by JOANNE LI, PH.D., CFA
Chancellor, University of Nebraska at Omaha
More than 25 years ago, a decision was made. A small but significant one: new student housing on Dodge and Scott campuses. That seed planted 25 years ago has grown into a thriving residential community at the University of Nebraska at Omaha with more than 2,000 beds and a growing waiting list.
It wasn’t just about beds and buildings. It was about building a future where UNO could position itself as a leading urban-metropolitan university with a thriving campus life.
At UNO, we believe in planting seeds: investments in people, programs and places that future generations of Mavericks and the broader Omaha community will benefit from.
The university we have today exists because of choices made, or seeds planted, decades ago.
There’s an old saying that the best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago. The second-best time is now.
Look around campus, and you’ll see the results of bold decisions from the last 25 years:
- Mammel Hall (2010) laid the foundation for Omaha’s next generation of business leaders.
- The Biomechanics Research Building (2013) positioned UNO as a leader in groundbreaking research and is to this day the only freestanding facility in the world dedicated to the field.
- The Barbara Weitz Community Engagement Center (2014) brought Omaha to the university, and the university to Omaha.
- Baxter Arena (2015) gave our student-athletes, fans and the community a home for unforgettable moments for our NCAA Division I athletic programs.
- NCITE (2020) put Omaha on the national map for counterterrorism research and is actively working to make the United States a safer place.
Each of these projects started as an idea — an investment in something bigger than the present moment.
Now, in 2025, we stand at another defining moment.
The question before us today is: What will future Mavericks, the Omaha community and the state of Nebraska in 2050 look back on and thank us for?
Will they see UNO as the premier urban-metropolitan university, a beacon of access, innovation and impact? Will our students and alumni continue to drive Omaha’s workforce, elevate industries and transform lives? That depends on the seeds we choose to plant today.
Just like the leaders who came before us, we must invest in affordable education, research that serves the public good and partnerships that strengthen Omaha and beyond.
Together, we have the responsibility to ensure UNO’s future remains as bold as its past. Whether you’re an alum, a student, a faculty member or a community partner, your engagement matters.
Join the movement, and let’s build something future generations will look back on and say, “That was the moment UNO became unstoppable.”
