University Program Council

Thank you for your interest in UPC Nebraska. We are not accepting member applications at this time.

To see events put on by UPC Nebraska and Student Involvement go HERE

UPC Nebraska Membership

UPC Nebraska Structure

UPC Nebraska is run completely by students on a volunteer basis with oversight from the Advising Team.

  • Advising Team: Program Coordinator, Graduate Assistant, President
  • Officers: President, Internal Vice President/FAC Chair, External Vice President, Financial Manager, Secretary, Membership Coordinator - upcmembership@unl.edu

  • Committee Chairs: Diversity/Education, Entertainment, Public Relations
  • General Council Members

Member Expectations

Potential new members must be enrolled UNL students in good disciplinary standing with a minimum of 12 undergraduate credit hours or nine graduate credit hours and a 2.0 cumulative GPA.

All members must commit a minimum of four hours per week to attending UPC meetings, office hours, events, retreats, and activities.

Members must attend General Council meetings every Tuesday night from 7-9 p.m. in the Student Involvement Green Room within the Nebraska Union.

Communication is very important to UPC, so all members must keep updated with various forms of communication, e.g. email, text, phone, etc.

Our Story

What began as the Union Program Council was started shortly after the Nebraska Union opened in 1938. At that time, the programming focused on the Union and consisted primarily of speakers and films. In January 1978, The Board of Regents passed a new student fee policy that stipulated only the student government, student newspaper, and a major programming organization would receive student fee support. A student task force analyzed the results of the new Regents’ policy and created the structure for the newly named University Program Council (UPC).

In 2001, UPC was restructured in order to provide members with a sense of ownership and divide the workload equally among members. As a result, UPC Nebraska was divided into three committees: Entertainment, Diversity, and Public Relations. The eight executive officers included President, Vice President, Financial Manager, Secretary, Membership Coordinator, and the three Committee Chairs. In Spring 2004, UPC Nebraska voted to change the name of the Diversity Committee to Diversity/Education to better represent the committee’s goal of programming to enrich campus education on a variety of topics.

Mission Statement

The University Program Council (UPC Nebraska) is a student organization that provides diverse, educational and entertaining programs to enhance the UNL community.

Meet the Staff

Gabby Rodriguez, President

Major: Human Resource Management and Pre-Law
Minor: Criminal Justice
I know every word and dance move in Grease. One day I hope to travel to every continent and visit all 7 Wonders of the World. I am obsessed with Australia and hope to one day live there, or at least travel there. I love being a member of UPC Nebraska because I love seeing the passion that each of us has when bringing and executing events and the people are amazing! Outside of UPC Nebraska I love to bake, watch funny TV shows, and hanging out with pets!

Internal Vice President Sarah Parkin

Major: Journalism and Global Studies
Minor: Political Science
I am a lover of dry humor and memes. I was definitely the horse girl of my elementary school, but now I like to think of myself as the friend who wears black too much and tells you how it is. My love of writing turned into a love of journalism, and my loveof gossip turned into a passion for global affairs, specifically in human rights. I’m hoping to find a career reporting human rights violations for international organizations, such as Human Rights Watchor Vice. My favorite food is anything involving carbs, and my favorite books include “The Life of Pi” and the “Harry Potter” series. My only enemy in life is the Oxford comma.

External Vice President Lauren Kubat

Major: Accounting
Minor: Clifton Builders Management Minor
Hello! This is Lauren and I am from Omaha, Nebraska. My passions in life include listening to Indie music, cooking, hanging out with my golden retriever, watching award-winning movies and occasionally singing. I love UPC Nebraska with my whole heart, and am so passionate about our mission, vision, and values. Seeing all of the events we bring take full life and leave an impact has to be myfavorite thing about being on this council. UPC Nebraska has provided me with an opportunity to become a confident leader as well as learn to collaborate with so many other unique and motivated individuals. I owe it to UPC Nebraska that I was able to findmy people in college. Catch me in the Nebraska Union or College of Business, coffee in hand, always on a mission!

Secretary Kathleen Esser

Major: Advertising and Public Relations and Communication Studies
Hey there! My name is Kathleen Esser (you can call me Kat) and I am the Secretary for UPC Nebraska. I am from York, Nebraska and I’m double majoring in Advertising and Public Relations and Communication Studies. I love the idea of creating a visual story that has the power to move or change someone! If you you ever see, I am most likely hanging in the UPC Nebraska office, thinking about pasta, or watching National Treasure. I hope to someday be living in the Pacific Northwest working for a SICK advertising agency. UPC Nebraska has made my college experience one that I could never forget because of the phenomenal members, the ability to bring events that can inspire someone, and the professional business skilled that are instilled in us as members. CATCH YA ON THE FLIP SIDE

Financial Manager Emily Loftis

Major: Economics
Minor: National Security Studies, Political Science, and Math
I’m an economics major with minors in political science, national security studies, and math. I’m originally from Kansas City, Missouri, but Nebraska feels like home! I love being a member of UPC Nebraska because we have a tangible impact on the community, and my peers on UPC Nebraska are incredibly inspiring. Outside of UPC Nebraska, I enjoy working, watching Game of Thrones, and spending time with my sorority sisters in Delta Gamma!

Diversity/Education Chair Will Parker

Major: Hospitality and Textiles
Hey! My name is Will Parker, and I am the Diversity/Education chair for UPC Nebraska. My major is Hospitality, Restaurant, Tourism, and Management. I am double minoring in Leadership and Textiles, Merchandising, and Fashion Design. You can catch me in my free time shopping for designer clothes I can’t afford, eating poke bowls, or drinking a good cup o’ joe. Most of the time I spend chilling in the UPC Nebraska office with all of my besties. I love UPC Nebraska because we are a team that works together in providing the Nebraska community with some of the most rad events, AND we have a pretty rad time while doing so!

Entertainment Chair Nick Furgason

Major: Business Administration
Hello! My name is Nick and I am the Entertainment Chair for UPC Nebraska. I’m from Littleton, Colorado and I attribute my love for the outdoors to that fact! My first two years of college were spent at Lehigh University in Bethlehem, PA. While I loved all of the great people I met there, I wanted to move closer to home and family. Being a transfer student, UPC Nebraska has been my gateway to making amazing relationships andgetting involved on campus. This is something that can be especially hard for transfer students and I am thankful that UPC Nebraska helped make my transition easier! I have a love for all entertainment, especially movies, live music, and standup comedy. Iam so glad to be in a position where I can share that love with campus and work with and meet amazing talent. Some of my passions include skiing, hiking, camping, and hanging out with my dogs.

Marketing Chair Sydney Trench

Major: Elementary Education
Hello! My name is Sydney Trench and I am the Marketing Chair for UPC Nebraska. I was born and raised in Omaha, Nebraska. As a Caribbean-American I have always had a passion for multicultural education and kids in general. I plan on moving back to Omaha and becoming a classroom teacher before getting my masters in Administration and hopefully running my own school. If I’m not in the UPC Nebraska Office working on new poster designs, I am busy watching Hulu, shopping, or having a good time with friends! UPC Nebraska has taught me so many professional skills that I can use after college, as well as giving me some pretty cool friends.

Communications Chair Vicky Wehrman

Major: Marketing, Management
Minor: English
Hi! My name is Victoria Wehrman, and I am the Communications Chair for UPC Nebraska. I am from a small town Kenesaw, Nebraska. I’m passionate about learning, adventuring, and marketing, which makes my public relations job for UPC Nebraska perfect for me and my future profession. UPC Nebraska has taught me so much about how to communicate professionally, effectively manage my time, and create lasting relationships in high stress situations. If I am not in the UPC Nebraska office, you can find me in line at Dunkin’ Donuts or hanging out with my sorority sisters at the Gamma Phi Beta house!

Membership Coordinator Brennan Splichal

Major: International Business Marketing
Minor: Asian Studies and Textiles
Hi! My name is Brennan Splichal. I was born and raised in Lincoln, Nebraska. I have a passion for people, travel and fashion. When I graduate I want to own a production facility that manufactures textiles for luxury brands. My favorite part of UPC Nebraska is giving me the ability to develop professional skills and thrive in a dynamic environment of ambitious people. Outside of my professional and academic career, I enjoy drinking iced coffee, playing Scrabble, watching reality TV, going to restaurants, hanging out with friends, going to concerts, traveling, and going to art museums.

Graduate Assistant Mac Benavides
Hometown: Allen, Texas
Major/Minor(s): Bachelor of Science in Secondary Education, Bachelor of Arts in Hispanic Studies, Masters in Educational Administration (In progress)
If you’re wondering who made the delicious food that UPC Nebraska members are always talking about, it was probably me. In my free time, I love cooking; driving aimlessly while pretending I know where I’m going; traveling; and spending time with my wife, 2 dogs (Instagram: Buttons.and.Ted), and friends. Being the co-advisor for UPC Nebraska has been a great experience working with these sassy, hard-working students.

Program Coordinator Karen Wills
Hometown: Omaha, Nebraska
Major/Minor(s): Bachelor of Science in Community Health Education, Masters in Educational Administration (Emphasis in Student Affairs)
I have been married to my high school sweetheart, Matt Wills for over 20 years. We have a 15-year-old son named Talley and a 12-year-old daughter named Liem. I have been a part of UPC Nebraska since 1989, except for the one year I had a Graduate Assistantship in another area of Student Affairs and the three years after grad school when I worked as the Office Manager for a massage therapist, an architect, and a dance studio all at the same time. I am an active member of the dance/performing arts community in Lincoln. I love to proofread. I am a survivor of #AppendixCancer. I haven’t had caffeine in over 20 years. I can’t make myself burp. I am a very emotional person!!!
Contact Us

UPC Office

134 Nebraska Union

402 472-9749









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