Nebraska CAS

Fuel up for finals on me. Starting Monday, enjoy a free cup of Starbucks coffee at both the Nebraska Union and Nebraska East Union all week. go.unl.edu/yk5v

Finals week is here. Take it one exam at a time—you've got this!

Researchers at #Nebraska U have developed a vaccine approach that shows promise in protecting against highly pathogenic bird flu, demonstrating strong efficacy in both mice and cattle. Details: go.unl.edu/4kqt #UNL @UNLsbs @unlcas

Meet Leonita Memeti! A UNL first generation student who is turning her backround into meaningful advocacy for human rights and marginalized communities. More cas.unl.edu/news/meet-leon… @HRHA_UNL

Researcher Matthew D. Disney will present the 10th annual Streck Award Lecture, "Sequence-Based Design of Small Molecules Targeting RNA," on April 30. Admission is free, and all are welcome. The Streck Award celebrates scientists whose chemical biology research has significantly improved medicine and human health. Lecture: 3:30 to 5 p.m. in Hamilton Hall, Room 102 Reception: 3 to 3:30 p.m. in Hamilton Hall, Room 548 Disney serves as institute professor and chair in the Department of Chemistry at the Herbert Wertheim UF Scripps Institute for Biomedical Innovation and Technology in Jupiter, Florida. He is the founding director of the Center for RNA Genomic Medicine and is internationally recognized for his work in RNA-targeted therapeutics. He has made significant contributions to the field, including the development of novel experimental approaches that provide a foundational understanding of RNA-small molecule interactions and a “bottom-up” approach to target RNA. Disney has authored more than 220 peer-reviewed research publications and is an inventor on numerous patents related to RNA-targeted chemical biology and drug discovery. His research focuses on designing small molecules that bind and degrade disease-causing RNAs, offering new treatment strategies for neuromuscular disorders, neurodegenerative diseases, certain cancers and infectious diseases. Additional details regarding Disney’s pioneering work can be found on the Streck website. Launched in 2016, the lecture series is a collaboration between the Department of Chemistry and @StreckLLC, an industry-leading Nebraska biotechnology company that develops innovative quality-control and diagnostic products for laboratories.

Check out career prep events happening this week! Remember to check in with a career coach for further guidance. go.unl.edu/cascareers

Meet alumna Anna Singharath! From studying abroad in Morocco to living in France, Taiwan, and now Paris, Anna has turned majoring in global studies into a global journey. Details go.unl.edu/p59q @UNLModLang @unlglobalex

Meet Ella Valleley! The global studies and Spanish double major went from undecided to studying abroad in Bilbao, she found her path through global exploration! ✈️ More go.unl.edu/cjik @UNLModLang

Congratulations to the four CAS students honored with Student Luminary Awards from Student Life! Maathir Basi, Lilly Brown, Brittani Perez, and Amisha Subedi were recognized for exceptional leadership and extraordinary commitment. “Every year, the Student Luminary Awards give us a chance to celebrate students who lead with heart, purpose, and a commitment to making a difference,”Dee Dee Anderson, Vice Chancellor for Student Life, said. “These honorees are not just excelling, but they are also helping build a stronger, more connected campus community. We are proud to recognize their impact and the ways they inspire others around them.”

It's safe to say that when MJ Jabbar first visited Saitama, Japan, two years ago, it left a major impression. In fact, he’s been working nonstop to find a way back. “I first visited Saitama through a two-week nutrition exercise summer class with professor [Shinya] Takahashi, whose hometown is Saitama,” Jabbar said. “We got to visit an Olympic training facility, learn about their work and meet with local students, but more so we just got a taste of what the city was like. The whole time, I just couldn’t stop thinking about how cool this place was.” A new, five-month exchange program through Saitama University presented the perfect opportunity for Jabbar to immerse himself more fully in their culture. “The program is called STEPS — Short-Term Exchange Program — through Saitama University, about 40 minutes from Tokyo," Jabar said. "It's a brand-new program, and myself and one other student are the first to attend from Nebraska." The program, which began last month, will have Jabbar taking language and global studies courses while getting to explore a city he’s become even more interested in since his first visit. “Before this new program even began, I met some students from Saitama University who were at Nebraska for an internship through the International Quilt Museum," Jabbar said. "We became friends and started this language exchange where I’d help them with English and they’d help me with Japanese. I really value cultural and language exchange like that, and it’s a big reason I want to do this program.” As a global studies student, Jabbar sees this opportunity to live and study in Saitama as a possible test run for his future goals. “I know I want to work internationally during my career, so I see experience as kind of my trial period," Jabbar said. "I ultimately want to work in Japan, so getting this chance to spend six months living there is an incredible opportunity.”

Meet Devon Beechley! From Kenya to France he learned through travel, language, and policy to influence change where it matters the most! 🌏 ✈️ Details cas.unl.edu/news/student-s… @unlmodlang

@UNLCommDept @UNLSpeechDebate Congratulations!

Congratulations to @UNLSpeechDebate on their accomplishments as a team and as individuals! And to Aaron Duncan for receiving the Larry Schnoor Distinguished Service Award. Details: go.unl.edu/ckvf @unlcas

Congratulations to CCFL's Jeff Chambers, who was honored with the 2026 Making a Difference Award by the Nebraska Investment Finance Authority! Jeff was recognized for his ongoing work to reduce homelessness and ensure it is rare, brief, and non-recurring. ow.ly/LneM50YKwSe

@GuggFellows His correct title is Hymen Rosenberg Professor - apologies.

Congratulations to Bedross Der Matossian, Hymen Rosen Professor in Judaic Studies, who has been awarded a 2026 fellowship from @GuggFellows! It will support his latest project, “Victims of Empires: Mass Violence in the Caucasus and Eastern Anatolia, 1774–2024.” Details: go.unl.edu/76wb @unlhistory @BedrossDM

Kierstin Blomberg (Earth and Atmospheric Sciences) has been selected to participate in the 2026 @ametsoc Science Policy Colloquium! Her research looks at how future scientists are trained to communicate for informed decision-making. go.unl.edu/8rnb

@BedrossDM @UNLincoln Congratulations!

Honored and thrilled to receive a Guggenheim Fellowship from The John Simon Guggenheim Memorial Foundation. Grateful for the support of family, friends, colleagues, and mentors across Lincoln, Jerusalem, Los Angeles & Beirut. shorturl.at/JqTj5 @UNLincoln @unlcas

Meet Chase McClure! From studying abroad in Japan to classes like International Human Rights, his experiences have shaped his world view and future in law! 🌏 More: go.unl.edu/2xba @UNLCommDept

The 11th annual Nebraska Forum on Digital Humanities is April 16-17, cohosted by the @cdrh_unl and the Harris Center for Judaic Studies. The keynote speaker is Nils Roemer of the University of Texas-Dallas. Details: go.unl.edu/nfdh