Lauren Miltenberger to Head UNO Advancement

Lauren Miltenberger has been named the Vice President for UNO Advancement at the University of Nebraska Foundation. As head of advancement, she will lead all fundraising and alumni engagement activities for UNO. She will begin her role on Jan. 3, 2023.

“Lauren Miltenberger brings amazing energy and experience in community service and philanthropy, and I am so excited to have her step into this role to help advance UNO in our fundraising and community engagement,” said UNO Chancellor Joanne Li, Ph.D., CFA. “With her work to support UNO’s comprehensive Only in Nebraska campaign, we will best be positioned to improve the social and economic mobility of our learners and their families as we further establish UNO as a powerful partner in the state and community.”

Lori Byrne, executive vice president of advancement and campaign director for the University of Nebraska Foundation, said Miltenberger’s background and experience will help the foundation deliver on Chancellor Li’s vision for UNO. “Lauren is a proven leader and advancement professional who has been highly active in the Omaha business and non-profit community, and we are excited to have her as part of our UNO team and capitalize on the opportunities for growth,” she said.

Miltenberger previously worked in wealth management at Bridges Trust where she was vice president of philanthropy services and assisted clients with implementing their philanthropic goals and strategies. Prior to that, she served as a development officer at Creighton University and helped establish its Athletic Development Office. She is a graduate of Creighton University and holds a Chartered Advisor in Philanthropy designation from the American College of Financial Services.

Miltenberger expressed her gratefulness to Chancellor Li and leaders at the University of Nebraska Foundation for the opportunity to help advance the mission of UNO.

“It’s an exciting time for UNO and the University of Nebraska Foundation as we embark on the public phase of Only in Nebraska, a historic fundraising campaign,” Miltenberger said. “As a lifelong Omahan, I have seen the growth and transformation of UNO and the impact the university has had on the Omaha community. A UNO education transforms lives. I look forward to engaging with the entire UNO community and spreading the university’s message with alumni, supporters and community leaders.”

Miltenberger said she was excited to work on UNO’s Only in Nebraska campaign priorities, which include scholarships for undergraduates and graduate students, and endowed funds for faculty, academic programs and research.

Chancellor Li praised Sue Kutschkau for her commitment and dedication to the success of UNO and thanked her for serving as the interim vice president of UNO advancement during the search process. Kutschkau will return to her position as executive director of UNO advancement at the University of Nebraska Foundation.

“I am incredibly thankful to have had Sue serve as our interim VP of UNO advancement over this past year,” Chancellor Li said. “Her hard work in organizing the Only in Nebraska campaign for UNO in support of our initiatives and student-focused mission, along with her efforts in helping us recognize the work of our faculty, has been truly wonderful.”

In addition to Chancellor Li, UNO leaders who aided in the search were Vice Chancellor and Director of Athletics Adrian Dowell; College of Education, Health and Human Sciences Dean Nancy Edick; and Chief of Government and Community Relations Victoria Kohout.