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Need advice for feeling successful, safe and healthy on campus? Struggling with school and needing a little extra support? What about someone to talk to about career goals? Personal aspirations? Ways to get involved? General “life stuff”?

UNL’s Academic Navigators are a brand-new resource for Husker students that are there to help with a little bit of everything.

“We’re here to work closely with students based on what they might need in their individual programs,” says Sara, Academic Navigator for Fine & Performing Arts, CoJMC, and Architecture. “We work alongside the people students are already seeing – like academic advisors and success coaches – but are here to be long-term and follow up frequently.”

Like many Academic Navigators, Sara is a UNL alum who’s passionate about helping students. Born in Monterrey, Mexico and growing up in Fremont, NE, Sara studied secondary education as a Husker before moving on to teach English at Schoo Middle School.

With her new role as an Academic Navigator, Sara is excited about the one-on-one engagement opportunities it offers.

“It’s really nice to be able to dig deeper with students about what they’re going through and what can make a meaningful impact,” says Sara. “Something I found as a student was that I didn’t know about a resource until I went looking for it. There are so many awesome resources all over campus, and we can come in to help mediate the system to get students what they need.”

Students can reach an Academic Navigator by scheduling an appointment through the Student Success Hub or, as is the case with Sara, just dropping into their office. Any reason is a good reason to check in with a navigator.

“We work with both academics but also just personal, social life – anything that’s causing a hard time or presenting barriers for students,” explains Sara.

And if a navigator can’t help, they’ll introduce you to someone who can.

“We’re mediators that can make a large institution manageable so that students can be successful.”

Upon reflection, Kenji can trace a throughline of service from his time in the military all the way to his current role as associate director of Big Red Resilience & Well-Being (BRRWB). This dedication to service began when he enlisted in the United States Army after graduating from UNL in 1999, and now manifests in making sure all Husker students feel seen, supported and protected on campus through BRRWB.

"Where I’m at now, I see that all the discipline, experience, and relationships that I’ve built through my years of service have taught me to consider everyone equally,” Kenji says. “When you need help and resources, it doesn’t matter if you have different experiences, different backgrounds or different belief systems. What matters is the feeling that someone has your well-being in their hands.”

Kenji, who grew up in Phoenix, came to UNL in 1995 and graduated with a degree in psychology. Because his father was a career Marine, service was always in the back of his mind.

“I’ve always intrinsically known that I wanted to serve in some capacity. This is the social scientist in me, but I feel it was a way for my father and I to connect through a transcendental calling, through something greater.”

Kenji recalls he and his father comparing their basic training photos, reflecting on who they were then and the men they grew to become in the military.

“Looking at these pictures, I see these wide-eyed young men not really having any idea what the bigger world is all about. Putting on the uniform gave me a better understanding of myself, my responsibility to others, the larger world and different perspectives.”

On Veterans Day, Kenji says that it’s not just a time to memorialize—we must also consider.

“Veterans Day to me is an opportunity to consider. I consider not only my service, but the service of those who I’ll never meet, their families, their sacrifice and their service to the greater good. It’s a responsibility we have, as civilians, to consider those that selflessly give themselves to protect our freedoms.”

Life hasn’t always been easy for Wahadi. Over the years, he's faced many challenges, from having his home destroyed by Hurricane Katrina to living in a car while juggling multiple jobs. But for Wahadi, there was always one thing that meant happy moments, inspiration and opportunity: food.

Growing up in the Deep South, Wahadi wasn’t interested in the same things as other kids. While they were playing outside, he was watching his grandfather cook. Though his family couldn’t afford to travel, immersing himself in different cuisines was his way of learning about other cultures and their history. He found the most happiness when sharing a meal with loved ones—times where conversation always flowed and smiles were on everyone's faces. And it was these moments that inspired him to enroll in culinary school and pursue a career in connecting with others through food.

After spending years in the industry, Wahadi now serves as the executive chef for Nebraska. He believes in using the power of food to celebrate communities and build relationships with Huskers and is working to create a heightened dining experience that satisfies thousands of Huskers and reflects cultures across the university.

“Students are hungry to experience and put their stamp on the world. My job is to help facilitate that and I come to work every day with that attitude. It’s hard for that to not become global thinking—we can be inclusive with food, it’s one of the easiest ways!”

Wahadi has a clear vision for Dining Services: revamping the catering program, creating seasonal, culturally-diverse and flavorful menus and helping his staff maintain a healthy work-life balance. He hopes everyone feels excited and celebrated when they walk into one of the university’s dining halls, whether it’s for a meal or to work a dinner shift.

“There’s a group of people here that’s dedicated to leveling up. We’re pushing very hard and are invested in providing a higher level of service. Everyone at the university is here because they have a dream. We’re here to feed that dream.”

Nebraska is one of the few universities in the country to distribute actual diplomas to students as they cross the stage at commencement. And, if you’ve graduated from the University of Nebraska–Lincoln in the past 35 years, it’s Gail and her team members that made sure you received your diploma!

Gail joined the university 38 years ago working with international student admissions. Three years later she moved to the registrar’s office and began supporting students in a different way: making sure their experience graduating from Nebraska is as seamless as possible. Gail fell in love with the position and has been working with graduating students since.

"Any of my staff members would say there is tremendous satisfaction in having some part in seeing a student finish their academic career here and graduate. It’s very satisfying to have had some part in that happening.”

To clear students to graduate and prepare for the commencement ceremony, there are several moving parts for Gail and her team to complete. It begins months ahead of graduation with reviewing current grades and communicating with students who are at risk of not passing any required coursework—a key part in ensuring Huskers are able to receive their diplomas at commencement.

Then comes preparation for the commencement ceremony itself. After printing the diplomas and inserting them into their covers, Gail and her team triple-proof them for spellings, distinctions and other important details. Next is the meticulous process of making sure each diploma is in correspondence with the student who will receive it and the seat they’ll sit in during the ceremony—and mailing diplomas for students who don’t attend the ceremony.

After over 35 years, Gail continues to find great enjoyment in being a part of the unique experience that is Husker graduation. She is excited to keep supporting soon-to-be graduates and as Nebraska awards record numbers of degrees, it’s her goal to continue adapting to ensure the commencement ceremony is a celebration that will stay in Huskers’ memories for decades to come!

Heather knew she wanted to serve her country from a young age. Growing up, she often listened to the stories her dad told her about life in the Army. In 2000, she joined the Air Force ROTC. Now, 18 years later, Heather is a cadre member at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln’s Air Force ROTC program.

Heather completed her degree and then commissioned into the military as a force support officer. After eight years of active duty, Heather switched to the reserves and started her family. As her kids grew out of their toddler years, she decided it was time to return to active duty.

“I really missed leading, I really missed that ability to be a positive influence,” Heather said. “So when I saw the opportunity to teach ROTC and come back on active duty, I jumped at the chance to do it.”

Heather's job allows her to work directly with the Air Force’s future leaders, whether it’s through teaching classes or talking with them one-on-one about their future in the Air and Space Force.

“I also really have a strong desire to be a positive influence on the next generation...it energizes me to be a part of that mission,” Heather said.

But being a member of the military isn’t always easy.

“We have a lot of sacrifices that we have to make for our families because the mission comes first,” Heather said.

That means she can be away from her family for months for training or have to leave for work early and come home late. She misses time with her kids, but she knows it’s worth it.

“On Veteran’s Day my kids write stories to their favorite vet, and they will usually write a story about their mom,” Heather said. “Their little stories reflect on how I’ve had to be gone from home but also how proud they are of what their mom gets to do. When I get to see the stories they bring home, I know that they get it. They know that what mom is doing is important.”

Today and every day, we’re thankful for our Husker community that is full of giving, dedicated people whose Husker pride runs deep. Don is one of those people. Over the past 45 years, he has gotten to know campus pretty well. As a member of the custodial services staff, he's kept City and East Campus spaces clean since he started working for the department in April 1975. But before Don worked at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln, his father and mother were also staff members with custodial services. For a little while, the trio even worked alongside each other. And it doesn't stop there — Don's wife also worked for UNL for a number of years. According to Don's calculations, the family has worked more than 80 years for the university. The years add up even more when Don accounts for his more distant family members, like his uncle who worked in maintenance at the Nebraska Union post-World War II. Don's familial ties to the university are just as strong as the ties he's made with the campus community. Over the years he's been stationed in different halls, allowing him to make connections with faculty, staff and students as they cross paths during their daily routines. His time at the university has even afforded him some once-in-a-lifetime opportunities, like working on the set of "Terms of Endearment" when it was filmed on campus in the 1980s. Don has enjoyed the past 45 years, and he doesn't plan to retire anytime soon. "I hope to be here another at least four and a half to make it to 50," Don said, "And dependent on financial situations and health situations, I just might make it to 55 years."

Resilience is something Karen knows well. After a summer of CT scans, blood work, ultrasounds and a diagnostic laparoscopy, she was diagnosed with appendix cancer in 2017. "My husband, Matt, and I both cried and our son, Talley, who was 15 years old at the time, was very calm and encouraging. It was when our daughter, Liem, who was only 12 years old at the time, bawled her eyes out and yelled, “No, Mom I need you!” did I know that I had to do whatever was necessary to survive.” Almost three years ago to the day, she sat down with a doctor at Nebraska Medicine to start her journey to recovery, one she says was driven by her desire to live for both her family and her UPC Nebraska students. It is these students who have taught her the importance of dedication, passion, commitment, adaptability and perseverance. And it is something she’s seen from them in the last several months especially. "The best part is seeing the excitement and pride my members have after months of planning an event and then watching it successfully take place...As our mission statement says, we provide diverse, educational, and entertaining programs to enhance the Nebraska community. We will do what it takes whether we are in-person or remote to provide those opportunities because students learn the most from their out of classroom experiences." Karen has worked as the UPC Nebraska advisor for 21 years and she’s enjoyed watching the members grow, learn and develop personally and professionally year after year. And though this year is different than others, she learned something important while recovering from appendix cancer: the value of being able to connect virtually, both in her personal life and through virtual UPC Nebraska events. True to her advocacy for positivity, health and safety, she leaves Huskers with one final note to keep our campus community safe: “If my doctor can wear a mask during my 14-hour [surgery], I think we can all wear masks while on the UNL campus.”

When Huskers return to the University of Nebraska–Lincoln, campus will be sanitized and safer thanks to the efforts of University Operations and many campus partners. These campus units collaborated on the creation of more than a thousand hand sanitizer stations that will be placed across the university's campuses. These stations were built from scratch by the university — including special 3D printed parts and sanitizer produced on Nebraska Innovation Campus. Jim Jackson is associate vice chancellor for University Operations and was one of the members of the team that spearheaded the hand sanitizer station efforts. As a leader he's always made an effort to be proactive in planning the operations of the university, but with COVID-19 he found that his job quickly transitioned to reacting to the current situation facing campus. And with the current situation calling for increased sanitation and cleanliness to allow Huskers to safely engage in campus life, his team went into overdrive to brainstorm, develop and deploy the stations. For Jim, the creation of the hand sanitizer stations is yet another example of the hard work and resilience that is woven into the university community. He refers to the return to campus as a "carrot" — the incentive that pushes his team to innovate and adapt so they can meet their end goal. "You got to still keep your eye on the future and what's the 'carrot'..." Jim said, "And it is to return back to educate our students and keep this campus open and doing what we do safely."

Throughout the academic year, friendly faces greet prospective students and their families to show them what life at Nebraska is all about. They are our campus hosts. With close to 70 students working in this role, they are able to provide personalized campus tours to guests while sharing their stories on why the University of Nebraska–Lincoln is special to them. But when COVID-19 social distancing measurements were put into effect, all tours were cancelled, and these students were left without work. Campus tour guide coordinator Roger Allen works with all the campus hosts. They're his students, and he focuses on developing them as leaders and getting to know them as people. Knowing that they would be without work during this time affected him, and he quickly stepped into action. Roger created a six-week course that all campus hosts could take for pay. Each week they would discuss their UNL experiences, watch videos from speakers across campus and continue to better their recruitment skills. For the 45 students that took Roger's course, it was a way to continue working while also keeping some normalcy in their lives while they were adjusting to remote learning, cancelled internships and cancelled study abroad trips. But most notedly, the class provided them an opportunity to continue learning and developing even as life went remote. "Just working with them is like the best part of my job."

As members of the UNL custodial staff, Bill and Crystal's main focus is to clean and maintain the university's facilities. But while that may be their main mission, one of their favorite aspects of the job is interacting with the students, faculty and staff that they serve. Bill is responsible for a section of Hardin Hall and Crystal is stationed in Morrill Hall. After working in the halls for some time, the two have made connections with those they see during their shifts. From friendships formed with professors they see every time they take a coffee break, to conversations shared with students about their families and studies, the pair have grown close people that frequent their buildings. "I've made some wonderful, wonderful relationships," Bill said. "And I do miss that right now because nobody's here." Now that access to campus is limited, Crystal and Bill still report for work at the same hours each day, but some of their old tasks are missing. With only employees that provide necessary support services entering campus, everyday practices like cleaning offices and wiping toddler-sized handprints off of the exhibit glass at Morrill Hall are no longer necessary. But the most notable thing that's missing is the students, faculty and staff that have become their friends. "When we're busy, when we interact with people...that's our normal," Crystal said, "This is not normal." Bill and Crystal often interact more with the communities in their halls than they do with their own coworkers in the custodial services department. While this time might be lonely, strange, and even make them nostalgic for their old normal, they know that it won't always be this way. "I really have faith that we're going to get through this," Crystal said, "And we'll be back to seeing those little kiddos and the big kiddos coming into our building."

Before the picnic blankets are laid out and the music starts at Jazz in June, you can find members of the University of Nebraska–Lincoln community doing yoga among the greenery by Woods Art Building. Run by Rachel Huenink, a group fitness instructor with UNL Campus Rec, the classes provide an opportunity for students to drop in and participate in a yoga class that's surrounded by the sun and nature. "It's a really great way to have fun, it's a good way to meet people," Rachel said, "And to help people just feel good in their bodies." Before transitioning to teaching yoga, Rachel worked as an addiction therapist. She holds a masters in counseling psychology and said that she thinks many of the mental health practices she learned in graduate school come from yoga traditions. In fact, she said that many of the people in her 500-hour training program are mental health professionals. "There's certainly a lot of overlap," Rachel said. For Rachel, teaching yoga is a way to help students de-stress and unwind from the pressures of college. She likes to keep her classes lighthearted, often calling it "smiling yoga" since that's what she wants her participants to be focusing on. "Life is pretty serious. School is very hard," Rachel said, "Yoga class shouldn't be something that stresses you out."

Joe Brownell, director of Nebraska’s Military and Veteran Success Center, said he operates the center with one goal in mind: helping students achieve their academic and career goals. “Some [students] take a straight path, and others may have to explore a little bit more, but through it all you’re creating connections so that individuals are successful not only here, but in society,” he said. The Military and Veteran Success Center, now in its fourth year, provides support to students in regard to their military service and academics, offering academic tutors, peer mentors and even medical tests and screenings. For Brownell, the military wasn’t just about serving but doing your part. That’s why he got involved with the center shortly after he retired from the Air Force in August 2018, “I’ve always believed in servant leadership, and this is helping to do that,” Brownell said. “Your career doesn’t end when you leave the military, you still have to give back." As director of the program, Brownell said his main job is to ensure that students have the services and the support that they need to be successful. While it hasn’t always been an easy journey, which Brownell attributes to there not being enough time in the day, he still takes pride in seeing students succeed and accomplishing their goals. “At the end of the day, whatever decisions we make, if we’re focused on the students we’ll be successful,” Brownell said.