From Student to Mentor at UNO

Fabio Gbetanou leans forward, enthusiasm lighting up his face as he chats with a prospective student at a college fair at a local high school. As an admissions representative for the University of Nebraska at Omaha (UNO), he thrives on sharing the university experience that shaped his own life. Wherever he goes, he can’t help but champion the city and school that welcomed him.

“Whenever I am not in Omaha, like at fairs, I am just screaming how good Omaha is as a city. I really do just love the city and everything that it offers. It’s a vibrant city,” Gbetanou said.

Being an admissions representative is a role he embraces wholeheartedly and proudly, but not long ago, Gbetanou himself was a student searching for direction.

Returning Home to Find His Path

Gbetanou’s journey to UNO wasn’t a straight line. Right out of Omaha Northwest high school, he enrolled at a college further away from his original home of Omaha, eager for newfound independence.

Life as a first-year student proved challenging. He struggled to find steady work in a new city, and even car trouble made independence harder.

Once back, Gbetanou applied to UNO, drawn by the chance to hit reset in a supportive environment. He enrolled as a transfer student, but was still unsure of what the future held for him. Unsure of what to study, he made the tough decision to take a gap year after starting at UNO.

“I wanted to take some time and find out what the right major would be for me,” he said.

When Gbetanou was ready to return to school, UNO’s support network sprang into action. He sought guidance from the Maverick Advising Center (MAC) and was paired with academic advisor Kerry Fina. That connection, Gbetanou said, changed everything.

“He really was a turning point in my academic career, because I felt like, for the first time, I had an advisor that really understood where I’d been… the credits that I had, what I was looking for,” Gbetanou explained.

Fina helped him explore options and crafted a plan that finally clicked.

“He made sure that he would talk to me every semester, and that helped so much,” Gbetanou said, noting how UNO never treated him as just another student. “I’ve never felt like a number at UNO,” he said. “I enjoyed the medium size environment, even in the classroom. The professors always showed that they really cared about their students”.

With an advisor who listened to him and a campus that made him feel at home, Gbetanou was ready to dive back in and find his purpose.

“What impressed me about Fabio is that he was so dedicated and so willing to explore new ideas and opportunities. Fabio graduated with a Bachelor of Multidisciplinary Studies degree with a Fine Arts Concentration, but he also picked up a minor in Journalism & Communication,” said Fina. “Fabio is a creative person with a ton of talent. I’m so glad he decided to pursue a career at UNO. The UNO community is lucky to have him.”

Discovering a Creative Calling

Guided by Fina’s advice, Gbetanou decided to craft his own interdisciplinary degree. He enrolled in UNO’s Bachelor of Multidisciplinary Studies program, which allowed him to mix and match fields to suit his interests.

He chose an unconventional combo that reflected his emerging passions: a concentration in Studio Art, where he could focus on graphic design, paired with a minor in Journalism and Media Communication. It was an academic recipe that blended creativity and storytelling, and it turned out to be the perfect fit.

Gbetanou discovered a knack for design. Courses in art history left him “stunned” and hungry to learn more. He tackled Graphic Design I and II, mastering the basics of Adobe Illustrator and Photoshop.

“I found that making posters and learning different styles came easy to me. I really had no experience, but with the help of my professors, I was able to excel,” Gbetanou said.

Encouraged by supportive instructors, he poured himself into creative projects and watched his confidence grow.

By his senior year, Gbetanou was ready to test his skills outside the classroom. He joined MavPR, UNO’s student-run communications and design agency, to gain real-world experience. For two semesters, he and a small team of Mavericks took on projects for campus clients, designing graphics, brainstorming campaigns, and learning to meet deadlines.

“I remember I did at least three projects a semester. It was good to be in that environment where I really felt like a graphic designer, like it was a part-time job,” he said of his time with MavPR.

In December 2022, after five and a half years of college exploration and growth, Gbetanou walked across the Baxter Arena stage to receive his UNO degree. The once-uncertain transfer student transformed into a budding graphic designer with a diploma in hand.

He graduated with a Bachelor of Multidisciplinary Studies focused on studio art, plus a journalism minor. He was proud, a little relieved, and more than ready to take on whatever came next.

From Graduate to Guide

Diploma in hand, Gbetanou initially put his new skills to work close to home. His mother’s restaurant, Okra African Grill, had finally opened its doors, and he jumped in to help the family business after graduation.

For about a year, he handled everything from marketing ideas to day-to-day operations. Working with mom had its rewards, but also its challenges.

When a job posting for a UNO admissions representative popped up on Indeed, Gbetanou’s eyes lit up.

“I felt like being within the university would give me more possibilities in the future. Working for a very established university is just going to build my résumé even more,” he said.

Stepping into the role of admissions representative, Gbetanou discovered he had a natural advantage; he was his own target audience not long ago. Now, instead of finding his personal path, he gets to help others find theirs at UNO. Every day he draws on his first-hand knowledge of the university to guide prospective students.

“I bring up a lot of my personal experiences,” he said of recruiting future Mavericks. “I will talk about the class sizes and specific classes that I really enjoyed. I talk about the advisors a lot because that was a huge help for me to lock into my education and graduate.”

Whether it’s describing the one-on-one support he received from professors or raving about the state-of-the-art campus rec center, he’s able to paint a vivid picture because he’s lived it. If a student is worried about finding their niche, Gbetanou tells them about how he found Mav Radio and MavPR and all the hands-on opportunities that made his college years rewarding.

Rooted in Omaha

Two years into his admissions role, Gbetanou has become one of UNO’s most vocal cheerleaders. As an Omaha native, representing his hometown university is a point of pride. Whenever he travels to high school fairs outside the city, he can’t help but brag a little about Omaha.

“You really get perspective when I travel now… and I’m extremely biased, but I just love the city, everything that it offers – the people, the facilities, the restaurants,” he said.

From the thrill of the College World Series each summer to the burgeoning arts and food scene, Gbetanou sees Omaha as an extension of UNO’s campus – a place where students can thrive.

“Omaha is just a sweet place with sweet people,” he said simply.

In his eyes, choosing UNO isn’t just about attending a great university; it’s about joining a vibrant community in a city on the rise.

As much as Gbetanou loves reflecting on where he’s been, he’s equally focused on what’s ahead. For him, building a future means continuing to grow, as a professional, as a student, and as a leader. That growth mindset is what ultimately led him back to the classroom, this time with a vision that reaches far beyond his undergraduate roots.

“I don’t really know what the future has for me,” he said, “but I just hope to be prepared for whatever comes”.

Every time Gbetanou stands in front of a classroom of curious seniors or gives a campus tour, he’s channeling the support and pride that changed his own life. And as he helps a new generation of students take their first steps at UNO, Gbetanou wears his Maverick legacy proudly.

“I hope that I’m representing the university and the city in the best ways,” he said.