By Jessica Fargen
Staff writer
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JONATHAN HOUGHTON/DN |
Until she finds a new topic.
The new College of Business Administration dean once read six volumes of a biography of Thomas Jefferson just out of curiosity. Another time, books about Saudi Arabia were her passion.
The close proximity of her second-floor office to Love Library impresses her, because she's constantly close to her true love.
All those books - "It is perfect," she said.
Her book smarts, coupled with her academic, business and government experience, led to Milligan becoming UNL's first female CBA dean.
In June she replaced John Goebel, who took the post in 1995.
A hands-on approach
Milligan wants to bring students closer to the business community, so she has spent time talking to Lincoln businesses about how to enrich that relationship.
The 52-year-old also wants to know students well.
For instance, she plans to invite about 100 students from the CBA residence hall learning community floors to her home for dinner.
She went to Oxford University, England, this summer to check out UNL's business program that goes there.
She has been meeting with student groups such as Students In Free Enterprise and the CBA student advisory board.
Though Milligan enjoys meeting students, she wants them to meet professionals in the business community as well.
Milligan said one of her goals is enhancing the student-business community relationship through more internships, guest lectures or job shadowing.
"One of the greatest concerns is how to have access for students to jobs," she said.
A winding career path
Pulling the business world and the education world together is important for Milligan, because she dwelt in both.
She has been active among Lincoln's businesses for 20 years.
She has been gaining work experience since she earned her bachelor's degree in French from the University of Kansas in Lawrence and her law degree from George Washington University in Washington, D.C., in 1970.
"I am interested in lots of different things, which has led to my career path being more varied than most people," she said.
Milligan practiced law for seven years in Washington, D.C., and for 10 years in Lincoln. She has been an adjunct law professor at Georgetown University in Washington, D.C., and at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. She founded Cynthia Milligan and Associates, a Lincoln banking consultant firm, in 1991.
On top of that, she was education adviser to former Gov. Kay Orr and director of the Nebraska Department of Banking and Finance from 1987 to 1991.
"All (the jobs) have been challenging and interesting and exciting and then you bring to the next position all that you've had," she said.
Though it may seem Milligan is married to her career, she actually is married to Bob Milligan - for 30 years.
Milligan, born in Lansing, Mich., is the mother of five children, and her business acumen apparently rubbed off on them.
Two of her daughters took UNL business classes this summer. One of her daughters is working on her master's degree in business administration here, and one of her sons graduated from UNL.
Sky-high aspirations
Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs Rick Edwards said the college was looking for a candidate who demonstrated strong leadership and high goals.
"The main thing that attracted us was her high level of aspiration for the college and for what she wanted to see the university achieve," Edwards said.
"She's very ambitious for her college and has the vision and the energy and determination to see great things happen."
Milligan has been to more than seven countries including Japan, Italy, Israel, China and Great Britain. Edwards said her experiences there will benefit students and add to the several student programs abroad.
Milligan said she decided to take the leap from business to education because it is a rewarding profession.
"I think those who are involved in education can know at the end of the day that what they do makes a difference," she said.
Plus, Milligan just enjoys working in a college atmosphere.
"A college campus is really a wonderful, vibrant place to be," she said.
She cherishes the daily, routine sights on campus, such as the NU marching band scurrying to practice in the morning or a student sitting in a quiet corner reading a book.
Business legacy
Milligan is not the first of her family to play an important role at UNL.
Her father, Clifford Hardin, was NU chancellor during the 1950s and 1960s.
Milligan said she wants to leave her mark in the college as one who gave opportunities to students.
"I hope students come back and say I opened the door for them in their career," she said.
"I hope students look back and say the education we gave them here really made a difference in their lives."