notes. Papers, laptops, notebooks, and water bottles are on the table. A large screen at the end of the room displays the time "2:25" with a red background and a logo. There’s also a whiteboard behind the group with some writing on it./news/2025/09/img/mav-tech.jpg

navigationYes

site://CBA/news/2025/09/img/mav-tech.jpgCBAmav-tech.jpg

231103

1200800A group of five people are sitting around a rectangular conference table in a meeting room. One person on the left is speaking with hand gestures, while others listen and take notes. Papers, laptops, notebooks, and water bottles are on the table. A large screen at the end of the room displays the time "2:25" with a red background and a logo. There’s also a whiteboard behind the group with some writing on it.MTVA meeting with industry expert for upcoming technology. /news/2025/09/img/img_2495-scaled.jpeg

navigationYes

site://CBA/news/2025/09/img/img_2495-scaled.jpegCBAimg_2495-scaled.jpeg

227624

1200800Several people are seated around a large wooden table in a modern meeting room. In the foreground, a person in a black hoodie is working on a laptop and writing on a tablet. Others sit further back, facing a wall-mounted screen, and appear to be listening attentively. Laptops, notebooks, and a microfiber cloth are on the table. The room has large windows with natural light and a ceiling-mounted camera above the table.MTVA meeting in the Entrepreneurship lab at UNO’s Mammel Hall./news/2025/09/img/untitled-design-8-2048x2048res2.png

navigationYes

site://CBA/news/2025/09/img/untitled-design-8-2048x2048res2.pngCBAuntitled-design-8-2048x2048res2.png

200472

1200800Five people wearing matching black polo shirts with the MTVA logo stand outdoors in front of decorative metal bike racks. Two people in the front are smiling and holding onto the racks, while the others stand in a line behind them. Trees and a building are visible in the background.Maverick Technology Venture Alliance students and advisors outside of Mammel Hall at University of Nebraska Omaha /news/2025/09/img/brent-c3.jpg

navigationYes

site://CBA/news/2025/09/img/brent-c3.jpgCBAbrent-c3.jpg

116387

1200800A collage of three professional headshots of men in suits, arranged with two portraits at the top and one below. All are smiling and posed against softly blurred indoor backgrounds.Clockwise MTVA Faculty and Advisors: Dr Brent Clark, Stephen Hug, Lamonte Russell

The Maverick Technology Venture Alliance (MTVA) was born from that question—and from a shared desire to make sure great ideas didn’t just collect dust on a shelf. Today, MTVA is not only a testament to how far the University of Nebraska (NU) System has come in building a culture of entrepreneurship; it’s a vision of where we’re going together.

The Roots of the MTVA: A Problem Worth Solving

Born out of the Omaha Medical Technology Pipeline and UNeTech’s early commitment to bringing innovation out into the world, the Institute needed a partner to find best practices in entrepreneurship, strategy and voice of customer. Going back to its roots as a shared institute between UNO and UNMC, UNeTech saw the college of business as a natural home for its programs but struggled to find a partner.

That’s where Brent Clark, an associate professor of entrepreneurship at the University of Nebraska at Omaha (UNO), entered the story. His academic research and teaching focused on startup theory and lean business model development—and he brought that vision to the table when he collaborated with UNeTech and OMTP to create what would become the Maverick Technology Venture Alliance.

Together, they started piloting the idea: could graduate and undergraduate students from UNO build commercialization pathways for inventions coming out of UNMC and beyond? Dr. Clark, along with Stephen Hug, UNeTech’s Entrepreneur-in-Residence, and Erik Peterson, a seasoned entrepreneur and UNO instructor, brought the program from theory to practice. They led MTVA’s early cohorts, coaching students as they built feasibility studies, market analyses, and business models for real biomedical innovations. Lamonte Russell was hired as UNeTech’s Manager of Strategy and Ventures and replaced Peterson in 2023.

Clark, Russell, and Hug work directly with MTVA students so they can gain real-world experience with UNeTech startups. The work they do is customized and detailed for each startup, and it’s the kind of research new companies spend thousands of dollars and hundreds of hours to generate.

According to Hug, student development of the Business Model Canvas and external market analysis are the most crucial items students develop for clients. “These tools provide startup companies with a clear strategic framework and a grounded understanding of their market landscape, enabling them to make informed decisions and accelerate their path to viability,” Hug said.

For Clark, the most important research the MTVA generates is most often customer discovery. Customer discovery includes calling potential clients to ask unbiased questions about the day-to-day jobs customers do to determine if there truly is a need for an invention. Customer discovery helps determine if the problem an invention has been created solve, truly is a problem worth solving. “This sort of data is embedded within people and can’t be generated simply by comparing numbers of looking up industry data,” Clark said. “It only comes by engaging with potential customers and having conversations about subjective value and personal experience.”

A Symbol of Collaboration

MTVA is, in many ways, more than a program—it’s a symbol.

UNeTech itself is a joint institute between UNO and UNMC. That partnership is easy to overlook in the day-to-day, but MTVA makes it visible. While our UNMC office is nestled in Annex 32, at UNO our home is Mammel Hall, surrounded by the faculty, students, and mentors who give this program its energy. That physical split mirrors the strength of the partnership: two institutions, one purpose.

For several years now, generations of students—many of whom may never have set foot in a lab—have worked on medical device and software innovations coming directly out of the clinical and research work of Nebraska’s medical community. They’ve sat in the same room as surgeons and biomedical engineers, asked tough questions, and proposed viable business plans.

MTVA offers students more than a class or internship. It offers them a chance to step into a real-world problem and contribute to something tangible. And in doing so, it reminds Omaha what UNO and UNMC can achieve when they work together—something our community sees more of every year.

“This partnership connects academic insight with practical application, preparing students for their future careers and enabling them to make meaningful contributions to Nebraska’s innovation ecosystem,” Hug said. “It represents a strong collaboration that boosts the educational and research missions of both institutions. For me, it highlights the immense value of offering UNO students real-world experiential learning opportunities, guided by experienced entrepreneurship faculty and business leaders.”

From Grant to Growth: A Bold New Chapter

Like many programs at UNeTech, MTVA began with support from the Economic Development Administration (EDA). Those early grant dollars made it possible to pilot new ideas, support students, and prove the value of the work. It was EDA funding that allowed MTVA to grow from a hypothesis into a flagship program.

But as of this year, something meaningful has changed.

For the first time, MTVA is jointly funded by UNO and UNMC themselves. Not through a grant or foundation, but as part of their own investment in innovation. That shift matters. It signals that the value of this program isn’t just experimental—it’s essential. External funding helped to create the program, but the grant cycle doesn’t always line up with the needs of students, innovators, entrepreneurs or investors. The work of the MTVA needs reliable support.

“This partnership has been a homerun in so many ways,” Clark said. “The impacts to students and inventors have been far reaching for many years now. To see UNO and UNMC come together to fund the program into the future is clear evidence that the benefits are highly valuable to both sides. It’s really been satisfying to see leadership on both sides recognize this.”

This shift in funding reflects both the symbolism and the spirit of MTVA. It marks a maturity—a moment where we, as a university system, are no longer testing the waters of innovation and entrepreneurship. We’re swimming in them.

It also reflects a bold vision: that the programs UNeTech starts can—and should—find permanent homes in the community, in classrooms, in citywide ecosystems. That the spark of a grant-funded idea can ignite lasting institutional change.

What Comes Next

The work isn’t done. The future of MTVA lies in the next cohort of students, the next generation of UNO innovators, and the next big idea that walks through UNeTech’s doors. But if you walk the halls of Mammel Hall during an MTVA session, or peek into a Zoom call where students are pitching prototypes to clinical inventors, you’ll see something rare: belief in possibility. And the potential for growth.

“I would love to see the MTVA expand to provide services to community technology startups in addition to our current focus on university tech startups,” Clark said.

Hug said he would like to see expansion in customer discovery. “Deepening engagement with potential users and stakeholders will not only validate ideas early but also sharpen product-market fit—significantly increasing the likelihood of success for UNeTech startups,” he said.

Wherever the future leads the MTVA, we’re proud of the roots of this program. We’re proud of the people who built it. But more than anything, we’re proud to share this space between two great institutions, and to keep building what comes next.

Yes

/news/2025/09/maverick-tech-venture-alliance

department

phone

categoryResearchCollege of Business Administration

location

event-starts

event-ends

site://CBA/news/2025/09/maverick-tech-venture-allianceCBAmaverick-tech-venture-alliance

A Vision Shared: The Symbolism and Future of the Maverick Technology Venture Alliance

Some of UNeTech’s most enduring success stories start not in a lab, but with a conversation. This one began years ago in a campus conference room, over coffee and whiteboards, when the question was first asked: What if we didn’t just file patents? What if we helped students, researchers, and entrepreneurs build companies? UNeTech Some of UNeTech’s most enduring success stories start not in a lab, but with a conversation. This one began years ago in a campus conference room, over coffee and whiteboards, when the question was first asked: "What if we didn’t just file patents? What if we helped students, researchers, and entrepreneurs build companies?"

Sep 29, 2025 12:00 AM

News ReleaseNoNoYesYes1756184400000UNO Economics Associate Professor Zhigang Feng warns that hurricane-force storms in the Midwest are reshaping insurance markets and the American middle class./news/2025/08/img/shutterstock_2567180283.jpg

navigationNo

site://www/news/2025/08/img/shutterstock_2567180283.jpgwwwshutterstock_2567180283.jpg

150920

1200800Photo: Shutterstock. A person holds several large hailstones in their hands next to a red car, where smaller hailstones are scattered across the wet surface. ///

On Saturday, August 9, 2025, at 4:45 A.M., sirens jolted my family awake.

As severe thunderstorms ripped across Omaha, we huddled in the basement, listening to 80+ mph winds and lashing rain—sounds that carried me straight back twenty years to my Ph.D. days at the University of Miami, bracing for Hurricane Katrina.

What's jarring isn't just the déjà vu; it's the location. Hurricane-force gusts belong on coastlines, not in Midwestern bedrooms.

Yet here in America's heartland, storms arrive with coastal ferocity—no longer rare anomalies, but regular assaults on middle-class financial stability.

The Numbers Don't Lie

Severe convective storms—the hail and wind events that pound the Plains—caused over $50 billion in U.S. insured losses in 2023, the costliest year on record. Global insured losses from natural catastrophes reached $58 billion in just the first half of 2024, with nearly 80% tied to U.S. events, largely these convective storms.

Nebraska tells the starkest story.

Recent data shows the average homeowners' policy costs approximately $4,800 annually for $300,000 in dwelling coverage and a $1,000 deductible—more than 1.8 times the national average of $2,601. Multiple datasets reveal steep nationwide increases in 2024–2025, with Nebraska ranking among the costliest states.

This month, Bankrate released a study that found Nebraskans have the second-highest true cost ranking of home insurance and second highest percent of income spent on home insurance at 8.61%.

Insurer profitability has been equally volatile. U.S. homeowner insurers posted a 110.5 combined ratio in 2023—an underwriting loss year—before recovering in 2024 as rates adjusted to new realities.

Three Forces, One Crisis

This perfect storm emerges from three converging pressures, each rational alone but collectively explosive:

Risk correlation destroys diversification. Hailstorms strike many neighborhoods simultaneously, obliterating insurers' ability to spread risk. The law of large numbers fails when the entire "large number" gets hit at once.
Inflation amplifies every loss. Building materials cost around 40% more than before the pandemic, with labor costs following suit. Every roof replacement now carries a premium price tag.
Reinsurance capital demands its due. After consecutive billion-dollar hail years, 2024–2025 renewals brought higher retentions and pricing, shifting more risk to primary carriers and ultimately to policy holders and homeowners.

The Regulatory Trilemma

State insurance regulators face an impossible choice: solvency, affordability, and availability—pick any two. Recent case studies illuminate these trade-offs:

California chose affordability over availability. Under Proposition 103's prior-approval framework, insurers must seek regulatory approval for rate increases even as wildfire losses mount. The predictable result: major carriers paused new homeowners policies throughout 2023. When State Farm finally secured a 17% interim rate increase in June 2025, regulators attached strict conditions—a $400 million surplus note from the parent company and a pause on mass non-renewals through year-end, with final approval still pending a full hearing.
Florida chose availability through taxpayer backing. The Florida Hurricane Catastrophe Fund provides subsidized reinsurance to insurers, with mandatory participation and savings passed to homeowners. While the fund maintains a statutory $17 billion limit, it entered 2025 with only $6.7 billion in cash plus $3.25 billion in pre-event bonds. Any shortfall triggers post-event bonding and emergency assessments—costs ultimately borne by policyholders.
Nebraska chose market-based pricing. Operating largely under file-and-use regulations, Nebraska shortens the lag between actuarial reality and implemented rates. No regulatory theater or political grandstanding—just economic truth delivered with surgical precision. The market stays functional but expensive.

This isn't Nebraska's unique burden—it's America's preview.

As extreme weather spreads nationwide, every state will confront this same brutal arithmetic. Regulatory strategies that work when disasters strike elsewhere collapse when storms arrive at home.

A Practical Path Forward

Climate rhetoric won't conjure capital or control premiums. But targeted interventions can reduce expected losses:

Systematically harden homes. The FORTIFIED Roof standard, proven in field and lab tests, cuts storm losses dramatically while earning insurance discounts up to 35%. A Nebraska program—funded through federal dollars and state bonds—could pay for itself through avoided losses and recurring discounts. If retrofits cost $6,000 and reduce premiums by $500 annually, homeowners earn an 8% return before counting avoided deductibles—better than five-year Treasuries.
Tap new capital sources. Catastrophe bond issuance reached record levels in 2025, yet minimal protection exists against hail. Nebraska could sponsor parametric hail bonds triggered by radar-verified stone diameters, stabilizing local carriers' balance sheets.
Price risk transparently. Every real estate closing should include parcel-level hail intensity maps, like current flood zone disclosures. Mortgage insurers could surcharge buyers who decline retrofits, creating market incentives without mandates.
Streamline claims handling. Hail claims drain resources—adjusters inspect nearly every roof while litigation over matching requirements proliferates. Drone-based triage, already piloted by several carriers, can slash costs and accelerate payouts.

The Stakes Couldn't Be Higher

Unchecked, rising insurance costs erode affordability and mobility, creating spillovers to local tax bases and housing markets. Yet this crisis also presents opportunity. Insurance markets respond to incentives that reduce expected losses. FORTIFIED retrofits, parametric risk transfer, and transparent pricing aren't experimental—they're working now in specific markets. The missing ingredient is political urgency, not viable solutions.

When the next siren wails—and it will—the question won't be why the storm came. It will be why we left our economic resilience at the mercy of ice falling from summer skies. Nebraska's crisis is America's preview.

Zhigang Feng, Ph.D., associate professor of economics at the University of Nebraska at Omaha (UNO), specializes in macroeconomics and computational methods, with recent work applying AI and machine learning to large-scale models of fiscal policy and debt.

Yes

/news/2025/08/when-hail-meets-high-finance-nebraskas-insurance-crisis-points-to-americas-climate-future

departmentCollege of Business Administration

phone

emailzfeng@unomaha.edu

categoryResearchCollege of Business Administration

location

event-starts

event-ends

site://www/news/2025/08/when-hail-meets-high-finance-nebraskas-insurance-crisis-points-to-americas-climate-futurewwwwhen-hail-meets-high-finance-nebraskas-insurance-crisis-points-to-americas-climate-future

When Hail Meets High Finance: Nebraska's Insurance Crisis Points to America's Climate Future

UNO Economics Associate Professor Zhigang Feng warns that hurricane-force storms in the Midwest are reshaping insurance markets and the American middle class.

UNO Economics Associate Professor Zhigang Feng warns that hurricane-force storms in the Midwest are reshaping insurance markets and the American middle class.Zhigang Feng, Ph.D.UNO Economics Associate Professor Zhigang Feng warns that hurricane-force storms in the Midwest are reshaping insurance markets and the American middle class.

Aug 26, 2025 12:00 AM

News ReleaseNoNoYesYes1756270800000The program aims to provide students with a 360º view of the sports industry.//news/2025/08/img/20250825_real-madrid-partnership_01.jpg

navigationNo

site://www/news/2025/08/img/20250825_real-madrid-partnership_01.jpgwww20250825_real-madrid-partnership_01.jpg

161219

1200800Dr. Laura Planells Bolant (right) presents University of Nebraska at Omaha Chancellor Joanne Li, Ph.D., CFA, (left) with a custom Real Madrid CF jersey at UNO’s Caniglia Field to celebrate a new collaboration agreement with Real Madrid Graduate School Universidad Europea. Dr. Laura Planells Bolant (right) presents University of Nebraska at Omaha Chancellor Joanne Li, Ph.D., CFA, (left) with a custom Real Madrid CF jersey at UNO’s Caniglia Field to celebrate a new collaboration agreement with Real Madrid Graduate School Universidad Europea. Photo: Ryan Soderlin, UNO Office of Strategic Marketing and Communications /news/2025/08/img/20250825_real-madrid-partnership_07.jpg

navigationNo

site://www/news/2025/08/img/20250825_real-madrid-partnership_07.jpgwww20250825_real-madrid-partnership_07.jpg

156450

1200800Left to right: Phil He, Ph.D., UNO Senior Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs; Joanne Li, Ph.D., CFA, UNO Chancellor; Dr. Laura Planells Bolant; Steve Schulz, Ph.D., UNO College of Business Administration. Left to right: Phil He, Ph.D., UNO Senior Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs; Joanne Li, Ph.D., CFA, UNO Chancellor; Dr. Laura Planells Bolant; Steve Schulz, Ph.D., UNO College of Business Administration. /news/2025/08/img/rm_logo_1200x1200.jpg

navigationNo

site://www/news/2025/08/img/rm_logo_1200x1200.jpgwwwrm_logo_1200x1200.jpg

148639

1200800Real Madrid Graduate School Universidad Europea Logo. Courtesy: Real Madrid Graduate School Universidad Europea. /news/2025/08/img/02_grupo_av21353.jpg

navigationNo

site://www/news/2025/08/img/02_grupo_av21353.jpgwww02_grupo_av21353.jpg

146629

1200800Members of Real Madrid CF celebrate after a goal. Courtesy: Real Madrid Graduate School Universidad Europea. Members of Real Madrid CF celebrate after a goal. Courtesy: Real Madrid Graduate School Universidad Europea. Courtesy: Real Madrid Graduate School Universidad Europea./news/2025/08/img/h24495_rm_fw25_home_product_jv5918_1634.jpg

navigationNo

site://www/news/2025/08/img/h24495_rm_fw25_home_product_jv5918_1634.jpgwwwh24495_rm_fw25_home_product_jv5918_1634.jpg

149046

1200800A close-up of Real Madrid CF’s home jersey. Courtesy: Real Madrid Graduate School Universidad Europea. A close-up of Real Madrid CF’s home jersey. Courtesy: Real Madrid Graduate School Universidad Europea.

Real Madrid Graduate School Universidad Europea and the University of Nebraska Omaha (UNO), USA, have signed a collaboration agreement to promote comprehensive education in sports management. The goal of this partnership is to equip students with practical, in-depth knowledge to become experts in all areas of the sports industry—from marketing and communications to leadership and business management, with an international background.

This collaboration will add another international dimension to UNO’s Master of Business Administration (MBA) program, drawing on the tradition and expertise of the Real Madrid Graduate School Universidad Europea. Thanks to its hybrid format, the program combines the strengths of both online and in-person education, offering students a truly holistic 360º learning experience.

The Certificate and Dual Degree program

Through this agreement, as part of obtaining UNO’s Master of Business Administration (MBA) degree, students have the opportunity to complete three online courses from The Real Madrid Graduate School Universidad Europea (RMGS-UE) Executive MBA in Sport Management program and be awarded RMGS-UE’s Certificate in Sports Management.

What is even more appealing is that if UNO MBA students complete an additional two courses online in RMGS-UE’s Executive MBA in Sport Management program, for a total of five courses, these students will be awarded RMGS-UE’s Executive MBA in Sport Management degree and therefore graduate with two graduate degrees, one from the United States and one from Spain.

Trip to Madrid for The Real Madrid Experience in Spain

Students enrolled in this international program will be able to participate in The Real Madrid Experience, signature industry event where students engage directly with top professionals of Real Madrid and explore the latest trends in global sports. They will also visit Real Madrid’s facilities and some of the most important sport venues in Madrid. This annual event in May offers a unique networking opportunity in a dynamic environment that fosters entrepreneurial thinking and interactions with other sports professionals. Through expert mentoring, students are encouraged to develop their own business ventures.

The Real Madrid Experience is an exclusive program for students at the Real Madrid Graduate School Universidad Europea. UNO MBA students will have the opportunity to network with peers from prestigious U.S. institutions, such as The University of Michigan, The University of Georgia, The University of North Carolina Chapel Hill, Florida International University, and Arizona State University—institutions with which the Real Madrid Graduate School Universidad Europea has partnerships and that participate in this event. This collaboration provides students with the chance to expand their professional networks for future career growth.

Emilio Butragueño, General Director of the Real Madrid Graduate School Universidad Europea, stated: “We are extremely proud of this partnership with UNO, that aims to deliver high-level international education to support our students on their journey toward successful careers in the sports industry.”

UNO Chancellor Joanne Li, Ph.D., CFA, said: “Real Madrid Graduate School Universidad Europea is a partner that shares our mission to connect, inspire, and educate future professionals while enhancing the economic impact of the global sports industry. This collaboration expands learning opportunities for our students in a new market and offers them invaluable global insight into sports that can open up dynamic career pathways.”

About The Real Madrid Graduate School Universidad Europea

The Real Madrid Graduate School Universidad Europea was founded in 2006 with the mission of training future leaders who want to pursue careers in the sports industry.

The partnership between Real Madrid, the most successful sports club in history, and Universidad Europea, Spain’s leading institution in comprehensive education, aims to foster the professionalization and modernization of the sector through university-level training.

It is a pioneering graduate school globally, focusing its teaching methodology on the areas of management, sports, and health, which Real Madrid uses for its internal operations: Finance, Procurement, Human Resources, Marketing, Infrastructure, Legal Services, Communications, and Medical Services. Executives responsible for each of these areas at the club participate in the academic development of students in each of the master’s programs, working on practical cases that are part of the everyday operations of the sports industry.

The school’s academic quality and rigor are reflected in the education of more than 14,500 alumni over its 17-year history, many of whom now work as successful professionals across various sectors of the sports industry.

Yes

/news/2025/08/real-madrid-graduate-school-universidad-europea-and-uno-launch-dual-degree-in-sports-management

departmentOffice of Strategic Marketing and Communications

phone

emailunonews@unomaha.edu

categoryCommunity EngagementInternational ProgramsCurrent StudentsProspective StudentsAcademic Affairs

location

event-starts

event-ends

site://www/news/2025/08/real-madrid-graduate-school-universidad-europea-and-uno-launch-dual-degree-in-sports-managementwwwreal-madrid-graduate-school-universidad-europea-and-uno-launch-dual-degree-in-sports-management

Real Madrid Graduate School Universidad Europea and UNO Launch Dual Degree in Sports Management

The program aims to provide students with a 360º view of the sports industry.

Program aims to provide students with a 360º view of the sports industry.Sam Peshek The program aims to provide students with a 360º view of the sports industry.

Aug 27, 2025 12:00 AM

New & Noteworthy

News ReleaseYesNoYesYes1753876860000More than 79,000 Maverick alumni in the Omaha area are powering local businesses, driving tax revenue, and shaping Nebraska’s future.//news/2025/07/img/1720-artcl_alum_impact_report_graphics_social.jpg

navigationNo

site://www/news/2025/07/img/1720-artcl_alum_impact_report_graphics_social.jpgwww1720-artcl_alum_impact_report_graphics_social.jpg

243454

1200800"$2.44B in total economic impact generated by UNO alumni in the Omaha metro in 2024" overlaid on an aerial view of campus, with an icon of a wallet above and a white silhouette of Omaha landmarks at the bottom./news/2025/07/img/1720-artcl_alum_impact_report_graphics_callout_2.jpg

navigationNo

site://www/news/2025/07/img/1720-artcl_alum_impact_report_graphics_callout_2.jpgwww1720-artcl_alum_impact_report_graphics_callout_2.jpg

85685

120080079,135 UNO alumni currently live in the Omaha metro area" with a simple line icon of a house above the text./news/2025/07/img/1720-artcl_alum_impact_report_graphics_callout_3.jpg

navigationNo

site://www/news/2025/07/img/1720-artcl_alum_impact_report_graphics_callout_3.jpgwww1720-artcl_alum_impact_report_graphics_callout_3.jpg

95785

1200800"12,459 jobs supported by alumni earnings and spending (7,622 directly and 4,837 indirectly)" with a line icon of a briefcase above the text./news/2025/07/img/1720-artcl_alum_impact_report_graphics_callout_41.jpg

navigationNo

site://www/news/2025/07/img/1720-artcl_alum_impact_report_graphics_callout_41.jpgwww1720-artcl_alum_impact_report_graphics_callout_41.jpg

83206

1200800Icon of an envelope with a paper labeled "TAX" above large text "$974.86M"; below it reads, "in total tax revenue generated, including income, payroll, property, and sales taxes."/news/2025/07/img/1720-artcl_alum_impact_report_graphics_callout_5.jpg

navigationNo

site://www/news/2025/07/img/1720-artcl_alum_impact_report_graphics_callout_5.jpgwww1720-artcl_alum_impact_report_graphics_callout_5.jpg

90362

1200800"$1.44B in direct local spending injected into the metro economy by UNO grads" with a line icon of a shopping cart above the text.

University of Nebraska at Omaha (UNO) alumni are a multi-billion-dollar economic powerhouse, according to a new report.

➡️ What’s new:

An economic impact study commissioned by the UNO Alumni Association and conducted by UNO Economics Professor Christopher Decker, Ph.D., found that degree-holding UNO alumni supported $2.4 billion in total economic impact, supported thousands of jobs, and generated hundreds of millions of dollars in tax revenue.
This report is the first in the university’s 117-year history focused exclusively on the impact university alumni have on the Omaha metro area.
View the full report on the UNO Alumni Association website.

💡 Why it matters: UNO is built to develop and retain Omaha talent.

85% of students are from the Omaha metro, with an NU System-best 67% of grads still living in Nebraska five years after graduation.
UNO graduates carry the NU System’s lowest average student debt at $19,000, nearly half the national average.
In a time when cities across the country are struggling with brain drain, UNO’s alumni are an engine of stability, growth, and community investment.

📈 By the numbers:

79,135 UNO alumni currently live in the Omaha metro area.
$2.44 billion in total economic impact generated by UNO alumni in the Omaha metro in 2024.
12,459 jobs supported by alumni earnings and spending: 7,622 directly and 4,837 indirectly
$974.86 million in total tax revenue generated, including income, payroll, property, and sales taxes
$1.44 billion in direct local spending injected into the metro economy by UNO grads.

🎤 What they’re saying:

Omaha Mayor John Ewing: “As a proud graduate of UNO and the mayor of this great city, I see the impact of our alumni every day in our businesses, in our classrooms, and in our neighborhoods. This report confirms what we’ve known for a long time: the strength of Omaha is the strength of its people. And thanks to UNO, we’re building a city that goes beyond developing talent. We keep it, nurture it, and prepare it to lead future generations. That’s the kind of future worth investing in.”
Joanne Li, Ph.D., CFA, UNO Chancellor: “This report proves what we’ve always known: UNO alumni are a driving force behind Omaha’s economy. Their impact sends a powerful message across the state and the country that Omaha is a place where families build futures and businesses thrive. This is one of America’s best cities, and Mavericks are at the heart of that story.”
Anthony Flott, UNO Alumni Association Executive Director: “The Maverick network is more than a community. It’s a catalyst for growth that we can quantify for the first time ever. This report underscores the power of relationships built through UNO’s approach to mentorship, internships, and industry partnerships. The momentum we’re seeing is real, and it’s making an impact where it matters most: in careers, companies, and communities across Omaha.”
Chris Decker, Ph.D., UNO Economics Professor: “Brain drain is a major problem for Nebraska. Yet, many, if not most, UNO graduates are bucking this trend. They choose to stay once they earn their degree. They invest their talents, energy, and resources in the Omaha community, becoming business and civic leaders. Our graduates are flipping the narrative from brain drain to brain gain, and that’s a game changer for the future of our city and our state.”

🌎 The Big Picture: This report reinforces UNO’s core mission to educate learners, drive economic mobility, and strengthen community partnerships. The measurable impact of alumni on jobs, tax revenue, and regional growth demonstrates clear alignment with UNO’s strategic pillars. UNO delivers hands-on, career-focused education and fosters strong local ties that help graduates stay, contribute, and lead in Nebraska communities.

Editor’s Note: This report has been updated throughout to correct economic impact outputs that resulted from a miscalculation of Ph.D. income increases. Table 1 of the report initially showed a $6.11 million total after tax income increase. The adjusted total is $4.16 million.

Yes

/news/2025/07/report-uno-alumni-fuel-2.4-billion-boost-to-omahas-economy

departmentOffice of Strategic Marketing and Communications

phone

emailunonews@unomaha.edu

categoryAlumniMedia

location

event-starts

event-ends

site://www/news/2025/07/report-uno-alumni-fuel-2.4-billion-boost-to-omahas-economywwwreport-uno-alumni-fuel-2.4-billion-boost-to-omahas-economy

Report: UNO Alumni Fuel $2.4 Billion Boost to Omaha’s Economy

More than 79,000 Maverick alumni in the Omaha area are powering local businesses, driving tax revenue, and shaping Nebraska’s future.

Sam PeshekMore than 79,000 Maverick alumni in the Omaha area are powering local businesses, driving tax revenue, and shaping Nebraska’s future.

Jul 30, 2025 7:01 AM

News ReleaseNoNoYesYes175186440000015259698000001525975200000Cummins and Sindhav, professors of marketing at UNO, have received a Fulbright U.S. Scholar Program award in Marketing to Barbados and Bahrain, respectively for the Spring 2026 semester from the U.S. Department of State and the Fulbright Foreign Scholarship Board. /news/2025/07/cummins-sindhav.jpg

navigationYes

site://CBA/news/2025/07/cummins-sindhav.jpgCBAcummins-sindhav.jpg

295983

1200800Dr. Shannon Cummins and Dr. Birud SindhavDr. Shannon Cummins and Dr. Birud Sindhav///

Birud Sindhav and Shannon Cummins, Professors of Marketing at the University of Nebraska at Omaha, have received a Fulbright U.S. Scholar Program award in Marketing to Bahrain and Barbados, respectively for the Spring 2026 semester from the U.S. Department of State and the Fulbright Foreign Scholarship Board.

This will be Dr. Cummins’ second Fulbright appointment. She will provide support, training and mentoring to faculty at Sir Arthur Lewis College in Barbados with the specific aim of increasing research and community engagement among the business faculty.

This is a joint teaching and research assignment for Dr. Sindhav. For research, he will focus on comparing the impact of AI tools on student perceptions and learning across different cultural contexts. Dr. Sindhav says Bahrain presents an ideal match for his proposed project for two reasons. “One, it offers an attractive counterpoint to the US in terms of cultural values and approaches to technology adoption. Two, in the AI Readiness Index, Bahrain is in the middle of the pack within the MENA region, lagging behind the bigger countries like UAE and Saudi Arabia but ahead of the countries like Egypt and Kuwait. Bahrain is not happy to be “average”, and eager to move ahead, evident by investing in various AI-related initiatives. Their “Vision 2030” explicitly marks AI as the challenge that must be tackled now,” he said.

For more information about the UNO Faculty Fulbright Program, click here: https://www.unomaha.edu/academic-affairs/faculty-support/fulbright-faculty.php

Fulbright U.S. Scholars are faculty, researchers, administrators, and established professionals teaching or conducting research in affiliation with institutes abroad. Fulbright Scholars engage in cutting-edge research and expand their professional networks, often continuing research collaborations started abroad and laying the groundwork for forging future partnerships between institutions.

Upon returning to their home countries, institutions, labs, and classrooms,
they share their stories and often become active supporters of international exchange, inviting foreign scholars to campus and encouraging colleagues and students to go abroad.

Since 1946, the Fulbright Program has provided over 400,000 talented and accomplished students, scholars, teachers, artists, and professionals with the opportunity to study, teach, and conduct research abroad. Fulbrighters exchange ideas, build people-to-people connections, and work to address complex global challenges. Notable Fulbrighters include 62 Nobel Laureates, 93 Pulitzer Prize winners, 82 MacArthur Fellows, 44 heads of state or government, and thousands of leaders across the private, public, and non-profit sectors.

Over 800 individuals teach or conduct research abroad through the Fulbright U.S. Scholar Program annually. In addition, over 2,000 Fulbright U.S. Student Program participants—recent college graduates, graduate students, and early career professionals—participate in study/research exchanges or as English teaching assistants in local schools abroad each year.

Fulbright is a program of the U.S. Department of State, with funding provided by the U.S. Government. Participating governments and host institutions, corporations, and foundations around the world also provide direct and indirect support to the Program, which operates in over 160 countries worldwide.

In the United States, the Institute of International Education implements the Fulbright U.S. Student and U.S. Scholar Programs on behalf of the U.S. Department of State. For more information about the Fulbright Program, visit https://fulbrightprogram.org.

/news/2025/07/cummins-sindhav

department

phone

emailmelissalindell@unomaha.edu

categoryCollege of Business Administration

location

event-starts1525969800000

event-ends1525975200000

site://CBA/news/2025/07/cummins-sindhavCBAcummins-sindhav

Shannon Cummins, Ph.D., and Birud Sindhav, Ph.D., Receive Fulbright U.S. Scholar Awards for 2025-2026

Birud Sindhav and Shannon Cummins, professors of marketing at UNO, have received a Fulbright U.S. Scholar Program award in Marketing to Bahrain and Barbados, respectively for the Spring 2026 semester from the U.S. Department of State and the Fulbright Foreign Scholarship Board.

Cummins, Sindhav, marketing, fulbrightMelissa Lindell Kozak - Sr. Director of Communications & Marketing, UNO CBABirud Sindhav and Shannon Cummins, Professors of Marketing at the University of Nebraska at Omaha, have received a Fulbright U.S. Scholar Program award in Marketing to Bahrain and Barbados, respectively for the Spring 2026 semester from the U.S. Department of State and the Fulbright Foreign Scholarship Board.

Jul 7, 2025 12:00 AM

News ReleaseNoNoYesYes173078640000015259698000001525975200000Students Dive into the Heart of Kansas City Federal Reserve. /news/2024/11/kc-fed.jpg

navigationYes

site://CBA/news/2024/11/kc-fed.jpgCBAkc-fed.jpg

412533

1200800Dr. Wei Rowe and her FNBK3650 class at the KC Federal ReserveDr. Wei Rowe and her FNBK3650 class at the KC Federal Reserve///

Every year, students from the FNBK3650 Commercial Bank Management class and the Maverick Banking Association (MBA), a student club from the College of Business Administration, pack their bags for a trip to Kansas City. Led by Dr. Wei Rowe, a Finance, Banking, and Real Estate professor, also the NBA-endowed banking professor, and the club’s faculty advisor, the group visits the Federal Reserve Bank for an inside look at one of the country's most influential financial institutions.

Dr. Rowe, who has organized this trip for the past decade, says, “There’s nothing quite like seeing the Federal Reserve in action. It brings classroom lessons to life.” She’s already planning the next trip for spring 2025, so any student interested can email her at wrowe@unomaha.edu to get on the waitlist.

This year, twenty students joined the trip. They toured the Money Museum and observed cash operations, witnessing the scale and intensity of the Federal Reserve’s daily activities. “It was amazing to learn how the Fed operates on the inside. They even showed us the vaults (and cash operation), and gave us a rundown on the history of the U.S. monetary system,” said Mirsada Demirovic, a senior and president of the MBA.

Senior Alex Ellefson shared his excitement, saying, “It was cool to see just how massive the money supply is in Kansas City. (The KC Fed handles $15 billion dollars.) You read about these things, but seeing it firsthand is something else.”

Many students found the experience eye-opening. “I know we have these Federal Reserve banks across the country, but I never realized how large they are or how critical their operations are until I saw it for myself,” said Jaden Beaugard, a senior in the program.

Jacob Atchinson, another senior, added, “My family has been in the banking industry for a while, so I grew up hearing about this stuff, but to see the Fed’s security measures and watch the whole process unfold was really interesting. It’s so much bigger and more complex than I imagined.”

Along with their tour of the Federal Reserve, the group spent time at the National World War I Museum and Memorial. This museum, located in downtown Kansas City, is the only museum in the U.S. dedicated solely to World War I. “The WWI Museum was incredibly touching,” shared Nick Merlo, a senior. “Seeing artifacts and learning about the experiences of people who lived through that time made history feel very real.”

Beaugard echoed this sentiment. “The museum gave me a much deeper understanding of WWI. We cover these topics in class, but to actually stand there and see the artifacts—that was something I’ll remember for a long time.”

Atchinson agreed, adding, “Seeing those exhibits really brings to life everything we’ve only read about in textbooks. It was a moving experience.”

The day ended on a delicious note with a barbecue dinner at Jack Stack Restaurant in Kansas City’s popular Country Club Plaza. “You can’t go to KC without trying the barbecue,” laughed Ellefson.

Overall, the students loved the chance to get out of the classroom and connect with the banking world in real-time. “It’s so different from reading about it. Being there with classmates made it an even more memorable experience,” said Atchinson.

This hands-on learning trip is one that students look forward to each year, and it’s clear that for these future bankers, the impact will stick with them far beyond their college days.

/news/2024/11/federal-reserve-trip

department

phone

categoryCollege of Business Administration

locationMammel Hall

event-starts1525969800000

event-ends1525975200000

site://CBA/news/2024/11/federal-reserve-tripCBAfederal-reserve-trip

From Books to Bank Vaults

Kansas City, Federal Reserve, BankingMelissa Lindell Kozak - Sr. Director of Communications & Marketing, UNO CBAEvery year, students from the FNBK3650 Commercial Bank Management class and the Maverick Banking Association (MBA), a student club from the College of Business Administration, pack their bags for a trip to Kansas City.

Nov 5, 2024 12:00 AM

Spotlights

News ReleaseNoNoYesNo1707890400000SupplyChainGuide.org recently released their annual rankings and UNO’s College of Business Administration’s Logistics & Supply Chain concentration was ranked number 5 for the nation’s best online Bachelor’s in Logistics programs in 2024. /news/2024/02/img/supply-chain-badge.png

navigationYes

site://CBA/news/2024/02/img/supply-chain-badge.pngCBAsupply-chain-badge.png

supply-chain-badge.png

57389

1200800Supply Chain Badge///

SupplyChainGuide.org recently released their annual rankings and UNO’s College of Business Administration’s Logistics & Supply Chain concentration was ranked number 5 for the nation’s best online Bachelor’s in Logistics programs in 2024.

The rankings are determined by a scoring system designed around program affordability, quality, outcomes, and reputation. This includes meticulous research into program costs, outside awards, admissions selectivity, graduation rates, student debt and earnings, and more. Our methodology prioritizes well-rounded excellence over school size or prominence, and the final rankings represent the nation's best online Bachelor's in Logistics degrees in 2024.

The company says the program has a “remarkably comprehensive curriculum that explores logistics, procurement, effective resource management, and sustainability. Choose UNO’s program and you’ll cultivate a wide skill set and deep knowledge base that may be particularly appealing to small or mid-sized companies.

“Since the beginning of our program, our mission has been to produce employable graduates. Input from our Industry Advisory Board has been instrumental in guiding the development of our curriculum,” said Steve Schulz, Lucas Diamond Professor of Management.

CBA has developed a range of academic pathways for logistics students. For instance, anyone interested in broadening their training can select one of the 14 other BSBA concentrations and easily add Logistics and Supply Chain Management as a secondary concentration. We also offer an Accelerated MBA program, which allows you to apply 9 credit hours to both your undergraduate and graduate degrees.

Left

Student Success Checklist//_files/docs/student-success-checklist.pdf

navigationYes

site://CBA/_files/docs/student-success-checklist.pdfCBAstudent-success-checklist.pdf

student-success-checklist.pdf

105486

/news/2024/02/supply-chain-ranking

department

phone

categoryCollege of Business Administration

location

event-starts

event-ends

site://CBA/news/2024/02/supply-chain-rankingCBAsupply-chain-ranking

CBA’s Logistics & Supply Chain Concentration Earns Top 5 Ranking

rankings, logistics, supply chainMelissa Lindell Kozak - Sr. Director of Communications & Marketing, UNO CBASupplyChainGuide.org recently released their annual rankings and UNO’s College of Business Administration’s Logistics & Supply Chain concentration was ranked number 5 for the nation’s best online Bachelor’s in Logistics programs in 2024.

Feb 14, 2024 12:00 AM

News ReleaseNoNoYesNo1712725200000How a CBA Sophomore May Influence Your Weekend Plans. Chances are, you’ve already read or seen Madison Wajda’s work, but you may not know it. /news/2024/04/img/madison-wejda.jpg

navigationYes

site://CBA/news/2024/04/img/madison-wejda.jpgCBAmadison-wejda.jpg

madison-wejda.jpg

343535

1200800Madison Wajdaphoto of Madison Wejda, a blonde girl in a pink shirt and jeans, in a coffee shop.///

Chances are, you’ve already read or seen Madison Wajda’s work, but you may not know it.

The sophomore, who is working towards her BSBA with a concentration in marketing, has been one of the voices behind the Instagram account, “Omaha Places” since 2022. The account is run by the agency 402 Social and highlights small businesses and events in Omaha for people to check out. Omaha Places also consists of a TikTok account, a blog, and a newsletter.

“Originally, Cahner (Olson, Founder of Omaha Places and 402 Social) was making different posts to just get more information out for tourists and people from Omaha that want a way to find things to do in Omaha, and it grew really fast because there is not really any other account like us in the market around here,” Wajda said.

Wajda started with the company as an intern during her freshman year of college at UNO.

“It was just supposed to be a semester-long internship, but then I just kept working there. We worked really well together and the company and the account were growing really fast and so Cahner said, ‘just stay on,’ so I ended up becoming a part-time employee,” Wajda said.

Throughout her two years with the company, Wajda has been getting hands-on learning experiences across the marketing field.

“I started out writing captions for posts for the Instagram account about small businesses in Aksarben, and then when I moved from my internship to working part-time, I began doing copywriting work, so I became the face behind all the captions on our Instagram and Facebook accounts on Omaha Places. Now I work as an account manager where I do the actual posting of the posts and I make sure that everything goes out on time. I also run our blog and occasionally help with filming content,” she said.

For Wajda, there is a lot to love about what she is doing right now. As a sophomore in college, she already has real-world job experience that she is getting paid for, and the position is very flexible.

“It doesn’t really feel like a job, especially when I’m in school. It is also mostly remote. I only go into the office when I want to, we can all just work from our phones if we want to. As long as we get our stuff done, it doesn’t matter. I have always been into social media, so it doesn’t feel real—getting to do it for a job, especially how young I am,” she said. “I found out that I truly enjoy writing. I always thought that I didn’t like to write because I never enjoyed writing essays, but I do all the writing for Omaha Places and that’s awesome to me. And I have fun doing it,” Wajda said.

She has also balanced having a marketing and sales internship while continuing to work part-time for Omaha Places. “It was completely different from what I do at Omaha Places, but it was such a great experience for me. I do want to stay with smaller companies because I feel like I am making a difference. For example, we started 2023 with just 35k followers on Instagram, and we just hit over 80k followers, so we are growing very quickly,” Wajda said.

Working a part-time job while attending college full-time can be hard for some students, but not for Madison.

“UNO is a great university for aspiring marketers. The College of Business Administration is full of so many different opportunities like the amazing career fairs, the different student clubs and activities, and my colleague told me there is a digital marketing class that she took that inspired her, so I know I am in the right place for me,” she said.

If you are looking for something to do in Omaha, or are curious about a local business or event, make sure you check out Omaha Places on Instagram, Facebook, or online at www.omahaplaces.com

Left

Student Success Checklist//_files/docs/student-success-checklist.pdf

navigationYes

site://CBA/_files/docs/student-success-checklist.pdfCBAstudent-success-checklist.pdf

student-success-checklist.pdf

105486

/news/2024/04/omaha-places

department

phone

categoryCollege of Business Administration

location

event-starts

event-ends

site://CBA/news/2024/04/omaha-placesCBAomaha-places

Unveiling Omaha’s Hidden Gems

How a CBA Sophomore May Influence Your Weekend Plans. Chances are, you’ve already read or seen Madison Wajda’s work, but you may not know it.

marketing, Omaha PlacesMelissa Lindell Kozak - Sr. Director of Communications & Marketing, UNO CBAChances are, you’ve already read or seen Madison Wajda’s work, but you may not know it. The sophomore, who is working towards her BSBA with a concentration in marketing, has been one of the voices behind the Instagram account, “Omaha Places” since 2022. The account is run by the agency 402 Social and highlights small businesses and events in Omaha for people to check out. Omaha Places also consists of a TikTok account, a blog, and a newsletter.

Apr 10, 2024 12:00 AM

News ReleaseNoNoYesNo1712811600000The University of Nebraska at Omaha’s part-time MBA is included among the top programs in the nation, according to the new 2024 “Best Graduate Schools Rankings” from U.S. News and World Report. /news/2024/04/img/pt-mba.jpg

navigationYes

site://CBA/news/2024/04/img/pt-mba.jpgCBApt-mba.jpg

pt-mba.jpg

176905

1200800a female student is pictured in Mammel hall with a laptop.///

The University of Nebraska at Omaha’s part-time MBA is included among the top programs in the nation, according to the new 2024 “Best Graduate Schools Rankings” from U.S. News and World Report.

The new rankings list UNO’s part-time MBA as No. 87 in the country, placing it above similar programs at Creighton University, The University of Denver, and the University of Alabama at Birmingham.

“The MBA program has grown significantly over the last five years, and it’s fantastic to receive this acknowledgement. It’s a true testament to the quality of our degree and the value we provide for students across the world,” noted Kristi Lynch, Senior Director of Graduate, Executive, and Professional Business Programs at UNO.

“Our part-time MBA program attracts talented students and high-quality faculty. It is our mission to offer accessible, affordable, and excellent business education to a wide audience. I’m proud of our team and their efforts and I am pleased to see the program getting the recognition it deserves,” said Dr. Michelle W. Trawick, John Becker Dean of the College of Business Administration.

UNO’s College of Business Administration offers four graduate degrees, dual degree options, graduate certificates, and executive education programs. 

The College of Business Administration, including its MBA and Executive MBA, is AACSB-accredited in business and accounting, a standard earned by fewer than 200 universities worldwide.

For more information, visit mba.unomaha.edu 

Left

Student Success Checklist//_files/docs/student-success-checklist.pdf

navigationYes

site://CBA/_files/docs/student-success-checklist.pdfCBAstudent-success-checklist.pdf

student-success-checklist.pdf

105486

/news/2024/04/us-news-pt-mba

department

phone

categoryCollege of Business Administration

location

event-starts

event-ends

site://CBA/news/2024/04/us-news-pt-mbaCBAus-news-pt-mba

U.S. News Ranks UNO’s Part-Time MBA in Nation’s Top 90

The University of Nebraska at Omaha’s part-time MBA is included among the top programs in the nation, according to the new 2024 “Best Graduate Schools Rankings” from U.S. News and World Report.

US News and World Report, Part Time MBA, RankingsMelissa Lindell Kozak - Sr. Director of Communications & Marketing, UNO CBAThe University of Nebraska at Omaha’s part-time MBA is included among the top programs in the nation, according to the new 2024 “Best Graduate Schools Rankings” from U.S. News and World Report.

Apr 11, 2024 12:00 AM

CBA in the News/Silicon Prairie News: UNO’s Center for Innovation, Entrepreneurship & Franchisinghttp://siliconprairienews.com/2018/02/spn-spaces-unos-center-innovation-entrepreneurship-franchising//CNN: Why Super Bowl ads still matterhttps://money.cnn.com/2018/02/01/news/companies/super-bowl-commercials/index.html/Omaha World-Herald: UNO business dean says pairing with UNMC is good for both schools, health care industryhttp://www.omaha.com/money/uno-business-dean-says-pairing-with-unmc-is-good-for/article_9c94a639-ab3f-514e-a551-f6af9888a545.html/Gina Scott Ligon: Move to Division I enhanced UNO’s brand http://www.omaha.com/opinion/gina-scott-ligon-move-to-division-i-enhanced-uno-s/article_5277cdf5-bed5-5a44-8cc3-43124a245ed2.html/View more CBA media mentions...http://www.unomaha.edu/college-of-business-administration/news/media-mentions.php//////Students/The Bullseyehttp://www.unomaha.edu/news/maverick-weekly/student-involvement/student-organizations

navigationYes

site://CBA/student-involvement/student-organizationsCBAstudent-organizations

CBA Student Organizations

CBA Student OrganizationsMeet others who share common interests, expand your horizons, and build your resume, all while putting what you learn in the classroom to practice. Faculty & Staff/Maverick Dailyhttp://www.unomaha.edu/news/maverick-daily/CBA Intranethttps://unomaha.box.com/s/yf93x19qjutwcdbp5g86q02wghp0ppcmMore CBA News/CBA Connect email newsletter http://www.unomaha.edu/college-of-business-administration/about-us/pubs.php/UNO Business magazinehttp://www.unomaha.edu/college-of-business-administration/about-us/pubs.php/news/media-mentions

department

phone

categoryCollege of Business Administration

location

event-starts

event-ends

site://CBA/news/media-mentionsCBAmedia-mentions

[Article Heading]

CBA Media MentionsCBA in the media.

Sep 30, 2016 12:00 AM

http:///http://

BelowCSS/http://

Featured

"A conference room filled with attendees listening to a presentation at the ‘Future of Work Symposium.’ The audience is seated in rows of chairs facing a large projection screen that displays the event title. Two presenters stand near a podium in front of the room.

UNO Future of Work Symposium Spotlights Business Mavericks Shaping Tomorrow’s Careers

The UNO showcased the entrepreneurial spirit of its College of Business Administration (CBA) students during the fifth annual Future of Work Symposium on Sept. 17, 2025.

A Vision Shared: The Symbolism and Future of the Maverick Technology Venture Alliance

A person holds several large hailstones in their hands next to a red car, where smaller hailstones are scattered across the wet surface.

When Hail Meets High Finance: Nebraska's Insurance Crisis Points to America's Climate Future

UNO Economics Associate Professor Zhigang Feng warns that hurricane-force storms in the Midwest are reshaping insurance markets and the American middle class.