University Police Dispatch Director Sara Haake has been awarded the inaugural B+F Bravo Award.
“I’m delighted to recognize Sara as our inaugural B+F Bravo winner,” Vice Chancellor for Business and Finance Mike Zeleny said. “Her contributions to UNLPD are noteworthy and her leadership in the earliest years of the new UNL Staff Senate has provided an excellent foundation for the Senate’s advocacy of UNL’s more than 4,000 staff members. Her innovative leadership and positive demeanor define her as a highly effective Husker leader.”
Business and Finance staff can be nominated for the B+F Bravo Award by demonstrating significant impact to Business + Finance units and/or UNL more broadly by exemplifying the department’s six values and principles: Trust and Integrity, Collaboration, Stewardship, Invest in Our People, Deliver Clear and Consistent Service and Communication & Drive Forward-thinking Solutions. See a list of all of the nominees below.
Her nominator said this regarding how she commits to the B+F Values and Principles, “Sara is a driven leader who goes above and beyond to embody all of the B&F values at UNL. She collaborates with her peers in and outside of her department to accomplish great things through her work as Dispatch Director at UNLPD and with Staff Senate. She cares deeply about the University and creates innovative solutions for overcoming challenges and limitations that put strain on her department while still maintaining a positive outlook. Sara looks out for everyone on her team and makes sure they have a chan
ce to succeed; it is clear that they trust her and look up to her leadership. She holds every individual accountable to her department's success. She also makes sure that employees are recognized for their contributions and is great at communicating successes and lifting others up. Overall, Sara is driven by her values to make UNL a better place for everyone.”
Her nominator added this about how Haake’s actions positively impacted the university overall, “Sara is passionate about making UNL a safer place for Students, Staff, and Faculty through her work at UNLPD and also with Staff Senate. By building a positive and constructive work culture she has recruited and retained excellent staff who in turn keep the University a better place to live and work. She has also given significant effort as the inaugural Staff Senate president to develop another platform for UNL staff to make positive impacts on the University as a whole. Sara takes a holistic approach to influencing positive change at all levels.”
Up to two awards will be handed out annually. One will be handed out in June and one in December. Nominations submitted December – May are considered for the June award, and nominations submitted June – November are considered for the December award. Nominations for the award to be handed out in the Summer of 2025 are open at: https://bf.unl.edu/bf-bravo-nomination-form/
B+F Bravo Award Nominees
Nicole Adkins, Payroll Services
Matthew Brockhoff, Student Accounts
Layton Brooks, Human Resources
Kirk Conger, Operational Technology & Engineering
Troy Davis, Refuse and Diversion Services
Marty Fehringer, University Police
Sara Haake, University Police
Morgan Hartman, Office of Sustainability
Sam Headley, Student Accounts
Sean Humphrey, University Police
Heidi Krier, Payroll Services
Janene Morrison, Student Accounts
Stephanie Ninneman, Accounting
Cheryl Oberg, Custodial Services
Joseph Odem, Husker Energy and Power
Trudy Rhoads, Student Accounts
Ryan Schwind, Student Accounts
Cole Severson, Husker Energy and Power
Celeste Spier, Human Resources
Sheila Stewart, Accounting
Susan Wendling, Human Resouces
Morgan Winfrey-Hansen, University Operations