The Nebraska Alumni Association is proud to introduce its 2022 class of Alumni Masters and alumni award winners.
The Alumni Masters and award winners will be recognized on campus March 30 to April 1, ending with the Nebraska Medallion Dinner on April 1.
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.
2022 Alumni Masters
Michelle Weber (’05, ’08) *College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources *
Michelle Weber is a lawyer and co-founder of Zulkoski Weber, a client-focused lobbying and government relations law firm in Lincoln. Raised on a family farm near Blue Hill, Neb., she took her passion for agriculture to Washington D.C., where she worked as an aide in the U.S. Congress for more than six years, including service to two Nebraska U.S. Senators and the House Committee on Agriculture. She returned to Nebraska in 2015 and now advocates for policies to grow and improve the state to the Nebraska Legislature and state agencies.
As a CASNR student, Weber participated in Nebraska Human Resources Institute Leadership Mentoring, Mortar Board, the Honors Program and New Student Enrollment. She received her Juris Doctor degree with high distinction from the University of Nebraska College of Law, where she was Student Bar Association President and an executive editor of the Nebraska Law Review.
Charyl F. McAfee-Duncan, FAIA (’83) College of Architecture
Charyl McAfee-Duncan is a licensed architect and president and principal of the Dallas Office of McAfee3 Architecture and Design. She is the first African American woman Fellow of the American Institute of Architects in Dallas and the second in the state of Texas, serving on various Dallas AIA Committees. She has led significant projects in the areas of college campus facilities, recreational facilities, transportation and healthcare.
McAfee-Duncan received her undergraduate degree in Architecture Studies from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and her Master of Architecture degree from the University of Texas in Austin. She is an advocate for women in architecture and is an activist encouraging young girls to be enthusiastic about choosing careers in the design professions.
Don Winslow (’75) College of Arts and Sciences
A New York Times bestselling author, Don Winslow has written 21 novels, including “The Border,” “The Force,” “The Kings of Cool,” “Savages,” “The Winter of Frankie Machine” and the highly acclaimed epics “The Power of the Dog” and “The Cartel.”
Winslow came to the University of Nebraska-Lincoln from his boyhood home in Rhode Island, and after earning a degree in African Studies, he traveled the world with stops in Asia, Africa, Europe and many places in the U.S. Wherever he has traveled, Winslow has found inspiration for compelling stories, creating works that have become short stories, novels, magazine features and screenplays. The recipient of many international writing awards, including the Los Angeles Times Book Prize. Winslow currently lives in California.
Morgan Shaw Parker (’99) College of Business
Morgan Shaw Parker is the president and chief operating officer of the WNBA’s Atlanta Dream, overseeing day-to-day business operations and revenue growth, and working closely with ownership to build their strategic vision. Recognized by Adweek as one of its “2019 Most Powerful Women in Sports,” she brings more than 25 years of experience at all levels of the sports industry with a proven track record in sport business, marketing innovation and building high-performing teams across the NFL, NCAA, media, corporate brand and sports agencies.
Previously, Shaw Parker served as the vice president and chief marketing officer at Arthur M. Blank Sports & Entertainment where she led marketing and communications initiatives for the Atlanta Falcons and Mercedes-Benz Stadium. She also spent a decade developing marketing strategies for Nike and worked in communications, corporate affairs and community relations with the Kansas City Chiefs.
Michael Cheng (’93, ’95) College of Education and Human Sciences
Michael Cheng is the dean at the Chaplin School of Hospitality and Tourism Management at Florida International University. He previously was a tenured associate professor and director of the school’s Food and Beverage Program. In his more-than-20-year career of teaching and learning, he has established Culinology — the world’s first and only academic discipline that blends culinary arts and food science.
Cheng received both his Bachelor of Science degree and Master of Science degree in restaurant/foodservice management from the University of Nebraska–Lincoln. He has been honored three times by the Research Chefs Association (RCA) with the President’s Award for continued innovation, dedication, leadership and extraordinary contributions to the RCA community. Cheng is also the editor-in-chief of the Journal of Culinary Science and Technology.
Nancy Pridal, P.E. (’94) College of Engineering
Nancy Pridal is the chief executive officer/president and board chair of Lamp Rynearson — a firm that specializes in civil engineering, landscape architecture and surveying. As a civil engineer with a master’s degree in organizational leadership, she applies a diverse skillset to drive strategy and organizational change company wide.
Pridal is a member of the Greater Omaha Chamber Board of Directors, the University of Nebraska Engineering Advisory Council and the Engineering Change Lab-USA steering committee. She is also the chair of the Metropolitan Area Planning Association H2050 Regional Planning Action Committee and a member of the Omaha By Design Advisory Board.
Richard Svoboda (’78) Hixson-Lied College of Fine and Performing Arts
Since 1989, Richard Svoboda has been the principal bassoonist of the Boston Symphony Orchestra and a member of the Boston Symphony Chamber Players. He is currently on the faculties of the New England Conservatory, the Tanglewood Music Center and the Sarasota Music Festival, and has given master classes throughout the world. Prior to his appointment to the BSO, he performed for 10 seasons as principal bassoonist of the Jacksonville Symphony in Florida.
Svoboda is an active chamber music collaborator, orchestral soloist and recitalist. He has to his credit more than 30 recordings with the Boston Symphony Orchestra and Boston Symphony Chamber Players, including on the soundtracks to “Schindler’s List” and “Saving Private Ryan.”
Wendy Guillies (’86) College of Journalism and Mass Communications
Wendy Guillies is the president and chief executive officer of the Kansas City-based Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation, one of the largest private foundations in the United States with $2.4 billion in assets. Guillies leads the foundation’s work to boost student achievement in Kansas City and to accelerate entrepreneurship across the country. Before becoming CEO, she played an instrumental role in building the foundation’s local, national and global reputation as a thought leader and innovator in its fields.
Guillies serves on the boards of the Greater Kansas City Chamber of Commerce, MRI Global, Saint Luke’s South Hospital, Folience and Enterprise Bank. She is also a member of the Kansas City Civic Council. The Kansas City Business Journal has named her to the annual Power 100 list since 2016, and then was selected for the Business Journal’s Women Who Mean Business program in 2017.
Rebecca L. Gould, J.D. (’98, ’01) College of Law
Since 2001, Rebecca Gould has worked at Nebraska Appleseed, a nonprofit law and policy advocacy organization. Since 2007, she has lead the organization as Executive Director. During her time with Appleseed, she has successfully litigated cases in state and federal court and engaged in policy advocacy at the state and federal levels on issues ranging from economic justice and child welfare to health care and immigration.
In addition to her work at Appleseed, Gould is the past president of the Robert Van Pelt Inn of Court and serves on several Board of Directors, including the Food Bank of Lincoln. She received her Bachelor of Arts in History with High Distinction from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and her Juris Doctor degree with Distinction from the University of Nebraska College of Law.
Learn more about the 2022 Alumni Masters here.
2022 Alumni Award Winners
Jane Schuchardt, PhD (’74) Distinguished Service Award
Jane Schuchardt is a long-time advocate for the University of Nebraska–Lincoln with extensive professional national leadership experience. After earning her bachelor’s degree from UNL in 1974, she earned her master’s degree from Oklahoma State and doctorate from Iowa State.
Schuchardt currently serves on the NAA’s Council of Alumni Ambassadors and is active within the Nebraska Women’s Leadership Network. She also serves on the University of Nebraska President’s Advisory Council and the University of Nebraska Foundation Board of Trustees. She and her husband Rick have endowed a scholarship fund for UNL students majoring in agriculture or human sciences. They engage in organic farming in northeast Nebraska, where Schuchardt also is a newspaper community columnist and active in several community service organizations.
The Pinkerton Family Family Tree Award
When George and Harriet (Klotz) Pinkerton graduated from the University of Nebraska–Lincoln, both first-generation college graduates, it began a four-generations-old success story.
Over those four generations, 36 of 44 family members would graduate from UNL, including all three of George and Harriet’s children and their spouses. Members of the Pinkerton family who attended the university have earned graduate and undergraduate degrees in veterinary science, animal science, wildlife and fisheries, agriculture, agronomy and more. Still more members have made their mark as engineers, dentists, educators and in the armed service, notably Brigadier General Dean Liscott, the Commanding General of the 98th Training Division.
State Sen. Matt Hansen (’10, ’13) *Public Service Award *
Sen. Matt Hansen has represented District 26 (northeast Lincoln) in the Nebraska Legislature since 2015. He earned a bachelor’s degree in psychology and political science in 2010 and graduated from the University of Nebraska College of Law in 2013.
In the Legislature, Sen. Hansen serves on the Urban Affairs Committee, the Business and Labor Committee and is the vice-chairperson of the Government, Veterans and Military Affairs Committee. In his time in the legislature, he has worked on a number of issues including supporting housing, helping grow our economy and workforce, and improving outcomes in our criminal justice system. Sen. Hansen also is an adjunct professor at Bellevue University and Nebraska Wesleyan University, where he teaches classes in American politics.
State Sen. Myron Dorn (’76) Public Service Award
Sen. Myron Dorn has represented District 30 in southeast Nebraska since 2018, which includes his hometown of Beatrice. He earned a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln in 1976.
In the Legislature, Sen. Dorn serves on the Appropriations Committee and Building Maintenance Committee. He also is a former chairman of the Gage County Board of Commissioners and of the Firth Coop and Dorchester Coop.
A proud Nebraska farmer, Sen. Dorn is also a member of the Nebraska Farmers Union, Nebraska Farm Bureau, Nebraska Cattlemen, Nebraska Soybean Association and Nebraska Corn Growers Association.
