Grad Year: 2005
Major: Broadcasting
Current Position: Director of Communications and Marketing, Farmers Mutual of Nebraska
Current Location: Lincoln, NE
Name a person who helped you be successful at Nebraska and how:
CoJMC's Professor Rick Alloway holds a special place in my heart for his guidance and knowledge throughout my undergrad years. My first connection to Alloway occurred during my senior year of high school. My mother reached out to the CoJMC following my acceptance to the program and was immediately connected to Alloway because I was going to major in broadcasting. I was a bit of a unique scenario because I was graduating high school a year early and wanted to begin at UNL in the first five-week summer session of 2001 immediately following graduation. As the oldest child in my family, as well as being a first-generation college student, I was a bit nervous about the size of the UNL campus and adjusting to college life. I personally felt that if I began in the summer before the influx of students in the fall semester, that I would get to know my way around with less pressure. After having already started summer classes, I was able to attend New Student Enrollment on campus, to which Alloway was there to assist me with reviewing my schedule of classes. Because everything checked out, I went home early that day. Alloway informed my mother and I that he was not technically my advisor but would be there for us going forward. Alloway upheld that promise and today is a great mentor and friend. As the General Manager of KRNU, Alloway helped coach me to get my demo CD prepared that helped land me my first broadcasting job as an on-air talent for The Broadcast House in Lincoln (B107.3 FM, Froggy 98.1 FM and 1400 AM KLIN) during my sophomore year. Additionally, when I became Marketing Director for Vision Maker Media--located at Nebraska Educational Telecommunications--we stayed in touch and Alloway would help share student worker job opportunities we had available to current broadcasting students.
Are you currently working on any special projects?
In August 2019, I was elected to serve on the Board of Directors for Downtown Lincoln Rotary Club #14. On July 7, 2020, I took the Rotary oath and was instilled as a Director on the Board by the legendary Allen Beermann who is a fellow Club #14 member, former Nebraska Secretary of State, and former Executive Director of the Nebraska Press Association. I'm looking forward to the upcoming Rotary year and excited to continue this journey that began in 2010 with a heart for service at Club #14.
Any life-changing experiences?
In August 2017, my husband, Zac Rustad, lost his mother, Lynne Rustad, to cancer. In honor of Lynne's entrepreneurial spirit, Zac and I continued operations of the business she founded in 2004, Ellynne Bridal (ellynnebridal.com). We realize the importance of small businesses in our community and want to uphold the tradition of making Nebraska brides beautiful. Zac serves as President and I serve as a marketing advisor. We have an amazing team at the store that truly embraces the vision that Lynne had for bringing couture bridal to Lincoln and the surrounding area. By day, Zac is Vice President of Business Development for Nanonation, a digital signage software company in downtown Lincoln.
Have you completed any other degrees postgraduate? If so, where, when and path of study:
I am currently pursuing my MBA with an emphasis in Marketing through the MBA@Nebraska online program and will be graduating in 2021. I was accepted into the program in late Summer 2018 and began MBA classes in January 2019 following completion of a Fall 2019 Statistics course at Southeast Community College to remove my admission deficiency. The MBA program really takes things to the next level as far as being a business leader. While the CoJMC will always be first in my heart, earning a graduate degree through UNL that expands my skill set even more has been a worthwhile investment both personally and professionally.
When you were little, what did you want to be when you grew up?
When I was little, I wanted to be an architect. I even won the second-grade class Career Day Dress-Up Contest by rocking my shoulder-padded dress, nylons, high heels, and tube of blueprints. It's a far cry from where I'm at today, but I think it showed my early hopes and dreams of becoming a business professional and giving back to the community.
What advice do you have for current students, prospective students?
My best advice to current and prospective CoJMC students is to not be afraid to ask questions and reach out. It's what I did, and it helped me in so many ways. The CoJMC is able and willing to help answer any question or concern you may have, as well as ready to help you lay the bricks on your pathway to your professional career.
"The best thing about being a Husker is ___________________."
The best thing about being a Husker is knowing that you're home. At the University of Nebraska, you're part of something bigger than yourself. Being a Husker is the common thread that keeps us connected throughout our lives wherever our journeys may take us.
