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UNO Welcomes Congressional Delegation, Staff Members for Campus Visits

Nebraska’s U.S. House Representatives Smith, Bacon, and Flood, as well as staffers from all five of the congressional offices, toured campus facilities and spoke with experts.

  • published: 2024/09/30
  • contact: Sam Peshek - UNO Office of Strategic Marketing and Communications
  • email: unonews@unomaha.edu

Highlights

  • Nebraska’s congressional delegation and their staff members visited NCITE, NBDC, the Aviation Institute, and more.

  • UNO Chancellor Joanne Li, Ph.D., CFA: “These visits are a testament to the significant role UNO plays on a national level. Our students, faculty, and staff are thoughtful leaders who are driving innovation and research in key areas that not only benefit Nebraska, but the entire country.”


This past summer and fall, the University of Nebraska at Omaha (UNO) hosted a series of visits from Nebraska’s Congressional delegation and their staff members.

These visits highlighted the university's leadership in key areas such as national security, cybersecurity, aviation, and workforce development, providing lawmakers with critical insights to support their work on behalf of Nebraska.

Chancellor Joanne Li, Ph.D., CFA, said the visits are an indicator of UNO’s growing national impact.

“These visits are a testament to the significant role UNO plays on a national level,” she said. “Our students, faculty, and staff are thoughtful leaders who are driving innovation and research in key areas that not only benefit Nebraska, but the entire country.”

Rep. Adrian Smith and Rep. Don Bacon kicked off the visits on May 30, with Smith touring UNO's National Counterterrorism, Innovation, Technology, and Education (NCITE) Center and Bacon receiving an annual briefing from the Nebraska Business Development Center (NBDC).

Over the summer, Sen. Deb Fischer’s staffers also visited, receiving briefings from faculty on transportation, infrastructure, and education research.

Sen. Pete Ricketts' staff toured the campus, covering the education and homeland security portfolios. August ended with Rep. Mike Flood visiting NCITE, while Bacon returned to deliver remarks at the STEM TRAIL Center’s open house.

In addition to the individual visits, on Sept. 6, 25 congressional staffers representing Nebraska’s delegation met with UNO’s Aviation Institute, receiving briefings and taking educational flights over Omaha. These interactions underscored UNO’s contributions to national policy in sectors that shape the state and the nation.

Chase Kratochvil, UNO’s Director of Federal and Military Relations who coordinated the campus visits, expressed the university’s gratitude.

“It is always an honor to host Nebraska’s congressional delegation and their staff on our campus,” he said. “Their time and dedication in advocating for UNO is invaluable, and we look forward to continuing to support their work with the insights and expertise UNO has to offer.”