Behind the Scenes: Karen Wills

Husker alumna Karen Wills knew the day she crossed the stage that she wanted to make an impact on students at Nebraska. Now the program coordinator for the University Program Council, Karen returned to the university 25 years ago to serve and develop young adults both personally and professionally and has loved every second of it.

Talk about your role within the university.

I should start by saying that my Gallup Strengths are a true testament to why I truly enjoy and thrive by working directly with college students, especially now that my own children attend UNL: Empathy, Includer, Woo, Discipline, and Developer. Alongside the strategic planning and leadership roles, I also have the joy of advising and assisting students and UPC staff. Together we work diligently to plan, develop and execute campus events and activities.

How would you explain UPC for those who haven’t heard of it?

UPC Nebraska is the University of Nebraska’s premiere concert and event planning organization. As stated in our Instagram @upcnebraska: University of Nebraska-Lincoln’s programming council. Simply put, we bring cool events to campus.

What is your favorite part about your job?

Working directly with college students and watching them grow, develop, and succeed personally and professionally. Although it sometimes feels like being in the movie, “Groundhog Day” since I interact with 18–22-year-olds every day, no day is ever the same and I always look forward to coming to work. I started out as UPC’s older sister, then the aunt, and now I am the UPC Mom, and I am honored to serve in that capacity.

Why do you believe it is important for students to become involved, and for organizations such as UPC to provide students with opportunities to grow?

It is important for students to become involved and find their community at UNL either by joining a Recognized Student Organization (RSO) related to their major or a club that provides an entertaining or educational outlet or is just FUN, such as UPC Nebraska. Students will find a great support system with their peers and fellow members, learn transferable life skills, and make a connection with their faculty/staff Advisor to get advice, guidance, and recommendation letters.

Talk a bit about your passion for the university and its students, and what is it like to work with the campus community as an alumna.

Before graduating in December 1993 with a bachelor’s degree in Community Health Education, I knew that I wanted to serve students and stay at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. In January 1994, I went back to school, as the guinea pig for the now-established Student Affairs Administration graduate program in Educational Administration. I spent two years preparing to become a student affairs professional. I was fortunate to have multiple experiences as an intern, teaching assistant and more.

I then spent the next three years outside of UNL but I realized I was missing my true passion… helping college students. I am very thankful that Marilyn Bugenhagen, the former director of Student Involvement, called me during the summer of 1999 and asked if I was interested in applying for the assistant director of social activity development. I applied, interviewed, accepted, and started the position on September 1, 1999. At that time, I was the supervisor of the now-defunct Nebraska Union Rotunda Gallery.

For the past 25 years, I have helped college students with event planning, navigating life skills, writing professional emails, and figuring out acronyms.

Is there anything students, staff and faculty may not know about UPC that you would like to share?

UPC Nebraska is an Institutional Student Organization (ISO) that provides diverse, educational, and entertaining programs to enhance the Nebraska community. UPC is a group of volunteer students working together to provide the campus community with co-curricular activities to enrich their college experience. UPC, along with ASUN Student Government and the Daily Nebraskan and the only three student organizations that receive student fee funding as deemed by the Board of Regents.

UPC Nebraska acts as the executive body responsible for the implementation of programs and activities funded by University Programs and Facilities Fees (UPFF). The UPC Nebraska office is in Room 134 of the Nebraska Union on City Campus, next door to ASUN and upstairs from the Daily Nebraskan.

For over 80 years, UPC Nebraska has been providing entertainment and education for UNL students through films, speakers, concerts, and more.

What are you looking forward to accomplishing as a team in the near future? Is there anything in the works at UPC?

UPC is working on a partnership with ASUN to produce a large-scale event based on years of feedback from UNL students. Stay tuned for more information.

Is there someone on campus that inspires you or has made a lasting impact on your life?

I am a personal testament as a UNL graduate that I chose my career path because of the influence Reshell Ray (currently the associate director of SLICE) played during my college years.

I first met Reshell in 1989 when I was a member of the University Program Council Concerts and Coffeehouses Committee, and she served as one of the advisors from the Campus Activities and Programs office (now SLICE). I later served as the Concert and Dance Chair and although Reshell didn’t directly advise me, she took the time to get to know me as an individual and provide insight and feedback.

During that time, I hung out with the alternative music crowd and Reshell noticed how much we were an isolated group of students needing a place to explore our interests. Reshell proposed the Culture Center as the venue for our events and the weekly Alternative Music Dances were born. Reshell must have recognized my potential for event planning because she asked me to apply for a position at the UNL Culture Center where she served as the director.

Reshell was a new mother at the time and the students who worked and hung out at the Culture Center volunteered our free time to help watch her eldest twins so that she could attend our events, meet with students, and devote time and energy toward service to students outside her normal job duties and expectations.

Reshell now serves as my mentor, colleague, and friend, which proves that she is an individual who has gone beyond the performance of her assigned responsibilities over an extended period to help me to continue to grow, develop, and connect personally and professionally!!!

If you were to give students advice on how to make the most of their collegiate experience (including how to get involved on campus), what would you tell them?

Our goal in SLICE is to get students connected and involved and to provide them with opportunities to make a positive impact on campus, in the community, and beyond. For students to accomplish this and to make the most of their collegiate experience, we encourage them to take three simple steps: Show Up, Sign Up, Level Up.

Show Up — We encourage students to attend a large event or a small gathering. Mark these opportunities on their calendars, invite a friend, get out of their rooms, and go. Campus events are great places to meet others, learn something new, and experience the vibrancy of campus.

Sign Up — Involvement is what we are all about in SLICE. We inspire students to get involved in things they are passionate or curious about. Student organizations, clubs, and teams are great ways to build community and develop transferable skills for life beyond graduation.

Level Up — Lastly, SLICE encourages students to develop themselves. We motivate students to take on leadership positions within their organizations, expand their mind and views, and to make an impact on campus and in their communities.

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