Kimberly Smith | Business
Kimberly Smith | Business
The Clifton Strengths Institute at Nebraska recently welcomed 39 students into the Clifton Builders Program. Through hands-on learning, strengths-based coaching and leadership development, students prepare to build businesses, lead teams and strengthen communities.
The Clifton Strengths Institute at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln has selected 39 students for the 2026 cohort of the Clifton Builders Program.
Housed in the College of Business, the program brings together students with high leadership and entrepreneurial potential to develop their strengths and create positive change. This year’s cohort hails from seven U.S. states and represents academic interests ranging from finance and marketing to biological sciences, pre-nursing and construction management.
“We use three words to describe the Clifton Builders: stretch, disrupt and transform,” said Tim Hodges, Joan Heiser Endowed Presidential Chair, executive director of the Clifton Strengths Institute and associate professor of practice in management. “We are intentional about helping students stretch and develop their unique strengths. Builders disrupt the status quo and work to make it better. They also transform their lives and the lives of those they lead and serve.”
The cohort-based program builds a close-knit community from the start the program’s assistant director. Students can declare a Clifton Builders management major or minor and choose a track based on their interests in building businesses, teams or communities. Each student also works with a Gallup-certified strengths coach to further develop as a leader
“Through three cohort-exclusive classes, these emerging leaders learn how to put their ideas into action and support one another as they create change in their circles of influence, now and into the future,” Carlson said.
The 2026 cohort of Clifton Builders, listed alphabetically by hometown with their academic major(s), is:
Nebraska
- Mia Deleidi, junior, marketing
- Kelly Knutson, junior, business analytics and finance
- Mason Newman, junior, economics, finance and Spanish
- Brady Douglass, sophomore, economics and finance
- Madeline Tompkins, junior, Clifton Builders management and marketing
- Jackson Figard, junior, management and marketing
- Easton Gubbels, junior, accounting and finance
- Elijah Harris, junior, accounting and finance
- Morgan Sobotka, junior, business analytics and finance
- Violet Crawford, junior, management
- August Cripe, sophomore, marketing
- Jackson Hall, junior, accounting and business analytics
- Tucker Ingram, sophomore, accounting and finance
- Madison Jensen, junior, Clifton Builders management and hospitality, restaurant and tourism management
- Michael Jones, sophomore, finance and management
- Thomas Kaplan, sophomore, Clifton Builders management
- Blake Keifer, sophomore, construction management
- Caroline McDonald, sophomore, business and law
- Gus Neary, sophomore, agribusiness
- Parker Thornton, junior, accounting
- Aedan Underwood, junior, finance
- Allison White, sophomore, broadcasting, and sports media and communication
- Mason Schroeder, sophomore, accounting, and business and law
- Rachel Vrable, sophomore, finance
Elsewhere in the U.S.
- Noelle Dadian, sophomore, management
- Emily Rue, sophomore, management and marketing
In the course Building a Life for Impact (MNGT 324B), students develop management and consulting skills to improve business outcomes and workplace engagement. Students take Organizational Behavior (MNGT 360B) together to round out their expertise in effective management and leadership. In Entrepreneurship and Innovation in Organizations (ENTR 321B), students explore entrepreneurship, marketing creativity and market analysis while developing products to sell at the annual Builder Marketplace.
“For many students, the Builder Marketplace is a program highlight because it is their first opportunity to develop an idea, create a prototype and launch a product,” Carlson said. “They gain experience they can build on as they pursue future opportunities while seeing how businesses can make a difference in their communities by donating the revenue they generate to a nonprofit of their choice.”
Alumni have launched businesses, pursued graduate degrees and joined companies such as J.P. Morgan, Hudl, Gallup, Charles Schwab and Kiewit. Students and alumni connect each year at the institute’s Global Builder Summit.
The program is open to any student in their first two years at the university, with courses beginning the following fall. Learn more.
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News Release Contact(s)
Sheri Irwin-Gish
Executive Director of Communications, Marketing and External Relations, College of Business
402-472-3382
Sean Hagewood
News Coordinator, University Communication and Marketing
402-472-8514
