Irina was born in Georgia in Eastern Europe. She first came to the United States as an exchange student when she was a senior in high school. Irina has lived in Lincoln Nebraska for 18 years now. She and her husband Scott have 3 boys and 3 mini Schnauzers. Irina has been working at Nelnet for 8 years. She is a Senior Account Manager within the Client Services team. She enjoys building strong strategic relationships with external clients, as well as leading her team and driving change. Irina has being an active participant in Food Bank of Lincoln’s Backpack program through Hope Community Church. She is passionate about programs helping the youth, as well as international students.

 

Kathryn Christensen retired in 2017 from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln after nine years as a Professor of Practice in the College of Journalism and Mass Communications.  This followed a long career in television and newspaper news. Prior to joining the UNL faculty, she was vice president, television for The Wall Street Journal, directing Dow Jones & Company’s relationship with CNBC.  Previously, she had been a vice president of the Dow Jones International Group, based in Hong Kong, and serving as interim publisher of The Far Eastern Economic Review.  Her other positions at The Wall Street Journal included Senior Editor, London Bureau Chief, News Editor, Boston Bureau Chief, and reporting assignments in the Dallas and San Francisco bureaus. 

 

Thank you to Bruce Rippeteau for sponsoring Kathryn to Rotary. Welcome, Kathryn!

Kathryn with her sponsor Bruce Rippeteau. On hand to welcome Kathryn is L to R: Allen Beermann, Shari Veil, Martin Massengale, Roger Lempke, and President Eric Drumheller

Mark your calendars and roll up your sleeves for Rotary #14 Blood Drive Month. The survey we did last month showed strong interest from our members in supporting this effort. Jami Kassebaum, Donor Recruitment Assistant Manager for the Nebraska Community Blood Bank (NCBB) will join us (virtually ) at this week's meeting to share more information about the need for blood and how blood is used in our area. If you are eligible, you'll be able to donate in two ways: at an on-site mobile blood drive on Tuesday, June 15, held in collaboration with Nelnet or anytime during the month at any of NCBB's locations in Lincoln using the "Count Me In!" card. Watch for details on how to sign up coming soon!

We have enjoyed staying connected to Everett students by “Zoom reading” to them every single week since September.  The new format has been very successful and we created this short video to share our experience as readers! Click here to watch the video edited by Randy Bretz. Shout out to U.S. Bank for being the sponsor of the Read Aloud program this year, providing 2 new books per month to each Everett child we read to throughout the school year.  “U.S. Bank is a proud member of the Lincoln community and thrilled to have the opportunity to support the students, teachers, and families at Everett Elementary by sponsoring books for Rotary 14’s Read Aloud program.

Last week at Rotary, we heard from Doug Herrig. New member Kathryn Christensen was introduced by Bruce Rippeteau. Jami Kassebaum informed Rotarians of the June blood drive. Congratulations to Jess Rustad on her MBA, Kudoz Gina Cotton and everyone else for her work on the Dictionary Project and Randy Bretz for article in the paper!

 

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