Director of Multicultural Affairs, UNO

On behalf of the Board of Regents I am pleased to present a KUDOS award to James Freeman, who works as director of UNO Multicultural Affairs.

Jim came to UNO in 2003 as the department’s interim director. He became the permanent director of Multicultural Affairs in 2005. Jim has a long history with the university. After becoming part of the first National Teacher Corps and earning his master’s degree from Omaha University in 1968, Omaha Public Schools hired him. During a 38‐year career in OPS he served as a teacher, assistant principal, principal and Director of Recruitment. RedBook Magazine – on two occasions – recognized Fontenelle Elementary (one of the schools where he served as principal) as being one of the best schools in the nation and the best in Nebraska.

Jim’s passion for working with young people and helping them maximize their opportunities has been key to his work at UNO, where he focuses on the recruitment and retention of underrepresented students. He works in collaboration with faculty, staff and the greater Omaha community to provide students with the necessary knowledge and skills to be successful. His daily work involves counseling, encouraging, mentoring and convincing students to do their best and to aim for more.

Joining Jim today is his wife, Barbara, who also graduated from UNO. Their family includes two sons. One son attended UNO as well. Please join me in thanking James Freeman for his contributions to the University of Nebraska at Omaha.