On behalf of the Board of Regents, I am pleased to present a KUDOS Award to UNMC’s Diane Mack, Director of Emergency Management at the University of Nebraska Medical Center
Diane has played a critical role in Emergency Preparedness and Continuity Planning across UNMC, including leading recovery efforts after a November 2025 fire in the Durham Research Center on the UNMC Omaha campus.
Diane’s inclusive leadership helped build confidence during a time of uncertainty, and enabled recovery teams to help displaced researchers resume critical work as quickly and safely as possible.
She and the Incident Command team made difficult decisions under pressure, while balancing safety, research continuity, and resource constraints, while recognizing the emotional toll of the incident on the research community.
Since joining UNMC in 2021, Diane has developed and refined protocols that ensure UNMC is ready to respond to crises effectively, while safeguarding research, patient care, and operational integrity. She finds satisfaction in helping individuals work together during a crisis, and volunteers her time with Team Rubicon, a veteran-led disaster response organization.
Today, Diane is joined by Charlotte Evans, Associate Vice Chancellor, and the UNMC Chief of Police; Bill Smith, Emergency Management Coordinator; Patrick Rodarte, Emergency Preparedness Coordinator; Joel Williams, Sr. Compliance and Performance Coordinator and her boyfriend, Richard Locke.
Join me in thanking Diane for her leadership, dedication, and vision in strengthening UNMC’s resilience and emergency preparedness planning.