Session I, Keynote
- Overview | Randall Adkins, Ph.D., Senior Associate Dean, UNO College of Arts and Sciences
- Welcome | UNO Chancellor Joanne Li, Ph.D., CFA
- Keynote Introduction | Maeve Hemmer, UNO Student Body President/NU Regent
- Keynote with Student Q & A | Sen. Chuck Hagel
About Hagel
Chuck Hagel was the 24th Secretary of Defense. The only Vietnam veteran and the first enlisted combat veteran to serve as Secretary of Defense, Hagel also served two terms in the United States Senate representing the State of Nebraska, as Co-Chairman of the President’s Intelligence Advisory Board, and as Deputy Administrator of the Veterans Administration.
Some of Hagel’s current commitments include serving on the Board of Trustees of RAND Corporation; Advisory Board of Corsair Capital; Board of Directors of PBS; Senior Advisor to Gallup and to the McCarthy Group; Distinguished Executive in Residence at Georgetown University; Distinguished Statesman at the Atlantic Council; Centennial Professor, University of Nebraska.
Breakout Sessions
The Future of World Population and the United States
The world’s population is expected to reach 9.7 billion people in 2050, however, that growth will become much slower in the 50 years after that, reaching “only” 10.8 billion people in 2100. At the same time, the latest results of the 2020 US census show changes in where people live, the racial and ethnic composition of the countries, and a decrease in certain rural populations. What are the possible implications of this growth for humanity? How will the impact of these changes be in the United States and Nebraska? In this session, we will learn about what influences population change and its effects on life expectancies and the development of societies.
Dr. Cristián Doña-Reveco, UNO Department of Sociology and Anthropology and Director of the Office of Latino/Latin American Studies
Health Care as a Public Service
What goal do we share? The desire for a long and healthy life, for ourselves and friends and family. This is also the mission of health care and public health workers, one of whom will share ways she encourages action and compliance among individuals and groups—and also how she responds to denial, defiance, and even detractors. The presenter will share situations based on real-life and ask what you’d do.
Abigail Lowe, UNMC College of Allied Health Professions; Steve Langan, UNO Medical Humanities
Write Now! Writing for Public Service
To make a positive difference in the world, you need to be able to effectively craft your message for your specific audience and situation, including your digital presence. In this hands-on presentation, you will explore various scenarios to determine and develop the kinds of writing that will save the day.
Maggie Christensen, Ph.D., UNO Department of English
Taking Your Activism from Social Media to the Streets: Impact, Reputation, and Grass Roots Community Work
Generation Z spends as many as eight hours a day online: learning, connecting, and engaging. Through social media, political and social activism is part of the digital landscape. From #MeToo to #BLM, we are lobbying for social change through our screens. This workshop will discuss the differences between Clicktivism v. Activism and how to use rhetorical tropes to engage public servants/pols in ways that matter. Do you want your messages to be effective? What works when contacting elected officials? What actions are digital engagement designed for, and when is it best to do something beyond what we can do via our screens?
Kay Siebler, Ph.D., UNO Department of English
Perceptions of Military Service
This session will discuss military service from two Air Force officers’ perspectives. With years of service, Captain Keith Saylors and Captain Nicholas McCrabb will walk through their careers and discuss those pointed moments that changed their lives and why they continue to serve.
Capt. Keith Saylors and Capt. Nicholas McCrabb, UNO Department of Aerospace Studies
News Deserts and Journalism as Public Service
This talk will include a discussion of news deserts (an uncovered geographic area that has few or no media outlets and receives little coverage) and how more areas in the country are having this happen to them because of the consolidation/restructuring of news outlets. This session will also focus on the value of journalism in discussing what it provides communities. The altruistic goal of creating an informed citizenry is something that must be pursued at all levels of journalism, but it is especially important at the local level. A large number of available information and news sources allows people, even those in news deserts, to get national/international news. But local news is much harder to come by, and it is imperative that all citizens be able to get their local news.
Andrew Stem, UNO School of Communication
Point A to Point B via Points C, D, and E: Going from High School to Professional Life Via a Communication Studies Degree
The path to rewarding public service work is not always clear or linear. If one of your goals is to be part of a government or non-profit organization as a valued expert, join this session to workshop a plan for developing your communication skills and professional network throughout your college years. Participants will learn about making connections, professional communication, and leveraging college courses to build experience and expertise.
Amy Ellefson, UNO School of Communication
Freaky Food: What We Will Eat in 2050
Like cheeseburgers? Love pepperoni pizza? Growing populations around the world and the effects of climate change on agriculture are going to change what we eat, and the foods we love might be unavailable or ridiculously expensive. What could we eat instead? Come and find out!
Beth Chalecki, Ph.D., UNO Department of Political Science
Mental Health and Suicide Prevention in a COVID-19 World
How has the COVID-19 pandemic impacted our mental health? How has it impacted suicide rates? Most importantly, how can we work together in keeping each other mentally well and prevent suicide? This session will discuss the mental health repercussions of the COVID-19 pandemic. We will learn about effective suicide prevention efforts and explore how our often-forgotten frontline health care workers, mental health therapists, are needed more than ever.
Ciara Warden, LISW, UNO Grace Abbott School of Social Work
Marbury v. Madison: Public Service and the Rule of Law
In the United States, public service is always understood as being public service under the rule of law. Those who are entrusted with public welfare never have unlimited discretion to do whatever they think best but are expected to act within the limits set by the Constitution and the laws. In this lecture, we will revisit the foundational Supreme Court ruling in Marbury v. Madison in order to illustrate how both the president and the Congress are limited by law and the Constitution.
Carson Holloway, Ph.D., UNO Department of Political Science
Securing Your Future and Ours: Jobs in Counterterrorism, Both Domestic and Abroad
Join Michelle Black, Ph.D., as she walks students through the process of entering the workforces as counterterrorism professionals in both government and private sectors to defend against threats both foreign and domestic. This lecture will be a step-by-step introduction to the field of counterterrorism and intelligence studies, and the process of moving toward a career as a counterterrorism professional. She will cover the different agencies, courses needed for a program of study, and internships that will help students gain practical knowledge.
Michelle Black, Ph.D., UNO Department of Political Science
The Next Generation: Making the World Better Through Connected Public Service
The world is more interconnected than ever, and our challenges are more complex. Challenges like social justice, housing, climate change, urban decay, education inequalities cannot be solved in a vacuum. Nor can any of these challenges be solved by a single government, nonprofit organization, or corporation. These challenges will be solved by skilled leaders armed with the language, networks, and passion to bring diverse groups together towards a common goal. How do you get involved in affecting policy? Where do you begin? How can you be most effective? These are the questions we will discuss during your visit.
Former U.S. Congressman Brad Ashford, UNO College of Public Affairs and Community Service, Meagan Van Gelder, Ph.D., and Craig S. Maher, Ph.D.