Nebraska Wesleyan University brought me to Nebraska in 2002.
I grew up on a farm near Red Oak, IA and planned to attend Iowa State University to major in ag communications. A string of events during the summer of my junior year in high school introduced me to Nebraska Wesleyan University and my plans of being a Cyclone quickly changed to being a Prairie Wolf. I graduated from NWU with a BFA in theatre performance in August 2006 and left for Louisville, KY for a theatre job following graduation. I found my way back to Nebraska in 2008 as my husband and I both found employment here, and we moved back to Lincoln in 2009.
My husband, Scott Engel, is the technical theatre director for Lincoln Southwest High School. We live west of Lincoln on an acreage with our dog, Clark – a 10-year-old Vizsla.
I am honored to be part of the team building Nebraska Innovation Campus, a campus designed to facilitate new and in-depth partnerships between the University of Nebraska and private sector businesses. Nebraska Innovation Campus connects the talents of experts, companies and the university to create a unique culture of innovation. We are building space, place, programs and events to connect a diverse group of partners, the community and the state.
In regard to a personal goal I’m working towards, education is important to me. I have completed a Master of Arts in Management with a Leadership specialization from Doane University (2011) and a Master of Science in Leadership Education from the University of Nebraska (2021). I’m currently working on a graduate certificate in PR and social media.
In regard to a work goal I’m working towards, at Nebraska Innovation Campus, we strive to build space, place, programs and events that attract talent. Like many in Nebraska, our goal is to attract talent to Nebraska and keep talent in Nebraska. We hope to do so by assisting companies with connections, place/space, amenities and resources that allow them to grow and flourish – and provide unique opportunities for great talent to be part of.
A couple of fun facts about me? I grew up showing horses – my show gelding (Mike) turns 28 on May 5. I’ve had him since he was a three-year-old. And I have been in all 120 counties of Kentucky! I worked as an artistic associate for the Kentucky Shakespeare Festival (based in Louisville, KY) and traveled the state teaching K-12 students about the life and times of Shakespeare.
If I had five minutes to prepare an hourlong lecture, I would share how (and why) a BFA in theatre performance prepares you for a career in any industry. I could also teach basic equine showmanship or horsemanship.
Interested in learning more about me and my work? I invite you to check out the following links:
Twitter: @KateEngel | @NIC_Innovates
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kaengel | https://www.linkedin.com/company/nebraska-innovation-campus
Instagram: kate.a.engel
Nebraska Innovation Campus website: https://innovate.unl.edu