Efforts to end a so-called brain drain by young people moving away from midwest states continues, and another is being pursued in Nebraska.
The University of Nebraska and Creighton University on Tuesday announced the start of the Nebraska Leaders Program to combat brain drain.
Starting this fall, undergraduate students will be selected from the UNL, Creighton and the University of Nebraska-Omaha campuses in a merit-based process including academics, extracurriculars and a Gallup-developed assessment to identify leadership skills and potential.
The program will connect them with leadership development opportunities, mentorship, internships and careers.
NU President Jeffrey Gold said this is an investment in Nebraska’s future.
“By identifying extraordinary talent early on in their collegiate careers and surrounding those students with talented faculty, mentorship, opportunity and purpose, we are creating a clear and compelling reason for our future leaders to build their careers and lives here in Nebraska,” Gold said.
"...The concept of "brain drain" has been a very concerning area for us of losing high-quality people to other states, not just on the coast, but even surrounding states as well," Gold said.
The program will begin as a multiyear pilot, according to the news release.
It also includes collaboration from Nebraska’s top employers, which will help to provide mentorship, internship and employment opportunities for the students involved.
