The University of Nebraska Foundation has named Connie Pejsar as the Hixson-Lied College’s new Director of Development.
Pejsar has been with the Foundation since 1983 and has held a variety of positions, including fundraising for the College of Architecture and State Museum.
“The most rewarding part of my job is establishing relationships with alumni and friends of the university and helping them make their dream of helping the university a reality,” Pejsar said. “I look forward to meeting the alumni and friends of the Hixson-Lied College and continuing that work.”
Effective May 1, Dr. Lucy Buntain Comine transitioned to a part-time status at the University of Nebraska Foundation, stepping down from her position as Senior Development Director for the Hixson-Lied College of Fine and Performing Arts. Buntain Comine continues her service with the Foundation working in major gift development and on special projects.
“We respect her decision to step down as our college’s development officer,” said Charles O’Connor, endowed dean of the Hixson-Lied College of Fine and Performing Arts. “But we’re certainly very sad to lose her. Her tireless passion for the arts will be greatly missed, and her accomplishments as a fund-raiser are second-to-none.”
Buntain Comine has been at the Foundation since 1989 and has worked with the Hixson-Lied College since its founding in 1993. She has bachelor, master’s and doctorate degrees in English from the University of Nebraska–Lincoln and was a member of the faculty at the University of Nebraska Department of English before joining the Foundation.
“I’m so grateful for the many wonderful friendships I’ve enjoyed while working with the Hixson-Lied College, and I appreciate the remarkable generosity of its donors,” Buntain Comine said. “Though I’m excited about my new assignment with the Foundation, I’ll always be a huge supporter of the Hixson-Lied College.”
O’Connor said there was no one connected with the University who had more passion for the arts or was as dedicated to finding outside support for faculty and students.
“Lucy’s impact on this College is almost impossible to quantify,” O’Connor said. “But everything from the Hixson-Lied Endowment, the Mary Riepma Ross Endowment, the Glenn Korff Endowment, the John W. Carson Endowment, the Eisentrager-Howard Gallery, the Jim and Rhonda Seacrest Excellence Fund, to many other scholarships and gifts, too numerous to even begin listing, all have come from her efforts on behalf of the College. There truly isn’t a corner of the College that has not been enhanced by her work.”
Joe Selig, senior vice president for UNL development, also recognized Buntain Comine and Pejsar for their service.
“The love of place Lucy and Connie have for the university is admirable,” Selig said. “The Foundation is extremely grateful for Lucy’s longtime service to the university’s donors, and we thank Connie for continuing her dedicated service in this new role for Hixson-Lied.”