College of IS&T Celebrates 30 Years of Innovation and Maverick Excellence

IS&T celebrates three decades of student success and prepares for the next era of technology and innovation in Nebraska.

published: 2026/05/26
contact: Yahya Shema - College of Information Science & Technology
email: yshema@unomaha.edu

A large group of people seated at round tables with black tablecloths at an indoor event, engaged in animated conversation. Several attendees smile and interact across the table.

College of IS&T 30th Anniversary Celebration (Photos by Ryan Soderlin, UNO Office of Strategic Marketing and Communications)

A man in a light blue shirt smiles while working at a display easel with white circular cutouts, with a woman visible behind him and other attendees in the background.

College of IS&T 30th Anniversary Celebration

A woman in a striped blazer stands at the front of a conference room holding a microphone, presenting to a seated audience.

Martha Garcia-Murillo, Ph.D., Dean of the College of IS&T, delivers keynote address.

Two men seated on a panel stage, each holding a microphone. The man on the left speaks while the man on the right smiles and listens.

From left: Anil Srinivasan, co-founder and chief commerce officer of Gradera, and Lyden Tennison, senior vice president at Exit Partners, participate in the industry panel.

A lively outdoor gathering on a brick patio beneath large shade trees, with groups of people mingling and dining at cast iron tables near a house.

College of IS&T 30th Anniversary Celebration

A celebration three decades in the making. On May 13, 2026, the College of Information Science & Technology celebrated its 30th anniversary at the Alumni Thompson Center. The event brought together faculty, staff, alumni, and local partners — many of whom played a pivotal role in the college's early days.

When the College of Information Science & Technology opened its doors, the internet was still a novelty, the term smartphone had not yet been coined, and wearable devices were considered science fiction. From its inception, the University of Nebraska Omaha College of Information Science & Technology has been committed to ensuring students are equipped with job-ready skills and the ability to adapt to any technological change over the course of their careers.

"We are Nebraska's Tech Workforce," Dean Martha Garcia-Murillo, Ph.D., said in her keynote address, reflecting on the college's impact on students and Nebraska's ever-growing technology industry.

An industry panel titled "30 Years Onward: Leading Change While Preserving Purpose" brought industry and technology expert perspectives to the college's vision and forward-looking discussion. The panel featured Anil Srinivasan, co-founder and chief commerce officer of Gradera, and Lyden Tennison, senior vice president at Exit Partners and former chief strategy and information officer for Union Pacific Corporation — two business leaders and technologists who have navigated decades of change and are at the frontier of AI and emerging technology.

The college's commitment to experiential learning and emerging technologies was recognized as central to preparing students for the careers of tomorrow. "From a university standpoint, the College of Information Science & Technology's initiatives, such as Nebraska Cyber Matrix and AI-CCORE, demonstrate that we are at the leading edge of technology in Omaha," Srinivasan said.

Panelists stressed the importance of training students to develop durable skills as emerging technologies continue to reshape the workforce and industries. "I have always pressed universities to teach system-level thinking," Tennison said. "People who have long careers in technology are system-level thinkers because they have the ability to pivot as technology changes."

A series of roundtable discussions invited attendees to envision how the college can continue to support student success and the broader community in the years ahead.

Technology continues to play an important role in every sector of society, and the college is committed to preparing the next generation of technologists. "Thank you for the partnerships, work, and everything done for our students," Garcia-Murillo told attendees. "I hope we continue to make a positive, lasting impact in our community."