About Renee
I am the recruitment coordinator for the Department of Agricultural Leadership, Education and Communication. This position encompasses undergraduate recruitment and retention, social media and online presence and event planning. I also serve as the World Food Prize Nebraska Youth Institute coordinator. In 2017, I earned a master’s degree in global health from the Brighton and Sussex Medical School in Brighton, United Kingdom where I studied the impact of climate change on household access to food in coastal Bangladesh in relation to the agriculture and aquaculture industries. I graduated from the University of Nebraska–Lincoln in 2015 with a bachelor’s degree in anthropology.
What is your position at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln?
Recruitment coordinator for the Department of Agricultural Leadership, Education and Communication and the World Food Prize Nebraska Youth Institute Coordinator.
What drew you to the University of Nebraska-Lincoln?
UNL is my alma mater! I had an amazing experience as an undergraduate, so I jumped at opportunity to share the incredible possibilities provided by UNL and CASNR to prospective students through recruitment and the World Food Prize Nebraska Youth Institute. My role in the ALEC Department perfectly combines my passion for working with students (recruitment), tackling food insecurity/malnutrition (World Food Prize) and helping the next generation discover the unique ways every individual CAN make an impact in the world.
What aspect of working in an educational setting do you enjoy the most?
Working in higher education is inspiring because you are quite literally surrounded by change makers. Every day I interact with faculty and staff who are innovating, collaborating, and above all, are deeply committed to student success. As a recruiter, I am invigorated and filled with hope for the future when talking to prospective students about their interests and passions. I love being the person to connect them to the high-quality programs in CASNR that align with their passions and demonstrating how UNL, CASNR, and the ALEC Department will support and encourage them to achieve their goals.
What do you consider your greatest achievement?
As an undergraduate in 2012, I co-founded the student organization UNL MEDLIFE (Medicine, Education and Development for Low Income Families Everywhere), which is still an active organization on campus today. I consider it one of my greatest achievements to have a vision, build it from the ground up with my friends, and have it last and continue to grow long after we have graduated. Moreover, the impact reaches beyond the UNL campus providing access to life-saving medicine in low income areas in Peru and Ecuador.
What is something that most people don’t know about you?
I have 12 nieces and nephews and will soon be a great-aunt, taking that number up to 13.
What is your life like outside of work?
I have the best dog in the world, Daisy, a beagle mix who takes up a lot of my time going on long walks and weekend adventures. I also enjoy reading, cooking, taking care of my house plants, and playing cards with my parents.