The University of Nebraska–Lincoln’s Jessie Herrmann and Joe Brownell are taking on expanded campus roles following the retirement of Michelle Waite.

Herrmann is now director of government relations for the university. She oversees all public policy matters and interactions between the university and local, state and federally-elected officials and government agencies. She is also responsible for guiding UNL’s state legislative agenda and representing its federal research and appropriation priorities before Congress.

Herrmann has more than 15 years of experience in government relations, policy and advocacy at both the state and federal levels. That experience includes working as an intern for U.S. Senator Chuck Hagel, serving as a legal clerk for the National Republican Senatorial Committee, and five years as legislative assistant to U.S. Senator Mike Crapo of Idaho.

Before coming to the university in January 2021, Herrmann was the lead lobbyist and legal counsel for Nebraska Cattlemen, handling all unicameral engagement and advocacy on behalf of the association’s 3,500 members. She is an alumna of the University of Nebraska’s College of Law.

Brownell, who has led the Military and Veteran Success Center since 2018, is the executive director of the Military and Veteran Success Center and for military relations. He served more than 28 years in the U.S. Air Force and is an alumnus of the university’s Air Force ROTC program.

In the role, Brownell will provide strategic direction for developing programs and services that support military, veteran and military-dependent students. He will work with campus units and external agencies to build programs and services that promote retention and degree completion for those student populations. And, he will assist academic leaders of the university’s Air Force, Army and Navy/Marine ROTC programs, ensure compliance with federal policies, and provide counsel as needed on military and veteran issues within higher education.

Waite, who recently retired, served 24 years as assistant to the chancellor for government and military relations. Read more about her work in Nebraska Today.