The Nebraska Alumni Association is proud to introduce its 2026 class of Alumni Masters and alumni award winners.
The Alumni Masters and award winners will be recognized on campus April 8-10, ending with the Nebraska Medallion Dinner on April 10.
Since 1964, more than 400 alumni have participated in Alumni Masters. Its primary goal is to link the university’s outstanding alumni with students who can benefit from their experiences and knowledge, as well as honor alumni for their success and leadership. All students are encouraged to take part in lectures, presentations and events with the Alumni Masters, who will speak about ways to apply formal education to working situations and career goals.
2026 Alumni Masters:
Jerry Adams (’71), College of Agricultural Sciences & Natural Resources
Jerry Adams is Chairman of the Board of Adams Land & Cattle in Broken Bow, Nebraska. The company is one of the premier beef feedlot operations in the world, known for its technology, innovation and a data-driven model in cattle production.
After earning his bachelor’s degree, Adams returned to his family’s small cattle operation. During the last 50 years, he helped grow the operation into its successful standing today. He serves on several boards and has been a key figure in the beef industry, as well as in his community and state. He and his wife, Linda, live in Broken Bow.
David Howlett (’75, ’77), College of Architecture
David Howlett is a principal of Price Howlett, a government relations firm that specializes in public infrastructure projects, resource developments and public outreach. He is a member of the College of Architecture Professional Advisory Council and currently serves as its president.
Previously, Howlett worked for Carmen Group, based in Washington, D.C., and in various roles in economic development, project managing and urban and regional planning in Colorado
Russette M. Lyons, Ph.D. (’78, ’85), College of Arts and Sciences
Dr. Russette Lyons worked for more than 30 years in diverse research, development and administrative roles at Novartis, a global biopharmaceutical company. Before retiring in 2023, Lyons delivered drug discovery and development courses to scientists in developing countries and led interactive, experiential science education programs for local middle and high school students.
After her undergraduate career at the State University of New York, Lyons earned her master’s degree and Ph.D. from Nebraska. She has been a member of several professional societies and served as President of the American College of Toxicology. In retirement, Lyons lives in Cambridge, Massachusetts, and continues to support early career professionals through coaching and mentoring engagements.
John Wirtz (’05, ’06), College of Business
While earning his undergraduate and master’s degrees from Nebraska, John Wirtz teamed up with David Graff and Brian Kaiser to create Hudl, which helps sports teams find better ways to use video. Twenty years into their venture, Hudl now serves users across 200,000 teams worldwide.
After serving as Hudl’s chief product officer, Wirtz recently became executive adviser. He’s enjoying an increased involvement with Nebraska startups, including chairing the board for UNL’s Center for Entrepreneurship. John met his wife, Ella, during their time in the Raikes School. They live in Lincoln, spending time with their two young daughters, traveling, and serving on the boards of local organizations.
Dr. Karen Kassebaum (’99, ’15), College of Education and Human Sciences
Dr. Karen Kassebaum is a nationally respected leader in inclusive leadership, education and organizational development. A Chicago native, she earned her master’s degree and Ph.D. from Nebraska. She’s held senior leadership roles at major institutions, including at UNL, where she was assistant vice chancellor for inclusive leadership and learning. She also served as the inaugural Global Inclusion Lead at Hudl.
Kassebaum is the founder of Athlete2Athlete, an organization dedicated to student athletes’ leadership development, and she also serves as president of Dr. K Consulting, helping emerging leaders define their leadership identity and brand. She maintains that intentional inclusion must be deliberately embedded in everyday thought and action, underscoring her belief that inclusion is both a personal responsibility and a collective commitment.
Carin Roberts-Wollmann, Ph.D. (’83), College of Engineering
Dr. Carin Roberts-Wollmann received her Bachelor of Science degree from Nebraska, where she played on the women’s golf team. She later earned her master’s and Ph.D. in engineering at the University of Texas at Austin.
She is professor emerita at Virginia Tech, where she retired after 26 years. Her research focused on reinforced and pre-stressed concrete bridges and buildings. She served on American Concrete Institute committees, and mentored students, received teaching awards, authored publications, and won an award for best paper on pre-stressed concrete.
Tia Trauernicht Newcomer (’95), College of Journalism and Mass Communications
Tia Trauernicht Newcomer is a nationally recognized health care leader, chief executive officer and board member known for guiding organizations through pivotal transformation. As CEO of CaringBridge since 2021, she led the company through modernizing its technology and elevating it as a support platform for caregivers.
Newcomer has also held leadership roles across health care technology, Fortune 100 companies and private-equity and venture-backed businesses. She currently serves on several boards and finds joy being outdoors with her husband, two daughters, and their white lab. She carries the grit and heart she learned in Nebraska, a legacy from being a third-generation Husker.
Timothy Croshaw (’00), Hixson-Lied College of Fine & Performing Arts
Proud Omahan Timothy Croshaw is a Hollywood set designer whose work has appeared in Gone Girl, The Tragedy of Macbeth and Superman. Creatively versatile, he navigates genres and ensures each set captures the story’s essence while enriching the audience’s experience. Timothy stays at the forefront of technological advancements and blends traditional artistry with modern workflows, creating visually striking and precise environments.
Croshaw serves as faculty at the American Film Institute and also serves on the board of directors for the Art Directors Guild. He inspires the next generation of storytellers to push creative boundaries, embrace new technologies and refine their craft in production design.
Tara Paulson (’10), College of Law
Tara Paulson has served as the chief executive officer of Rembolt Ludtke law firm since 2022, where she is responsible for executing the firm’s strategic vision and guiding its growth. Tara also oversees attorney recruitment and development, leads firmwide engagement initiatives, and drives the implementation of priorities that support client service and organizational excellence for the firm’s team members.
Paulson's experience, leadership and professional excellence earned her recognition as 2025’s Lawyer of the Year by The Best Lawyers in America for Lincoln.
2026 Alumni Award Winners:
Griff Davenport (’80), Distinguished Service Award
Davenport is a 1980 graduate of the University of Nebraska College of Architecture. He joined DLR Group following graduation and was with the firm for the next 45 years. He was instrumental in developing and driving the growth of DLR Group’s markets and its national and international geographic footprint.
He mentored future generations of architects and spoke annually during seminars, and he also participated with the University of Nebraska College of Architecture Professional Advisory Committee for nearly 15 years.
Davenport’s wife Nancy also attended UNL and together they have three children and 11 grandchildren. He is a resident of Prior Lake, Minnesota, and enjoys travel, golf, snowmobiling, pheasant hunting, lake time, palm trees and, of course, Big Red athletics.
Greg Ibach (’84), Public Service Award
Greg Ibach is a fifth-generation farmer and rancher whose career has advanced agriculture at state and national levels. Following graduation, Ibach built a strong foundation in agricultural finance with Farm Credit Services before returning to Sumner to farm and ranch. He served as assistant director of the Nebraska Department of Agriculture and as Nebraska’s Director of Agriculture for over 12 years.
Today, he’s involved in agricultural policy discussions while maintaining his family cow-calf and grain operation. He’s also stayed connected and recognized for his achievements at UNL, including the Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources’ Service to Agriculture Award.
Holling Family, Family Tree Award
When George C. Holling graduated from UNL in 1925, he set in motion a century of alumni and philanthropy — from providing students with scholarships to improving campus with updates.
Like his great-uncle, Mike Holling (’85) led civil engineering projects across the U.S. as a project engineer, project manager and executive. His father, William C. “Bill” Holling, graduated from UNL in 1951 with a degree in business administration. All three of Bill’s children graduated from the NU system, as well as both of Bill’s brothers, Richard and Roger. A fourth generation of NU alumni includes grandchildren Anthony, who graduated in 2017, and Alexandra in 2005, while Campbell Holling is a freshman in the College of Business, and her sister Logan, a high school junior, is considering NU for the fall of 2027.
The Holling family has made significant contributions to the University of Nebraska, including substantial gifts to the University of Nebraska Medical Center, the Nebraska Alumni Association, University of Nebraska Foundation, Nebraska Athletics and several colleges and departments.
