"Leading Nebraska" Podcast Series

The Nebraska Promise is the University of Nebraska System’s free tuition program. The program covers undergraduate tuition at the University of Nebraska for Nebraska students who have a family income of $65,000 or less and meet academic qualifications.

It covers the cost of tuition above what federal Pell Grants and other financial aid pays for, helping students to pursue a degree with minimal cost. The Nebraska Promise applies to all University of Nebraska campuses. With students only paying for room, board, books and fees, they can max out their course load, expand their extracurricular opportunities, have more time to study, and pursue non-paying internships that will prepare them for the job market.

Mayra Flores, a recent business administration graduate from the University of Nebraska at Kearney, was the first in her family to earn a college degree. In this episode of “Leading Nebraska,” we talk with Mayra about Nebraska Promise—and how it made higher education a possibility for her.

To access a transcript of this podcast, visit https://nebraska.edu/nebraska-promise/flores-transcript.

This show is based on a story written by Jackie Ostrowicki. It was written and produced by Mary Jane Bruce, co-produced and edited by Curt Bright, and promoted and marketed by Ryan Rothman.

Health care professionals are vital for their communities. But increasingly, rural health care is on life support. That’s why the University of Nebraska Medical Center is making rural health a priority.

The Medical Center, in partnership with the University of Nebraska at Kearney, is in the middle of an ambitious new project: the Rural Health Education Building. Construction on the three story, 100-thousand square foot building began in fall of 2023. When it opens in 2026, the building will expand existing offerings to more than 300 students and strengthen the talent pipeline of health professionals.

Doug Kristensen, the chancellor at the University of Nebraska at Kearney, believes the new facility will bring health and economic benefits to the state. In this episode of “Leading Nebraska,” we talk with Kristensen about how initiatives like the Rural Health Education Building are leading Nebraska into a healthier future..

To access a transcript of this podcast, visit https://nebraska.edu/nuforne/doug-kristensen.

This show is based on a story written by Jackie Ostrowicki. It was written and produced by Mary Jane Bruce, co-produced and edited by Curt Bright, and promoted and marketed by Ryan Rothman.

In order to grow Nebraska, we need more students to attend and graduate from college. That includes students who may be the first in their families to attend college or come from underrepresented populations.

The Goodrich Scholarship program is a merit and need-based scholarship for students like these who attend the University of Nebraska at Omaha. It is cohort-based and includes academic and non-academic support services. Since 1972, the program has enabled more than 1,600 students to complete their education at UNO.

Dr. Troy Romero, an organizational psychologist, leads the Goodrich Scholars program. In this episode of “Leading Nebraska,” we talk with Romero about how creating community and how programs like the Goodrich Scholarship can improve the rates of student success—and make a difference for retention and graduation.

To access a transcript of this podcast, visit nebraska.edu/nuforne/troy-romero

This show is based on a story written by Jackie Ostrowicki. It was written and produced by Mary Jane Bruce, co-produced and edited by Curt Bright, and promoted and marketed by Ryan Rothman.

Cancer is the second leading cause of death in Nebraska, and one in every three Nebraskans will hear the words “you have cancer” in their lifetime. A diagnosis of pancreatic cancer is especially devastating, as someone diagnosed with pancreatic cancer today has a 10% chance of living for five years.

Dr. Kelsey Klute is determined to turn the tide. A gastrointestinal medical oncologist, she leads a UNMC research team studying new methods of treating pancreatic cancer.

In this episode of “Leading Nebraska”, we talk with Kelsey Klute about how clinical trials and looking at novel ways to find and treat this cancer early can improve the rates of survival and make a difference for patients and their families.

To access a transcript of this podcast, visit nebraska.edu/nuforne/ken-cowan

This show is based on a story written by Jackie Ostrowicki. It was written and produced by Mary Jane Bruce, co-produced and edited by David Fitzgibbon and Curt Bright, and promoted and marketed by Ryan Rothman.

University of Nebraska-Lincoln engineering professor Shane Farritor is the co-founder of Virtual Incision, a medical device company located at Nebraska Innovation Campus. He and his team have developed MIRA—a handheld, two-pound device that's inserted into the body for surgery.

MIRA is also cost effective and affordable for hospitals. The robotic device is currently being tested for use in colon resections needed to treat gastrointestinal issues, like diverticulitis and inflammatory bowel disease. But Farritor sees a bigger role for his miniature robots.

In this episode of “Leading Nebraska”, we talk with Shane Farritor about how miniature surgical robots are launching the University of Nebraska-Lincoln into a high-tech future—and even into space.

To access a transcript of this podcast, visit nebraska.edu/nuforne/shane-farritor

This show is based on a story written by Jackie Ostrowicki. It was written and produced by Mary Jane Bruce, co-produced and edited by David Fitzgibbon, and promoted and marketed by Ryan Rothman.

University of Nebraska President Ted Carter was selected for the elite Top Gun program in 1985. There, he experienced hands-on learning that changed his life.

Today, Carter is committed to helping students succeed. He knows classroom lessons are enriched by experience and that a talented workforce strengthens the state’s economy. Carter wants to make sure every University of Nebraska student graduates with some type of hands-on learning experience—whether that be an internship, study abroad, or community service.

In this episode of Leading Nebraska, we talk with President Ted Carter about how the University of Nebraska plans to help students soar into the future through experiential learning.

To access a transcript of this podcast, visit https://nebraska.edu/nuforne/ted-carter-3

This show is based on a story written by Jackie Ostrowicki. It was written and produced by Mary Jane Bruce, co-produced and edited by David Fitzgibbon, and promoted and marketed by Ryan Rothman.

The value of an internship in college can’t be understated. Students with the resourcefulness to get hands-on in their first jobs are generally in short supply. But not at the University of Nebraska at Kearney, where business students are encouraged to take internships while in school.

Tianna Engen was one of those students. Now a corporate accountant with The Buckle, a clothing retailer, the Kearney native didn’t even have to job search after college. Engen spent two years with The Buckle as an internal audit and finance intern while earning her degree in business administration.

On this episode of Leading Nebraska, we learn more about how UNK is building strong relationships with businesses in Kearney and elsewhere—and how those relationships help students to make a successful transition from college to career.

To access a transcript of this podcast, visit nebraska.edu/nuforne/tianna-engen.

This show is based on a story written by Jackie Ostrowicki. It was written and produced by Mary Jane Bruce, co-produced and edited by David Fitzgibbon, and promoted and marketed by Ryan Rothman.

When the COVID-19 pandemic hit, the University of Nebraska Medical Center was ready. They had faced Ebola, trained for decades on biocontainment and infectious disease, and had a team of people who had prepared in advance for that moment.

Their experts in biopreparedness faced COVID-19 head on—developing new treatments, testing new ways to use personal protective equipment and providing important research on how the virus spreads. The Medical Center’s foundation of experience and expertise played a key role.

In this episode of Leading Nebraska, we talk with Chris Kratochvil, UNMC’s Global Center for Health Security Distinguished Chair. He discusses the world-renowned infectious disease center and how UNMC is providing solutions needed to face the next pandemic.

To access a transcript of this podcast, visit https://nebraska.edu/nuforne/chris-kratochvil.

This show is based on a story written by Jackie Ostrowicki. It was written and produced by Mary Jane Bruce, co-produced and edited by David Fitzgibbon, and promoted and marketed by Ryan Rothman.

The University of Nebraska System is hard at work conducting research and outreach that improves lives across Nebraska and across the nation. But it’s not just making lives better, it’s also helping to grow Nebraska’s economy.

And that growth is quantifiable. A new analysis of the NU System’s impact on Nebraska’s prosperity and quality of life shows that its teaching, research and outreach activities grow the state’s economy by $5.8 billion every year.

In this episode of Leading Nebraska, we talk with President Ted Carter about how the University of Nebraska was one of the only university systems in the country to grow during the pandemic—and how that growth impacts the state’s economy and success.

To access a transcript of this podcast, visit https://nebraska.edu/nuforne/ted-carter-2

This show is based on a story written by Jackie Ostrowicki. It was written and produced by Mary Jane Bruce, co-produced and edited by David Fitzgibbon, and promoted and marketed by Ryan Rothman.

With people hunkering down at home to protect themselves from COVID-19, things have been hard for small businesses—especially local restaurants and coffeeshops.

Enter Brim, a mobile ordering app that can be used by any local business. Luke Bogus, a student in UNL’s prestigious Jeffrey S. Raikes School of Computer Science and Management, created the app as a business opportunity—but when the pandemic hit a week after the app launched, he shifted his plan and offered it to businesses for free.

In this episode of Leading Nebraska, we talk with Bogus about his app and more. He shares how his education helped developed his computer science skills—and led to a job at Microsoft.

To access a transcript of this podcast, visit https://nebraska.edu/nuforne/luke-bogus

This show is based on a story written by Jackie Ostrowicki. It was written and produced by Mary Jane Bruce, co-produced and edited by David Fitzgibbon, and promoted and marketed by Ryan Rothman.