INST Alumni

Being a pioneer comes naturally to Ross Chambers. As he explains it, "I come from several generations of pioneers . . . my great-great-grandfather, great-grandfather and grandfather were always heading west. My grandfather was one of the last real cowboys and founded the city of Eagle, Colo. For my ancestors, it was always important to explore and find new places.” After 9/11, Chambers decided to begin a new chapter in the spirit of his pioneering family - a journey to international understanding - and UNO’s INST became the practical path to reach this dream.

A 2006 UNO graduate, Chambers says, “The INST major was extremely helpful in assisting me to achieve my goals. It is a program that opens doors and encourages students to do what they never thought could be possible. And for those who dream, it helps them to find a practical path to reaching those dreams.”

Now living in the Czech Republic and consulting for projects funded by the European Union, Chambers also finds time to teach legal and business English, and to import and sell Harley- Davidson motorcycles. His next goal is to dedicate two years of his life to a Third World humanitarian program.

“I am very proud to be an alumnus of UNO and International Studies. I truly believe that without this education I would not have realized my goals of pioneering a new interconnected and inter-dependent world.”

This bio originally appeared in the Spring 2007 issue of UNO Alum.

Joe Chapuran’s career philosophy is simple — globalization. Chapuran came to UNO as a computer science major. He had not traveled much — never on an airplane — and vacations always were in the United States. Then everything changed. As he explains, “I was inspired to go into the INST major because of the international friends I met at UNO. It made me realize that it is a big world out there, and I had to go experience some of it.”

Chapuran started with Japan. From 1990 to 1991 he traveled to Shizuoka on a Japanese Ministry of Education scholarship and studied Japanese and Economics. At Shizuoka he joined the university tennis team and participated in the martial arts club. In 1994 Chapuran spent a semester abroad in the Czech Republic and Belgium, then graduated from UNO with a bachelor’s degree in INST with a specialization in International Management and Business and a minor in marketing.

Now working for the Nebraska Department of Economic Development as the international development manager, Chapuran uses his position to help Nebraska grow in a globalized economy, enter new markets, create joint ventures with foreign companies and organize trade missions.

This bio originally appeared in the Spring 2007 issue of UNO Alum.

Pam Jewell’s interest in Japan and the world outside of Omaha began in high school when she participated in a sister city exchange program visiting Shizuoka City for three weeks. Once she enrolled at UNO and chose INST as her major, Jewell explains, “My experiences and study abroad exposed me to a wide variety of people and lifestyles.” Jewell was on her way to becoming a citizen of the world.

In 1992 as the recipient of a Japanese Ministry of Education Scholarship, Jewell returned to Shizuoka for a year of study at UNO’s sibling institution, Shizuoka University. Afterward, an internship with the Omaha Sister Cities Association seemed a natural step for her when she returned to Omaha. In 1994 Jewell graduated from UNO with a major in INST and specializations in East Asia studies and International Management and Business and headed back to Shizuoka. For many years she was the English language face of Shizuoka City Hall, where she served as coordinator and translator for the organization that manages Shizuoka’s Sister City activities.

This past year Jewell joined the private sector, working for Hexa Project as a graphic designer in a job that takes her to Europe and Asia to present her company’s products to others.

This bio originally appeared in the Spring 2007 issue of UNO Alum.

Hiro Makino is quick to credit the education he received at UNO for the success he has enjoyed in his career. “Majoring in international studies opened up the world for me. Without the opportunity to learn about other cultures and to meet people from around the world, I wouldn’t be where I am today.”

Where he is today is in California serving as vice president of operations for Tamiya America Inc., a global leader in the design and production of plastic models. Makino joined Tamiya shortly after graduating from UNO and spent most of his time at the company’s headquarters in Shizuoka, Japan, where he was responsible for licensing and overseas purchasing.

For many Omahans, Shizuoka and the Makino Family are nearly synonymous. Hiro’s father, Yutaka Makino, was instrumental in the development of the sister city relationship between Omaha and Shizuoka. An enthusiastic and tireless supporter of cultural exchange, the senior Makino visited Omaha 27 times throughout his life and eventually sent his son Hiro to Omaha to study.

Today Hiro and his family continue to maintain their UNO ties, having made a generous contribution to the university in memory of his late father. The fund helps to support educational exchange between Shizuoka and Omaha.

This bio originally appeared in the Spring 2007 issue of UNO Alum.

Jody Manning’s love of international travel began in high school when she lived in Germany and traveled throughout Europe while her father was on a three-year assignment with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. When she entered UNO as an accounting major and needed an elective for honors credit, she chose international studies. As Manning explains, “I was hooked immediately — I changed my major to INST halfway through the semester and have never looked back!”

After UNO Jody attended law school and reports, “My UNO education was great preparation for the global workplace. In graduate school I found myself in class next to people who had graduated from some pretty big-name schools, and I was just as prepared as they were, or more, from an academic standpoint. I succeeded with the confidence that only comes from knowing I had a good academic foundation.”

In 1998 Manning was appointed to the U.S. Department of State as a foreign affairs officer assisting the Special Envoy for Holocaust Issues and worked to develop strategic objectives for an international task force to promote Holocaust education and remembrance. From 2003 to 2005 she served in London as chief of staff to former U.S. Secretary of State Lawrence Eagleburger and worked with international corporations and victims’ rights groups.

Manning says the foundation she received in cross-cultural communication, beginning with her time at UNO, helped her overcome ambiguous situations, cultural conflicts and difficult negotiations. Now living in Washington, D.C., Manning is an independent consultant for non-profit organizations and involved with efforts to rebuild homes that were damaged by Hurricane Katrina. Currently, she has another important international project in the works. She and her husband, an electrical engineer with the Department of Defense, are in the final stages of adopting their first child from Kazakhstan.

This bio originally appeared in the Spring 2007 issue of UNO Alum.

Mark Steele has climbed Mount Everest, led an expedition to the North Pole, run a 150-mile footrace across the Sahara Desert and traversed the Patagonian ice cap. Next up — the South Pole.

No, he’s not an extreme athlete. Steele serves as CEO of Asia-Pacific at Tele Atlas, which produces digital maps and content that power the world’s essential navigation and location services. Based in Singapore, Steele has called the Asia-Pacific region home since 1993. But it was his study at UNO that first took him there.

In 1988, as an INST major, Steele received a scholarship to study in Japan. He acquired Japanese language skills, had internships with GM and the U.S. Embassy in Tokyo, then returned to UNO with a clear career goal. “UNO . . . positioned me for my career in international business. I couldn’t imagine taking the path I have without the preparations I received during my enrollment in the International Studies Program.”

In 2004 that path led Steele to head his company’s tsunami relief efforts in Sri Lanka, where he was recognized by former presidents George Bush and Bill Clinton.

This bio originally appeared in the Spring 2007 issue of UNO Alum.