By TYLER ELLYSON
UNK Communications
KEARNEY – When Brooke Envick arrives at the University of Nebraska at Kearney each morning, it’s not just another day at work.
It’s a homecoming. A continuation of a family legacy. And the fulfillment of something deeply personal.
“My grandfather and father both taught here, and I’m a proud UNK alum. This school helped shape my future,” Envick said. “I once sat in these classrooms, filled with hope and ambition, not yet knowing how much this place would impact my life. And now I get to lead the very place that means so much to me with an even greater sense of hope and ambition.”
On July 1, Envick officially stepped into her new role as dean of UNK’s College of Business and Technology. She succeeds Tim Jares, who retired after six years of transformative leadership.
A third-generation faculty member at UNK, Envick followed in the footsteps of her grandfather, Maynard, and father, Don. Maynard was a pioneer in industrial arts education, and Don launched the industrial distribution program in the late 1980s. Both men left a lasting mark on the institution, and their passion for education inspired Envick’s own career.
“Being a third-generation professor here and being an alum, this place is like home to me,” she said. “When I first got back here in 2017, I had colleagues who were once my professors. I wouldn’t have looked for a dean’s job anywhere else.”
Envick earned a bachelor’s degree in management and master’s degree in business administration from UNK, then completed her doctorate in organizational behavior at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. She taught at St. Mary’s University in San Antonio, Texas, for nearly 20 years before returning to her alma mater.
Now, she brings experience as both a UNK professor and associate dean into her new leadership position.
WORKING TOGETHER
Envick describes her style as strategic, collaborative and student-focused.
“The students are always my north star,” she said. “With anything I do, I always ask myself, ‘Is this what’s best for our students?’ That drives every decision I make.”
Her vision for the College of Business and Technology (CBT) centers on building momentum through innovation, opportunity and partnerships.
She’s taking the reins during a time of significant growth – enrollment within the college is up more than 6% over the past five years, credit hour production has increased by 16%, and several new faculty members are being hired to meet student demand. Last spring, CBT awarded nearly $600,000 in student scholarships, thanks to donor support and industry partnerships.
Many CBT programs boast 100% job placement rates, and students regularly graduate with multiple job offers. Internships, industry-aligned curriculum and experiential learning all play a key role in that success.
“At the end of the day, our goal is to help create a thriving economy across the state, and the best way to do that is through workforce development,” Envick said. “We’re giving students the knowledge, skills and abilities they need to make an immediate impact in the workforce, and we’re doing it in partnership with employers across Nebraska and the region.”
Industry partners have long been part of the CBT blueprint, whether they’re coming to campus to meet with students, offering valuable input to ensure program curriculum remains up to date or supporting scholarships and field study experiences. A new initiative called the Talent Pipeline Alliance will expand on those efforts by actively engaging employers in the student recruitment process.
“One thing we hear over and over again from our industry partners is that they wish we could graduate even more students who are ready for the workforce,” Envick said. “This is an opportunity to increase our recruitment and retention by getting employers involved in that process. If they like what we’re doing in CBT, they can help us bring more students here.”
The Talent Pipeline Alliance is led by Mandy Sand, a UNK alumna who was recently hired as director of industry and student engagement in the CBT Career Center.
Envick is also focused on growing the CBT Living Learning Community and Ambassadors Program, which provide social and professional development opportunities for students. Entering its fifth year, the Living Learning Community offers an additional level of support as students transition from high school to college. About 30 students are part of the community each year, allowing them to create close connections with faculty, staff and peers. Community members can serve as mentors during their second year on campus, and they’re eligible to become CBT Ambassadors as juniors and seniors.
“Now that we have a strong system in place, we’d like to expand the number of students that we admit so more people have access to those opportunities,” Envick said.
The new dean is excited to showcase state-of-the-art learning spaces like Discovery Hall – a 90,000-square-foot STEM facility that opened in fall 2020 – and she’d like to expand a partial renovation of West Center completed the following year.
Envick credits her predecessor for laying the foundation for this progress.
“Tim really transformed this college,” she said. “He left it in such good shape that we can keep moving forward with confidence. This year, our theme is ‘Building on Momentum,’ and that’s exactly what we intend to do.”
SERVING OTHERS
Known for her energy, creativity and commitment to students, Envick was honored last December with the Leland Holdt/Security Mutual Life Distinguished Faculty Award – the highest faculty recognition at UNK. She’s also received accolades for innovative teaching and impactful research, with over 30 peer-reviewed journal publications and more than 800 citations.
Despite her academic achievements, she remains grounded in her mission: serving others.
“My role is really to help other people accomplish what they’re here to do – whether that’s our students, faculty or staff,” she said. “If I do that well, the entire college and university benefit.”
As she leads CBT into its next chapter, Envick is guided by both the past and the future.
“We talk a lot in my family about how much campus has changed since my grandfather and father were here,” she said. “But the heart of this place – the impact we have on students’ lives – that’s still the same. And that’s what makes this so special.
“I just want to leave it better than I found it.”
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