Daily Operations Run Smoothly for UNK’s Faculty and Student Body Thanks to These Office Associates

Dr. Tim Obermier, who serves as interim chair of UNK’s Cyber Systems Department, understands that the role of the office associates who work in the College of Business and Technology is “critical in providing essential services that enable students to obtain internships and obtain professional positions.” The faculty and student body couldn’t agree more as these ladies are instrumental in making daily life run smoothly for everyone at the University of Nebraska at Kearney.

Office Associates Jami Koester and Whitney Kuta, who both work in the College of Business and Technology, are, according to Dr. Obermier, the “ kind, pleasant and professional connection with students and their families” that is essential for UNK’s success. He shares the breadth of their impact on the campus by how they “coordinate events that recognize the excellent academic performance of our students” as well as assisting “current students with just about any issue you can think of.” Their work doesn’t stop there as Dr. Obermier adds that “they coordinate the activities that facilitate the important connections we maintain with industry partners.”

Koester, who was hired 13 years ago, reports to Jim Vaux who is the current ITEC Chair. She serves the faculty and student body in both the ITEC Department and the CYBR Department. Dr. Obermier describes her as detail-oriented, a characteristic that is imperative to the many tasks she performs which require precision. He shares that the way she coordinates financial arrangements for “nearly every program on the technology side” of UNK’s CBT is responsible for keeping things running smoothly. 

Koester’s previous employment consisted of work as a paraeducator, medical billing, banking, and administrative support. These experiences prepared her for her current position at UNK where she enjoys the “student energy and connections and helping others.” She shares that she is “grateful for the wonderful faculty, staff, and students” who she has worked with over the years. Not only has Koester gained friendships from her time at UNK, but she specifically is thankful for her coworkers. She knows that “teamwork is the only way (they) make things happen” and is pleased to work somewhere where she “can always be sure that others will step in to help.”

Whitney Kuta, who works closely with Jami Koester, is a recent hire for the College of Business and Technology. Dr. Obermier shares that Kuta “is an essential component in helping us to continue (the) essential connections with program stakeholders.” She serves both the ITEC department  and the CYBR department. Kuta manages the PSI Testing Center, which helps not only UNK students but also the public. Aviation students in particular benefit from her efforts. Students can take FAA exams without having to travel and students, as well as the general public, can take FAA drone exams. The testing center, with Kuta at the helm, also provides national certification exams for construction management students. 

In addition to these responsibilities, she works as the event planner where she is responsible for career and internship events for UNK’s Industrial Distribution program, the Cyber Systems Department, and Epsilon Pi Tau, an honorary society that recognizes exemplary student academic performance. She also coordinates the program advisory committees to ensure the CBT has solid connections with industry partners and future employers.

Although Kuta has only been with UNK for a short time, a time that she admits has been “quite the learning curve,” she states that she has “noticed that there is always someone that you can ask a question” when you need help. She is grateful for the way everyone at UNK relies on each other which helps them to “accomplish a lot more together than (they) would apart.” Her journey, with a history rich in customer service, has helped her get acclimated to her new job. She believes the “culture” of the University of Nebraska at Kearney is responsible for the way her “colleagues have been nothing but supportive.” 

The Nebraska Safety Center, where Darla Morris serves as director, is where Amanda Ransdell has served as an office associate for almost a year. As a Loper parent whose son started classes at UNK in the fall of 2022, she fell in love with the school during her many visits to attend events. She shares that she “really liked the atmosphere and the positive interactions (she) had with faculty and staff.” After she made the decision to apply for her current position, she “felt welcomed by everyone from (her) first day on the job.” Her coworkers have made her transition from the parent of a student to a UNK staff member easy, and she is grateful that she has “developed good relationships with them all.” 

Like Jami Koester and Whitney Kuta do for the technology side of the CBT, Amanda Ransdell “effectively assist(s) with the managing of all (the) programs” for the Nebraska Safety Center. All three ladies are essential to their departments. As Ransdell shares, it’s important to “rely on one another to get everything done.” Everyone at UNK is grateful for everything Jami Koester, Whitney Kuta, and Amanda Ransdell do to keep the daily operations running smoothly.