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$1.5 Million in UNO Projects to Strengthen Omaha Community

UNO is excited to announce the selected proposals to receive funding through the Weitz Innovation and Excellence Fund for the first round.

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Made possible by the generous $19 million pledge to UNO, this fund supports innovative projects that align with UNO’s strategic priorities and make a lasting impact on our campus and the broader community.

Coordinated by Academic Affairs, 45 applications were submitted totaling $17,049,921, with an average budget of $378,887 per proposal. Each application was independently reviewed by 4-5 members of the Advisory Committee, with each committee member evaluating 16 applications.

The funded proposals reflect UNO's commitment to its core pillars, specifically:

  • Pillar 1: Educating All Learners – Projects that advance inclusive and innovative educational practices.
  • Pillar 3: Community Engagement, Development, and Partnerships – Initiatives that build strong community relationships and foster partnerships across sectors.
  • Pillar 4: Workforce and Economic Development – Programs that contribute to the development of a skilled workforce and promote economic growth.

The selected projects showcase the creative and forward-thinking approaches of UNO faculty and partners, aiming to make a measurable difference in the lives of students and the Omaha community.

  • HeartBeats: PI Mary Perkinson, Music
  • UNO Jumpstart: PI Aaron Krueger, Student Life & Wellbeing
  • Civic Leadership Fellows Learning Community: PI Randy Adkins, A&S Dean’s Office
  • UNO Summer Musical Theatre Academy: PI Curtis Reynolds, Theatre
  • Competencies, Skills, and Workforce Development Hub: PI Stephanie Larsen, Innovative & Learning-Centric Institute
  • The North Omaha Initiative: PI Cynthia Robinson, Black Studies
  • Destination Omaha: Spatial Immersion Project: PI Christina Dando, Geography & Geology
  • AI Code Lab System: Prototype Development and Pilot Study for Cross-College AI Programming Education at UNO: PI Xin Zhong, Computer Science
  • General Education Transformation: PI Matt Tracy, Academic Affairs
  • Change for Engagement Capacity Building: PI Cecilia Tocaimaza-Hatch, World Languages & Literature
  • Scaling and UP-skilling the Nebraska Cyber Workforce through the NebraskaCYBER MATRIX: Machine learning, Artificial intelligence, and Threat Response Initiative for cybersecurity eXcellence: PI Matt Hale, Interdisciplinary Informatics
  • AI-CCORE: Artificial Intelligence Center for Collaborative Outreach Research and Education: PI Mahadevan Subramaniam, Computer Science
  • Diversifying Educators and Promoting Achievement: PI Gabriel Gutierrez, Teacher Education
  • 3D Printing for Healthcare Education and Workforce Development: PI Jorge Zuniga, Biomechanics

“This first class of funded projects demonstrates our unwavering commitment to innovation across all areas of the university,” said Chancellor Joanne Li, Ph.D., CFA. “By investing in these forward-thinking initiatives, we are setting the tone for how Mavericks will continue to lead the way in how we teach, work, learn, and engage with the Omaha community. These projects are a testament to our strategic vision and dedication to keeping UNO at the cutting edge of higher education.”

Senior Vice Chancellor Phil He, Ph.D. commented “I want to extend my heartfelt thanks to the entire UNO community for their creativity and enthusiasm throughout the application process. The passion for innovation and the desire to make a meaningful impact on both our campus and the broader community was evident in every submission. The level of engagement and commitment shown is truly inspiring, and I look forward to seeing the lasting impact these projects will have.”

We want to thank everyone who submitted proposals and demonstrated remarkable dedication to innovation and excellence. The projects supported through the Weitz Innovation and Excellence Fund reflect UNO’s collective vision to advance education continually, foster community engagement, and drive economic impact.

While this first round of funded applications will receive a combined total of $1.5 million, we encourage those with unfunded proposals to revise and resubmit in future funding cycles. Principal Investigators (PIs) may request summarized feedback to guide revisions for future submissions. The next round of applications will be reviewed in January. To learn more please visit the Weitz Innovation and Excellence webpage.