Young Alumni Academy welcomes new cohort

The Nebraska Alumni Association's 2021-22 Young Alumni Academy cohort

The Nebraska Alumni Association has announced its selection of 43 University of Nebraska–Lincoln graduates to the Young Alumni Academy. The 2021 class is the academy’s ninth cohort and contains alumni who have a wide variety of professions, backgrounds and experiences.

The academy was established in 2012, and since its founding, nearly 350 recent alumni have been part of the developmental program devoted to enhancing the connection between young alumni and the university. The cohort meets each month during an eight-month period.

The following is a list of incoming academy members by current hometown.

Ankeny, Iowa

Christian Reynolds ’14, ’17, College of Education and Human Sciences, elementary education; College of Law, juris doctorate

Bellevue

Kyla Bayne ’15, College of Education and Human Sciences, hospitality, restaurant and tourism management

Council Bluffs, Iowa

Griffen Farrar ’16, College Arts and Sciences, political science, history

Kansas City, Missouri

Colby Dolan ’13, College of Journalism and Mass Communications, advertising and public relations

Lincoln

Kendall Bayne ’17, College of Arts and Sciences, English
Adam Britten ’15, College of Business, leadership in organizations management
Alyssa Christensen ’13, College of Arts and Sciences, psychology
Shanice Cushinberry ’15, College of Education and Human Sciences, child, youth and family studies
Shayne Cuong ’18, College of Business, marketing*
Evann Vrana Gerber ’18, Education and Human Sciences, child, youth and family studies
Morgan Green ’20, College of Education and Human Sciences, educational administration
Brian Grieb ’14, College of Engineering, computer engineering
Derrick Gulley Jr. ’18, ’20, College of Education and Human Sciences, child, youth and family studies; College of Education and Human Sciences, educational administration
Nick Knopik ’17, ’19, College of Arts and Sciences, biological sciences; College of Agriculture and Natural Resources, leadership education
Emma Kwapnioski ’18, College of Education and Human Sciences, communication sciences and disorders
Bryan Lichtenberg ’11, College of Business, business administration
Steven Mah ’18, College of Journalism and Mass Communications, journalism, advertising and public relations
Carina McCormick, Ph.D., ’05, ’09, ’15, College of Arts and Sciences, psychology; College of Education and Human Sciences, educational psychology; College of Education and Human Sciences, psychological studies
William Metzger ’09, College of Education and Human Sciences, industrial technology
Bryson Nemecek ’15, College of Arts and Sciences, biological sciences
Carley Peterson, ’20, College of Arts and Sciences, sociology
Kelsey Moore Rezny ’15, College of Business, human resource management
Bill Spilker ’17, College of Arts and Sciences, computer science
Courtney Strayer ’19, College of Journalism and Mass Communications, advertising and public relations
Nick Turner ’18, College of Business, marketing
Kristin Warner Vest ’05, ’07, College of Education and Human Sciences, family and consumer science education; College of Agriculture and Natural Resources, leadership and communication
Kate Person Watson ’07, ’09, College of Business, accounting; College of Business, master of business administration
Michael Wilson ’20, College of Journalism and Mass Communications, integrated media communication
Justine Yeo ’13, ’16, College of Arts and Sciences, mathematics, psychology; College of Business, survey research and methodology

Omaha

Brian Britton ’20, College of Business, master of business administration
Frederick Collins Jr. ’07, College of Arts and Sciences, communication studies
Trevor Culbertson ’16, College of Agriculture and Natural Resources, natural resources and environmental economics
Ethan Dornbush ’13, College of Business, economics
Natalie Drozd ’18, ’20, ’21, College of Journalism and Mass Communications, advertising and public relations; College of Journalism and Mass Communications, integrated media communication; College of Journalism and Mass Communications, public relations and social media
Zach Duden ’17, College of Business, actuarial science
Brent Gengler ’16, College of Arts and Sciences, sociology
Barry Kienow Jr. ’11, College of Engineering, construction management
Grant Rathje ’16, ’21, ’21, College of Business, agribusiness; College of Business, human resource management; College of Business, master of business administration
Corey Thiele ’15, ’17, College of Architecture, architectural studies; College of Architecture, master of architecture
Dillon Thoman, ’17, College of Business, finance
Jacy Spencer Thoman’ 17, College of Agriculture and Natural Resources, agricultural economics