About Sara Roberts:
I have been a Husker fan all my life, having been born and raised in the state. As much as I enjoyed living in Husker nation, I trekked across the state line after graduating high school to attend South Dakota State University. I graduated with a B.S. in Food Science and a minor in Nonprofit Management in 2008. From there I headed to Kansas and worked as an AmeriCorps*VISTA volunteer. After my second year of service in the program, I returned to Nebraska to work for a food manufacturing company in Omaha. I worked as the Quality Assurance Director for nearly four years. Last year, I moved to Lincoln and married my husband. Although I have just started my position, I am enjoying it greatly and I am reminded every day that “There is no place like Nebraska.”
What is your position at UNL?
As the Student Services Coordinator for the Department of Food Science and Technology, I am involved in student recruitment for the department. This entails going to local high schools, college fairs, and meeting with high school students at special events such as Red Letter Days and other campus visit events. CASNR hosts a lot of student events that allows me to introduce food science careers to many youth who are still deciding what they want to do after high school.
The other aspect of my position is communicating to students in the Department of Food Science and Technology about internships, job opportunities and other important information. Most students need a summer internship before they graduate to obtain the industry experience many companies look for. The department has already established relationships with many local and national food companies, so I will continue to build on those relationships and look for additional organizations that will benefit from hiring students from the Department of Food Science and Technology
What drew you to UNL?
UNL has a great, and well-deserved, reputation for being a leader in academics while maintaining a warm and friendly environment. And that is what I noticed immediately during my interview for this position. I had read about some of the faculty members and knew many were distinguished researchers, yet during the interviews, everyone was very easy to talk to and humble.
What aspect of education do you enjoy the most?
I love being able to hear about the amazing research projects and discoveries that are happening right here in our department. The world of food science is extremely fascinating and there is so much research happening right now as we look to support our growing world.
What do you consider your greatest achievement?
I recently finished the Lincoln Marathon. It was my very first full marathon.
What is something that most people don't know about you?
My favorite sport to play is football. Growing up with parents who were dedicated Husker fans and took my sisters and me along to every Nebraska football game watch party in the 90s, football seemed like a natural sport to play. While I only played for a short period in middle school during recess, I recently renewed my love for the sport when I participated in a flag football game that was a fundraiser for the Alzheimer’s Association.
What is your life like outside of work?
I enjoy being outside – going for a run or bike ride. The bike paths in Lincoln are wonderful resource to have. I also enjoy going to concerts with my husband, eating at one of Lincoln’s ethnic restaurants or having a girls’ night out with some of my close friends.