Former Secretary of Education William J. Bennett provided the keynote address at the Inaugural Signature Event of the University’s Center for American Vision & Values. The noted author and talk show host entertained over 300 guests at the Joslyn Art Museum on October 22.

The theme of Dr. Bennett’s address was America: The Last Best Hope – popularized by his best-selling book of the same title. He made several references to the Center’s Kirkpatrick Signature Series and hailed the Center as a shining example of how education should embrace and share America’s founding principles. The evening was filled with applause and laughter as the honored guest shared both inspirational and humorous stories about his colleagues in Washington D.C., and his experiences under the Reagan Administration.

The event was hosted by the University Foundation. Bellevue University Board Chairman Michael Simmonds performed the emcee duties. The turnout surpassed the Foundation’s expectations.

Dr. Bennett interacted with several of the Foundation’s guests and University staff members prior to the program. Books were signed and cameras were flashing. During that time Bennett received the Beacon of Ethics Award from the Omaha Business Ethics Alliance for his lifelong dedication to ethical leadership and values.

Dr. Bennett concluded his address by fielding topical questions from the audience. The evening ended with Bennett receiving a copy of the Kirkpatrick Signature Series textbook signed by University staff.

Matching known acquaintances through a collection of photos on a wall is a familiar scene in a television crime drama as the detectives try to narrow their list of suspects. Bellevue University’s Jeffrey Hug is taking that approach and raising it to an art form. The Assistant Professor of Graphic Design and Photography has something special planned as a participant in a local art project known as the Empty Room.

The Empty Room is a six month long experiment where individuals are given access to an “empty room” where they are free to share their creative ideas with the Omaha community. The room is located at 13th and Webster streets and offers participants roughly 700 square feet to express their creativity. Each participant has the run of the room for an entire month. Hug’s idea was chosen for the October exhibit.

Inspired by crime dramas and a belief that people need to stay connected, Hug will fashion his empty room into a live adaptation of a Facebook page. Visitors to the exhibit will place their photo on a wall and connect their photo to other photos of people they know. They will use a piece of string/yarn to physically connect their photo to others. As the possible combinations increase with the number of visitors, the resulting connections will create an ever-changing visual. By the end of the month, the room could represent a tangled mess that would frighten even the most seasoned air traffic controller. The bigger the mess, the greater the success according to Hug who believes the more people stay connected the better. The project has been dubbed, “String Thing” by its creator.

Hug’s master plan includes a step beyond the exhibit’s October lifespan. He has made arrangements to convert the yarn used in the exhibit into hats and gloves for the homeless. Bellevue University staff and students are encouraged to donate yarn to the project. Donation boxes will be located throughout the campus. Donations will also be accepted at the exhibit during its October run.

For more information, visit http://emptyroomstringthing.com/.

On September 11, Bellevue University will host a forum to explore national security issues with an inside look at the threats facing America today.

Anthony (Tony) Campanella, Vice President for Intelligence Programs at CMX Technologies, will deliver the keynote address at “The State of Security in the Heartland and Beyond: Assessing the Homeland Threat,” a free event open to the public that runs from 9 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. inside the University’s Hitchcock Humanities Center. Following his keynote address, Campanella will take part in a round table discussion moderated by Bellevue University Associate Professor Greg Allen.

Prior to joining CMX, Campanella provided consulting support to the Joint Chiefs of Staff, the Department of Defense Counter Intelligence Field Agency, and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). At DHS, Campanella provided support to the Office of Intelligence and Analysis.

Prior to entering the private sector, Campanella served as an Intelligence Officer with the Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA). Campanella served in numerous crisis and contingency support roles at DIA, coordinating national intelligence support to deployed military units. At DIA, Campanella was selected to represent the Agency at the White House, serving as a Senior Duty Officer at the White House Situation Room.

A former Marine, Campanella served six years based out of Camp Lejeune, N.C., with the 2nd Marine Regiment and the 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit (Special Operations Capable). While in the Marines, Campanella completed three NATO deployments to northern Norway and two six month Mediterranean “cruises” aboard U.S. Navy ships.

Although the event is free, space is limited. Attendees are encouraged to reserve their spot by going to www.bellevue.edu/9-11.

Bellevue University and its College of Arts and Sciences today (Wednesday) will host a panel discussion about the recent Iranian election. The panel begins at noon, inside room 202 of the Hitchock Humanities Center, 1000 Galvin Road South, Bellevue.

It’s the first of an ongoing series of ”Cultures in Conflict” panel discussions. Panelists include: Dr. Majid Nabavi of Bellevue University’s College of Business; adjunct instructor Matthew Eggleton of the University’s College of Arts and Sciences; Professor Pat Artz, also from the College of Arts and Sciences; and Professor Michael Gendler from the College of Saint Mary.

Dr. Nabavi is a native of Iran and maintains close contacts in Iran. Eggleton is chief of Partner Nation Intelligence Education in Stuttgart, Germany, with a specialty in counterterrorism and peacekeeping operations.  Artz teaches an interdisciplinary course on the Middle East for the College of Arts and Sciences.

The event also will be available on the web at http://stream.bellevue.edu/mediasite/Viewer/?peid=7320f35f-1ed2-4a95-802d-271731267b36

Katrina Robertson. Photo courtesy Tom Fedor/The Gazette

For many people, walking across the stage at commencement is a once-in-a-lifetime experience. For others, it may happen two or three times. Most people don’t experience the moment twice in two weeks, though, which is exactly what Katrina Robertson will do.

Robertson will travel from her home in Middletown, Md., to participate in Bellevue University spring commencement this Saturday, June 6. Robertson is earning her Bachelor of Science in Management. On May 21, Robertson participated in the commencement ceremony at Frederick Community College (Md.), from which she earned an associate’s degree in general studies.

Robertson earned her Bellevue University degree online, as do a majority of the school’s students. Bellevue University was one of the first accredited universities to offer degree programs online, in 1996. 

The university also allowed Robertson the flexibility to complete her associate’s degree at Frederick CC while working toward her bachelor’s degree. Bellevue University then accepted all of her associate’s degree credit hours toward completion of her bachelor’s degree, part of the university’s accelerated bachelor’s degree completion program. By completing her degree faster, Robertson can start putting her degree to use as a grant specialist at Fort Detrick Army base.

It’s not usual for students to earn required general education credits while enrolled in an accelerated program, but most do this through CLEP or DSST testing. Robertson took the more challenging route and worked toward two degrees concurrently.

Robertson will be on the Bellevue University campus June 5 to attend the graduation open house, a time when many online students visit their soon-to-be alma mater’s campus for the first time. The next day, she’ll join about 750 of her fellow graduates at spring commencement. The ceremony begins at 9:30 a.m. at the Omaha Civic Auditorium.

More than 750 people will participate in Bellevue University’s spring commencement on Saturday, June 6. The ceremony begins at 9:30 a.m. at the Omaha Civic Auditorium. Of those participating, 261 are earning their master’s degrees; 491 are earning their bachelor’s degrees.

This spring’s commencement speaker is Joseph H. Moglia, former CEO and current chairman of TD Ameritrade. Moglia’s vision and leadership greatly influenced TD Ameritrade’s evolution during the last decade from a small “dot-com” brokerage to one of the world’s most widely recognized names in financial services. He served seven years as CEO before becoming chairman in 2008. Moglia’s resume also includes time spent as a successful college football coach, professor and author of two books: one about investing, the other about football.

The student speaker is Tuckett Slade, a Salt Lake City native who earned his Bachelor of Science in Physical Education and Sports Studies. He was a member of the Bruin baseball team and the school’s Male Scholar-Athlete of the Year.

Members of the media interested in covering this Saturday’s commencement should contact Jason Keese: (402) 557-7368 or (402) 515-4074 the day of the event.

The Bellevue University Student Veterans Organization on Thursday, May 21 will host a forum about the military education system and the benefits available to the military community, including the new post-9/11 GI Bill. This “Military Education & Information Forum” begins at 7 p.m., inside the Hitchcock Humanities Center, 1000 Galvin Road South.

This event, free and open to the public, will feature a keynote address by State Treasurer – and veteran – Shane Osborn. He also will participate in a panel discussion with State Director of Veteran Affairs John Hilgert and two VA Regional Education Officers. They will take questions from the audience at that time, as well.

The University’s Student Veterans Organization, founded this year, is the first in the state of Nebraska. It also is one of the country’s largest chapters, with more than 160 members. Active military personnel make up nearly 20 percent of Bellevue University’s student population.

Novelist Ron Hansen

Nationally renowned novelist Ron Hansen will headline Bellevue University’s third annual Celebration of Student Writing and Research on Monday, May 18. In addition to Hansen’s keynote address, the University will honor more than 80 students for excellence in academic writing. The event starts at 11 a.m., inside the humanities center auditorium on main campus, 100o Galvin Road South.

Hansen, an Omaha native, has published eight novels and numerous short stories and essays. His 1983 novel, “The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford,” brought him widespread acclaim and earned him a finalist nomination for the PEN/Faulkner Award. The book was adapted for the screen in a 2007 film starring Brad Pitt. Hansen was nominated for another PEN/Faulkner award, as well as the National Book Award, for his 1996 novel, “Atticus.” He currently is a professor at Santa Clara University in California.

Of the more than 80 honored students – all of whom were nominated by faculty - Bellevue University will honor five students in particular for their writing in the following categories: Research paper; analytical essay; personal essay; master’s thesis; and Kirkpatrick Signature Series capstone. The Signature Series is a three-course cluster that all undergraduate students must complete.

The honorees are invited to a private luncheon in the student center following the auditorium portion of the event, which is open to the public and will include student speakers in addition to Hansen’s keynote address.

Bellevue University on Friday, April 17 hosts the 2009 “Expanding Your Horizons in Math and Science” conference. The half-day event is intended to encourage girls in grades 7 through 9 to pursue further education and careers in math and science.

Bellevue University is the event’s primary sponsor, along with the University of Nebraska Medical Center. The conference, which typically attracts about 100 girls from throughout the metro area, begins at 8:15 a.m. and runs through 1 p.m. Guest speakers – all women – include employees from Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo, science professors, a researcher from UNMC, a horse breeder and a police officer.

Bellevue University on Friday, April 10 will host its third annual Latina Women’s Conference. This year’s conference theme is “Developing Leadership through Collaboration.”

The conference begins at 8 a.m. with welcoming remarks and concludes at 4 p.m. More than 60 women are expected to attend. The conference is intended for college and high school students, as well as community leaders.

Keynote speeches and workshops will deal with a variety of issues, most of them related to leadership. Attendees can attend workshops divided among three tracks: Careers, Leadership, or Personal Growth.

Lynda Shafer, Manager of Leadership and Workforce Development for the Greater Omaha Chamber of Commerce, will deliver the morning keynote presentation, “Leadership = Collaboration: Strengthening Partnerships for Success.” Her presentation is 8:15-9:05 a.m., inside the Margre H. Durham Student Center.

Dr. Lourdes Gouveia will deliver the lunchtime keyonote, “Developing Your Leadership – Lessons Learned.” Gouveia is director of Latino/Latin American Studies at the University of Nebraska at Omaha.

The conference also will include a “speed networking” session from 2:05 to 2:35, and a fashion show at 2:45. All events will be held inside the student center.