Hello Alumni and Friends,

A twist of fate guided me to Nebraska. I am almost reluctant to admit that it was not my first choice and it was almost happenstance that I applied. One of my former high school teachers spoke of Love Library in a thoughtful but whimsical way. He met his wife there. I don’t know the particulars, I can’t even remember his name but I recall how he spoke of Love Library with such fondness and longing. Anyone who knows me will recognize the connection. I have five great passions and one of them happens to be libraries. When I first told my family I wanted to attend college in Nebraska instead of my original choice in Austin (the university shall remain nameless) they were a little surprised and somewhat dismayed. Why would a Texan trade cowboy boots for snow shoes, Bluebonnets and Longhorns for Goldenrods and Cornhuskers? Why? Because there is “No Place Like Nebraska”!

It has been several years since I received my undergraduate degree from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. However, the years I spent at UNL shaped and developed my understanding of education as a dynamic and on-going process. It was in the halls of Teachers College, now the College of Education and Human Sciences, where I found advisors who knew me as a person not just a number in line to graduate. I was encouraged to embrace opportunities, to challenge myself and others within the field of education, and above all, to put the persons that would one day look to me for guidance and instruction first.

I also discovered that the connections made on campus are lifetime commitments that expand over time and transform into a vital presence throughout my life. Teachers College is where I found lifelong friendships and family, and the privilege of working with people as committed as I am to the improvement of education and our community.

I may sound as if my undergraduate days were filled with fancy--they were. However, they were also balanced with responsibility, anticipation, optimism and the expectation that like a single thread within a complex weave I would be a part of a larger tapestry.

And although the name has changed since I graduated, our college continues to offer a place where the person is valued and where your advisor knows you; in fact my undergraduate advisor is a current alumni board member! How is that for lasting relationships!

The College of Education and Human Sciences Alumni Organization is your lifelong connection to UNL. Through programs and services our alumni organization recognizes outstanding alumni; awards scholarships to deserving students; provides a voice of advocacy on behalf of members; and enriches the personal and professional lives of thousands of alumni and current students. There are several opportunities to reconnect with old friends throughout the year. One of our most popular is our fall tailgate and we would love to see you there. Remember you are a part of that larger tapestry as well. We welcome you always and hope to see you soon.

Help us keep in touch with you, visit the college web site and update your contact information. We want to hear from you!

Virginia Newton
CEHSAO President
Vnewty73@gmail.com