Nicki Simmons, events coordinator for the UNMC College of Allied Health Professions, is retiring June 30. She is in her 30th year at the medical center. With such a big change approaching, it feels exciting, and yes, even a little scary. But she’s looking forward to it.
Her retirement celebration is set for Tuesday, June 9, 2-3:30 p.m. in the Linder Reading Room. Remarks will be at 2:30.
Simmons began her UNMC career in April 1997 working in pediatric pulmonology in Swanson Hall. But it wasn’t long before she joined the then-UNMC School of Allied Health Professions. Allied health was scattered all over campus at that time. Simmons’ first office space was a double-wide trailer.
“It used to be the Lunch Box over on 40th Street,” she said. “It was where the Hope Tower is now, I think.”
There was front-row parking and you could open your windows. They had a grill on the deck.
Then, allied health found a home in Bennett Hall. For the first time, they were all together.
“It seems like a lifetime ago,” Simmons said.
“It was great to walk the halls and be able to see your teammates, and you knew them by name.”
As the years went by, these disparate programs came together to become a true team. Eventually, a true college.
Meanwhile, Simmons found her calling as the college’s events coordinator. It was a perfect fit. “I’m a very detail-oriented multi-tasker and I love watching it all come together,” she said.
Kim Michael, EdD, Anderson Professor of Imaging Sciences, put it this way: “When Nicki was involved, we knew the project would be completed on time — and done exceptionally well.” In nearly 30 years at UNMC, Nicki Simmons coordinated:
- More than 25 allied health convocations;
- More than 20 allied health professionalism ceremonies (ordering more than 3,000 white coats!);
- More than 30 allied health Backstage Pass recruitment events;
- More than 100 admissions interviews (exceeding 2,000 hours);
- More than 15 retirement ceremonies;
- Allied health’s annual awards ceremony (more than 100 award winners over the last 10 years);
- The college’s research seminar series (booking more than 100 speakers over the last 10 years);
- New student orientations, organizing and attending Zoom sessions with incoming students;
- The college’s student ambassador program, meaning she also coordinated numerous food pantry drives, clothing drives, Ronald McDonald House dinners, toys drives, Little Free Library, sock drives, Relay for Life and more;
- Numerous reunion events and the college’s momentous 50th anniversary celebration;
- Numerous potlucks, pumpkin carvings, fun runs and other celebrations and events.
Simmons also served on the university’s reward and recognition committee and the UNMC Disaster Relief Team in the wake of the devastating 2019 floods. She’s been recognized with numerous honors, including as the first staff member to win allied health’s Outstanding Service Award, in 2004.
In her final days at the college, she is still working to get some stuff ready for the new incoming classes before she leaves. Get them off on the right foot.
The students have always made it special. Seeing so much excitement as they come in. And then, just as much excitement when they leave, mixed with nervousness as they head out into the world, looking for and starting jobs.
And the people she’s worked with through the years have made it special, too.
“They’ve been there for me throughs ups and downs and life,” she said. “When you work with people for so long, you’re not only a co-worker but you’re a friend and they know about your life.”
Now she’s the one excited, and a little bit nervous, to go out into the world.