By University of Nebraska System
The University of Nebraska System and Creighton University today announced the launch of the Nebraska Leaders Program, a first-of-its-kind statewide initiative designed to identify, develop and retain Nebraska’s most promising undergraduate talent.
The Nebraska Leaders Program brings together the University of Nebraska System, Creighton University and Nebraska’s top employers in a coordinated effort to reverse the state’s long-standing challenge of “brain drain” and accelerate long-term economic growth. Commencing now and over the coming years, the program will enroll exceptional undergraduate students—known as “Leaders”—and connect them to leadership development opportunities, mentorship, internships and long-term careers within Nebraska.
This program represents yet another exciting investment in Nebraska’s future,” said Jeffrey P. Gold, M.D., President of the University of Nebraska System. “By identifying extraordinary talent early on in their collegiate careers and surrounding those students with talented faculty, mentorship, opportunity and purpose, we are creating a clear and compelling reason for our future leaders to build their careers and lives here in Nebraska.
Students selected for the Nebraska Leaders Program will be drawn from across the University of Nebraska System and Creighton University through a rigorous, merit-based process. Selection criteria for the program combines academic achievement, extracurricular involvement, structured interviews and a propriety assessment. The assessment was designed by Gallup to meet the specifications of this program and identifies key leadership skills and outsized talent potential in students.
Once selected for the Nebraska Leaders Program, students will receive professional development resources, coaching, mentorship, internships, career placement opportunities and membership in a cohort of motivated peers.
“Creighton is proud to partner in a program that reflects our mission to educate and nurture future leaders who can shape the communities they serve,” said the Rev. Daniel S. Hendrickson, S.J., Ph.D., President of Creighton University. “With a significant majority of our students coming from out of state, we have seen that proactive engagement with experts in their field of interest, peer-to-peer relationship building and understanding how they can make an immediate difference before they even graduate creates a meaningful investment in not just their future, but Nebraska’s as well."
A defining feature of the Nebraska Leaders Program is the unparalleled collaboration among Nebraska’s top employers, who will collectively provide mentorship, internships and attractive employment opportunities for these future leaders.
The Nebraska Leaders Program will launch as a multiyear pilot, beginning with an initial cohort of undergraduate students and scaling over time. Program leaders and employer partners anticipate that the program will act as a permanent engine for talent retention and economic growth in Nebraska.
The Nebraska Leaders Program operates as a 501(c)3 non-profit organization. Ken Bird, the former Superintendent of the Westside School District and Founder & CEO of the Avenue Scholars program, will serve as interim Chief Executive Officer. Members of the Board of Directors of the program include Grant Gregory, Ret. Global Chairman of Deloitte and Chairman of Arbor Bank; Jim Clifton, Chairman of Gallup; Lisa Roskens, Chairman & CEO of Burlington Capital; Chris Dill, CIO of Kiewit and Chairman of Tech Nebraska; Steve Durham, Chairman of Americas Strategic Holdings; Dan Kinsella, Omaha Office Managing Partner of Deloitte; and Mark Quandahl, Of Counsel for Dvorak Law Group.
For additional information, please contact Ken Bird at kenbird@nebraskaleaders.com.