"Heart to Heart" Podcast Series with NU System President Gold Features UNO Chancellor Joanne Li, Ph.D., CFA

The University of Nebraska (NU) System has released the newest episode of its "Heart to Heart" podcast series. Hosted by NU System President Jeffrey P. Gold, M.D., the podcast features in-depth conversations with leaders, educators, researchers, alumni and university partners that get to the heart of how the University of Nebraska makes a difference.

This month, President Gold is joined by Dr. Joanne Li, Chancellor of the University of Nebraska at Omaha. On the episode, they discuss why UNO’s physical location matters, overview initiatives that are helping to build Nebraska’s workforce and explore the impact of a positive culture both on campus and in the broader community.

As Nebraska’s only urban campus, UNO is deeply embedded in the economic, civic and cultural fabric of Omaha—a metro area home to more than a million residents. It’s a nationally recognized metropolitan university, blending academic excellence with a mission of community engagement, access, and partnership. As UNO’s leader, Chancellor Li is a strong advocate for deep city-university partnerships.

“I believe higher education is and will always be defined by urbanization,” she said. “The greater Omaha area and its taxpayers deserve a world class public research university that can provide critical services to our community.”

UNO serves learners with a wide array of backgrounds including first-generation, transfer and non-traditional students. In fact, one in two students on UNO’s campus are the first in their family to attend college. Many of UNO’s programs are shaped around workforce needs and provide students with practical learning opportunities, community based paid internships, partnerships and long-term support—all of which help students to access careers and opportunities after graduation.

“Education remains the most powerful engine for upward mobility,” Chancellor Li said. “It's our job to help students get career exposure and mentorship long before they graduate.”

There is no better example of this work than UNO’s Career Connect program, launched in May 2022 and aimed at connecting students with paid internships in Omaha. Since its launch, the program has added 154 employers who have posted almost 11,500 paid internships on UNO’s student hiring platform.

“Our goal is to allow students to advance based on the ability to master a skill at their own pace,” Chancellor Li said. “At UNO, we believe we have an opportunity to train a professional long before they enter the workforce.”

Dr. Gold and Chancellor Li end the podcast with a discussion about the “Maverick Spirit,” a slogan and a mindset that drives the work of every member of the UNO community in advancing the community in which they live and serve.

“At UNO, when others say ‘you cannot do it,’ we prove them wrong. That is the Maverick Spirit,” Chancellor Li said. “Maverick Spirit is what powers UNO's mission to transform lives and drive bold, new solutions for the future.”

Dr. Gold praised Chancellor Li’s passion for student success, belief in the power of partnerships and commitment to UNO’s metropolitan mission:

“UNO stands as a national model for what it means to be an engaged urban university campus—one that's deeply connected to the community it serves and to preparing the next generation of leaders to drive change,” he said.

New episodes of “Heart to Heart” are released monthly on Soundcloud, Apple Podcasts and Spotify.