I'm A Husker &

When you sit down for a meeting with Joe, it’s likely you'll talk about food or comic books before you get to anything related to school. His office in the Center for Academic Success and Transition is covered with comic book posters and photos of Filipino cuisine – not to mention the buffet of Asian candies on his desk.

Joe uses his own culture and interests to connect with students and get them talking about themselves. It’s also, he says, to encourage them to value their own backgrounds.

"I use the posters of Filipino cuisine in my office to ask students, ‘What’s on your plate? What’s home-cooked food for you?’ It’s a way for me to engage students to feel welcomed and know that their background, community and memories of home are important.”

As an Academic Success Coach, Joe helps Huskers settle into life at UNL and talk through some of the challenges being a student brings about. He gives emphasis to students who, like himself, are first-generation and come from diverse backgrounds.

“First-generation students are trailblazers in their family and might not have the same support as others. As a coach, I’m here to help those first-year Huskers who maybe haven’t had a family member go to college. I show them what’s possible in our community and give them strategies and tools to be successful.”

Joe, who was born in the Philippines and raised in Southern California, stresses that being a Husker can look a lot of different ways.

“Being a Husker is more than wearing red; everyone brings in a rich background and culture and adds it to the experience,” he explains. “It’s not about trying to become like everyone else; it’s about what’s unique to you that you bring to UNL.”

Joe likes to use himself as an example to show everyone has a unique path – and that’s okay. He took a 15-year break from college before going back to earn his bachelor’s and master's degrees.

“When students say they’re afraid of failing, I always tell them to take it from me: the struggle isn’t the end. There’s always a way to make it through.”

As a mother who can’t help but put herself in others’ shoes, Mikki is a passionate—and impactful—advisor, mentor and friend to international students at UNL.

“Thinking about sending my own kids to another country for four years—to study, live and engage with another culture and language without having family nearby—I put myself in the shoes of the students and their parents and think, ’How in the world could you navigate all this?’”

This empathy has led Mikki to be an advisor to the Rwandan Student Association and Business International Student Association, affirming and addressing the issues they face while also helping them make connections around campus and in the community.

“I really want to be there to support international students and am honored when they talk to me about their experiences,” says Mikki.

Going further, Mikki developed a seminar in the College of Business for international students that offers language support, one-on-one tutoring, academic guidance and networking opportunities.

“Language barriers can affect many things in your day-to-day life: your education, your ability to interact in the classroom, comprehend the material, and study,” Mikki explains. “It’s very layered.”

They also result in another common challenge for international students: connecting with their American classmates.

“A lot of students have high hopes about making American friends; many people are very friendly here, but it can be hard to cross those cultural divides and really find things in common.”

Mikki challenges domestic students to be more intentional about including international students across campus.

“As students come into your classes and dorms, make the effort to sit and listen to them, ask questions, and be curious—it makes a huge difference,” she says.

“It takes work to develop a friendship no matter where you’re from. My role is advocating for international students to have the strength and courage to keep trying.”

Even if you don’t know Jolene by name, you’re probably a fan of her work.

Thanks to the tireless efforts of Jolene and her colleagues at the university’s Landscape Services, we get beautiful campus views—and another reason to say there is no place like Nebraska.

Jolene—who has worked with the department for 16 years—is responsible for making sure East Campus is a safe, inviting and well-maintained place for Huskers and the Nebraska community to enjoy.

"At this stage in my life, I have a real passion for the job. My brain seems to be wired for the problem solving, planning, and details required to do this job well."

Jolene’s passion for her job spans from the simple pleasures of planting grass to planning for the busy spring season which has her team planting hundreds of flowers.

But Jolene’s team doesn’t just work on pruning and planting in the warmer months. Landscape Services works year-round to keep campus up to par—even braving cold Nebraska winters to clear snow off 15 miles of streets, 37 miles of sidewalks and 90 acres of parking lots, often while the rest of campus is asleep.

“I am proud of the work we do. At Landscape Services, we are many things. We are experts in chemical application and equipment operation; we are entomologists, horticulturists, arborists and environmentalists."

No matter what her role has her doing, Jolene takes pride in excelling in the male-dominated industry as one of three women in charge of landscaping on campus; and pride in her department as a whole: a small group that does big things.

As one of the assistant directors of fraternity and sorority life at Nebraska, Quinna Hogan oversees National Pan-Hellenic Council (NPHC) and the Multicultural Greek Council (MGC). Her ties to Greek life stretch back to the hallways of her middle school, where she remembers seeing one of her teachers proudly display the pink and green hues of Alpha Kappa Alpha — the sorority she would one day join.

With her experiences in Greek life as an undergraduate under her belt, Quinna now hopes to help students at Nebraska succeed in their own chapters.

Nebraska U’s National Pan-Hellenic Council Greek chapters date back as far as 1916, when Kappa Alpha Psi first formed an on-campus presence with their Eta chapter. Four years later, the Omicron chapter of Delta Sigma Theta started on campus. In Greek organizations, chapters take on a letter of the Greek alphabet signifying their spot in the national organization lineage. This would make Nebraska’s Kappa Alpha Psi the eighth chapter within the United States, and Delta Sigma Theta the 15th.

“When I first came to the university, I was elated that a PWI (predominantly white institution) of UNL’s magnitude had single-letter organizations,” Quinna said. “Back where I’m from, I’m from the South, when you hear a single-letter organization, it means something. It’s a pretty big deal… And so to think UNL has two single-letter organizations on this campus — that is a phenomenal thing to have. But I don’t know that the culture is celebrated that way.”

Quinna is devoted to helping current National Pan-Hellenic Council students realize the magnitude and momentum of their organizations. She wants them to be known for their knowledge, leadership and stewardship. When she walks across campus, she hopes to see them going to and from classes while wearing their letters with pride. She wants them to be recognized.

“The time is now,” Quinna said. “I think specifically… NPHC has been at UNL way, way too long for them not to have the recognition that they deserve.”

Karen cares about inclusive excellence — so much so that she is spearheading #NCLUDE, a University of Nebraska–Lincoln program that brings together Huskers from across the world to share their inclusivity practices.

NCLUDE stands for "Nebraska Community of Learners — Understanding Diversity through Education." Any Husker — from on-campus students, to out-of-country alumni, to Nebraska community members — can be a part of NCLUDE. By bringing together a variety of voices to discuss diversity, Karen hopes to be able to inspire conversations that break barriers. NCLUDE participants can network with new faces from places, industry spaces and lifestyles unlike their own as they work toward finding new ways to promote inclusivity.

At NCLUDE events, everyone is invited to share their thoughts. While Karen says many come to the online Zoom sessions to listen, she wants participants to know that all voices are important in these conversations.

"When you think about moving forward in relation to injustice and racism and hate and all those things…we can't depend on other people to do the work,” Karen said. “You have to do the work...as individuals."

Karen describes "the work" as a lifestyle change. It's not just one book or one workshop — it's a complete review of one's value system and an authentic conversation over areas of that system that incorporate bias and discrimination. From there, people can take action.

"And if we share those things then it gives us things to do and we can do it better, because people have been lately — especially with the unrest and the discrimination and racism and hate and murders — people are ready to do some stuff," Karen said. "And I think the thing that we can do right away is practice inclusive excellence."

Neo is a dog with a job. As a licensed therapy animal, Neo helps the students at Student Support Services (SSS) as they navigate college. Twice a week he joins owner Dr. Joyce Lehn as she makes her way to the office. When Joyce begins to tackle her tasks as assistant director at SSS, Neo usually begins his rounds — he'll say his hellos to coworkers and students, and then return to Joyce's office to snuggle up in his designated dog couch. When students are in need of stress relief, Neo is more than happy to help. He sits on their lap and keeps them company, distracts them with games of fetch and provides a sense of comfort and relief with his happy-go-lucky attitude and always-wagging tail. Though Neo hasn't always been a therapy dog, he's always been attuned to people. His first unofficial therapy dog task was as a cheer-giver to Joyce's mother as she went through hospice. Nurses were impressed at how well he was able to recognize Joyce's mother's comfort needs and provide affection — and so was Joyce. Shortly after noticing this talent in Neo, Joyce enrolled him in a training program so he could become officially certified. After months of classes and an internship at a local school, Neo graduated from his therapy dog training. With his certification in paw, Neo helps the students, staff and faculty of the University of Nebraska–Lincoln find a positive outlook on their day.

Pankaj has always wanted to contribute to communities through educational upliftment. Originally from India, he received his master's degree in North Carolina and is now a doctoral candidate and a Residence Director at Nebraska. "When I started six years ago, Nebraska seemed like a place where I could not only learn so much but also begin to contribute through my work as a Residence Director with Residence Life…I have come to appreciate Nebraska for the numerous people who really care for our students and are active advocates for their growth and well-being." Pankaj spent the summer helping prepare for the arrival of students with the rest of the Residence Life team, brainstorming ways residence halls could continue to be places students learn, engage with others and invest in the communities they become a part of. Intentional interaction, virtual programming and additional educational content will help students grow personally and academically, form connections and learn ways to engage in conversations with others. His work to empower students’ growth and support their sense of belonging is even more important now. He and the Residence Life team are engaging in ongoing education with residents on best practices and how to protect themselves and their community from getting sick. And he wants students to know that we are all in this together; that we each must work to create and maintain a safe learning and living environment. Pankaj leaves students with a reminder: "Physical distancing does not have to mean social isolation. Ensure that you continue to invest in your well-being as well as look out for the safety of those around you even as you make the most of opportunities to form residential communities."

When Kevin was growing up, his grandmother always told him that “life begins at the end of your comfort zone.” Kevin has taken that message to heart. It’s what drove him to work at University of Nebraska–Lincoln’s Office of Academic Success and Intercultural Services (OASIS), and he echoes its meaning each week at Dish It Up. Dish It Up is a space for the UNL community to gather and engage in meaningful dialogue. This summer, Kevin hosted special editions of Dish It Up for those who want to engage in conversations surrounding the injustices that have been inflicted on the Black community both historically and in recent weeks. While typical Dish It Up meetings have 25 to 40 attendees, more than 500 people registered for the first round of the special edition topic sessions. They’re conversations that force people out of their comfort zone and allow them to hear different perspectives and stories. “The conversations are important because in order to learn and grow from one another and from each other, we have to be able to listen,” Kevin said. Kevin said that the best way to be an ally is by asking questions. Programs like Dish It Up allow you to ask those questions, but you can also dig into them through podcasts, books and other educational resources. He encourages people to use their platforms and their abilities as best they can — from posting on social media, to donating funds, to volunteering with organizations that empower marginalized people. “Whether you realize it or not, we’re all in this thing together.” Kevin said, “We are all interwoven into the fabric of UNL....We’re all different colors and shapes and sizes and religious beliefs and political beliefs and, you know, hair colors and eye colors....So we’re all woven into this thing together, and so it is your responsibility to help somebody else.”

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."

Kylie works day in and day out to help international students feel at home in Nebraska. When international students arrive in Nebraska, they face more than just a language difference. They also encounter differences in culture, values, weather, and food — all while juggling their classes. This can cause stress in many students. As a counselor for Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS), Kylie is there to help. Kylie feels especially passionate about helping students adjust to living and studying in a new country after her own experience with acclimating to U.S. culture. She runs the International Student Discussion support group as well as Stress Management Consultation for International Students. Both opportunities are designed with the intention of making it easy for students to drop in and connect with a counselor without having to register or check-in at a front desk. She says that while international students are her focus, they're not the only students facing stressful situations in college. "Everyone has all different levels of stress," Kylie said. "You are not the only one. If you feel you're overwhelmed by stress, seek out help." By participating in a group or private counseling session through CAPS, students can learn about coping skills and stress management tactics. It also provides them with the opportunity to meet face-to-face with a care provider. "To know that we are not alone, we know that logically," Kylie said. "But to feel that you are not alone, that's the connection that works to help support you to get through things."

From the moment she wakes up in the morning until she goes to sleep, Charlie Foster is focusing on diversity and inclusion at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. For 15 years, Charlie worked as a counselor for Nebraska's Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) where she focused on helping underrepresented students on-campus. Charlie now holds the position of Director of the Office of Academic Success and Intercultural Services and the Jackie Gaughan Multicultural Center. Her role focuses on serving others and giving every member on campus a voice, something she's had a passion for since elementary school. Whether it be helping others with their mental health journeys or providing students with resources to get them through school, Charlie said she wants to be the person she needed when she was younger. In her family, Charlie was a first-generation college student. Throughout her college experience, she said she needed a role model to tell her she could make it and was worthy of the life she wanted for herself. Often times, students who are looking for help just need someone to advocate for them. To further inspire students at Nebraska, she tells them to "go be amazing," something she believes every students needs to hear throughout this chapter. Her mission on campus is to see students succeed, even if they've doubted themselves in the past.

Carolyn has traveled around the world gathering the textiles we often take for granted: quilts. She's been able to visit top artists in their studios across the globe, which allows her to better understand broader influences and see how much passion artists have for their work. She's currently celebrating her 20th year as the curator of collections at the International Quilt Study Center & Museum, a state-of-the-art building that boasts over 4,000 quilts on Nebraska's East Campus. The Quilt Center collects thinly across a very broad range of quilts. Pieces range from unconventional materials, such as paper or electricity, to traditional patchwork. Carolyn loves the intimacy of quilts, because you can learn personal, social, cultural and technical issues. She believes quilters are just as much artists as painters or sculptors, and she's ready to put that debate behind us. Quilters are consciously involved in a creative act and making decisions with color and line. Although quilts may be stereotyped as something grandmothers make, there's a young, active quilting guild in the Lincoln and Omaha area. Carolyn's excited to see a younger audience bring in new perspectives, styles and colors to the art. The museum is free for students and their families, and if you're not in the mood to browse the exhibits, there's free WiFi and seating areas for studying.