Our Mission
The Office of Global Partnerships and Initiatives aims to bring together the university community, the local community, and our international partners, to tell the Global Nebraska story and facilitate campus internationalization efforts.
We achieve this mission through our work in four key areas:
- International strategy development and implementation
- Partnership development and management (including Memorandums of Understanding)
- Communications and storytelling
- Support of university-wide global programs and initiatives
Maegan Stevens-Liska, M.A.
Assistant Vice Chancellor for Global Affairs and Senior International Officer
Maegan Stevens-Liska serves as University of Nebraska-Lincoln's Assistant Vice Chancellor for Global Affairs and Senior International Officer and oversees the offices of Global Experiences, Global Partnerships and Initiatives, International Student and Scholar Services, and Programs in English as a Second Language. She is responsible for continued progress on the Forward Together: A Global Strategy for UNL strategic plan and completing the vision of the global education center in Louise Pound Hall.
Stevens-Liska has had a significant impact on the university's global initiatives serving international students. She has provided leadership on key programs with the U.S. Department of State including serving as Administrative Director and Principal Investigator for the Mandela Washington Fellowship; PI for the Leadership in Higher Education Program with the Rwanda Institute for Conservation Agriculture; and PI for the Center for Entrepreneurship's Summer Virtual Exchange Program with Egypt. She also served as PI for UNL's Global Virtual Project for students in the U.S., Middle East, and North Africa supported by the Stevens Initiative and Bezos Family Foundation.
Additionally, Stevens-Liska has worked closely with Fulbright Commissions around the world to establish programs at UNL, most notably with Argentina and Germany. She has also worked closely with Nebraska's Center for Children, Youth, Families and Schools to establish their partnership with early childhood education professionals across Brazil.
Prior to working at UNL, Stevens-Liska taught at the Dresden International School and at the Dresden Volkshochschule, e.V. in Germany. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in history from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, and a Master of Arts in information science and learning technologies from the University of Missouri-Columbia.
Dave Long
Director of Global Safety & Security
Dave is responsible for the development and implementation of university-wide policies and procedures related to international risk management and mitigation. In his capacity, he supports educational programs that include outbound mobility by assessing risks and ensuring that crisis response plans are put in place. He monitors world events based on institutional exposure and works with travelers to mitigate risk. In concert with AVC Davis, Dave oversees the Executive Memorandum No. 25 Travel Warning Waiver process for UNL students. Dave also supports international students and scholars on campus, working in concert with multiple offices across Nebraska to respond to crises or advise on protocols. Prior to joining Nebraska, Dave lived and worked abroad in the security industry within the Humanitarian NGO community and in private contracting. His first posting was in North Africa, where for three years he supported development agencies in Morocco, Tunisia, and Mauritania. He then moved to East Africa to support the relief agency, Samaritan’s Purse, and conducted critical operations in South Sudan, Kenya, Uganda, and the Democratic Republic of Congo. Additionally, Dave was posted in Iraq for two years with the same agency, where he supported relief efforts in Iraq and Syria after the fall of Mosul. Dave has working knowledge of Spanish, Western Arabic, and Sorani Kurdish. He holds a B.A. in International Studies from Georgia Southern University.
Traci Gunderson, M.S.
Assistant Director, Office of Global Partnerships & Initiatives
Traci works with UNL faculty and staff as well as local and international partners to support and communicate Nebraska’s global strategic efforts related to research, teaching, service, and outreach. She is our primary contact for external materials and content that highlights Nebraska’s global impact at the university and beyond. She ensures that our communication reinforces the value of and Nebraska’s dedication to global education and engagement, helps grow our reputation as a global leader, and strengthens relationships with strategic partners while emphasizing the importance and value of international partnerships for UNL. Additionally, Traci oversees our bilateral exchange partnerships and collaborates with academic departments to develop dual degree programs. Prior to joining UNL, she honed her passion and skills for International Education at our sister campus, University of Nebraska at Kearney. Traci was born and raised in Nebraska but has travelled extensively both personally and professionally. Her Bachelor of Arts degree in International Studies is from the University of Nebraska at Omaha and her Master of Science degree is in Global and International Education from Drexel University.
