As a Training and Talent Acquisition professional at Tillamook, Bella Nguyen has continued to grow and learn throughout her career. After earning her Ph.D. in Human Capital Management at Bellevue University, that journey has become even more rewarding than she expected.

Through a partnership with her employer and Bellevue University, she gained a doctorate title, a promotion and an unforgettable experience.

Growing With a Supportive Employer

Nguyen, a native of Chicago, moved to the Portland area and in 2021 assumed a role as Technical Training Manager at Tillamook. She has since grown into a role as Senior Talent Acquisition and Technical Training Manager.

“This progression reflects both my commitment to human capital leadership and the opportunities the organization has given me,” she said. “Tillamook is an amazing place to work because it genuinely invests in its people.”

Included in Tillamook’s commitment to its employees is extensive support for education. “The Bellevue University partnership and its continued support for learning and development are perfect (and only a few of the many) examples of how the company helps employees grow and thrive,” Nguyen said.

Intertwining Education and Career

The program helped Nguyen build on her background to expand her future potential.

“I'd like to think this degree program helped accelerate my growth by strengthening my strategic perspective and expanding my toolkit,” she said. “The combination of the program and the company's investment created the perfect environment for becoming the leader I am today.”

Thriving in a Learning Community

During her time at Bellevue University, Nguyen found a supportive environment designed for student success.

“My experience at Bellevue felt supportive and flexible,” she said. “Although I've had great experience in my previous educational programs, I felt that Bellevue University did a great job of blending academic rigor with real-world relevance. Even more so, I think Bellevue University understands working professionals and designed a program where we would be successful.”

A large part of Nguyen’s positive experience was connecting with professionals from around the globe.

“My favorite experience at Bellevue was being part of a cohort. Going through the program with a group of people who were equally committed made the journey feel meaningful and human,” she said.

The strong connections between classmates resulted in them being a support network for each other. “Having people to turn to, celebrate with and struggle alongside made the experience richer and reminded me that learning is always better in community,” Nguyen said.

In fact, Nguyen was able to meet some of these classmates in person when she flew to Nebraska for graduation. “It was genuinely unforgettable for me,” she said. “Being surrounded by people who had fought their own battles to get there made the celebration feel bigger than a ceremony; it felt like a shared victory for all of us.”

Moving Forward With Confidence

Nguyen said completing her Ph.D. at Bellevue University had a direct impact on her career. “These opportunities and deeper partnerships have reinformed my commitment to lifelong learning and continuous growth,” she said.

She said she highly recommends the Human Capital doctoral program. “It truly supports working professionals while still delivering meaningful academic rigor,” she said. “It's a place where learners can grow, feel supported and walk away with skills that immediately translate into real‑world impact.”

Barbara Gaskins’ career sits at a powerful intersection: criminal justice, community violence intervention, reentry, public policy, technology, and community-based advocacy.

It is a space few people occupy—and one urgently in need of her perspective.

Based in Greenville, North Carolina, Gaskins works to improve the systems serving people affected by incarceration and community violence. She has created two reentry manuals for North Carolina, adapted a U.S. Department of Justice reentry simulation specifically for the state and pursued public office, running for the U.S. House of Representatives and mayor.

Now, she is exploring how data science and artificial intelligence can support violence-prevention professionals while protecting the humanity of the people they serve.

Her path to this work began long before AI became part of everyday conversation. It was strengthened by an education at Bellevue University that helped validate the professional-level work she was already doing—and gave her the confidence to take that work further.

Doing Degree-Level Work Without the Degree

Before attending Bellevue University, Gaskins worked in mental health, substance use, and criminal justice. She knew she was capable and experienced. She was already performing work that required significant knowledge and responsibility.

The problem was that she did not yet have the degree to prove it.

Gaskins understood that earning a degree would help align her credentials with her abilities. Yet, as a working mother who had welcomed her first child at 18, she needed a university designed for the realities of adult life.

Bellevue University provided that opportunity.

Gaskins earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Behavioral Science in 2010 while balancing work, motherhood, and the responsibilities of maintaining a home. She found the coursework relevant to her experience in mental health and substance use—and immediately applicable to the communities she served.

“Bellevue was that University for me,” she said.

'A Stepping Stone to Everything Else'

She also remembers the accessibility and encouragement she received. Her university coach, Tamara, was available by phone or text, offering praise, accountability, and reminders to keep moving forward.

That support mattered. So did the sense of validation that came from completing her degree.

Gaskins describes her Bellevue University education as “a stepping stone to everything else” she has accomplished. Without it, she believes she might still be doing high-level work without receiving appropriate recognition or compensation.

After earning her bachelor’s degree, she went on to earn her Master of Science degree in Data Science from Bellevue University in 2010. Her last course was called Generative AI.

When Data Does Not Tell One Story

Gaskins’ interest in data science grew directly from her re-entry work.

In North Carolina, she found that three different sources could provide three significantly different statistics about the same issue, including recidivism. When information is outdated, inconsistent, or influenced by funding priorities, it becomes difficult to understand what is actually happening—and even harder to design effective solutions.

“How can we actually help people if we’re getting three different reports for the exact same people?” she asked.

Her advanced studies in data science helped her connect her knowledge of communities with a more formal understanding of technology and responsible data use. Her goal is not simply to collect more information. It is to ensure that data and AI are used accurately, equitably, and in ways that genuinely help people.

One of her greatest concerns is the way AI can misunderstand African American Vernacular English, particularly when people express grief, anger, or trauma.

Working on Technology That Supports Rather Than Interrupts

Language that reflects pain following the death of a friend, for example, could be interpreted by an automated system as a threat. Without cultural understanding or human context, AI could misidentify someone as dangerous when that person is actually grieving.

The implications extend well beyond community violence intervention. Similar biases could affect hiring, criminal justice, education, and other settings where automated systems review people’s words, histories, or online activity.

Gaskins is working to bring those risks into the conversation—and to help create something better in the world of Community Violence Intervention (CVI) that is built on trust, lived experience, emotional intelligence, credibility, and local knowledge. Violence interrupters and other trusted community messengers develop relationships no algorithm can reproduce.

“I am not trying to replace our credible messengers or our violence interrupters with AI,” Gaskins said. Instead, she envisions technology that supports practitioners while leaving intervention and decision-making in human hands.

Unique Work That Has Earned a Kaggle Research Grant

That distinction captures what makes Gaskins’ work so important. She is not approaching AI only as a technologist. She understands the people, language, histories, and communities behind the data, and her unique work has earned Gaskins a Google/Kaggle Benchmark Research grant. Her AI Assistant is the first artificial intelligence evaluation framework for CVI that measures whether AI models can safely support violence interrupters and credible messengers in their life-saving work.

Kaggle (owned by Google) Benchmark grants are given to builders of novel Large Language Model (LLM) evaluations, access to major models (OpenAI, Google, Anthropic, DeepSeek, etc.), and managed engineering infrastructure via Kaggle Benchmark.

Her Bellevue University education helped give her the credentials, knowledge, and confidence to step forward. Since then, she has continued learning, questioning systems, and turning her experience into resources that can help others.

Technology will continue to advance. Barbara Gaskins is working to ensure that humanity, fairness, and community advance with it.

When Sarah Kemp pursued the Bellevue University Master of Healthcare Administration program, she never imagined that the experience would also help guide her through one of the most challenging times of her life. The skills and information she acquired throughout her program equipped her to excel in her career while also addressing family medical situations.

Taking on a New Challenge

While working in home care as a supervisor, coordinating care and supporting caregivers, Kemp felt she could do more. “I wanted to better understand how I could make a bigger difference; not just in day-to-day operations, but in improving systems and outcomes for patients and families,” she said.

As Kemp explored options, she found Bellevue University through her supervisor and a partnership with her company. “I needed a program that would allow me to continue working while still pushing me to grow,” she said. “I knew I wanted to do more, but I needed the education and structure to get there.”

As a resident of Ohio, Kemp also found that the online option provided much-needed flexibility. “Bellevue University felt like the right fit because it was built for people who are balancing real life with their education,” she said.

Real Life Collides With Learning

Kemp quickly learned that she’d apply her MHA program in more ways than she thought. “Very early in the program, my motivation became much more personal,” she said.

Her stepmother experienced a stroke during the first semester of her program. “I saw moments where quality was not maintained, staffing was short, concerns from families were not always heard, and symptoms were sometimes overlooked, which led to complications that could have been prevented,” she said.

During the same time period, Kemp’s father experienced a rapid health decline due to complications of several conditions. “I was balancing school, a full-time job, and traveling two hours one way each week to help support them,” she said. “That season included navigating hospital care, doctor visits, hospice, and stroke recovery, while also helping both sides of my family understand how to care for both of them.”

She continued to address several additional family health and life challenges, including guiding her mother and sister through end-of-life care decisions and bringing hospice in for her stepfather, who passed away in May 2025.

“Living through all of this while studying healthcare gave me a completely different perspective,” Kemp said. “In a way, the schoolwork grounded me. It also made everything I was learning real, urgent and deeply meaningful.”

Gaining Takeaways From the Beginning

Kemp said the MHA program provided immediately applicable content. “The program helped me think more critically about healthcare systems, quality, and leadership,” she said. “It gave me language, structure and confidence in moments that were otherwise overwhelming.”

She said her professors were also helpful beyond the classroom. “I was incredibly fortunate to have professors who were understanding and supportive, which made a lasting impact on me,” she said.

Kemp said she recommends the MHA program for anyone who wants to grow in healthcare while continuing to work. “It is flexible, but still rigorous, and it prepares you in a very real way for the challenges you will face in the field,” she said.

Maintaining a Patient Focus While Growing Professionally

Kemp is now a scheduling manager, supporting home and community-based care across three counties. She returned to home healthcare after serving in a hospital scheduling role during her MHA program.

“I wanted to gain more exposure to the clinical and administrative side of healthcare,” she said. “Although that experience was valuable, I found myself missing the purpose-driven work I felt in home care; especially supporting seniors, veterans and those impacted by Alzheimer's disease.”

Kemp said her current role has expanded her impact while allowing her to connect with the populations she is most passionate about serving. Directly aligned with this, she said earning her MHA has helped her grow from managing day-to-day tasks to understanding and improving the systems behind them.

“It has strengthened my leadership skills, my decision-making and my ability to think more strategically about how care is delivered,” she said. “This experience has reinforced why I chose this field in the first place.”

Kemp also said earning her graduate degree is an accomplishment of resilience. “There were many moments where finishing or taking a break would have been easy, but I didn't. I am incredibly proud of that,” she said. ”The love and support of my family, my partner Evan, and even the quiet comfort of my two dogs carried me through some of the hardest moments.”

When Holly Richie talks about her job, she doesn’t start with course schedules, degree plans, or tuition assistance.

She starts with people.

The student in Hawaii who flew thousands of miles to attend commencement and whom she finally met in person.

The student from Houston who persevered through the devastation of Hurricane Harvey and completed his degree against incredible odds.

The countless working adults balancing careers, children, and family responsibilities while trying to build better futures.

After more than 20 years in higher education and 11 years at Bellevue University, Richie has learned something important:

Students don’t just need information. They need someone who believes in them.

A Career Inspired by One Great Advisor

Richie’s path into higher education began with her own college experience.

As a student, she developed a close relationship with an academic advisor who helped her navigate more than course requirements. The advisor helped her make thoughtful choices, pursue subjects that genuinely interested her, and see possibilities she might not have recognized on her own.

That experience stayed with her.

“It inspired me to want to help people reach their personal and professional goals,” Richie says.

After working in financial aid at a community college, she joined Bellevue University as a student coach, eventually becoming a Guild Student Coach, a role she has held for more than six years. Guild is an education platform that works with major employers across the country, and Bellevue University is part of Guild’s academic network.

Today, she supports these students as they work toward their degrees while managing careers, families, and busy lives.

Meeting Students Where They Are

Richie’s students come to Bellevue University through the employer-sponsored education programs offered through Guild.

Companies such as Target, Disney, and others partner with Guild to give employees educational opportunities that might otherwise feel out of reach.

For many students, that support changes everything.

Unlike traditional tuition reimbursement programs, Guild’s model streamlines the process, allowing students to focus less on paperwork and finances and more on learning.

But Richie’s role extends far beyond helping students understand benefits and policies.

She is a coach, cheerleader, problem-solver, and sometimes simply a reassuring voice.

“Adult students have lives outside of college,” she says. “They have families, jobs, and a lot of responsibilities.” Understanding and empathizing with those realities is essential to helping them succeed.

The Power of Encouragement

Throughout her career, Richie has seen firsthand how much support matters.

Many adult learners wonder whether they can really do it.

Can they balance work and school?

Can they make time for classes?

Can they finish something they may have started years earlier?

Richie believes one of the most important things she can do is help answer those questions with confidence.

“Yes. You can do this,” she reassures because she understands that earning a degree is about more than academics. “In college, particularly Bellevue University, you learn so much beyond the academics. You learn a lot about yourself,” she says.

For many students, college becomes a journey of self-discovery, confidence, and personal growth. Richie considers it a privilege to be part of that process.

Relationships That Go Beyond the Classroom

Because many of her students learn online, Richie spends a lot of time talking with people she has never met face-to-face.

Yet those relationships can become remarkably personal.

Students share triumphs and setbacks, celebrations and struggles.

“You can become part of their families,” she says.

Over time, trust develops.

That’s why commencement is one of her favorite experiences. Meeting students in person after years of phone calls and emails is often emotional—for Holly and the graduates.

One student traveled from Hawaii to attend graduation and spent nearly an hour talking with Richie during the open house event.

Another, who had endured extraordinary hardships during Hurricane Harvey, finally met her after completing his degree. “There were definitely tears,” she recalls.

Those moments remind her why she chose this profession. The relationships are real. The impact is real. And the accomplishments are deeply personal.

Changing Lives Through Education

One thing Richie loves about Bellevue University is its commitment to students who might not fit the traditional mold.

Many are working adults. Many are first-generation college students.

Many are returning to school after years away from the classroom. And many are pursuing higher education because they want to create a better future for themselves and their families. Richie understands that earning a degree requires an add-on to intelligence, desire, and ambition. It requires support and encouragement. And it requires someone willing to walk beside students when life becomes complicated.

“I always want to make sure that I do right by the student,” she says.

That student-first philosophy aligns perfectly with Bellevue University’s mission and culture.

A University That Feels Personal

Bellevue University serves students across the country and around the world, so when they get to come to the campus in Nebraska, they are often surprised to discover that the University has a vibrant campus community, championship athletics, and a long tradition of student success.

They arrive and realize something important: This place is real. The people they’ve talked with for years are real and the relationships they’ve built are real. And the accomplishment they’re celebrating is real, too.

For Richie, those moments never lose their meaning.

Every graduate represents persistence, courage, and hope. And every student reminds her why she chose this work in the first place – being a Student Coach isn’t just about helping students earn degrees.

It’s about helping them believe they can.

• Bellevue University volleyball earned the 2025-26 AVCA Team Academic Award.
• The award marks the 13th AVCA Team Academic Award in program history.
• More than 1,400 collegiate and high school volleyball programs received the award this year.
• Teams must maintain a year-long GPA of 3.3 or higher on a 4.0 scale to qualify.
• Bellevue finished the 2025 season ranked No. 7 in the final NAIA Women's Volleyball Coaches' Top 25 Poll.
• The Bruins posted a 29-5 overall record and a 20-2 Frontier Conference record.
• Bellevue advanced to the NAIA National Championship quarterfinals for the fourth time in program history.

AVCA Recognizes Academic Achievement

For the 13th time in school history, the Bellevue University volleyball team has earned the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) Team Academic Award for the 2025-26 academic year, the AVCA announced today. BU was among a record number of volleyball programs to earn the AVCA Team Academic Award. More than 1,400 collegiate and high school volleyball programs maintained a year-long grade-point average of 3.3 on a 4.0 scale (or 4.1 on a 5.0 scale) to earn the award for their classroom excellence during the recently completed academic year.

AVCA Expands Academic Recognition

This is the second season the AVCA has named a Team Academic Champion for each collegiate division. The 20 programs are being added to this exclusive list for having the highest GPAs in their respective divisions. The AVCA also celebrates programs in the top 20 percent for their division by recognizing them with the Team Academic Honor Roll distinction.

The Team Academic Award was earned by 10 teams that also won national collegiate championships on the court and in the sand during the 2025-26 season. There are also four schools whose women's, men's, and beach teams are all being honored: Barry University, Pepperdine University, Stanford University, and the University of Hawaii.

Bruins Deliver Success on the Court

The Bellevue University volleyball team finished the 2025 season ranked No. 7 in the final NAIA Women's Volleyball Coaches' Top 25 Poll, capping a year highlighted by the selection of three All-Americans: Eve Fountain, Kealy Kiviniemi and Savanna Berger.

The Bruins concluded the 2025 campaign with a 29-5 overall record and a 20-2 mark in Frontier Conference play, finishing second in the league's regular-season standings and as the runner-up in the Frontier Conference Tournament. Bellevue advanced to the NAIA National Championship quarterfinals for the fourth time in program history, marking the Bruins' 18th appearance at the national tournament.

• Ivana Castellanos Morales won the Best Poster Presentation award at the 2026 DELFIN U.S. Chapter Conference.
• The conference took place July 23, 2026, at Wichita State University.
• Students from Bellevue University, Wichita State University and the University of Texas at El Paso participated in the event.
• The conference marked the fourth annual U.S. Chapter gathering of the DELFIN program.
• Her project focused on analyzing genomes of newly identified bacterial species found in extreme environments.
• The research examined bacteria capable of breaking down hydrocarbons and their potential role in environmental remediation.

Research Recognized at National Conference

Ivana Castellanos Morales received the Best Poster Presentation award during the fourth annual DELFIN U.S. Chapter Conference on July 23 at Wichita State University. Undergraduate students from Latin American countries presented summer research projects developed during a seven-week research experience.

Castellanos Morales, a student at Universidad Anáhuac Veracruz, was one of seven students who participated in the program through Bellevue University. Students representing Bellevue University, Wichita State University and the University of Texas at El Paso shared research findings during the conference.

Research Focuses on Environmental Applications

Working under the mentorship of Dr. John Kyndt, professor of microbiology, nutrition and sustainability at Bellevue University, Castellanos Morales analyzed genomes of newly identified bacterial species found in extreme environments. Her research focused on bacteria capable of surviving in hydrocarbon-contaminated environments. Microbial samples were collected from beaches in Veracruz and Tabasco, Mexico, following oil spills earlier in 2026 that affected fishing, tourism and local ecosystems.

The research is part of an ongoing collaboration between Kyndt and Dr. María Magdalena Uribe Flores, Castellanos Morales' research advisor at Universidad Anáhuac Veracruz in Xalapa, Mexico.

The project examined how these microorganisms break down hydrocarbons, including contaminants associated with oil spills. Researchers hope the findings will advance understanding of how bacteria function in polluted environments and support future environmental remediation efforts in areas affected by contamination.

About the DELFIN Program

The Inter-Institutional Program for Strengthening of Research and Graduate Studies in the Pacific, widely known as Programa DELFIN, began in Mexico to encourage student interest in research, strengthen collaboration among universities and motivate young people to contribute through academic preparation.

Participants join research projects led by faculty members at partner institutions and may complete their placements in person or virtually. Opportunities span a range of disciplines and extend beyond laboratory-based research and the traditional sciences.

Sixty years ago, Bellevue University began with a practical question: What if more people could have a real chance to earn a college degree without leaving behind their work, their families, their military service or their community?

In June 1965, Bill Brooks addressed fellow members of the Bellevue Chamber of Commerce with an idea that would ultimately transform higher education in the region. The community of Bellevue, Nebraska, was expanding rapidly, Offutt Air Force Base was bringing military personnel and families to the area, and working adults had limited opportunities to pursue college degrees while balancing careers and family responsibilities. Brooks believed the community needed a college designed to meet those realities.

What began as a brief agenda item quickly evolved into a shared vision among local business and civic leaders. Their work led to the opening of Bellevue College in 1966, creating a new pathway to higher education for students who needed flexibility, accessibility and practical relevance.

From the beginning, Bellevue's mission was different from many traditional institutions. Rather than focusing exclusively on recent high school graduates, the college was built around the needs of adult learners, military-connected students and working professionals. That learner-centered approach would become a defining characteristic of the institution's next six decades.

Built for Learners Who Balance Real Life

Long before terms such as "nontraditional learner" became common in higher education, Bellevue University understood that students often pursue education alongside other responsibilities.

Many of the University's earliest students were balancing employment, military service, family commitments and other life obligations. Bellevue developed academic programs and support systems that recognized those realities rather than asking students to put their lives on hold.

The commitment was personal for founder Bill Brooks himself. After his college education was interrupted by World War II service, Brooks completed his degree as a member of Bellevue College's first graduating class in 1967. His story reflects the institution's belief that educational opportunity should remain available regardless of age, career stage or life circumstance.

Throughout its history, Bellevue University has continued to welcome learners from diverse backgrounds, life experiences and professional paths. That commitment remains central to its identity today.

Innovating to Meet the Needs of Students

One of Bellevue University's defining strengths has been its willingness to evolve as student needs evolve.

The University launched an accelerated degree completion program in 1987, helping adult learners complete degrees more efficiently while maintaining academic rigor. The institution expanded its undergraduate and graduate offerings and continued to refine educational models that emphasized practical application and workplace relevance.

In 1994, Bellevue College officially became Bellevue University, reflecting the institution's growth and expanding academic portfolio. Yet the core mission remained unchanged: creating pathways to success for students seeking a flexible, career-focused education.

This balance between innovation and mission has enabled the University to remain relevant across multiple generations of learners.

Leading the Way in Online Learning

Perhaps no area better demonstrates Bellevue University's innovative spirit than online learning.

Years before online education became commonplace, Bellevue University recognized that technology could expand access and remove geographic barriers for learners. The University launched its first online course in 1995 and introduced the nation's first online MBA program in 1996. It also became one of the first accredited institutions to offer online degree programs.

Importantly, online education at Bellevue was never treated as a temporary solution or secondary option. Instead, the University developed a comprehensive learning model that combined academic quality, faculty engagement and student support with the flexibility adult learners needed.

Today, online learning remains central to Bellevue University's mission. Students can access dozens of degree and certificate programs while receiving academic advising, tutoring, technology assistance, career resources, comprehensive library access, and other support services designed to help them succeed.

Partnerships That Expand Opportunity

Bellevue University's founding story is rooted in collaboration, and partnerships continue to play a critical role in the institution's success.

Over the years, the University has developed relationships with employers, community colleges, educational providers and organizations across the globe. These partnerships help make education more accessible while ensuring programs remain aligned with workforce needs and career opportunities.

Employer partnerships have become a particularly important part of Bellevue University's strategy. Since Bellevue forged its first official corporate partnership in 1999 with Boys Town, the University has continued to work with organizations to create educational pathways that help employees build skills, complete degrees and advance professionally. These relationships help connect education directly to workplace outcomes while supporting long-term student success.

Community college transfer agreements, educational collaborations and international partnerships further extend the University's reach, helping more learners access quality higher education regardless of where they begin their academic journeys.

Student Success Remains the Priority

While technology, programs and partnerships have evolved, one principle has remained constant: student success.

As one of the nation’s few open-access institutions, Bellevue University serves many students who are balancing significant personal and professional responsibilities. For these learners, success requires more than access to coursework. It requires guidance, encouragement and practical support.

The University provides a wide range of student support services, including academic advising, coaching, tutoring, writing assistance, library resources, military and veteran services, career support and technical assistance. These resources are designed to help students navigate challenges, stay on track and achieve their goals.

This commitment reflects a simple belief that has guided Bellevue University since its founding: success should not depend on where students start, but on the opportunities and support available to help them finish.

Looking Ahead: The Next Chapter of Innovation

As Bellevue University enters its seventh decade, higher education continues to evolve.

Students increasingly seek flexible learning options. Employers are looking for workforce-ready talent. Technology continues to create new possibilities for teaching, learning and career development. These trends align closely with the areas where Bellevue University has built expertise over the past 60 years.

The University's future will continue to be shaped by innovation in online learning supported through advances in artificial intelligence, the expansion of strategic partnerships and a deep commitment to student success. Just as importantly, it will continue to be guided by its founding purpose: helping learners achieve more through education.

The challenges facing learners may change over time, but Bellevue University's response remains familiar. Listen carefully. Remove barriers. Create opportunity. Support success. Those principles shaped the University's first 60 years and will continue guiding its future.

Key Facts

• Bellevue earned the ABCA Team Academic Excellence Award for the seventh consecutive season.
• The honor marks the eighth overall time the Bruins have received the award.
• Bellevue was one of 36 NAIA programs recognized nationally.
• More than 500 collegiate programs and over 320 high school programs received the award this year.
• Bellevue finished the 2026 season with a 50-6 overall record and a 24-0 mark in Frontier Conference play.
• The Bruins won both the Frontier Conference regular season and tournament championships.
• Bellevue qualified for its 28th NAIA National Tournament and hosted an Opening Round Bracket for the sixth time.

ABCA Recognizes Bellevue for Academic Excellence

For the seventh-straight season, and eighth time overall, the American Baseball Coaches' Association (ABCA) recognized the Bellevue University baseball team today as the Bruins earned the ABCA Team Academic Excellence Award, presented by Sports Attack.

Bellevue was one of 36 NAIA schools to be honored with the ABCA Team Academic Excellence Award.

Teams from every level of college and high school baseball were honored with this year's award, highlighting programs coached by ABCA members that posted a GPA of 3.0 or above on a 4.0 scale for the entire 2025-26 academic year.

This year's award recognized over 320 high school programs and more than 500 collegiate programs.

Award Criteria

Coaches were able to nominate their teams for the ABCA Team Academic Excellence Award following the conclusion of their spring semesters before the nomination deadline of July 17. To be honored, teams had to meet the following criteria:

• Must be a high school or college team
• Head coach must be a current ABCA member
• The team must have a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.00 on a 4.0 scale during the 2023-24 academic year

About the ABCA Awards Program

The American Baseball Coaches Association has a long tradition of recognizing the achievements of baseball coaches and student-athletes. The ABCA/Rawlings All-America Teams are the nation's oldest, founded in 1949, and the ABCA's awards program also includes the ABCA/Rawlings All-Region Awards, the ABCA/ATEC Regional & National Coaches of the Year, and several other major awards such as the ABCA Hall of Fame and the Dave Keilitz Ethics in Coaching Award.

About Sports Attack

Sports Attack was founded in 1995 in Reno, NV, but our design and manufacturing folks pre-date the first wheel machines in the baseball industry well over 50 years ago. SA is proudly family-owned and operated with three active partners still heavily engaged. To say that we are manufacturers of quality sports training equipment just seems not to capture the essence of who we are. We do not just design our products; we explore, scrutinize, analyze and engineer our products. We do not just manufacture or assemble our equipment; we build each one from the ground up, by hand, the old-fashioned way.

We view our suppliers through the lens of our mission statement, as a critical part of the design and development of our equipment. After fabrication and prior to shipment the equipment is tested thoroughly, every aspect of every unit. This ensures the product reliability on which our brand is built. Our process represents who we are; distinctive and exclusive design, detailed and quality manufacturing, resulting in innovative, highly effective training equipment.

Our corporate integrity is a critical asset, and we are committed to upholding it worldwide. We set high standards and we abide by them as we practice business fairly and behave ethically. We wholeheartedly believe in, enthusiastically embrace and relentlessly pursue our company's mission. For more information, visit sportsattack.com.

Bellevue Baseball Continues Tradition of Excellence

Bellevue baseball wrapped up the 2026 season with a 50-6 overall record, going 24-0 to win the Frontier Conference regular season championship. During the postseason, BU won the Frontier Conference Tournament title, qualified for their 28th NAIA National Tournament, and hosted an Opening Round Bracket for the sixth time.

Robin Bernstein began working in Bellevue University’s library in 1978, when research looked very different than it does today.

There were no online databases. No internet. No search engines. No artificial intelligence.

Students searched through drawers of card catalogs, photocopied pages from printed indexes, and sometimes waited weeks for periodicals and articles to arrive through the mail.

Today, Bellevue University students have access to over a hundred databases, hundreds of thousands of digital resources, and research assistance around the clock.

Remarkably, one person has been there through it all.

As Senior Director of Library Services, Bernstein has spent nearly 48 years helping students navigate an ever-changing information landscape. She is the University’s longest-serving staff member. During that time, she has witnessed—and helped lead—one of the most significant transformations in higher education.

A Student Who Never Left

Bernstein’s Bellevue University story began as a student.

Like so many students and alumna, Robin came to Bellevue as part of a military family stationed at Offutt Air Force Base.

Originally planning to attend college on the East Coast, her Mom (like so many Moms) wanted her to stay closer, so she enrolled at then Bellevue College.

While registering for classes, she noticed a job posting on a bulletin board for a part-time position in the library.

She applied. She got the job. And she’s never left.

“It was the perfect job,” Bernstein recalls. She attended classes in the morning and worked afternoons in the library, balancing both roles throughout her college career.

While still earning her degree in Business Administration, she accepted a full-time position in the library, and in 1994, earned her Master of Library Science (MLS) and became Director, all integral to her storied career that spans nearly five decades.

Reinventing the Library

During Bernstein’s early years, much of the library work was manual.

For nine years, she personally typed catalog cards for the library’s collection. Every book required multiple cards. Every update required manual maintenance.

Then technology arrived.

In 1987, Bellevue University’s library received its first computer system. Soon after came online databases, electronic journals, digital catalogs, and eventually internet-based research tools.

Many industries struggled to adapt to technological change. Libraries were no exception. But Bernstein viewed innovation differently.

“We’ve always been on the leading edge of trying new things,” she says. “We’ve taken risks. Sometimes they pay off. Sometimes they don’t. But we always moved forward.”

That mindset mirrors Bellevue University’s culture of innovation—a culture Bernstein has experienced under three university presidents and countless institutional changes.

Instead of resisting technology, she embraces it. Instead of protecting old systems, she reimagined what a library could become.

Libraries' Relevance in the Age of AI

As AI - artificial intelligence - becomes the latest technological disruptor, some people question whether libraries remain relevant. Bernstein doesn’t hesitate with her answer.

“Libraries are absolutely relevant in the age of AI. In fact, librarians may be more important than ever. I look at AI as another tool,” she went on. “Our role is helping people learn how to use that tool effectively.”

Rather than replacing research, AI introduces new challenges. Students must learn how to write effective prompts, evaluate results, identify inaccuracies, and verify information before using it.

That’s where librarians step in. For decades, librarians helped students find information. Today, they also help students evaluate information.

The skill set has evolved, but the mission remains the same. “We don’t know everything,” Bernstein says with a smile. “But we know how to find everything.”

A Personal Approach to Student Success

Perhaps the most innovative service Bernstein has helped create is Bellevue University’s Personal Librarian Program.

The concept is simple, but powerful. Students who enroll are paired with a librarian who remains their research partner throughout their entire Bellevue University experience.

Whether they’re first-year students or doctoral candidates, participants have a consistent point of contact who understands their academic goals, research interests, and learning needs.

The program currently serves hundreds of students and has become a unique support system for learners who might otherwise feel overwhelmed by the research process, especially with the myriad choices brought to the fore via AI.

“It’s about taking away anxiety,” Bernstein explains.

Students don’t have to navigate complex databases alone. They don’t have to wonder where to start. They have someone in their corner.

In an increasingly digital world, the program creates something surprisingly valuable: a personal connection.

Supporting Students Everywhere

Bellevue University’s commitment to serving working adults and online learners has required the library to evolve in new ways.

Today’s students are located locally, across the country, and across the globe.

To support them, the library offers extensive digital resources, virtual consultations, accessibility accommodations, and a 24/7 librarian chat service that ensures help is always available.

The goal isn’t simply access to information. It’s access to expertise.

Whether a student logs in at noon or midnight, someone is available to guide them.

Bellevue University’s library is part of a national support system, so that librarians are available to students at all hours. So when Bellevue University’s library is closed, another institution’s librarian assists Bellevue University students at that time. But Bernstein’s team always follows up personally to ensure that students received the help they needed.

That level of care reflects a philosophy that has guided her entire career. Technology should make learning easier, not more complicated.

Looking Toward the Future

After nearly five decades at Bellevue University, Bernstein has seen extraordinary changes.

Card catalogs have disappeared. Printed indexes have become searchable databases. Research that once took weeks can now happen in seconds. And AI is reshaping how people seek and consume information.

Yet through every transformation, one thing has remained constant: students still need guidance. They still need trusted experts. They still need people who can help them separate information from misinformation and curiosity from confusion.

That’s why Bernstein remains optimistic about the future of libraries. The tools will continue to change. The mission will not.

As she reflects on nearly 48 years of service, Bernstein’s career offers a powerful reminder that innovation isn’t about replacing people. It’s about helping people succeed.

And for generations of Bellevue University students, that’s exactly what she’s done.

Spend a few minutes talking with Marissa Decker and one thing becomes clear: she knows exactly who she is.

She describes herself as sensitive, high-energy, bold, occasionally edgy and, above all, a storyteller. For years, she questioned whether those qualities belonged in a corporate environment. Today, those very qualities are driving her success.

Working for Metropolitan Utilities District (MUD) since 2015, Decker collaborates with contractors and engineers to improve customer satisfaction in her position as Business Development Builders Clerk. While the role is firmly rooted in a professional, service-driven environment, she has stretched beyond traditional boundaries, especially while completing her Bachelor of Science in Marketing degree at Bellevue University.

In addition to her full-time role, she took on an internal volunteer role within the organization in late 2025 as a creative content marketing lead for the Cultural Employee Resource Group (CERG). However, what began as a simple volunteer gig became a defining lesson.

"You have to be unapologetically yourself and push outside of the box," she said. "That's where the magic happens."

Turning Passion into Credibility

Decker has always been drawn to storytelling, graphic design, and content marketing. What she sought from Bellevue University was the structure behind that passion.

“I have experience. I have knowledge. I have the creative human touch. But I wanted those advanced skills and a deeper understanding of marketing,” she said. “Now I have credibility because I earned my degree.”

Through her coursework, she learned to pair creative instinct with strategic thinking—analyzing audiences, building campaigns and measuring impact. That combination proved transformative.

While working with the ERG, Decker began creating content designed to connect employees, educate the workforce and strengthen culture. Her work aligns with organizational branding standards while bringing warmth, personality and humanity into corporate communications.

Marketing with Empathy

At the core of Decker’s approach is a simple belief: good marketing starts with understanding people.

"You can't be a marketer if you don't ask questions and genuinely care," she said. "You can't serve your audience if you don't understand them."

That mindset shapes everything she creates.

Her newsletters don’t simply share information—they tell stories. When launching a new internal publication, she invited employees to help name it. The final choice, Culture Connect, reflected a shared vision. For an engagement initiative, she developed a global travel-themed campaign that tied into the current “passport program,” which employees collect stamps and points for participation. Decker designs personalized stamps for each event and colorful promotional materials to engage members with intentionality.

In fact, one profile in the program highlighted a colleague from Nigeria and included guidance on how to pronounce his name. It was a small but meaningful detail rooted in respect and inclusion while still being modern, fun, and educational.

"I can physically see people engaging with my work and how it makes them feel valued," she said. "I found my purpose."

That purpose was further recognized when Decker earned a Pinnacle Award from the American Marketing Association Omaha Chapter. Her winning project was one she completed during her time at Bellevue, and it focused on a social media strategy targeting an untapped audience: men interested in skincare. The project combined research, audience analysis, risk assessment, strategic planning and graphic design.

Decker credits Bellevue University faculty member Dr. Randa Zalman for helping elevate her work and being a mentor who saw her talents and encouraged her to put her work out there.

"I've never had a teacher personally reach out and say, 'Marissa, I want you to know you have a gift,'" Decker said. “It's really motivating to have a professor who sees your talents and provides detailed feedback on how to improve. But also provides the tools to be successful and genuinely cares about your wellbeing.”

An Academic and Career Journey to Be Proud Of

Decker’s journey extends beyond awards.

She is a first-generation college graduate who worked full-time while earning her degree. During that time, she also purchased her own home, maintained a 4.0 GPA and earned Dean’s List honors.

"I went from being a college dropout to being recognized as the winner of the Pinnacle Award," she said.

"I felt like a failure at one point in life, constantly comparing myself to others," she said. "Now I'm very confident in so many aspects of my life, seeing what I am capable of and so blessed I went back to school, met amazing people, secured my degree, and chose myself."

That confidence has created momentum beyond the workplace. Her work at MUD and involvement with the ERG have led to freelance opportunities and new ways to apply her skills.

But for Decker, success isn’t defined by recognition. It’s defined by connection.

"I help people feel seen and heard," she said.

And in a field often driven by metrics and dashboards, she’s found something equally powerful. "I am authentically me in everything I do," she said.

After more than four decades in higher education – and specifically at Bellevue University, Dr. Roxanne Sullivan has learned something surprising:

Students haven’t changed nearly as much as people think.

As Bellevue University’s longest-serving professor and longtime Psychology Department Chair, Sullivan has spent 43 years helping students understand human behavior. Along the way, she’s witnessed the rise of personal computers, the internet, online education, smartphones, social media, and now artificial intelligence.

Yet despite all the technological disruption, the fundamentals of learning remain remarkably consistent.

“People always think students today are completely different,” Sullivan says. “The excuses have changed from ‘the dog ate my homework’ to ‘my computer ate my homework,’ but many of the challenges are the same.”

The Human Side of Learning

Sullivan’s perspective is grounded in both scholarship and experience.

A developmental psychologist by training, she earned degrees from the University of Iowa, Purdue University, and Michigan State University before joining Bellevue University in 1983.

Over the years, her focus shifted from researching young children to understanding how college students learn most effectively. One lesson stands above the rest: students thrive when they take ownership of their education.

“The biggest change I’ve seen is the amount of responsibility students take for their learning,” Sullivan explains. “Some simply don’t have modeling when it comes to college.” That’s especially true for first-generation college students, a group Sullivan understands personally.

Despite growing up in a family without college degrees, education was always expected. Her parents encouraged academic achievement and instilled a belief that learning could create opportunities beyond what previous generations had experienced.

Today, she works to provide that same encouragement to students navigating college for the first time.

Psychology Is More Relevant Than Ever

When we asked Sullivan if, and how, psychology has changed over the years, she said that it hasn’t changed much. “When people think about psychology as a major or profession, they think you’re going to analyze them.” Many of Sullivan’s students aspire to be therapists or counselors, and while some go on and earn these credentials, she made the point that what people learn in psychology courses runs wide and deep across many other careers – and life. “In today’s workplace, understanding how people think, communicate, make decisions, and respond to change may be more valuable than ever. It’s not just the content,” she said, “It’s the skill sets.”

Those skills include critical thinking, communication, problem-solving, empathy, and understanding human motivation—capabilities that apply in business, marketing, leadership, healthcare, education, and countless other professions.

In fact, some of Sullivan’s most successful former students never became practicing psychologists at all. Instead, they apply psychological principles in careers ranging from real estate to nonprofit leadership to veteran services.

The common denominator isn’t a specific job title. It’s an understanding of people.

The Online Learning Experiment That Worked

When Bellevue University began expanding its online offerings, Sullivan wasn’t immediately on board. Like many faculty members, she worried about whether students could receive the same educational experience outside a traditional classroom.

Rather than resisting the change, she decided to shape it.

Over the course of several years, Sullivan helped move nearly an entire psychology program online while maintaining the rigor and engagement she believed students deserve. Her goal was simple: online students should receive the same quality education as students sitting in a classroom.

Today, psychology remains one of Bellevue University’s strongest programs, with online enrollment continuing to grow.

The experience taught Sullivan an important lesson about innovation – technology works best when it serves educational goals.

The AI Conversation Is Familiar

As artificial intelligence rapidly enters classrooms and workplaces, Sullivan sees parallels to earlier technological revolutions.

When calculators became common, educators worried students would stop learning math. When the internet emerged, many feared research skills would disappear.

Now, AI has become the newest source of concern. Sullivan believes the discussion should focus less on fear and more on responsible use. “Like anything else, you learn to use the tool appropriately,” she says.

The solution isn’t avoiding the technology altogether. The solution is teaching students how to question it. “Use it,” she advises. “But think about what it’s giving you.”

AI can help students brainstorm ideas, create visuals, summarize information, and explore concepts. But it cannot replace critical thinking, judgment, or genuine understanding.

But Sullivan warns: AI can generate inaccurate information, fabricate references, or confidently present incorrect conclusions. She is fine with students using AI, because she knows they’re going to, but she instructs them to cite their sources and deploy their good thinking to a piece that AI has helped research.

Curiosity Still Wins

Throughout the interview, one theme surfaced repeatedly: curiosity.

Whether discussing psychology, technology, or student success, Sullivan returned to the importance of asking questions, exploring ideas, and remaining open to learning. That’s one reason she remains optimistic about the future.

While technology will continue to evolve, the qualities that drive success remain remarkably stable: Students who are curious. Students who take responsibility. Students willing to challenge assumptions and think critically. Those are the students who thrive.

And after 43 years in the classroom, Sullivan has seen enough evidence to know that will never change.

A Legacy Beyond Psychology

As Sullivan prepares for retirement in a year, her influence extends far beyond the psychology department.

Thousands of students have passed through her classrooms. Hundreds have chosen careers inspired by lessons learned under her guidance.

Perhaps most importantly, she has modeled what lifelong learning looks like.

From adapting to online education to thoughtfully embracing AI, Sullivan has never stopped learning herself. That may be her most enduring lesson. The world will continue to change. New technologies will emerge. New challenges will appear.

But curiosity, critical thinking, and a commitment to understanding people will always matter.

And those are lessons worth carrying forward.

Hoke’s journey to earning her MHA began when she returned to the workforce in 2014 after taking time to raise her three girls, soon realizing that continuing her education would be essential to achieving her career goals. “I needed a program that would fit into my life, which was already busy with my girls and working full time,” she said. “The level of engagement and availability from the professors built my confidence and pushed me to succeed.”

Similar to Hoke, Vacarro knew a leadership position would require more education. She found that her employer offered tuition reimbursement with Bellevue University. “I decided that there was really no reason not to pursue my MHA. I enjoy learning and I was eager to deepen my knowledge about healthcare,” she said. “I was also able to complete the program without accruing new student debt!”

Growing and Connecting Through Graduate Education

Hoke said earning her MHA has helped her grow personally and professionally over the last decade. ”The ability to work while enrolled in the MHA program allowed me to bring my real-life healthcare experiences to the program,” she said. “In turn, the real application of the ideas not only drove me to be a better professional; it deepened my understanding of the concepts that I was learning,” she said.

She valued her MHA experience so much that she wanted to be an active part of its future. “Bellevue University makes a college degree a realistic, attainable goal, and that is one of the biggest reasons that I sought out an adjunct position,” she said. “I truly believe that being an adjunct continues to grow my knowledge and perspectives in my field with each course I teach.”

Vaccaro agreed that the MHA’s immediate application to her workplace and accommodation of working students helped her succeed. “I had opportunities to ask questions of leaders that might not necessarily have arisen otherwise,” she said. “While I was initially nervous about being part of an online cohort, in hindsight, it was the only way I think I could have completed my MHA in the time that I did.”

During her program, Vaccaro worked closely with Hoke during her Organizational Delivery and Design course, with the two ultimately meeting in person at the graduation open house in January.

Continuing to Learn as Colleagues

Following graduation, Hoke offered Vaccaro a role as Credentialing Coordinator at Midlands Choice, where Hoke works as the Director of Credentialing & Compliance.

“I knew that Shannon would be a great candidate for the position,” Hoke said. “I am excited for the opportunity to work with her in this new capacity and am grateful for the connection formed through the MHA program.”

Vaccaro said she has already seen the impact her graduate program is making in her new role. “I am using my problem-solving skills in a new way and really try to integrate how my role impacts the organization,” she said.

She also said Hoke’s mentorship has made an undeniable impact. “Jenn was a pivotal reason I decided to make the leap into the position at Midlands Choice,” Vaccaro said. “Because of my experience with Jenn at Bellevue University, and because of the MHA program itself, I had the confidence to take on a new role that was outside of my comfort zone.”

MHA Program Director Mike Freel said he often sees lasting connections like these. ”The program is led by highly accomplished faculty, but what truly sets the program apart is how those faculty connect with students,” he said. “As students approach the end of the program, many begin to see new professional doors opening. During this important transition, faculty remain actively engaged. That genuine investment in student success is what helps create lasting relationships that extend well beyond the classroom.”

For years, Karen McMullen’s path seemed set: a future in criminal justice, possibly in law enforcement. But life had other plans.

“I got my associate’s degree in California and completed the first phase of the Reserve Police Academy, earning my POST Level III Reserve Peace Officer Certificate,” McMullen recalls. “Then I found out I was pregnant with my son, and so at that time, becoming an officer was off the table. That felt like a detour, but it ultimately became the foundation for everything that followed.”

And what followed wasn’t a straight line, but a journey shaped by resilience and timing.

After entering the workforce, McMullen took a job at a bank and discovered her employer offered a tuition assistance program. She enrolled in a cybersecurity certificate program, but quickly realized it wasn’t enough.

“I realized I needed more. That wasn’t enough for my goals,” she says. “I reached a point in my life where I said, ‘You have no choice, you have to do it now,’” she explains. “It had been 17 years since I got my associate’s degree, and I knew my waiting period was over.”

That decision led her to Bellevue University through Guild, a leading education platform. Bellevue University is one of the schools in Guild’s academic network.

For the first time, education fit into her life—not the other way around. Bellevue’s online format made it possible to balance two jobs, motherhood and life as a military spouse. “I had never taken online classes, and I was terrified. But now that I’m older, learning this way works for me as it is convenient and flexible.”

A Support System That Made the Difference

A key part of McMullen’s success was the support she found at Bellevue, especially from her Student Coach, Val Henderson.

“Val was wonderful. She’s an amazing person who gets me. She understands me. Her constant communication and confidence in me made all the difference.”

Together, Karen and Val charted a path not just to graduation, but to excellence. With Henderson’s guidance, McMullen added a minor in Computer Information Systems and prepared to graduate with honors.

That support became even more critical when her husband’s military deployment required the family to relocate to Germany in November 2025.

“I was worried about whether I could keep going,” she says. “But again, Val assured me that being there and continuing in my classes would work.”

With help from Bellevue staff, early technical challenges were resolved, leaving only the adjustment to time zone differences.

“Throughout my journey, everyone—from my family to my student coach to my professors had this mindset of ‘we are getting this degree together.’ Of course, my biggest supporter has been my husband. His encouragement and unwavering belief meant everything.”

Earning her Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice and graduating magna cum laude holds academic significance, but for McMullen, the honors she earned were deeply personal, as well.

“I want to go to law school, so yes, GPA matters,” she says. “But personally, it means something more.”

She reflects on earlier setbacks, including being placed on academic probation in community college. “When I came to Bellevue, I told myself, ‘You made mistakes before, but you can be as close to perfect as you want to be now.’ This was personal. I wanted to make up for the past.”

Although Karen had made the Dean’s List throughout her time at BU, she didn’t realize she had earned magna cum laude honors until the day of commencement.

“I was sitting there and saw it, and I was so excited. I took pictures in my chair and sent them to my family,” says McMullen. “After the ceremony, I kept my graduation cap on. I kept looking at myself and saying, ‘You are superwoman. You did it. Magna cum laude.’”

A Season of Milestones

Graduation came during a remarkable season in her life.

“My son graduated high school this month, I graduated this month, and I’m pregnant with another child,” she shares. “My husband and I will be returning to Germany soon. It’s been a wonderful few years.”

She is also the first among her siblings to earn a college degree. “I’m one of seven kids, and I’m the first to get my degree.”

Her accomplishment is already inspiring others. Shortly after graduation, her older brother became emotional, sharing that her success is motivating him to return to school and finish his own degree.

As for her, she’s more committed than ever to her goal to help victims in the criminal justice system.

“My passion is connected to domestic violence advocacy and helping individuals and families who have experienced abuse, trauma, and injustice,” she explains. As she looks toward law school, she wants to advocate for victims, strengthen legal protections and drive meaningful reform.

Her Success Is ‘Right on Time’

Reflecting on her education and career journey, McMullen emphasizes that success doesn’t follow a single timeline.

“School is not for everyone at a certain time,” she says. “It has to be in your time. It doesn’t matter your age or life circumstances, but you can do it when the time is right. I returned to school 16 years later at 39 years old and finished at 40. Don’t allow your age to determine your destiny. Instead, use it as a multiplier to achieve greatness.”

Finding that time also meant finding the right place. “I’m so thankful I found the right institution for me. I had gone to other schools, and they didn’t fit. Bellevue did. I didn’t give up on my goals, I just found somewhere better to accomplish them.”

When that moment came, she didn’t just finish, she excelled – as a mom, military spouse, college graduate and magna cum laude honoree.

Advancing with the Market Through Education

Ron began his higher education journey with an associate’s degree in civil engineering, progressing through his career into a Chief Information Officer role at Montgomery County Memorial Hospital in Red Oak, Iowa.

“Modern healthcare is consistently engaged in rapid technological advancement,” he said. “I needed additional skills and aptitude to manage the burgeoning healthcare digital infrastructure and vast operational changes thrust upon healthcare staff.”

He chose the Bellevue University Management Information Systems program in 2010 for several reasons, including the school’s prominent U.S. News & World Report rankings, physical proximity of the school (about an hour’s drive) and strong reputation for online learning.

Bellevue University’s generous credit transfer policy was also a factor. “I wanted my credits from my associate’s degree experience to count as much as possible and Bellevue University was extremely accommodating in that regard,” Ron said.

Through his program, Ron gained the advancement he needed to progress his organization into the future. “The expectations placed on our people from these rapid changes demanded that I bring the best that I could to the task,” he said. “The MIS program gave me the necessary tools and the knowledge.”

Continuing on to the Graduate Level

Ron chose to pursue his Master of Healthcare Administration (MHA) degree shortly after completing his bachelor’s degree. “The decision was easy,” he said.

Ron said earning his master’s degree empowered him to better serve the caregivers he leads. “This was my way of advancing a personal mission to give back to the organization that had given me so much,” he said. “Bellevue University's MHA Program provided me with the curriculum, the educators and the relationships I needed.”

Ultimately, this led him to a CEO role at the hospital. “Most healthcare CEOs come up through the ranks of finance or medicine,” he said. “Advanced technology is now foundational to a modern healthcare organization. Bellevue University helped me combine all the necessary elements to lead a complex healthcare organization as its CEO and do it successfully; I am forever grateful for the impact that Bellevue University had on my career.”

Ron retired in March, transitioning to CEO Emeritus. He also serves on the College of Business Advisory Council. “I know that if I need help with a particular subject, I can count on the folks at Bellevue University, and they can also count on me if they have a need that I can fulfill,” he said.

Love of Learning Runs in the Family

Sarah said she remembers her dad passing on his love of learning early on. She was homeschooled from second through 12^th grades, and each year she and her parents evaluated if that was still the best option for her. “I believe this early practice of curiosity and analysis that my parents helped me develop has been invaluable.”

Sarah became the first person in her family to earn a bachelor’s degree, then earned her Master of Fine Arts degree at Iowa State University. She found a continued passion for education while working in tutoring, writing and other roles at her school. “All of these experiences affirmed my interest in and commitment to working in higher education,” she said.

After working in various capacities at Miles Community College for more than 13 years, Sarah moved back to Nebraska to continue her education career. “I first got to know the university through my dad's experiences as a student,” she said. “In 2021, when I researched colleges and universities committed to open access in the Omaha area, Bellevue University impressed me and stood out as the place I wanted to work.”

Like her father, Sarah is also committed to focusing on building and maintaining relationships. “My aspiration is to keep showing up every day with curiosity, with an unwavering conviction that relationships and collaboration matter, and a belief that there is no impossible place for a student to start from on a higher education journey,” she said.

Sarah is currently working toward her doctorate of education through the Rossier School of Education at the University of Southern California. “The needs of our learners will keep changing as we move forward, and we will keep proactively evolving to meet students with support and excitement,” she said. “In 2025, Bellevue University was one of the few institutions to earn the Opportunity College and Universities designation from the new Carnegie Student Access and Earnings Classification.”

• Bellevue University will present at the CCBA 2026 National Conference in Long Beach, California, February 11–13.
• Focus of the session will be on partnership strategies among colleges and universities, community organizations, and industry.
• Bellevue's session will highlight how partnerships can expand access, support innovation, and create opportunities for students and communities.
• Presentation led by Bellevue University leadership in community college transfer and partnership development.
• Reinforces Bellevue’s role in advancing career-focused education and workforce-aligned outcomes.

Driving Student Outcomes Through Strategic Partnerships

Bellevue University’s participation in the CCBA 2026 National Conference reflects its long-standing commitment to building partnerships that connect education to opportunity. The University will share how collaboration across higher education, industry, and community organizations creates more flexible and accessible pathways for students—particularly working adults and transfer learners. 

For more than 20 years, Bellevue University has worked with community colleges, companies and organizations to provide learning opportunities for employees. The university currently partners with over 175 organizations, helping them use education to recruit, develop, and retain employees.

• Contributor: Dr. John Kyndt, Professor at Bellevue University
• Study duration: 16 months
• Focus: Nebraska salt marsh microbiome
• Publication: Microorganisms journal
• Research team: Bellevue University and international students
• Funding: 2024–25 EPSCoR NE grant and Wilson Undergraduate Research Enhancement fund
• Findings: seasonal variation, microbial resilience, new species, antibiotic resistance markers, pathogenic strains

Editor’s Note

Editor’s Note: This article was contributed by Dr. John Kyndt, Professor at Bellevue University.

Background and Study Purpose

The Nebraska salt marshes are a very unique ecosystem and one of the few places in the US where the ground water is naturally salty. They are a relic of ancient oceans that once covered central North America. Conservation of natural areas has historically typically emphasized plant and insect ecology, however it is important to start at the basis, by looking at the microbial changes that often show signs of distress, or start the recovery, months or years before changes become evident in the larger ecosystem. To provide a better understanding of the Nebraska salt marsh micro-ecosystem, we performed a 16-month study to analyze and compare the salt marsh microbiome throughout different seasons.

July 2024 sampling trip at the NE Salt Marshes near Lincoln.

Research Team and Findings

The research team that performed this study was composed of a group of dedicated Bellevue University and international visiting students that performed different parts of this study over a two-year time period. The team found that the salt marsh microbiome is resilient, but also shows both temporal and spatial variations that are concurrent with seasonal variations in salinity, temperature, and vegetation growth. The study also identified several new species for which the whole genomes were determined. Surprising was the discovery of several antibiotic resistance markers (AMR) and human pathogenic strains of Vibrio cholerae and Pseudomonas in these somewhat secluded marsh ecosystems.

Results and Publication

In the end the study was able to determine which species are critical for the health of the salt marsh microbiome, and this could help in future conservation and microbial stewardship efforts to preserve the marshes from further degradation and loss. The result were published this week in the journal ‘Microorganisms’: https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2607/13/10/2369. 

Funding and Collaboration

This is not only a great scientific achievement, but also a great illustration of the collaborative science research success at BU. The research was partially sponsored by the 2024-25 EPSCoR NE grant (to Dr. John Kyndt) and the Wilson Undergraduate Research Enhancement fund at BU. Two of the co-authors are BU students that were sponsored by the EPSCoR grant, one student was from the Delphin summer research program, and two other ones were from the Erasmus research student exchange program between BU and Erasmus University in Belgium.

Research Contributors

This research was a collaboration between Bellevue Biology students: Emma Stock, Ketlyn Rota, Brandi Dunn, and Maddy Vasquez, a student from our Delfin summer research program (summer 2024) Daniela Hernandez-Velazquez from the Universidad Veracruzana (Mexico), visiting students Alyssia Lespes and Solenn Bosmans (spring 2025) from the Erasmus University Brussels (Belgium), and Jace Smith who provided additional bioinformatics support, all under the guidance of Dr. John Kyndt.

Impact and Future Implications

The results provide a baseline understanding of the microbial processes that support these important ecosystems, and can be used to monitor the future health of the marshes. With increasing urban development near the Nebraska salt marshes there are increasing challenges with effluent contamination of the marshes and, alternatively, potential transfer of these pathogenic and AMR containing species to neighboring developments. Preserving these wetlands is not only important for the ecosystem of the marsh and the health of the environment, but also allows us to get a historical glimpse of the evolution and adaptation of species to more extreme environments.

Student Opportunities

If you are interested in joining projects like these, there are more student opportunities to join in this type of research. For more information contact Dr. John Kyndt (jkyndt@bellevue.edu).

Additional Information

Read the original post on Science on Display here.

• Author: Hoda Hassan, RMHCI
• Affiliation: Bellevue University alum
• Publication: Florida Counseling Association newsletter
• Issue: Summer 2025
• Article title: The Nervous System Knows: Somatic Signs That It’s Time to Unplug
• Topic: Effects of screen use on mental and physical health
• Includes research findings and strategies to reduce screen use impact

Article Content

Bellevue University alum Hoda Hassan, RMHCI, published an article in the Summer 2025 issue of the Florida Counseling Association newsletter on the effects of screen use on mental and physical health.

The article, The Nervous System Knows: Somatic Signs That It’s Time to Unplug, explains how screen use can contribute to anxiety, depression, poor sleep, shallow breathing, eye strain, muscle tension, and sensory overload.

Hassan cites studies showing that one extra hour of smartphone use in bed can increase the risk of insomnia, and that heavy daily screen use more than doubles the odds of anxiety and depression in teens. The article also shares strategies such as breathwork, grounding techniques, and daily rituals to reduce the impact of screen use.

About the Organization

The Florida Counseling Association, a branch of the American Counseling Association, promotes the counseling profession through public awareness, professional development, and advocacy.

The full article is available for download below.

• Hannah Eatherton completed a Civic Engagement Project through the Kirkpatrick Signature Series
• Project supported Blue Valley Community Action food pantry in York, Nebraska
• Food drive goal: 1,500 pounds of food collected in July
• Total collected: 3,412 pounds of food
• Donations provided 2,844 meals
• Contributions delivered on August 1 in three truckloads
• York pantry recorded 88 visits in July with low supplies

Civic Engagement Project Drives Community Impact

When Bellevue University student Hannah Eatherton began the Kirkpatrick Signature Series (KSS), she thought she already knew what it meant to be an engaged citizen. By the end of the course, she realized there was more to it — and that shared values can lead communities to work together to give back. 

The KSS is a required course for all Bellevue University undergraduates and includes a key assignment: the Civic Engagement Project (CEP). The project requires students to plan and complete a community initiative, often involving volunteer work, and connect it to the course materials. 

For Eatherton, the focus was her own community York, Nebraska. After seeing Facebook posts from young families struggling to afford groceries, she decided to help. 

Food Drive Exceeds Goal and Supports Local Pantry

Through her workplace, Cornerstone Bank — with nine locations and 230 employees in York County — Eatherton launched a food drive for York’s Blue Valley Community Action food pantry. Her goal was to collect 1,500 pounds of food between July 1 and July 31. 

By the end of the month, the drive collected 3,412 pounds of food — more than double her goal — enough to provide 2,844 meals. 

On August 1, Eatherton and her team delivered three truckloads of donations to the pantry. The donation came at a time when the pantry had 88 visits in July and supplies were low. 

“Without this course, I don’t know if I would have considered doing something like this,” Eatherton said. “Now, I’m planning to do more activities that support my community.” 

The Kirkpatrick Signature Series explores the institutions and traditions of Western Civilization, the principles of American government, and the responsibilities of citizenship. Through discussion and hands-on learning, the series encourages students to think critically about the relationship between tradition and change, freedom and responsibility, and to engage actively in their communities.

• Starr Shamp served as student speaker at the June commencement ceremony
• She earned a Master of Science in Clinical Mental Health Counseling
• She completed her degree while undergoing treatment for stage IV breast cancer

Student Speaker Address

At Bellevue University’s June commencement ceremony, Starr Shamp addressed graduates after completing her degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling. In her remarks, she outlined the path she took while managing multiple responsibilities during her program.

Shamp described how she underwent treatment for stage IV breast cancer while working full-time, getting married, and becoming a mother. She remained focused on completing her coursework and shared how she continued moving forward while managing these experiences.

• Bellevue University students received both awards in the student category
• Event: 2025 AMA Omaha Pinnacle Awards
• Date: April 23, 2025
• Pinnacle Award recipient: Joseph (Joey) Jaworski – Silver City Youth Group Campaign
• Silver Award recipient: Christine Cusworth – Marketing Plan for Ginger’s Baking Company

Student Awards

Bellevue University College of Business students earned both awards in the student category at the 2025 American Marketing Association (AMA) Omaha Pinnacle Awards, held April 23, 2025.

The student award recipients are:

• Pinnacle Award: Joseph (Joey) Jaworski – Silver City Youth Group Campaign
•  Silver Award: Christine Cusworth – Marketing Plan for Ginger’s Baking Company

Evaluation Process

The AMA Omaha Pinnacle Awards evaluate entries using a point-based system focused on campaign strategy and measurable results. All submissions are reviewed by marketing professionals from across the industry.

• Bellevue University partners with Erasmus University College Brussels (EhB)
• Two visiting students: Alyssia Lespes and Solenn Bosmans
• Students participate in biomedical lab technology research
• Students contribute to sequencing and microbiome studies
• Students attend Nebraska Academy of Sciences annual meeting on April 25, 2025

Editor’s Note

Editor’s Note: This article was contributed by Dr. John Kyndt, Professor at Bellevue University.

Student Exchange Program

Thanks to the student exchange program between their Erasmus University (EhB, Brussels, Belgium) and Bellevue University, two new students are currently working at Bellevue University as Science Lab Assistants. For the past three years students visiting from EhB have had the opportunity to gained practical experience aligned with their Erasmus studies in the area of biomedical lab technology. This year the lab is joined by Alyssia Lespes and Solenn Bosmans, who are performing a 4 week long research internship.

Alyssia Lespes (left), and Solenn Bosmans (right) are mentored by Dr. John Kyndt (middle) during their visiting internship.

International Collaboration

EhB each year has ‘international days’ and Dr. John Kyndt yearly gives a presentation to the second-year students about the ongoing research at BU, as an invitation for them to join for an internship. Dr. Kyndt is originally from Belgium and earned his Ph.D. in Biochemistry at the University of Ghent and build the connections with EhB through former colleagues that are Faculty at that University.

Research Projects

Both Solenn and Alyssia have been involved in several projects during their research stay at BU and spent countless hours performing DNA extractions and completed many library preparations for Illumina and Oxford Nanopore sequencing. In particular, they have played a crucial role in helping with the mushroom sequencing and identification project in collaboration with NE Game and Parks, and they have helped to complete the skin microbiome study and the NE salt marsh microbiome study for which Dr. Kyndt has an grant from EPSCoR Nebraska.

Student Experience

Alyssia, who originates from the Limburg region in Belgium, and Solenn, who calls the Brussels region home, will be at Bellevue University until May 11. They live in student housing and also attend some of the BU science classes during their stay to compare the educational differences between the two universities. They also participated alongside Bellevue University students at the Nebraska Academy of Sciences 2025 annual meeting at UNL on April 25.

Future Plans and Program Impact

The students are graduating in June, and Alyssia plans to pursue her master’s degree in forensic sciences. Solenn expects to work in industry or a hospital in a biomedical technology role after graduation.

Having students from other countries work and learn at Bellevue University enhances the overall student experience and benefits both students from other countries as well as students enrolled at Bellevue University.

“Since have signed an inter-university agreement with Erasmus this will also allow our science students the opportunity to travel to Belgium and study there, and we are actively looking at funding support for such efforts” said Dr. Kyndt.

• Students competed at the Nebraska FBLA-Collegiate Conference on March 28–29 in Kearney, Nebraska.
• Carlos Ortega Arguelles and Maria Pinedo Velarde won first place in Finance Case Study.
• Carlos Ortega Arguelles and Maria Pinedo Velarde placed third in Management Case Study.
• Bethany Duke won first place in Management Case Study.
• Bethany Duke placed third in Organizational Behavior and Leadership.
• All Bellevue students with top-five finishes qualified for the FBLA Collegiate National Leadership Conference on May 31–June 2 in Dallas, Texas.
• Carlos Ortega Arguelles received the FBLA Who’s Who Award.
• Andres Valencia placed second at the Morningside University Personal Pitch Competition.

Conference Overview and Top Finishers

Bellevue University College of Business students won two categories and had two third-place finishes in two different categories at the Nebraska Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA)-Collegiate Conference held March 28-29 in Kearney, Nebraska.

Bellevue’s top finishers included:

• Carlos Ortega Arguelles and Maria Pinedo Velarde, who won first place in the Finance Case Study category.
• Carlos Ortega Arguelles and Maria Pinedo Velarde also won third place in the Management Case Study category.
• Bethany Duke, who won first place in the Management Case Study category.
• Bethany Duke also won third place in the Organizational Behavior and Leadership category.

National Qualification and Recognition

With their top-five finishes, all the Bellevue students qualified for the FBLA Collegiate National Leadership Conference, which will be held May 31-June 2 in Dallas, Texas.

Ortega Arguelles was also recognized with the FBLA Who’s Who Award for outstanding contributions to the organization at the local, state and national levels. 

According to Dr. Laurel Mitchell, Bellevue University team advisor, “Carlos was our first member when we re-initiated our FBLA-Collegiate team last year, and he single-handedly recruited other team members. He is a true leader and represents FBLA-Collegiate core values.”

Pitch Competition and Student Development

Bellevue student Andres Valencia recently placed second at the Morningside University Personal Pitch Competition, representing Bellevue’s FBLA-Collegiate team.

The FBLA-Collegiate organization is committed to bridging the gap between future and present professionals through service, progress and education.

• Four students received scholarships for the 2024–25 academic year
• Program reached a record number of recipients
• Bellevue Papillion Rotary Club has funded scholarships for more than a decade
• Scholarships are funded through the Rotary Club’s annual golf outing

Scholarship Program

Four Bellevue University students have been awarded the Bellevue Papillion Rotary Club Scholarship for the 2024-25 academic year, marking a record number of recipients for the program.

For more than a decade, the Bellevue Papillion Rotary Club has supported local students through its scholarship program.

Student Recipients

The 2024-25 scholarship recipients include:

• Danielle Coyer, a freshman pursuing a degree in Sport Management.
• Clementine Smidt, a freshman studying Health and Human Performance.
• Jade Coon, a sophomore majoring in Biology.
• Emily Sweet, a junior majoring in Behavioral Science.

Program Funding

These scholarships are made possible by proceeds from the Rotary Club’s annual golf outing.

• Buffy Bush is the founder of Families of the Stolen (FOTS).
• She earned both her bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Bellevue University.
• Bush founded FOTS in 2012 after the death of her sister, Jameila Hesseltine.
• FOTS provides grief support, anti-violence awareness, and community engagement.
• Bush worked with Omaha Police Chief Todd Schmaderer on Cold Case Awareness Month.
• The City of Omaha recognized the “Gone, But Not Forgotten” campaign.
• Bellevue University presents the Ethical Leadership Award each year.

Award Recognition

Buffy Bush, founder of Families of the Stolen (FOTS), has been named the recipient of the Ethical Leadership Award by Bellevue University’s Ethical Leadership Committee.

Bush, a graduate of Bellevue University with both her bachelor's and master's degrees, founded FOTS in 2012 after the loss of her sister, Jameila Hesseltine, to violence. FOTS is a nonprofit organization that focuses on grief support, anti-violence awareness, and community engagement. The organization helps families who have lost loved ones, offering a shared bond through memories and community support.

Community Work and Advocacy

In addition to her nonprofit work, Bush has worked with Omaha Police Chief Todd Schmaderer to help establish September as Cold Case Awareness Month, a campaign titled “Gone, But Not Forgotten.” This initiative was recognized by Omaha Mayor Jean Stothert, furthering the city's commitment to advocating for victims of unsolved violent crimes.

Ethical Insights and Award Background

Ethical Insights is a faculty-driven initiative that fosters the teaching and learning of ethics across the colleges at Bellevue University. The current members of the Ethical Insights Committee include Committee Chair Karla Carter, Associate Professor Pat Artz, Associate Professor Leo Mayhan, and Assistant Professor David Thomas.

The Ethical Leadership Award is presented annually to a community member or student for leadership in ethics as demonstrated by professional and community service.

Previous winners of the Ethical Leadership and Service Award include:

• 2023 – Braxton Crowder
• 2022 – Debra Parsow
• 2021 – JR Richardson
• 2020 – Beth Riley
• 2019 – Katherine (KC) Noble
• 2018 – Pete Heineman
• 2017 – Gina Ponce
• 2016 – Mike Livergood
• 2015 – Dr. Jon Kayne
• 2014 – Rabbi Pesach Lerner
• 2013 – Frank Kumor
• 2012 – Dr. Robert Saniuk
• 2011 – Prof. Del Stites

• Bellevue University competed in the National Cyber League Fall 2024 Competition.
• The NCL is a cybersecurity skills competition based on real-world scenarios.
• Students participated in individual and team-based events.
• The team ranked #56 in the Cyber Power Rankings.
• More than 9,260 students from 550 colleges and universities competed.

Competition Overview

Bellevue University’s Cyber League team received national recognition for their performance in the National Cyber League (NCL) Fall 2024 Competition.

The NCL is a cybersecurity skills competition that simulates real-world scenarios, challenging participants to solve cyber threats in a secure environment. Participants engage in activities such as identifying hackers through forensic data analysis, conducting penetration testing on websites, recovering from ransomware attacks, and more.

Team Performance

Under the guidance of Coach Doug Rausch, the Maenner Endowed Chair and Associate Professor, Bellevue University students participated in individual and team-based events. Their performance earned them a national ranking of #56 in the Cyber Power Rankings, competing against more than 9,260 students from 550 colleges and universities.

Student Preparation

To learn more about how Bellevue University prepares students for success in the cybersecurity field, visit the Center for Cybersecurity Education.