About the Adviser: Ashley Stone (Part 1 of 2)

I have been a member of Scarlet Guard since I joined in fall 2011 during my freshman year. Since, I have been a member of the Scarlet Guard Board of Directors for three years, a member of the SG Executive team for two, and have served as the 2014-2015 President since April of 2014. There are many advantages to being involved with such an outstanding organization, but one in particular is the daily inspiration that I get from working alongside Scarlet Guard Adviser, Ashley Stone.

Stone joined the Scarlet Guard team in 2013 as the graduate assistant adviser. While she finished her Master’s degree in educational administration from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, she worked alongside more than 1,400 Scarlet Guard members to enhance their college experience. In June of 2014, Scarlet Guard’s adviser of 5 years left her role at the Nebraska Alumni Association, and Ashley became the interim adviser of Scarlet Guard. I have had the incredible pleasure of getting to know Ashley over the past one and a half years, and have witnessed her passion for fostering leadership in others, commitment to providing students with the tools for success, and her genuine desire to provide support to the students in Scarlet Guard.

In spring of 2014, Ashley participated in a Scarlet Guard focus group with eight current and previous Scarlet Guard Board of Directors members and the past Scarlet Guard adviser.  Ashley led discussion about the future and longevity of Scarlet Guard while always considering what was best for the organization and its members. She took charge of the development of a new Board of Directors structure, modified programming, and a new mission statement for Scarlet Guard. 

Ashley’s true persistence and dedication to Scarlet Guard was undeniable in the months following the resignation of Scarlet Guard’s previous adviser. She took challenges head on, and entered her current position with numerous ideas about how to increase engagement and membership within Scarlet Guard. Some of the changes that Ashley has spearheaded is the implementation of the new Board of Directors structure, a rejuvenated focus on member recognition, providing leadership and networking training to the Board of Directors, and the restructure of Scarlet Guard’s professional development event, Backpacks and Briefcases.

While Ashley has made a great impact serving Scarlet Guard and the Nebraska Alumni Association, what truly makes her the best adviser is her unyielding service to the individuals within the organization. The past six months, I have been fortunate enough to witness Ashley foster leadership and success in countless Scarlet Guard members, including myself. Ashley’s compassion, selflessness, and faith in others have been the driving force behind Scarlet Guard’s success this year. She has supported the Board of Directors’ shift to a completely student-run board. Instead of acting as the leader of the organization, Ashley has instead put her faith in us, coached us, giving them the opportunity to take pride and ownership of their own leadership within Scarlet Guard.

I can never thank Ashley enough for the support and kindness she has showed me individually, and she will never know the breadth of my appreciation for the leadership values and life skills she has instilled in me. Stories of Ashley’s impact on students’ lives are not rare; she inspires all who she interacts with, and that is why she is the best adviser Scarlet Guard could possibly have.

All Stressed Out? We have your back.

Finals week is just around the corner, and Scarlet Guard has your back! Come to All Stressed Out at the Wick Alumni Center during finals week for free food, drinks, wifi, and silence for when you study. Hours are as follows:

Sunday, Dec. 14: 6 p.m. - Midnight 

Monday, Dec. 15: 8 a.m. - Midnight 

Tuesday, Dec. 16: 8 a.m. - Midnight 

Wednesday, Dec. 17: 8 a.m. - Midnight 

Thursday, Dec. 18: 8 a.m. - 3 p.m.

For more information, check out the Facebook event.

Alumni Masters Week: A Real-Life Advantage

Last week, all Scarlet Guard members had the opportunity to not only listen in on the Alumni Masters Week Success Panel, but also network and interact more intimately with the masters at luncheons in the Wick Alumni Center. 

In the past, I had never been particularly excited about Alumni Masters Week because there hadn't been a master who really matched my interests and career goals since I came to UNL. I always attended the Success Panel to take advantage of the masters' more generic wisdom, but secretly dreaded luncheons because I feared I wouldn't know what to talk to the master I sat with about. 

This year, things were different. Angie Klein, VP of Marketing and Sales for Verizon in Manhattan and College of Journalism and Mass Communications alumna, was a master. I had heard Angie talk to my JOMC 101 class when I was an underclassmen, and was excited to hear from her again. Not only was she just a generally impressive human being, but I knew that she would have information that was relevant to me and my future career. 

I spoke with Angie briefly following Wednesday's Success Panel and again at Thursday evening's Medallion Dinner, but it wasn't until the Friday luncheon that I got some real, personal, and effective advice from Angie.

Earlier that week, I had been going through the interview process for three different advertising internships. I had multiple offers on the table, but was struggling with making a decision and picking which one would be the best fit for me. Immediately following the luncheon with Angie, I was scheduled to meet with one of the agencies that had offered me a position. It was at the agency that was my top choice for experience, but there was a question of pay which had me doubting if it was the right fit. 

I explained to Angie what position I was in and voiced my concerns. When I made a point of how I was nervous to potentially negotiate pay, I was surprised to see Angie laughing a little.
"You know why you're nervous about that right? It's because your a girl, and it's been engrained in you that if you are telling someone how good you are, you're hurting someone else's feelings. As someone who has interviewed thousands of people and who has negotiated pay with people many times, I'll tell you that not once, not once, has a man come into my office, asked for more money, and felt bad about it."

It wasn't new news that women are so often paid less than their male counterparts, but I was surprised at the fact that it was something I didn't even realize was affecting my confidence in asking for pay that I deserved.

After the luncheon, I went to the agency. After my meeting there (including a chat with one of the agency owners), I left not only with my top choice internship, but a pay I felt I deserved, and gratitude towards Angie for giving me a pep-talk that made me confident enough to make it happen. 

Having the chance to hear from prestigious alumni is great, but feeling comfortable enough to milk the opportunity for all it's worth and to initiate authentic interactions with alumni is one of the more rewarding aspects of being a part of Scarlet Guard. 

What part of Alumni Masters Week did you find most helpful?

Event Recap: Alumni Masters Week

This week, prestigious alumni masters from each college came back to network with current UNL students. The masters participated in a Success Panel and dessert reception Wednesday night. The event was open to all current UNL students, and over 200 were in attendance. The masters shared their thoughts on civic engagement, leadership, networking, and finding your passion. 
      Thursday and Friday, Scarlet Guard students were invited to have lunch with the masters and network in a more intimate setting. 
     Thursday night, the 2014 masters joined 50 previous masters at the Alumni Masters Week Medallion Dinner. This year marks the 50th Anniversary of Alumni Masters Week. Masters past and present joined together at Innovation Campus to celebrate their time at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. 
     Below are some of the top quotes and bits of wisdom from the 2014 Alumni Masters Week Success Panel. 

"If you have someone that has character and passion, you can teach them any skills they need to know." -JoAnn Martin, CBA Alumni Master

"Network, network, network, because no matter how good you are, you have to be known." -Angie Klein, CoJMC Alumni Master

"It's not just meeting people and becoming known, its the follow-through and maintaining those relationships." -Victoria Collier, College of Law Alumni Master

"Take every opportunity you have to get to know people." -Matthew Blomstedt, CEHS Alumni Master

"To advance in your career definitely depends on the quality and integrity of your relationships." -Ayman Sahli, College of Arts & Sciences Alumni Master

"Get involved outside of class!" -Tom Christiansen, CASNR Alumni Master

"You'll be surprised what you can learn by teaching." -Ed Kodet, College of Architecture Alumni Master

14 Leadership Quotes for Student Leaders

5 Signs You're A Scarlet Guard Member

     You've all heard the generic perks of being a Scarlet Guard member (the awesome networking opportunities, meeting other campus leaders, connecting with outstanding alumni, and general awesomeness), but here are 5 things we know to be true that new members might not expect...

         Share if any of these have happened to you during your time as an SG member! 

Meet Your 2014 Alumni Masters

 Each year, the University of Nebraska-Lincoln invites prestigious alumni from each college back to connect with students and the University. All UNL students are invited to join the Masters for a dessert reception and success panel, and Scarlet Guard members have the exclusive opportunity to network with the Masters at luncheons the days following the panel. In the past, Scarlet Guard members have received internships and job offers as a result of the connections made during Alumni Masters Week.      

     We are thrilled to welcome back a group of ten outstanding alumni for the 2014 Alumni Masters Week.

Matthew L. Blomstedt | '94, '98, '13

     Matthew Blomstedt has both a Ph.D. in educational leadership and higher education and a Master's degree in community and regional planning from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. He has worked alongside Nebraska school district officials, policy makers, and educational stakeholders for the past 16 years and was on the Nebraska School Finance Review Committee in 2001. Blomstedt has served in various educational advisory roles within the state government and higher education, including his role as Executive Director for the Nebraska Educational Service Unit Coordinating Council. He was named Commissioner of Education by the Nebraska State Board of Education in January of this year. Blomstedt is hosted by the UNL College of Education and Family Sciences.

Tom Christiansen | '84

     Tom Christiansen received a Bachelor of Science degree in Agriculture, Journalism, and Natural Resources from UNL in 1984. For 29 years, he has served with the Wyoming Game and Fish Department. Christiansen has many roles with the sage grouse conservation program, including serving on the Rangewide Interagency Sage-Grouse Conservation Team, the Wildfire and Invasive Species Working Group, the Science and Policy Implications of Climate Change to Sage Grouse Working Group, and serves as chair of the Western Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies' Sage and Columbian Sharp-tailed Grouse Technical Committee. Christiansen is hosted by the UNL College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources.

Terry Connealy | '94

     Terry Connealy is a Husker football alum and two-time Academic All-American. He has co-hosted a nationwide radio call-in show and, from 1996-2002 was a member of the Pinnacle Sports Productions' Nebraska football radio broadcast team. In the past, Connealy worked with Wells Fargo Home mortgage as a private mortgage banker and eventually rising to a regional sales manager. Currently, he is serving as Senior Vice President of Mutual of Omaha bank. Connealy works with the virtual mortgage team, fosters relationships with community association banking, and leads the strategic growth and management of Mutual of Omaha's sales channels. Connealy is hosted by the Department of Athletics.

Victoria L. Collier | '02

     Victoria Collier served in the United States Air Force from 1989-1995 and the Army Reserves from 2002-2005. She started The Elder and Disability Law Firm of Victoria L. Collier, PC, in 2002 in Decatur, Georgia. She has been recognized as a rising star in the 2005 and 2009-2012 editions of Georgia Super Lawyers, co-founded Lawyers with Purpose, Lawyers for Wartime Veterans, Veterans Advocates Group of America, and Trust Associates, Inc., chaired the Georgia Chapter of the National Academy of the Elder Law Attorneys, the State Bar of Georgia elder law section and the Atlanta Bar Association elder law committee. She has also been admitted to practice before the United States Supreme Court and Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims. Collier is hosted by the UNL College of Law.

Angie Klein | '01

     Angie Klein received bachelor's degrees in Business and Journalism from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and has served on the CBA Young Alumni Board, the NAA Board of Directors and Alumni Advisory Council, and is a member of the Nebraska Women's Leadership Network. She serves on the Lower East Side Girls Club Board of Directors in New York City and received a Nebraska Young Alumni Achievement Award in 2011. Klein currently resides in New York and is vice president of marketing and sales for Verizon's Northeast Area. She is responsible for more than 5 billion dollars of annual revenue. Klein is hosted by the College of Journalism and Mass Communications.

Edward J. Kodet Jr. | '68 

     Edward Kodet Jr. currently serves as President of the 20-person architectural firm he founded in 1983 in Minneapolis, Kodet Architectural Group, Ltd. He chairs the Professional Advisory Council for the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, and has previously served as a Fellow of the American Institute of Architects, as an officer for local, state, and national brances of the AIA and chairs the AIA College of Fellows Young Architects 2+2 program. He has also previously served at the University of Minnesota, served as treasurer, vice president, and president-elect of the Minneapolis City of Lakes Rotary, has won numerous AIA Design Merit Awards, and received the AIA Minnesota's Gold Medal. Kodet is hosted by the College of Architecture.

JoAnn Martin | '75

     JoAnn Martin is a University of Nebraska-Lincoln business grad and is currently the president and CEO of Ameritas Mutual Holding Company, and chair, president, and CEO of Ameritas Life in Lincoln, Nebraska. She serves on the National Research Corporation Board, the University of Nebraska Foundation Board, and the Nebraska Innovation Campus Development Corporation Board. She has received the Nebraska Society of CPAS Public Service Award, the Dr. Barbara Hibner Trailblazer Award, and was recognized as one of Insurance Networking news' Top 10 Women in Insurance Leadership. Martin has also received a College of Business Administration Leadership Award, an NAA Alumni Achievement Award, and has been inducted into the UNL School of Accountancy Hall of Fame. She is hosted by the UNL College of Business Administration. 

Ayman Sahli | '94

     Ayman Sahli earned his Ph.D. at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and serves as CEO of Gulf Pharmaceutical Industries. He has previously worked in process development in Syngenta, Ala., and Wyeth, N.Y.. He joined Hikma, a multinational pharmaceutical company, in 2004 and was appointed deputy general manager of the Jordan Unit until 2008, when he acquired his current position at Gulf Pharmaceutical Industries (Julphar). Sahli extended Julphar geographically and through a $150 million investment in biotechnology. He plans on increasing Julphar's regional manufacturing bases. Sahli is hosted by the UNL College of Arts and Sciences. 

Dawn Schaefer | '99

     Dawn Schaefer earned her master's degree from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. She has served as the executive art director for CBS for 14 years, during which time she has been involved with numerous television shows such as Survivor, Price is Right, Bold and the Beautiful, and The Apprentice Live Finale in Los Angeles. She has also been credited with various corporate events and local shows. Schaefer has been with Survivor since its 2003 beginning, including when Survivor: Thailand was nominated for an Emmy in Outstanding Art Direction for a Variety or Music Program. Schaefer is hosted by the Hixson-Lied College of Fine and Performing Arts.

Don Voelte | '75

     Don Voelte earned his degree in Civil Engineering from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. He currently serves as the managing director and CEO of Seven Group Holdings, deputy chairman of Seven West Media, and chairman of Nexus Energy. He boasts 38 years of global oil and gas industry experience, has held a number of senior executive positions at Mobil Corp., Atlantic Richfield Company, and Chroma Energy Inc.. He previously served as managing director of Woodside Petroleum. Voelte is a member of the Society of Petroleum Engineers, the American Society of Civil Engineers, and the Chi Epsilon Honor Society. He is a Foreign Fellow to ATSE, Fellow of the Australian Institute of Company Directors, and was appointed an honorary officer within the general division of the Order of Australia. Voelte is hosted by the UNL College of Engineering.