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Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources Dr. Thomas Payne heads the CIMMYT Wheat Germplasm Bank, a living catalog of genetic diversity comprised of more than 28,000 seed collections of corn and more than 140,000 seed collections of wheat. His career with the gene bank has spanned more than three decades, and in his current role he coordinates the largest wheat testing program in the world. The non-profit research institution distributes seeds to anyone in the world who wants them, free of charge. Payne and his team ensure that the seeds are alive and available. “Gene banks around the world are the foundation on which agricultural productivity and agricultural research is based. Genetic diversity is required in crop plants to enable a resilience to climate change and a resilience to changing agricultural practices. It also provides opportunities for increasing grain yield and combating diseases and pests, which is a fulfilling part of my job.”
Architecture Sherri Privitera, RA, has dedicated more than 20 years to collegiate sports projects in the sports architecture industry. Her involvement in more than 65 projects at 50 universities, including the $266 million McLane Stadium at Baylor University, has made her one of the leading architects in sports facilities. As both a mother and the senior principal at the Kansas City-based architecture firm Populous, Privitera has become well versed at what she calls work-life integration. “The word balance is hard for women in particular. I like to call it work-life integration because there isn’t ever balance. Sometimes you need to spend more time in your home or personal life, and sometimes you need to spend more time on your work deadlines.”
Arts and Sciences Janna Ronert is the founder and CEO of Image Skincare. After feeling frustrated by the lack of chemical and paraben-free skincare products on the market, she took matters into her own hands and launched Image in 2003. The brand has since expanded to 13 product collections that are available in 52 countries. When she’s not collaborating with chemists to formulate new products and treatments, Ronert travels the world to promote her message of healthy skin and wellness. “Following the motto of ‘slow and steady wins the race’ has really helped us overcome challenges that felt defeating at times. I am also relentless about producing quality products and hiring quality people who believe in the brand. The one thing I would tell anyone going into the workforce, especially women and aspiring entrepreneurs, is to be super passionate about your brand.”
Business After serving as an Army ranger in Korea from 1956-58 and as a member of the White House advance staff from 1970-76, Keith Kretschmer went on to have a storied 30-year international career in financial services. He was a general partner of Bear Stearns and senior managing director of Bear Stearns and Co. before he served as the managing director of Oppenheimer & Co. from 1993-94 and Oppenheimer Capital between 1994-2001. Prior to his investment career, he was CEO of a computer company, helped start a life insurance company and authored the book Your Option.
“I was involved with the old over-the-counter market in options and helped with the start of exchange trading. My book, Your Option, was the first to cover exchange trading of both put and call options and their issues.”
Education and Human Sciences After teaching middle and high school English in Nebraska and Kansas, Dr. Sheri Everts began her higher education career in 1994 as an assistant professor in the Department of Teacher Education at the University of Nebraska Omaha. Rising through the academic and administrative ranks at UNO, she was named assistant vice chancellor for academic and student affairs in 2000, associate vice president in 2003 and interim senior vice chancellor for academic and student affairs in 2006. In 2008, she became provost and vice president for academic affairs at Illinois State University and has been the chancellor of Appalachian State University since 2014. “In this role, I have the opportunity to serve our students, faculty and staff and the citizens of North Carolina while highlighting the power of education to change lives.”
Engineering Rear Admiral Douglas J. McAneny serves as HDR’s federal business group director and is responsible for guiding and growing their federal government business practice. He serves on both the architecture and engineering company executive teams and is the CEO of HDR Environmental Operations and Construction. Prior to his civilian career, McAneny served in the Navy from 1978-2013 commanding submarines that took him around the world. “My job has a lot of travel, which I embrace because it’s consistent with my experience in the military. It’s a significant responsibility, but I have a terrific team who supports me. Together we solve some of the problems we face with both building our company and accepting work for federal clients.”
Fine and Performing Arts Anthony Blue came to the university on a football scholarship but later discovered his passion for music, DJing, photography and his brand “Believe in Yourself Do It Yourself.” He was a personal photographer for singer Solange at the Met Gala in 2018. He has also photographed P. Diddy and created animations for renowned rappers like Pharrell and N.E.R.D. He currently lives in New York City and hopes to continue collaborating with more well-known celebrities and retailers to grow his brand. “I was such an athlete (in college). My only plan was the NFL — that’s as far as my vision went. But when I got hurt and didn’t recover that well, I shifted focus to the artist within.”
Journalism Lynn Roper is senior consultant and senior vice president of Merrill Lynch Lincoln and has been with the company since the office opened its doors in 1977. As a financial adviser, Roper builds long-term relationships to help generations of families grow, preserve and distribute their wealth. In addition to receiving numerous business awards recognizing her professional success, Roper is also an active volunteer and advocate for many of Lincoln's nonprofit groups and foundations. “A journalism degree is ideal for this job. In the role of advising, you have to have the ability to ask a lot of questions, to read a lot of material and to interpret it to the client. You really need to understand people.”
Law College Jisella Veath Dolan began her legal career at Husch Blackwell, specializing in structured finance, mergers and acquisitions. She also led programs that empowered women and minorities in the legal profession. After achieving partnership, she left Husch and joined Home Instead, the world’s leading provider of non-medical, in-home care services for the elderly. She now serves as the global/chief advocacy officer, developing aging and home care policy around the world. Outside of work, Dolan serves on Heartland Family Service’s board of directors and co-chairs St. Vincent de Paul School’s annual fundraisers. “My father was an attorney, my mom was a college professor, so I grew up in a home where helping others was really important. After talking to my parents and thinking about it — it was three years vs. six — I decided I could do a lot with a law degree.”