Third-generation Husker. Father to a current student and a recent graduate. President of the largest alumni chapter in the country. Recipient of the Nebraska Alumni Assocation’s Distinguished Service Award.
Safe to say living in Colorado hasn’t kept Dan Spencer from embracing his Nebraska roots.
“There are so many Nebraskans here that it feels like Nebraska,” he said with a smile.
Spencer’s involvement with Coloradans for Nebraska began as a simple way to stay connected after establishing his dental practice near Denver 25 years ago. It quickly grew into a larger calling.
“I was always involved, but then I got volunteered to join the board, and before I knew it, I was president,” he said.
Today, the group boasts 3,500 members and a mission that is close to Spencer’s heart — raising scholarship funds for Colorado high school students who choose to attend the University of Nebraska–Lincoln.
“We give out eight scholarships each year,” Spencer said. “I work a lot with the recruiters to get the message out, and I’m always on the lookout for kids for whom I feel Nebraska would be a great fit.”
To help make the case to Colorado students, Spencer and his fellow Coloradans for Nebraska alumni take initiative to help get prospective students to campus for a visit.
“This year, we have about 80 kids coming from Colorado, and I personally helped get seven to campus for a visit,” he said. “Once you get kids on campus, Nebraska pretty much sells itself.”
For Spencer, building a strong alumni base that powers the next generation of Huskers all comes down to relationships.
“Ninety percent of my job is about relationships — how I treat my patients and interact with people. That’s something I learned growing up in Nebraska,” he said. “Being good to people goes a long way, no matter your profession. Good relationships lead to a happy life.”
Keeping a strong connection to Nebraska and the powerful relationships that have endured the distance is a huge part of the happy life Spencer has built. Unsurprisingly, he credited Nebraska for much of it.
“I wouldn’t be where I am today without Nebraska — it shaped me into who I am.”
