Nebraska College of Arts and Sciences

CAS faculty in biological sciences, mathematics, and physics are participating with the SEISMIC Collaboration and Association of Public and Land-grant Universities to improve STEM student success.

⬇️
SEISMIC is a multi-institutional, multi-disciplinary STEM higher education collaboration that includes instructors, researchers, student success staff and students who are focused on course assessment reform. UNL is participating in SEISMIC Phase Two, which is designed to build community across institutions while helping faculty explore broader adoption of innovative, evidence-based alternative approaches to assessment practices in large introductory STEM courses.

⬇️
Participants will meet with partner institutions monthly to share progress and resources, discuss revised assessments, and evaluate effectiveness. The work is supported by the Sloan Foundation and Google.

⬇️
UNL is among 25 institutions selected to participate in “Analyzing Student Success in Introductory Courses: Is Mathematics an Outsized Challenge?” to examine the scope and nature of challenges in these courses. Participants will identify strategies to improve student outcomes and develop case studies of effective practices for improving mathematics course outcomes. The work is supported by the Gates Foundation, the Association for Undergraduate Education at Research Universities and Project EMBER.

Read the full story on our website.

Nebraska School of Biological Sciences
University of Nebraska-Lincoln Department of Mathematics
University of Nebraska-Lincoln Department of Physics and Astronomy
Association of Public and Land-grant Universities

Congratulations to the 166 students on our Dean's Commendation List! 👏

https://go.unl.edu/cas-dcl

Congratulations to the 1,293 students on our Dean's List! 👏

https://go.unl.edu/cas-dl

Congratulations to Hillary Schwarb who has earned a University of Nebraska Collaborative Initiative grant to investigate healthy aging with colleague Madhur Mangalam of the University of Nebraska at Omaha (UNO)!

Decline in balance and memory in older adults frequently co-occur but are typically studied and treated independently. This collaborative project seeks to remedy this gap by leveraging strengths in cognitive neuroscience here at UNL and biomechanics at UNO into a comprehensive investigation of a unified, brain-centered framework for understanding concurrent declines in mobility and cognition as we age.

Details: go.unl.edu/byna

Area of study: Mathematics
Graduation year: 2024

Who is your employer, and where are they located?
FMNE Insurance, based in Lincoln, NE

What is your job title and what kind of work does it involve?
Actuarial Data Scientist transitioning to Financial Data Analyst. In my actuarial role, I built predictive models to improve risk segmentation for Auto, Home, and Farm insurance products. In my new role, I will be building a new financial data framework to serve the entire finance department, and I will be working closely with the Financial Planning and Analysis (FP&A) team to build future-looking financial analysis.

What sparked your interest in your area of study?
In high school, I really enjoyed math. I came into it thinking that math was all about solving known problems. As I started to explore the major, I learned that I really enjoy using math and data to inform business decisions. I think my interest really grew when I learned what a math major really was. It is less about finding a discrete answer to a known question, but rather creative problem-solving.

What do you see as the value of your major or CAS degree?
I think the biggest value of a math degree is the deep critical thinking skills that the major requires. It is a challenging degree, but once you are through the program, it signals employers that you can do difficult things and solve difficult problems, no matter what field that may be in.

Were there any other people, activities, or events from your time at UNL that helped you get to where you are now?
I was involved in Gamma Iota Sigma (GIS), which is an academic fraternity focusing on the insurance industry and risk management. The group primarily consists of actuarial students.

I also gave a handful of presentations for the Eastman Scholarships and the Math and Data Science departments. I went to a Lincoln high school and presented what a math or data science degree can do for them. I was really excited about this opportunity because I had no idea what a math degree could do until I began my career, and I wanted to pass on what I learned to a younger generation of students.

Tell us about the path you took to get to where you are today in your career and how you applied your education to get here.
UNL was the third college I attended. I previously attended two smaller schools while I was pursuing my collegiate baseball career. I decided to transfer to UNL for my last two years to focus on my degree. I transferred to Nebraska very late in the spring semester, so I missed any opportunities to apply to a summer internship through the traditional route. Unexpectedly, midway through the summer, I got an email from the Chief Actuary at FMNE Insurance asking if I'd be interested in interviewing for an internship. That one interview helped launch my career to where it is today.

From there, my career has flourished with FMNE. It is truly a company I hope to retire at, and where I feel like everyone I work with is family. I started as an Actuarial Intern and over the next few years, moved from Actuarial Assistant to Actuarial Data Scientist. I recently decided that I want to make a career change into corporate finance, and I am in the process of moving to the Finance department to begin growing its analytics capabilities.

I get the opportunity to come to work every day to work with people I genuinely enjoy working with, and I get to work on challenging problems that influence the direction of the company. A math degree from UNL has helped open so many doors for me to make a difference, and helped me find a rewarding and fulfilling career.

What are your future professional goals?
As I'm transitioning into the finance department at FMNE, I'm focused on learning as much as I can about corporate finance. I hope to shape how FMNE uses data to make informed decisions while bringing skills and tools coming from my math background and four years in the actuarial department.

University of Nebraska-Lincoln Department of Mathematics

Sociologist Seulki Kim is teaming up with engineers and health scientists to study microplastics and nanoplastics in everyday drinks and find out how much we consume.

⬇️
Critical concept: the release rate of plastic particles into liquids under different conditions. Understanding these differences could guide manufacturers toward safer designs and help consumers make more informed choices.

⬇️
Researchers also need to study how these particles interact with the body.

⬇️
An advanced laser-based technique can produce the particles needed for the study in hours instead of months and years.

⬇️
The team aims to translate their findings into practical guidance. By identifying how daily habits influence exposure, the team hopes to provide evidence-based recommendations - including collaborating with manufacturers and communicating to early childhood educators.

⬇️
Backed by a grant from the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences.

📰
Read the full story on Nebraska Today.

Nebraska Department of Sociology
National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences

After graduating high school in Neligh, Nebraska — with only 26 classmates — Leonardo Luna-Duran felt a little anxious about making the jump to the University of Nebraska–Lincoln.

How different would this new environment be from his small-town community? As it turned out, it didn't feel much different.

“It was a huge shock, but not in the way I expected,” Luna-Duran said. “From the outside, UNL seemed like this huge place. The minute you get here, get involved and get further in your academic journey, you realize that it’s such a close-knit community. It feels small, even if it isn’t.”

Leonardo Luna-Duran is photographed on a sidewalk outside Nebraska Union. He is wearing a red polo and khaki shorts, the NSE uniform.
From spotting familiar faces around campus to getting the hang of where all the buildings were, Luna-Duran’s easy shift to life as a Husker was a welcome surprise. A lot of that started with his New Student Enrollment experience, which inspired him to become an orientation leader.

“I remember my orientation day and seeing these leaders with so much energy and excitement — it made me feel way more comfortable,” he said. “Listening to their stories about how they were able to use the resources and organizations we have on campus to better their experience was so reassuring. I told myself that I would try to do the same thing for other students, especially ones from small towns like me.”

A simple way to start making campus feel a little smaller? Get involved with a student organization.

“I won't lie: my first couple months were pretty tough," he said. "Once I started getting involved, though, I started meeting people who are now some of my best friends. Trying out new things really closed that gap for me and helped me see that this was a place I could call home.”

Asking questions is a crucial part of NSE orientation, Luna-Duran said, and he wants everyone to feel comfortable asking them.

“All of us leaders are here to help you as much as possible, and if we’re not hitting on something you’re curious about, just ask," he said. "This university is a place for everyone, and the things you need to feel at home are always just a few small steps away.”

Name
Cole Johnson

Which degrees did you earn from CAS?
Undergraduate

Major(s) or area(s) of study
Mathematics (Statistics and Data Science) and Computer Science

Graduation year
2023

Who is your employer, and where are they located?
Google, I work out of their Seattle office

What is your job title and what kind of work does it involve?
Software Engineer, my day to day responsibilities include writing and reviewing code, writing technical documentation, and working with product and UI designers.

What sparked your interest in your major(s) or area(s) of study?
I’ve always loved math throughout K-12 education, but the two classes that really stood out were AP Stats and intro to computer science. Ever since then I’ve been trying to combine these and found Data Science. The idea of finding patterns in complex data sources through machine learning, visualizations, etc is fascinating and has become all I want to do.

What do you see as the value of your major(s) or CAS degree?
The combination of hands on coursework combined with an education in the Raikes program provided the perfect foundation for industry success. I think my time in proofs highlights this the best as we spent every day in small groups working out problems on the white board. This close communication and problem solving was the closest symmetry to my professional career.

Were there any other people, activities, or events from your time at UNL that helped you get to where you are now?
The Raikes program definitely a cornerstone of my college career, but I believe everything I experienced contributed to where I am now. Internships, D1 athletics (only for a semester), Club athletics, Fraternity life, Alumni networking, etc.

Tell us about the path you took to get to where you are today in your career and how you applied your education in your major(s) or area(s) of study to get here.
Once graduating I took a position as a technical program manager at Microsoft. While this position helped develop my software skills in professional communication and understanding how these large corporations operate, it wasn’t a technical enough position for me, so I enrolled in an online masters in computer science program specializing in machine learning at Georgia Tech. This helped me transition to my current role at Google. Some of the biggest applications of my undergrad coursework are in my masters program, the foundation I received in statistics has proved critical in my success. Additionally in my professional career all group work and how to be a team player has helped.

What are your future professional goals?
I am now taking graduate coursework at both Georgia Tech and UT Austin for masters in computer science and data science, respectively. I hope to eventually return to academia full time and pursue a PhD in Data Science. In the meantime I will continue working at Google.

University of Nebraska-Lincoln Department of Mathematics

Area of study: Mathematics
Graduation year: 2018

Who is your employer, and where are they located?
Berkshire Hathaway Homestate Companies in Omaha NE.

What is your job title and what kind of work does it involve?
My job title is Financial Analyst. My role in part involves statistical data reporting to states and other regulatory bodies as it pertains to Workers' Compensation Insurance. Aside from that, my role involves ensuring existing financial guardrails/infrastructure remains viable and in-line with the direction the company is moving, and building out new infrastructure as needed.

What sparked your interest in your area of study?
Math was always my strongest subject, and in high school I had an excellent Calculus teacher who really inspired me to pursue further education in math, as well as helping me find and apply for scholarship/funding.

What do you see as the value of your major or CAS degree?
Math at its core teaches one to apply logic, usually in the context of a problem from a textbook, however this skill can be extrapolated to all aspects of life. Studying/teaching math also taught me that many problems can be approached in different ways, which is always a valuable skill.

Were there any other people, activities, or events from your time at UNL that helped you get to where you are now?
I like learning for the sake of learning, and didn't really know what I had wanted to do after graduation. My advisors, Dr. Petronela Radu and Dr. Alex Zupan were instrumental in challenging me, and helping me succeed where I struggled. I also went to Montana State University because Dr. Zupan had a friend who worked there, and after applying and touring the campus it was a great fit that I wouldn't have found without that connection.

Tell us about the path you took to get to where you are today in your career and how you applied your education to get here.
After I graduated UNL in 2018 with a B.S. in Mathematics, I moved to Bozeman Montana to study Mathematics in a graduate program. In 2020, I graduated with a M.S. in Mathematics and moved back to Lincoln where I taught College Algebra and Intro to Statistics at Nebraska Wesleyan University for a couple semesters. While I enjoyed teaching, I didn't think that was what I wanted to do for the rest of my life. I found a Financial Analyst role at Berkshire Hathaway Homestate Companies (a group of insurance companies under the Berkshire Hathaway umbrella). The ability to apply logic and dissect a problem, developed during my studies, played a significant factor in my hiring.

University of Nebraska-Lincoln Department of Mathematics

At just nine years old, Hamdiya Mumade had to go through emergency surgery. She remembers feeling terrified, but she also remembers that her fear was alleviated by the care her physician showed her and her family.

“I remember how understanding and compassionate she was with my immigrant parents. She made sure they understood every step of what was going to happen and took the time to really address all of their concerns,” Mumade said. “Even after the surgery, I remember her telling me that she went out of her way to stitch my scar in a way that would be easiest to hide, so I wouldn’t have to worry about having a visible scar on my face.”

That moment not only inspired her to pursue medicine but also showed Mumade, a rising senior biological sciences and microbiology major, that exceptional care goes beyond treating a condition. It also revealed the type of healthcare professional she wanted to be: someone who cares about a patient's dignity and humanity.

“I think one of the things our system is lacking is a stronger emphasis on the humanities side of medicine, the part that teaches you how to be empathetic and truly patient-centered,” Mumade said.

Mumade also wants to dedicate her career to addressing the major disparities in quality of care based on a person's race. She said people of color constantly receive lower-quality care, especially Black women.

“Black women are more likely to die during childbirth or have their pain dismissed or untreated. So for me, making an impact right now looks like a mix of representation and advocacy,” Mumade said. “Just being in spaces where people like me haven’t always been represented challenges norms and opens doors.”

Mumade wants to actively address the disparities in the industry and advocate for more equitable and compassionate care. That has led her to multiple experiences through her educational career that she believes will help her on that journey. The first stop? Finding the school that was right for her.

A Lincoln native, Mumade was drawn to the University of Nebraska–Lincoln thanks to on-campus opportunities and a plethora of scholarships, which gave her the freedom to explore her passions.

African Student Association President Hamdiya Mumade and ASA Secretary Lali Regassa ask the NSA panel questions about the future of the organization in the Heritage Room at the Nebraska Union.
Hamdiya Mumade, serving as president of the African Student Association, and Lali Regassa, secretary of the association, participate in a panel discussion in the Heritage Room at the Nebraska Union.
“I was able to get involved in research as early as my freshman year through STEM-Power and later FYRE (First Year Research Experience) and UCARE,” Mumade said. “Although I’ve discovered that research isn’t something I want to pursue post-grad, I’m glad I was able to experience it so that I was able to figure out what was right for me.”

Mumade also found connection in the William H. Thompson Scholars Learning Community, which she said has been a major support to her as she explores future career options. It’s also been an experience that has allowed her to share her own journey with incoming freshmen, helping them adjust to college life and feel confident in the transition.

Mumade’s extracurricular activities have further honed her clinical skills. Doctors without Borders, Clinic with a Heart and jobs at both Aviva Woodlands and Bryan Health have given her hands-on experience in the healthcare industry. It’s also where she has banked an impressive 420-plus hours of patient care experience, supporting healthcare teams and delivering high-quality care.

“In this role, my patients were either about to undergo surgery or were recovering from one, and as someone who’s fairly curious, I used every opportunity to learn,” Mumade said, describing her educational experience at Bryan Health as a Patient Care Technician. “There were a lot of surgical procedures that I started to become familiar with. And it also felt really rewarding to see my patients gradually recover, step by step, and being part of their healing journey has been incredibly fulfilling.”

Mumade's immediate goal right now is to attend physician assistant school after she graduates and work as a PA, but she has broader ambitions on the horizon.

“One of my long-term goals is to improve access to healthcare, particularly in my home country of Ethiopia. I aim to enhance health outcomes by educating the general public about basic health topics,” Mumade said. “I hope to establish a nonprofit organization dedicated to increasing healthcare access because I strongly believe that healthcare is a fundamental human right.”

As for people who are looking to go down the same pre-med or pre-health pathway, she has clear advice that has served her well.

Read the Full Story: https://news.unl.edu/article/mumades-childhood-experience-guides-her-healthcare-journey