"Leading Nebraska" Podcast Series University of Nebraska

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.