Chase Hall, home to the Biological Systems Engineering Department, was a whirlwind of activity on March 28. During the annual Future of BSE Days event, alumni returned to interact with current students in multiple sessions. The alums explained career opportunities, participated in panel discussions, and oversaw presentations in which graduate students explained their research endeavors.
“Hearing directly from alumni helps students understand the breadth of careers available with a BSE degree,” said alumna Bailey Eddy (2020), senior environmental health and safety engineer with Zoetis, a producer of medicine and vaccinations for pets and livestock.
A BSE degree enables a student to pursue multiple career choices, and “learning about real roles and career paths can be eye-opening and valuable to students,” said Eddy, who helped with preparations for the five-year reunion of BSE 2020 graduates to be held April 25.
Across the Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources, alumni are providing a wide range of supports to departments and current students. Alumni are “paying it forward” through career guidance and guest lectures. They help with internships and networking. They collaborate with faculty on research, serve on advisory boards and make financial contributions.
“Alumni provide invaluable real-world insights, networking opportunities and career advice that help students transition seamlessly from education to the workforce,” said Monica Macoubrie (UNL 2012, UNK 2020), a School of Natural Resources and Game and Parks wildlife education specialist active in ongoing support for SNR.
When Hardin Hall hosts hundreds of visitors for the annual Reptile Night showcasing lizards and snakes from across the state, Macoubrie is certain to be there. She organizes the event as part of educational outreach by SNR in partnership with the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission.
Over the course of each academic year, she returns to campus to support career fairs, and help with SNR’s orientation course and environmental education course. She works closely with conservation biologist Dennis Ferraro and his herpetology lab.
“By sharing their field and industry experiences through guest lectures, workshops or field trips, alumni help bridge the gap between classroom learning and practical application,” said Macoubrie, who leads Project WILD workshops for students to showcase how environmental education can lead to careers connected to SNR instruction.
Ben Ford (1998), a research fellow with Syngenta, similarly remains connected in multiple ways to the Agronomy and Horticulture Department. An alumnus, he hosts undergraduate and graduate plant breeding and agronomy students at Syngenta research sites, and talks to student groups on campus about career opportunities and Syngenta’s crop research.
IANR’s partnership with alumni and public and private companies “helps students better understand career opportunities, gain perspective on key current issues facing the agriculture industry, and create contacts and networks in the industry,” he said. He holds a Ph.D. in crop science, has served on agronomy graduate committees, and has helped review the graduate plant breeding curriculum as an adjunct professor.
Kevin Keller, an agronomist with Bayer, has worked with Don Lee, a professor in the Agronomy and Horticulture Department, to create a podcast-style session in which Keller helps students understand field studies he created to help farmers with decision-making.
“Keeping connected with our alumni, such as Kevin, as they progress through their careers can elevate our teaching by keeping us up to date and helping our students envision where their careers may lead,” Lee said.
Mentorship by alumni has particular value for students. The Engler Agribusiness Entrepreneurship Program provides a prime example. Jaya Nelson, a senior agricultural and environmental sciences communications major from Bassett, expressed gratitude for the insights she received from Engler alumna Hannah Klitz (2020) as Nelson started her small business, Elite Breakaway Coaching.
“Through Engler, Hannah has been instrumental in helping me develop my own business mindset,” Nelson said. “She has shown me what it takes to build something from the ground up, not just in terms of strategy and operations, but in resilience, creativity and leadership.”
Klitz, of West Point, is owner of Oak Barn Beef, which ships premium Nebraska beef directly to consumers across the U.S., and Rural Edge Marketing, a digital marketing company.
“Hannah has been generous with her advice and experience, encouraging me to think big and take action,” Nelson said. “Her connection to the university is a perfect example of how IANR alumni continue to give back.”
IANR alumni provide a vital link in connecting students to internships.
“The BSE alumni network was an important part of my connections and the opportunities I found,” said Mark Venteicher, a field service specialist at FieldWise, a subsidiary of Lindsay Corporation. Before graduating with a BSE degree in December, he interned at Exmark Manufacturing Company in Beatrice and Lindsay Corporation.
Brad Perry, a BSE alumnus and strategic facility engineering manager at Scoular in Omaha, emphasizes the benefits internships provide. “We have BSE students who have internships at Scoular, and we have BSE alumni who are employees at Scoular I stay in contact with,” he said.
As an undergraduate in the 1990s, Perry received crucial support from Jack Schinstock, a longtime BSE professor who died in 2019, to seize challenging opportunities in terms of classes as well as internships, including one with Union Pacific Railroad.
As an alumnus, Perry regularly makes guest presentations for BSE classes, sharing his day-to-day work experiences. He serves on the department’s external advisory board and participates in panel discussions for incoming freshmen.
Dan Moore, a horticulture alum and director of operations for Kinghorn Gardens in Omaha, frequently visits East Campus to talk about internship opportunities.
“The University of Nebraska is a really special place,” he said. “It stands out for faculty that cares and the quality of students they produce.”
At the start of each academic year, the Agronomy and Horticulture Department builds connections between freshmen and alumni through an orientation seminar, PLAS 95, in which each student interviews an alumnus to learn about career opportunities and the practical value of the department’s instruction. The interviews sometimes lead to internships.
“Alumni are always willing to help,” said Anne Streich, a professor of practice in the department and plant science undergraduate adviser.
At the Plant Pathology Department, two Ph.D. alumni — Karen F. da Silva (2020) and Joshua Miller (2016) — stay connected to the university through service on the department’s advisory board. Da Silva is regulatory leader for Western states and U.S. crop protection for Corteva Agriscience. Miller is director of portfolio development and strategic partnerships for Clarke, a company focusing on environmentally responsible solutions for mosquito control.
“One of the most important aspects to highlight is the networking that exists between the department and its alumni,” da Silva said. “This connection creates an easy avenue for collaboration, benefiting both parties.”
Chris Helzer (1996), director of science and stewardship in Nebraska for The Nature Conservancy, devotes significant energy as an alumnus in support of SNR. He has been a guest speaker in multiple classes, works with SNR faculty on collaborative research projects, served as an ad hoc committee member for graduate students, and hosts research projects on TNC preserves around the state, including with SNR faculty.
“I really value my friendship with and ability to reach out to SNR faculty with questions or to brainstorm potential approaches to conservation challenges,” he said.
Eddy, a BSE alumna, expressed similar appreciation. “I am very grateful for my opportunities to continue a relationship with the BSE Department,” she said. “An ongoing connection can be beneficial to both current students and to me as a professional.”
