Skip to main content
University of Nebraska Omaha logo University of Nebraska Omaha
APPLY MY UNO DIRECTORY

Students Faculty Staff Community
APPLY MY UNO DIRECTORY
Students Faculty Staff Community
  • About
    About UNO
    • Leadership
    • Mission and Strategic Plan
    • Accreditation
    • Our City: Omaha
    • Facts & Figures
    • News
    • Events
    • Organizational Units
    • Campus Safety
    • Buildings and Maps
    Get Started
    • Apply
    • Campus Visit
    • Contact Us
    Front view of UNO's ASH building
    Get Started Today

    Apply Now
  • Academics
    Majors and Programs
    • Undergraduate Programs
    • Master's Programs
    • Doctoral Programs
    • International Programs
    • Online Programs
    • Class Search
    Colleges
    • College of Arts and Sciences
    • College of Business Administration
    • College of Communication, Fine Arts and Media
    • College of Education, Health, and Human Sciences
    • College of Information Science & Technology
    • College of Public Affairs and Community Service
    • Graduate Studies
    Resources
    • Catalogs
    • Academic Calendar
    • Library
    • Advising
    • Academic Affairs
    • Registrar
    • Academic Support
    • Request Transcript
    Top view glance of calendar showing August 2024
    Deadlines Are Approaching

    View year-at-a-glance calendars that include term start and end dates, and school holidays.

    Academic Calendar
  • Cost & Aid Backback to Main menu
    • Undergraduate Tuition
    • Graduate Tuition
    • Financial Support
    • Cost of Attendance
    • Undergraduate Scholarships
    • All Scholarship Information
    • Military and Veterans Benefits
    • Consumer Information
  • Admissions
    Get Started
    • Apply
    • Complete Your FAFSA
    • Schedule a Campus Visit
    • Request Info
    Admitted Students
    • Orientation
    • Enrollment Deposit
    • Transcripts
    • UNO 101
    • New Student & Family Events
    Cost & Aid
    • Undergraduate Tuition
    • Graduate Tuition
    • Financial Aid
    • Cost of Attendance
    • Scholarships
    • Military and Veterans Benefits
    • Consumer Information
    Admissions
    • Undergraduate Admissions
    • Transfer Students
    • Graduate Admissions
    Students walking together on campus for a tour
    Visit UNO's Campus

    Schedule a Tour
  • Student Life
    Campus Life
    • Event Calendar
    • Athletics
    • Campus Dining
    • Student Housing
    • Campus Recreation
    • Milo Bail Student Center
    • Parking and Transportation
    • Campus Safety
    Involvement and Leadership
    • Student Organizations
    • Student Government
    • Career Services and Internships
    • Spirit and Tradition
    • Student Leadership, Involvement, and Inclusion
    Support
    • Academic Support
    • Maverick Advising Center
    • Accessibility
    • Durango's Advancement & Support Hub (DASH)
    • Student Service
    • Student Safety
    Resources
    • Health Services
    • Military-Connected Resources
    • Student Conduct and Community Standards
    • Division of Student Life and Wellbeing
    Students participating in a beading craft activity
    Get Involved on Campus

    See Events Calendar
  • Engagement
    Students
    • Student Service and Leadership Collaborative
    • Find Volunteer Opportunities
    • Maverick Food Pantry
    • Voter Information
    • Internship Opportunities
    • Career Services
    • Student Resources
    • Become an Engaged Scholar
    Faculty and Staff
    • Faculty Senate
    • Center for Faculty Excellence
    • Staff Advisory Council
    • Faculty Resources
    • Engaged Research
    • Service Learning Academy
    • Community-Based Learning Courses
    Community
    • Campus Resources
    • Service Learning Academy
    • Samuel Bak Museum: The Learning Center
    • Promote Volunteer Opportunities
    • Promote Internship Opportunities
    • Rent Office Space
    • Senior Passport Program
    • Community Engagement Partnership Initiative
    Office of Engagement
    • Connect to Campus
    • Barbara Weitz Community Engagement Center
    • Service Learning Academy
    • Rent Office Space
    • Samuel Bak Museum: The Learning Center
    • Partner With Us
    • Senior Passport Program
    • Nebraska Business Development Center
    • Community Partners on Campus
    Student volunteering with a food bank
    Connect with Us

    Contact the Office of Engagement
  • Research
    Student
    • Research and Creative Activity Fair
    • Graduate Research (GRACA)
    • Student Conference Travel Fund
    • Undergraduate Scholarly Experience (FUSE) Fund
    Faculty
    • Grant Databases
    • External Funding
    • Awards and Committees
    • Office of Sponsored Programs
    Research at UNO
    • Office of Research and Creative Activity
    • Research News
    • Centers and Institutes
    Students giving presentations on research projects
    UNO Pushes Innovation Forward

    Read UNO Research News
  • Athletics
    Men's Teams
    • Baseball
    • Basketball
    • Golf
    • Hockey
    • Soccer
    • Swimming & Diving
    • Tennis
    Women's Teams
    • Basketball
    • Cross Country
    • Golf
    • Soccer
    • Softball
    • Swimming & Diving
    • Tennis
    • Track & Field
    • Volleyball
    Game Day Resources
    • Purchase Tickets
    • Team Schedules
    • Buy Maverick Gear
    Baxter Arena
    • Calendar
    • Tickets
    • Directions & Parking
    • Clear Bag Policy
    • Public Skating
    Hockey player walking out on the ice arena
    Cheer on our Mavericks!

    Buy Tickets
  • Alumni Backback to Main menu
    • Alumni
    • Transcripts
    • Thompson Center
  1. UNO
  2. News
  3. 2023
  4. 05
  5. Iraqi Refugee Finds Her Calling in Business at UNO

Iraqi Refugee Finds Her Calling in Business at UNO

From escaping hardship and loss in northern Iraq to starting a new life in Nebraska, this Maverick's remarkable journey led her to achieve new heights and discover a passion for a future in business.

  • published: 2023/05/17
  • contact: Brandon Bartling - Office of Strategic Marketing and Communications
  • email: unonews@unomaha.edu
Maysaa Kalei will earn her bachelor's degree in business administration with concentrations in economics and international business.

Maysaa Kalei will earn her bachelor's degree in business administration with concentrations in economics and international business.

It wasn’t long ago that Maysaa Kalei saw a very different future for herself.

Growing up in northern Iraq, she never expected to graduate from college despite her strong academic performance. Now in her seventh year in America, she finds herself preparing to earn her degree in business administration with concentrations in economics and international business from the University of Nebraska at Omaha’s (UNO) College of Business Administration (CBA).

But Kalei’s journey to UNO, let alone a college degree, has been full of hardship and loss.

Her senior year of high school in Iraq was upended by violence. ISIS extremists attacked her hometown of Sinjar in August 2014. Thousands of Yazidi people were killed and children were abducted. Suddenly, Kalei’s family was forced to leave everything behind and leave Iraq.

“Seeing how hard [my parents] were working toward building the house for us and making a living for us, and then, it’s gone overnight, just seeing that was really upsetting,” Kalei said. “Living that experience, you really feel a lot in those moments, but you also feel like your pain is nothing compared to what other people had been through back in Sinjar.”

Over the next 22 months, Kalei and her family found their way to Turkey and then to Jordan to complete the process of migrating to the United States. After lacking stability for nearly two years, the International Organization for Migration helped her family make their way to Lincoln, Nebraska, joining her brother there, in June 2016.

Now in a new culture and learning a new language, Kalei had to restart high school despite having nearly graduated back home in Iraq. While she worked toward her diploma, she dedicated herself to not only learning English but also seeking out opportunities to surround herself in American culture, practice the English language, and realize her dream of earning a college degree.

Her afterschool research led her to apply for the Susan T. Buffett Scholarship and admission at UNO. Drawn by the city of Omaha and its potential for job and internship opportunities, Kalei became a Maverick. She received the full-ride scholarship and joined the Thompson Learning Community (TLC). As a Buffett Scholar and a first-generation student, Kalei greatly benefitted from the structure, guidance, and social connectivity of the Thompson Learning Community.

“I really can’t tell you how much I appreciate that because it really made college so much easier on me,” she said.

No longer burdened by the cost of her education, Kalei could focus on choosing her path for the future. She originally envisioned her college journey leading toward a career in medicine. After looking through majors on the UNO website, she tried some business classes and started to find her passion. So, she wondered: How could she match her newfound passion for business with her life experiences?

“I wanted to do something more that involves communication, relations, and also travel because I’ve lived in different countries,” she said. “Although it wasn’t necessarily by choice, it gave me a lot of perspective about other cultures and peoples and how they interact with one another. I really liked seeing the differences in people and in society, so I wanted to make sure that was part of my future career.”

Kalei supplemented her studies with getting engaged in student organizations. She joined Delta Sigma Pi and served as president of the Collegiate Entrepreneurs’ Organization – both student organizations housed in UNO’s College of Business Administration.

Ultimately, UNO and, more broadly, Nebraska, made such an impact on her personal life and career trajectory that she wants to find ways to give back. She’s already started to work toward boosting the state’s workforce through an internship with the Nebraska Department of Economic Development. As part of her capstone project, she’s worked on a project to keep international talent here in Nebraska after they earn their college degree.

“Some international students are my friends, and I noticed some of them are looking for jobs after graduating. If the company doesn’t offer a work visa, they can’t stay, so they either have to go back or earn another degree to make it work,” Kalei said. “I’m trying to work on a program to connect these students to companies that are looking for international talent to help them stay here and continue their future in Nebraska.”

Kalei expects to graduate in August 2023. She will participate in the May 2023 commencement ceremonies. She’s been brushing up on another new language, Japanese, as she prepares for a trip to Japan to work with a partner company through her internship with the Nebraska Department of Economic Development. While she hopes international travel remains in her future, she plans to return to Nebraska and start her career here, ideally as a trade specialist, later this summer.

  • News Sections:
  • UNO News Center
  • Maverick Daily
  • The Bullseye
  • Campus Events

News Sections

  • News Center
  • Maverick Daily
  • The Bullseye
  • Campus Events

Featured Stories

  • UNO and the College World Series
  • UNO Statistician Who Predicted the 2024 Men’s CWS Champion Releases 2025 Forecast
  • 10 Things to Know About UNO During the College World Series
  • Durango Steps Up to the Plate for UNO, CWS Partnership

Contact Us

If you have a story idea, news tip, or other question, please email the UNO News team at unonews@unomaha.edu.

About the Office of Strategic Marketing and Communications (MarComm)

Next Steps

  • Visit UNO
  • Request Information
  • Apply for Admission
  • The UNO Advantage
  • Our City (Omaha)

Just For You

  • Future Students
  • Current Students
  • Work at UNO
  • Faculty and Staff
  • A-Z List

Popular Services and Resources

  • my.unomaha.edu
  • Academic Calendar
  • Campus Buildings & Maps
  • Library
  • Pay Your Bill
  • Course Catalogs
  • Internships & Career Development
  • The Maverick Store
  • MavCARD Services
  • Military-Connected Resource Center
  • Speech Center
  • Writing Center
  • Human Resources
  • Center for Faculty Excellence

Affiliates

  • University of Nebraska System
  • NU Foundation
  • Buffett Early Childhood Institute
  • Daugherty Water for Food Institute
  • National Strategic Research Institute
  • Peter Kiewit Institute
  • Rural Prosperity Nebraska
  1. University Policies
  2. Privacy Statement
  3. Accessibility
  1. 402.554.2800

University of Nebraska Omaha
University of Nebraska Omaha, 6001 Dodge Street, Omaha, NE, 68182
  • ©  
  • Emergency Information Alert
  • MavsReport

Social Media


Omaha Skyline

Our Campus. Otherwise Known as Omaha.

The University of Nebraska does not discriminate based on race, color, ethnicity, national origin, sex, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, disability, age, genetic information, veteran status, marital status, and/or political affiliation in its education programs or activities, including admissions and employment. The University prohibits any form of retaliation taken against anyone for reporting discrimination, harassment, or retaliation for otherwise engaging in protected activity. Read the full statement.