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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.

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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

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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.

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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

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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

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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

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

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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

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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.

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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

News ReleaseNoNoYesYes175316040000015259698000001525975200000SHRM (the Society for Human Resource Management), the trusted authority on all things work, workers and the workplace awarded a 2024-2025 Superior Merit Award designation to the UNO SHRM student chapter for providing superior growth and development opportunities to its student members. /news/2025/07/shrm-excellence.jpg

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1200800Kathia Dimas, Ishani Adidam, Luke Muse, and Abby Hill Four professionally dressed young adults, two women on the left, one man and one woman on the right, pose for individual portraits. The first woman wears a houndstooth blazer and stands in front of a university building. The second woman has long straight hair and is wearing a black blazer over a maroon top, standing against a light stone wall. The man wears glasses and a navy blazer with a white shirt, with a colorful bookshelf in the background. The final woman wears a navy dress with a bright pink belt, standing in a natural field landscape near a lake during sunset.///

SHRM (the Society for Human Resource Management), the trusted authority on all things work, workers and the workplace awarded a 2024-2025 Superior Merit Award designation to the University of Nebraska at Omaha SHRM student chapter for providing superior growth and development opportunities to its student members.

The 2025 award extends the UNO student SHRM chapter’s commitment to excellence as the chapter has been recognized at the Merit or Superior Merit Award level every year since 2018. The SHRM Student Chapter Merit Award program encourages the development of more effective student chapters and distinguishes outstanding activities and projects. Chapters are recognized based on operations, chapter programming and professional development of members, support of the human resource profession, and SHRM engagement.

“The members of our SHRM student chapters embody the future of HR leadership, making it essential to recognize the pivotal role they play in SHRM’s ongoing success,” said Johnny C. Taylor, Jr., SHRM-SCP, SHRM president and CEO. “The dedication and achievements of UNO demonstrate that the profession’s future is in capable and inspired hands. I commend their accomplishments and their ability to drive innovative programming, professional development, and a growing interest in HR as we adapt to the evolving dynamics of the workplace.”

“Since 2018 the student organization has received either the Merit or Superior award. It is a real credit to the leadership team of Kathia Dimas, Ishani Adidam, Luke Muse, and Abby Hill that took the initiative to see this through,” said Dr. Patricia Meglich, faculty advisor to the UNO student chapter of SHRM.

SHRM student chapters have the opportunity to earn an award based on the number of activities they complete during the merit award cycle, the most recent one of which lasted from May 1, 2024, to April 30, 2025.

About SHRM

SHRM is a member-driven catalyst for creating better workplaces where people and businesses thrive together. As the trusted authority on all things work, SHRM is the foremost expert, researcher, advocate, and thought leader on issues and innovations impacting today’s evolving workplaces. With nearly 340,000 members in 180 countries, SHRM touches the lives of more than 362 million workers and their families globally. Discover more at SHRM.org.

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UNO Student Chapter Receives Merit Award from SHRM

SHRM (the Society for Human Resource Management), the trusted authority on all things work, workers and the workplace awarded a 2024-2025 Superior Merit Award designation to the UNO SHRM student chapter for providing superior growth and development opportunities to its student members.

SHRM, human resources, award, studentsMelissa Lindell Kozak - Sr. Director of Communications & Marketing, UNO CBASHRM (the Society for Human Resource Management), the trusted authority on all things work, workers and the workplace awarded a 2024-2025 Superior Merit Award designation to the University of Nebraska at Omaha SHRM student chapter for providing superior growth and development opportunities to its student members.

Jul 22, 2025 12:00 AM

News ReleaseNoNoYesYes175307400000015259698000001525975200000Glenda Bricko and Nichola Otto were recognized by PCAOB for academic excellence and future promise in the accounting profession./news/2025/07/bricko-otto.jpg

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1200800Glenda Bricko and Nichola OttoTwo women smiling in side-by-side portraits. The woman on the left has long black hair, wears braces, and is dressed in a colorful floral shirt against a solid black background. The woman on the right has long brown hair, is wearing a black blazer over a light top with a pearl necklace, and stands in a warmly lit indoor setting.///

Two seniors in UNO’s College of Business Administration have been named Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (PCAOB) Scholars—an honor that comes with a $15,000 scholarship each for the 2025–26 academic year.

Glenda Bricko and Nichola Otto, both from Bellevue, Nebraska, are students in UNO’s School of Accounting.

The PCAOB Scholarship is a merit-based award that recognizes students who show strong potential to become ethical leaders in the accounting and auditing professions. The program was created through the Sarbanes-Oxley Act to support the next generation of public accountants.

Award recipients must be nominated by a faculty member and demonstrate both academic excellence and high ethical standards. UNO's history of producing standout accounting talent continues to earn national recognition.

“Glenda and Nichola exemplify the commitment, professionalism, and promise we aim to cultivate in all our students. Being selected as PCAOB Scholars is a tremendous honor—and a reflection of their hard work and the caliber of our program,” said Roopa Venkatesh, Ph.D., Director, UNO School of Accounting.

"It is truly an understatement to express how honored I am to receive this prestigious scholarship. I extend my heartfelt thanks to PCAOB and the School of Accounting, with special appreciation to Dr. Venkatesh for equipping me with the knowledge and skills not only to be considered deserving of this recognition, but also to succeed as a future accounting professional," Bricko said.

"I’m incredibly grateful to the PCAOB for this prestigious scholarship. It inspires me to keep pushing forward in my journey to become a CPA and make a meaningful impact in the accounting profession. I want to thank everyone who has invested in me and made this possible, especially Dr. Venkatesh for believing in me, and everyone at the PCAOB. I am grateful beyond words," Otto said.

Learn more about the PCAOB Scholars Program at pcaobus.org.

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Two UNO Accounting Students Win $15K Scholarships

Glenda Bricko and Nichola Otto were recognized by PCAOB for academic excellence and future promise in the accounting profession.

accounting, scholarship, award,Melissa Lindell Kozak - Sr. Director of Communications & Marketing, UNO CBAGlenda Bricko and Nichola Otto were recognized by PCAOB for academic excellence and future promise in the accounting profession.

Jul 21, 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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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.

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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

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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.

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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

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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.

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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

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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.

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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

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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

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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

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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 

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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

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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

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CBA Media MentionsCBA in the media.

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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.