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Ishani Adidam’s journey to becoming the Student Body President of the University of Nebraska at 51���� (UNO) has been shaped by a passion for service and a deep personal connection to the campus.

As a fourth-year student majoring in Business Administration with concentrations in Human Resources Management and Business Analytics, alongside a minor in Public Health, Adidam has always believed in the power of community, a belief that is evident in her work on campus and her future goals.

UNO has been a constant presence in Adidam’s life. Her father, Phani Tej Adidam, Ph.D., is a professor in the College of Business Administration (CBA), and her mother, an alumna, made UNO a central part of their family’s culture.

“I was on campus every week, visiting my dad’s office while my mom worked full-time,” recalled Adidam.

This connection to UNO was ingrained in her from an early age, and when it came time to choose a university, she knew UNO was where she belonged.

“I loved how manageable the campus felt, and I immediately felt a sense of community here,” she said.

One of Ishani’s defining moments at UNO came long before she became a student here. When she began learning to drive, doing it on UNO's campus seemed like the only right way to do it. She laughed about this, remembering the experience of navigating parking lots for the first time.

“It felt like I was finally taking control of my own life, and UNO was the perfect place for that,” said Adidam.

When it came to choosing UNO, Adidam appreciated its affordability and the opportunities it offered.

"UNO allowed me to avoid student debt and still get an excellent education," she said.

This decision was influenced by her parents, who encouraged her to take advantage of the opportunities available to her at UNO.

“The education is amazing here, and you’re getting the same quality you’d get at any out-of-state school,” she said her dad would tell her.

From her first year on campus, Adidam dove into student government, becoming involved with the freshman cohort of the Student Government Association (SGA). By her second year, she was elected a senator, and her leadership journey continued to grow from there. However, it wasn’t always smooth sailing.

In her third year, she ran for vice president but didn’t win. Despite the setback, Adidam didn’t let this deter her.

“It was tough, but I learned so much from that experience. It taught me resilience,” she said.

She went on to serve as director of leadership development, working with the freshman cohort and seeing firsthand how powerful student government could be.

This resilience paid off when Adidam was elected student body president for the 2024-2025 school year. As president, she is committed to increasing transparency between student government and the student body.

“So many students don’t know about the resources available to them on campus, and that’s something I want to change,” she said.

She’s already begun initiatives to raise awareness about free services, like legal assistance and printing stations, that many students aren’t aware of.

“It’s about creating a guidebook that ensures students know what they have access to,” she explained. “Students pay into these resources, and we need to make sure they’re using them.”

Ishani’s focus on transparency is also about bridging the gap between student government and the wider campus. She has noticed a sense of disconnection on campus, particularly for some of the students taking classes online.

“My goal is to make student government the hub for student engagement and to ensure that students feel welcomed and heard when they come to us,” she said.

For Adidam, the lessons she’s learned from her own failures have been pivotal.

“Failure is a part of growth,” she said. “If I had won that election, I don’t think I would appreciate this role as much as I do now. Believing in yourself is critical when you’re in a leadership position,” she added. “If you don’t think you can make a difference, then what’s the point of even trying?”

UNO has been more than just a school for Adidam, it’s been a community where she has found her voice, a second home where she got to grow up, and an opportunity for her to challenge herself.