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. 2025
  4. 02
  5. Standard Page - www

Get to Know Your 2024-2025 Student Body President: Ishani Adidam

UNO's 2024-2025 Student Body President, Ishani Adidam, reflects on her path to leadership, the importance of community, and her vision for a more connected campus.

  • published: 2025/02/28
  • contact: Bella Lockwood-Watson - Office of Strategic Marketing and Communications
  • email: unonews@unomaha.edu
Ishani Adidam, a senior majoring in business administration with a concentration in human resources management, business analytics, and management and leadership, who is the UNO Student Body President and Student Regent, poses with a giant 'O' logo.

Ishani Adidam, a senior majoring in business administration with a concentration in human resources management, business analytics, and management and leadership, is the UNO Student Body President and Student Regent. Photo: Ryan Soderlin, Office of Strategic Marketing and Communications.

Ishani Adidam had her photograph taken at Criss Library on UNO's Dodge Campus.

Ishani Adidam had her photograph taken at Criss Library on UNO's Dodge Campus. Photo: Ryan Soderlin, Office of Strategic Marketing and Communications.

UNO Student Body President Ishani Adidam (center) takes a photo with her father, UNO Professor Phani Tej Adidam, Ph.D., (left) and UNO Chancellor Joanne Li, Ph.D., CFA, (right) at the Student Government Swearing In Ceremony.

UNO Student Body President Ishani Adidam (center) takes a photo with her father, UNO Professor Phani Tej Adidam, Ph.D., (left) and UNO Chancellor Joanne Li, Ph.D., CFA, (right) at the Student Government Swearing In Ceremony. Photo: Ryan Soderlin, Office of Strategic Marketing and Communications.

Ishani Adidam’s journey to becoming the Student Body President of the University of Nebraska at Omaha (UNO) has been shaped by a passion for service and a deep personal connection to the campus.

As a fourth-year student majoring in Business Administration with concentrations in Human Resources Management and Business Analytics, alongside a minor in Public Health, Adidam has always believed in the power of community, a belief that is evident in her work on campus and her future goals.

UNO has been a constant presence in Adidam’s life. Her father, Phani Tej Adidam, Ph.D., is a professor in the College of Business Administration (CBA), and her mother, an alumna, made UNO a central part of their family’s culture.

“I was on campus every week, visiting my dad’s office while my mom worked full-time,” recalled Adidam.

This connection to UNO was ingrained in her from an early age, and when it came time to choose a university, she knew UNO was where she belonged.

“I loved how manageable the campus felt, and I immediately felt a sense of community here,” she said.

One of Ishani’s defining moments at UNO came long before she became a student here. When she began learning to drive, doing it on UNO's campus seemed like the only right way to do it. She laughed about this, remembering the experience of navigating parking lots for the first time.

“It felt like I was finally taking control of my own life, and UNO was the perfect place for that,” said Adidam.

When it came to choosing UNO, Adidam appreciated its affordability and the opportunities it offered.

"UNO allowed me to avoid student debt and still get an excellent education," she said.

This decision was influenced by her parents, who encouraged her to take advantage of the opportunities available to her at UNO.

“The education is amazing here, and you’re getting the same quality you’d get at any out-of-state school,” she said her dad would tell her.

From her first year on campus, Adidam dove into student government, becoming involved with the freshman cohort of the Student Government Association (SGA). By her second year, she was elected a senator, and her leadership journey continued to grow from there. However, it wasn’t always smooth sailing.

In her third year, she ran for vice president but didn’t win. Despite the setback, Adidam didn’t let this deter her.

“It was tough, but I learned so much from that experience. It taught me resilience,” she said.

She went on to serve as director of leadership development, working with the freshman cohort and seeing firsthand how powerful student government could be.

This resilience paid off when Adidam was elected student body president for the 2024-2025 school year. As president, she is committed to increasing transparency between student government and the student body.

“So many students don’t know about the resources available to them on campus, and that’s something I want to change,” she said.

She’s already begun initiatives to raise awareness about free services, like legal assistance and printing stations, that many students aren’t aware of.

“It’s about creating a guidebook that ensures students know what they have access to,” she explained. “Students pay into these resources, and we need to make sure they’re using them.”

Ishani’s focus on transparency is also about bridging the gap between student government and the wider campus. She has noticed a sense of disconnection on campus, particularly for some of the students taking classes online.

“My goal is to make student government the hub for student engagement and to ensure that students feel welcomed and heard when they come to us,” she said.

For Adidam, the lessons she’s learned from her own failures have been pivotal.

“Failure is a part of growth,” she said. “If I had won that election, I don’t think I would appreciate this role as much as I do now. Believing in yourself is critical when you’re in a leadership position,” she added. “If you don’t think you can make a difference, then what’s the point of even trying?”

UNO has been more than just a school for Adidam, it’s been a community where she has found her voice, a second home where she got to grow up, and an opportunity for her to challenge herself.

“I owe so much to UNO. The support I’ve received from my peers, faculty, and staff has made this experience truly unique. UNO is my community. It’s where I’ve found my purpose.” 

 Ishani Adidam

About the University of Nebraska at Omaha

Located in one of America’s best cities to live, work and learn, the University of Nebraska at Omaha (UNO) is Nebraska’s premier metropolitan university. With more than 15,000 students enrolled in 200-plus programs of study, UNO is recognized nationally for its online education, graduate education, military friendliness and community engagement efforts. Founded in 1908, UNO has served learners of all backgrounds for more than 100 years and is dedicated to another century of excellence both in the classroom and in the community.

Follow UNO on Facebook, Twitter (X), Instagram, LinkedIn, and YouTube. 

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

News Sections

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

Featured Stories

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.