July 2022 Central Connection
July 1, 2022
Waddle takes helm at Hastings Campus
Dr. Christopher Waddle has been appointed the new president of 萌妹视频-Hastings.
He replaces Dr. Jerry Wallace, who resigned to assume the presidency of Danville Community College in Danville, Va.
A longtime 萌妹视频 employee, Waddle was hired as a history and political science instructor at the Hastings Campus in 2003.
In 2011, he accepted the areawide position of vice president of human resources. In this role, he was responsible for compliance with regulatory agencies in administering policies and procedures; recruiting and hiring for faculty and staff positions at all 萌妹视频 locations; managing labor relations and negotiations; and acting as the Equal Employment Opportunity officer.
鈥淚 am looking forward to getting back to the Hastings Campus and working directly with our faculty and staff who are doing the essential work of building a highly trained workforce in central Nebraska,鈥 Waddle said.
Prior to joining 萌妹视频, he was employed as a customer services manager for Walmart stores in Lincoln from 1995 to 2003 and then as an owner and partner of Ericson-based Waddle Enterprises LLC from 2003 to 2009. He oversaw management of the busing contract for Wheeler Central Public Schools.
He earned an associate of arts degree from Southeast Community College in 1998 followed by a bachelor of science degree from Peru State College two years later. In 2002, he graduated with a Juris Doctorate from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and was admitted to the Nebraska Bar.
Waddle recently concluded an 11-year membership on the Giltner Board of Education. He served on the Nebraska State Education Board of Directors from 2009 to 2012 and the Nebraska Association of School Boards legislative committee from 2017 to 2022.
鈥淐hris understands the proud history of the Hastings Campus while in tune with the innovative programs, facilities and personnel who will make a positive difference for future generations,鈥 said 萌妹视频 President Dr. Matt Gotschall.
In addition to service as Hastings Campus president, Waddle will be responsible for 萌妹视频鈥檚 skilled and technical sciences and business and entrepreneurship divisions. He began his new duties on June 25.
Partnership offers housing option
萌妹视频 and the University of Nebraska-Kearney have entered a unique residential housing partnership.
Beginning this fall, the 萌妹视频/UNK Residential Housing Program will allow 萌妹视频-Kearney students to live in UNK鈥檚 Randall/Mantor Hall or Centennial Towers. The students must be enrolled in 12 or more credit hours for both the fall and spring semesters and be age 25 or younger on the first day of classes.
鈥溍让檬悠 is thrilled to be embarking on what we believe to be a historic and unique partnership with UNK, said Dr. Beth Klitz, 萌妹视频 dean of student success. 鈥淭hrough this program, 萌妹视频鈥檚 Kearney Center students have a tremendous opportunity to experience the benefits and rewards of an on-campus living experience.鈥
In addition to housing, 萌妹视频-Kearney students can opt into such UNK services as health and counseling, student events, the wellness center and student parking.
鈥淲e are committed to providing a strong out-of-classroom educational environment for university students and are excited to be branching out to assist college bound students that need housing in the Kearney area,鈥 said Trelana Daniel, UNK director of residence life.
Interested students may contact Ashley Weets, Kearney Center student and enrollment services director, at 308-338-4027 for applications and more details.
Course wins award
萌妹视频 has received a 2021-22 Innovation of the Year Award from the League for Innovation in the Community College.
The award recognized 萌妹视频鈥檚 creation of an accelerated Human Relations Awareness course that is required for Nebraskans who want to be substitute teachers. The two-week, one-credit course features an online delivery.
Cited for their work on the project were Abie Ott, Faculty Resource Center (FRC) director; Dr. Amy Mancini, dean of academic education; Lauren Slaughter, equity and compliance manager; and Beth Anson, Dani Schwinn and Tracy Watts, FRC instructional design consultants.
Columbus Campus recognizes Wiemer
Glen Wiemer of Creston was named the Employee of the Year at 萌妹视频-Columbus in May.
The award is presented annually to a Columbus Campus employee who demonstrates dedication, enthusiasm and innovation as well as a rapport with students and other staff members and a willingness to go the extra mile.
Wiemer has been a building maintenance technician at the campus since 2004.
Nominators cited his strong work ethic, commitment to the college, preciseness and careful attention to detail.
鈥淗e has received some challenging requests over the years that include designing and building projects for the campus,鈥 said one nominator, who listed high-quality bookshelves, steampunk benches made from the gym floor, and hanging and re-hanging pictures as examples.
鈥淗is quiet humbleness has been described as a gift, especially in this sometimes-loud world in which we live,鈥 said another nominator. 鈥淲hile Glen may not consider himself an ambassador for the college, his kindness is seen and felt by many employees and students.鈥
Wiemer is a graduate of Leigh High school and attended 萌妹视频 for a year.
He is a member of St. Peter鈥檚 Lutheran Church in Creston where he served on the church council for 15 years. He has been on the Creston Rural Fire District for 39 years.
Prior to 萌妹视频, he did rough construction and finer custom cabinetry. He also farmed.
He and his wife, Gloria, have four children and eight grandchildren.
Staff members celebrate 25th anniversary
Three 萌妹视频 employees have completed 25 years of services. They are:
Lynda Cohn
Lynda Cohn of Grand Island is the college鈥檚 senior application database administrator.
She began work at 萌妹视频 full-time on June 16, 1997, as a programmer. In addition to programming throughout her time at the college, she also has provided user and software support.
Prior to 萌妹视频, she had worked for seven years at a Grand Island accounting firm where she served as the main computer person and also did accounting.
While at the accounting firm, she began teaching information technology classes part-time at 萌妹视频 and continued in that capacity for the first four years after being work at the college. She taught for a total of eight years.
She is a graduate of Grand Island Senior High School as well as 萌妹视频 where she earned associate of applied science degrees in accounting and information technology.
Cohn has been fighting a battle with two types of cancer for more than two years. One of the things that keeps her going is the important role of family in her life. She loves following the academic, musical, theater and sporting activities of her three nieces. She also serves as a caregiver for her mother and had done the same for her father before his death.
Doug Hann
Doug Hann of Columbus joined the staff as a part-time employee in the media department at the Grand Island Campus and worked in that capacity for two years. On April 28, 1997, he was promoted to a full-time media technician position at the Columbus Campus. In 2016, he shifted into his current position as an information technology systems specialist.
Prior to 萌妹视频, he had worked for 21 years as an USDA-licensed grain inspector for a private agency.
Hann is a graduate of Grand Island Senior High School who went on to earn an associate of applied science degree in business administration from 萌妹视频 and a bachelor鈥檚 degree in business management from Wayne State College.
He is a member of the Federated Church in Columbus, a part-time lifeguard at the YMCA and a certified pool operator.
Keith Manak
Keith Manak of Columbus began work at the Columbus Campus on June 16, 1997, as a pressman and later transitioned into his current position as print equipment operator.
Prior to joining the 萌妹视频 staff, he had worked as a commercial printer for seven years at Ultra Graphics in Columbus.
He graduated from Clarkson High School and earned a bachelor鈥檚 degree in graphic design from Wayne State College.
In addition to his regular job at 萌妹视频, he announces for all Raiders Athletics home games. He also is a TeamMates mentor and loves to hunt and fish.
Codner, Kucera begin their retirements
Longtime 萌妹视频 employees Dixie Codner and Vicki Kucera have retired.
Dixie Codner
Dixie Codner of Grand Island, library resource center supervisor at the Grand Island Campus, started work at 萌妹视频 in 1999 when the college鈥檚 library was located in College Park. In 2006, she transferred to the Hastings Campus where she worked as a library assistant for seven years before returning to the Grand Island Campus.
Prior to joining the 萌妹视频 staff, she worked at the Shelton Township Library and typed recipes for Morris Press.
Codner is a graduate of Wood River High School. She earned an associate鈥檚 degree from 萌妹视频, a bachelor鈥檚 degree in business management from Bellevue University and a master鈥檚 degree in library science from the University of Missouri at Columbia.
She is a member of the Nebraska Library Association and serves on the Nebraska State Library Advisory Board, which is part of the Nebraska Library Commission.
She and her husband, Wain, have a daughter. Their son was killed in action in 2004 during the Iraq War.
Vicki Kucera
Vicki Kucera of Lawrence, area director of financial aid services, had spent her entire career at 萌妹视频 in the financial aid department. She joined the staff in 1981 as a secretary and later became a technician. She was promoted to the position of Hastings Campus financial aid director in 1994 and became the area director about eight years ago.
Prior to 萌妹视频, she worked as a secretary for Educational Services Unit No. 9 in Hastings for about five years.
Kucera is a graduate of Lawrence High School. She went on to earn associate of applied science degree in business administration from 萌妹视频, a bachelor鈥檚 degree in business management from Bellevue University and a master鈥檚 degree in student affairs school counseling from the University of Nebraska-Kearney.
She has been involved at the state, regional and national levels of the National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators (NASFAA) for about 20 years. She served as president of both the Nebraska association and the Rocky Mountain association and on the NASFAA board as a regional representative. She has taught at the Rocky Mountain Institute, which she describes as a premiere training opportunity for financial aid personnel, and also chaired it several times.
Her community involvement also includes serving on the United Way Board of Directors for the South Central Region.
She and her husband, Bob, have two children and two grandchildren.
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Employees complete Leading with Excellence class Fourteen employees have completed the 2021-22 萌妹视频 Leading with Excellence program. The nine-month program is designed to help employees identify internal opportunities for growth or advancement. Participants visit every 萌妹视频 location, learn about college operations, build relationships, and gain from personal and professional development activities. This year鈥檚 graduates are: (pictured, left to right) back row, Brian Hoffman, associate dean of business and entrepreneurship; Aaron Thiessen, groundskeeping supervisor; Alison Feeney, associate dean of skilled and technical sciences; Andrew Fausett, systems administrator; Dan Gettinger, associate dean of extended learning services and training; and Joe Black, grants development coordinator; middle row, Valeria Denman, admissions recruiter; Beth Anson, instructional design consultant; Pennie Morgan, Leading with Excellence coordinator and instructor; and Brad Dobesh, facilities management director; and front row, Andrea Persampieri, innovation and instruction administrative coordinator; Amy Santos, paramedicine program director; Sherri Dux-Ideus, resource center library supervisor; Alyssa Nickolite, recruiting coordinator; and Jaycee Carroll, community education coordinator. |
Employee news
Columbus Campus
Billy Perkins has resigned as head women鈥檚 basketball coach.
Elizabeth Wess, student services administrative assistant, has earned a master鈥檚 degree in education from Chadron State College.
Susan Kay Ziemba, 63, of Genoa died June 18 at Genoa Community Hospital in Genoa. Services were June 25, at Ss. Peter and Paul Catholic Church in Krakow with burial in the church cemetery.
She was born March 23, 1959, in St. Paul to Dyke and Doris (Bales) Brown. She graduated from Fullerton High School in 1977. On Sept. 16, 1978, she married Thomas Ziemba at Ss. Peter and Paul Catholic Church.
She worked for Chartwells on the Columbus Campus for more than 20 years. Previously she had worked at Cedar Rapids State Bank in Cedar Rapids, City Cafe in St. Edward, Daylight Donuts in Genoa and Genoa Long-Term Care.
Survivors include her husband, three children, mother and a brother. She was preceded in death by her father, a brother and sister.
Palmer-Santin Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.
Grand Island Campus
New employees include Maureen Horne, nursing instructor, and Mary Rose, nursing program director.
Resignations have been submitted by Liz Jacobs, admissions technician; Bryce Jensen, media producer; and Rebecca Wisdom and Kelsey Woitaszewski, nursing instructors.
Carla Uhlir has been promoted from part-time to full-time administrative assistant for the paramedicine program.
Changing positions are Emily Gildersleeve, from student services technician to Early College success coach, and Jennifer Walker, from service center supervisor to instructional technology specialist.
Hastings Campus
A one-act play, 鈥淯ntil They Forget,鈥 by biology instructor Robin Buckallew will be presented in the Johnny Carson Theatre in the Temple Building at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. It will be performed as part of the First Flight Festival by the Angels Theatre Company. Performances are scheduled at 7:30 p.m. July 21-23 and at 2 p.m. on July 24.
Wanda Cloet, dental hygiene program director, presented a poster June 4 at the American Dental Education Association meeting for Allied Dental Program Directors in Portland, Ore. The poster was titled 鈥淒ental Hygiene Students鈥 Preferences of High-Volume Vacuum Devices.鈥
Joining the staff are Sheila James as a groundskeeper and maintenance technician and Kerri Knotts as a custodian.
Kearney Center
Christina Ballard has resigned as a speech instructor.