By JAN TREFFER THOMPSON UNK Communications Megan Hartman’s journey toward a career in linguistics started at her father’s bookshelf. There, she saw a book cover with dark storm clouds splitting through a golden sky, and a luminous girl holding a black horse with a spiral horn. To the 5-year-old, “The Black Unicorn” by fantasy novelist Terry Brooks looked pretty cool. Mike Hartman read the book to his daughter. Then he kept going, well into Hartman’s high school … [Read more...] about The Heart of the Meter: Hartman explores poets’ ideas, not just their words
New Frontiers
Marketing Mentality: Broekemier embraces technology, changing environment
By TYLER ELLYSON UNK Communications Greg Broekemier started his professional career in retail management with JCPenney. That was more than 30 years ago, before e-commerce, social media and online advertising changed the way companies operate. “The world was so different then,” said Broekemier, whose access to technology at JCPenney was limited to a computerized inventory system. Today, it takes a lot more than that to stay ahead of the competition. Knowing how … [Read more...] about Marketing Mentality: Broekemier embraces technology, changing environment
Applying Algebra: Jia Huang sees beauty of mathematics, student research
By TYLER ELLYSON UNK Communications There’s an intrinsic beauty Jia Huang sees in mathematics. The University of Nebraska at Kearney associate professor enjoys the process of analyzing a problem, then developing ways to attack it. “And if I’m lucky enough, I have the answer in the end,” he said. That’s another draw. In math, there’s usually a definite answer. You’re either right or wrong. “Even without any application, sometimes the result itself already … [Read more...] about Applying Algebra: Jia Huang sees beauty of mathematics, student research
#NewOpportunity: Sharon Obasi makes name for herself at UNK
By KIM HACHIYA What’s in a name? That describes the scholarship pursued by Sharon Obasi, whose path toward her position as an assistant professor of family studies seems to have been a road less traveled rather than the route most faculty members take. Obasi veered a bit from the usual path: undergraduate, graduate school, postdoctoral fellowship, faculty appointment. With a doctorate in neuroscience with a special emphasis in developmental psychology, her initial … [Read more...] about #NewOpportunity: Sharon Obasi makes name for herself at UNK
Curing Cancer: Allen Thomas aims to better treat brain diseases
By KIM HACHIYA Diseases that attack the brain are particularly difficult, if not impossible, to treat. Brain cancer has just a 34.7 percent five-year survival rate, and Alzheimer’s disease kills many it afflicts. Part of the reason why is that the brain has a defense mechanism, the “blood-brain barrier,” that protects it from harmful chemicals, bacteria and viruses. That barrier also keeps out substances that could kill cancer cells or sweep away plaques and tangles … [Read more...] about Curing Cancer: Allen Thomas aims to better treat brain diseases
