Students planting the Indigenous garden.
Alumni Enews, Fall 2025
In this issue:
- A Season of Change, Growth, and Shared Purpose
- Meet Kyanne
- Leading the Next Frontier in Materials Innovation
- Distinguished Alumni Award Nominations
A Season of Change, Growth, and Shared Purpose
This fall brings meaningful transitions for the College of Arts and Sciences and for the university as a whole. Mark Button has been appointed to serve as the permanent Executive Vice Chancellor and Chief Academic Officer for UNL. In reflecting on his new role, he shared:
“I am honored to serve our academic community in this capacity, and I am incredibly grateful for the years I served as Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences. I am deeply committed to the College of Arts and Sciences and its comprehensive mission, ambitious vision, and strategic goals. I look forward to continuing to work with you, but in different ways, and to championing the humanities, social sciences, natural sciences, and interdisciplinary inquiry. Thank you for your contributions, commitment, and leadership. The academic excellence and strong collaborative culture of the College of Arts and Sciences will be instrumental in helping us attract the college’s next permanent dean.”
We are pleased that Pat Dussault has agreed to serve as Interim Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences. A professor and former Chair in the Department of Chemistry, he served as Associate Dean for Faculty for over four years. Together with the associate and assistant deans, he continues to advance the college’s strategic priorities. A search for the next permanent dean will take place once campus budget processes and timelines become clearer.
This academic year has brought both challenges and opportunities. Through it all, we continue to be inspired by the resilience and dedication of our faculty, staff, students, alumni, and friends. Each of you contributes in important ways to the college’s success. That success is reflected in rising student outcomes: first-year retention and 4-, 5-, and 6-year graduation rates have all improved. The college’s four-year graduation rate now stands at 54.9%, compared to UNL’s 51.9%—the highest it has been in at least a decade. This achievement speaks to the quality of instruction, mentorship, and support our faculty and staff provide, and to the determination of our students.
Research excellence continues to distinguish CAS as well. The college received $40.9 million in federal research awards in FY25, with metrics placing CAS among the top quartile for books per faculty member and the second quartile for faculty funding, journal articles, and patents compared to peers.
You likely are aware of the university's ongoing budget reduction process, which has raised understandable concerns. Some CAS units are likely to be affected, and the college is committed to open communication and transparency. Resources and updates are available at budgetprocess.unl.edu.
Amid these transitions, the spirit of curiosity and community that defines our college continues to flourish. This fall, students, faculty, and staff came together to plant an Indigenous garden south of Manter Hall—cultivating species native to Nebraska and the Great Plains as a “commitment to presence, learning, and responsibility.” As Laura Muñoz, Director of the Institute for Ethnic Studies, shared, “We want it to grow—not just as a landscape, but as a way of being in relationship with this land, this university, and each other.” Read the story on Nebraska Today.
Together, we continue to let curiosity move us—embracing change, celebrating progress, and reaffirming our shared mission as Huskers.
Meet Kyanne
The first-generation, senior sociology major is a peer mentor for the university's Center for Academic Success and Transition (CAST) and works in the Global Experiences Office. Last summer she traveled to Prague to serve as a student ambassador for the Anglo-American University!
"I got to take a course in which I learned about several well-known leaders in Czech history, and the cultural immersion I experienced through this was incredibly valuable to my learning."
"This experience was both challenging and at the same time very rewarding. I had never traveled outside the United States before, and had never really traveled anywhere on my own. Navigating foreign airports, public transportation, and the big beautiful city of Prague on my own was not easy, and neither was battling the jet lag, homesickness, and rigorous class schedule. However, the new sense of self-confidence, self-reliance, cultural awareness, adaptability, and the global network I brought home with me made every challenge I faced well worth it."
"I encourage everyone reading this to strongly consider studying abroad. I never thought it would be a possibility for me, however I was pleasantly surprised by the opportunities I found out there to help make my dreams a reality. There are opportunities waiting for you too!"
Leading the Next Frontier in Materials Innovation
From the atomic scale to the edge of artificial intelligence, Department of Physics and Astronomy researchers are driving discovery across the rapidly evolving landscape of materials science. Three recent National Science Foundation awards totaling more than $4.5 million underscore Nebraska’s national leadership in advanced, quantum, and functional materials research.
A $2 million DMREF award, led by Evgeny Tsymbal, positions Nebraska at the forefront of designing and modeling new materials through theory, data science, and AI. His team is exploring moiré patterning in oxide materials, revealing emergent quantum and electronic behaviors that could revolutionize energy-efficient technologies and next-generation devices.
Through a $1.8 million EPSCoR grant, Christian Binek and collaborators are pioneering the science of two-dimensional “flatland” materials — ultra-thin structures with extraordinary flexibility, conductivity, and magnetic properties. These materials hold promise for future electronics, energy storage, and wearable technologies.
Meanwhile, Robert Streubel, supported by an $849,000 NSF CAREER award, is studying amorphous magnetic materials — disordered systems that could transform microelectronics and power neuromorphic computing, where hardware mimics the brain’s structure and energy efficiency. His work also integrates education and outreach, using art and visualization to engage students and expand participation in STEM.
Together, these efforts form a powerful continuum of discovery, uniting Nebraska researchers in the pursuit of smarter, more sustainable, and more adaptable materials. Building on initiatives like Emergent Quantum Materials and Technologies (EQUATE), the university is cementing its role as a national hub for innovation at the intersection of physics, engineering, and computation — shaping the materials that will drive the technologies of tomorrow.
Nominations Open!
Know a CAS alumni who has demonstrated lifetime career achievement or excellence in their field and community? We annually recognize remarkable accomplishments and service.
Where Has Curiosity Taken You?
Please let us know what you've been up to so we can share your story online!
Keep up with the latest news and events from the college.
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