Sara Simonsen
Sara Simonsen was named Engagement Specialist at the Nebraska Statewide Workforce & Educational Reporting System (NSWERS) in September 2022.
Simonsen’s work experience includes over 14 years in K12 and postsecondary education systems. Prior to NSWERS, she worked at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln and the Nebraska Department of Education.
As the Engagement Specialist, Simonsen establishes and maintains professional relationships with institutional research and data experts from across NSWERS partners and affiliates to ensure expert input into the NSWERS data products and services. This includes training users on NSWERS data products and gathering input for product development.
Simonsen holds a bachelor’s degree in Spanish with a minor in political science from the University of Nebraska at Kearney. She is currently in the educational administration master’s program at the University of Nebraska – Lincoln. Simonsen and her husband, Derek, live in Lincoln.
Get to Know Sara
What hobby did you pick up or master during the pandemic?
I had never been a movie watcher prior to the pandemic, and especially not any specific kind of genre. Now my two favorite hobbies are watching the Marvel Cinematic Universe movies and shows (there is a lot to catch up on!) and cheesy rom-coms on the Hallmark Channel.
When you were a kid, what did you want to be when you grew up?
I always dreamed of being a teacher. When I started studying language in middle school I determined that I wanted to be a Spanish teacher for elementary-aged students.
What gets you up in the morning?
I work hard so my cats have a better life.
How many different states have you lived in?
Just dear ol’ Nebraska! I’ve lived in Lincoln my whole life with a brief stay in Kearney for my bachelor’s degree.
Coffee or tea? Anything in it?
Coffee with sweet ‘n lo, in the form of a sugar-free vanilla latte with skim milk and an extra shot of espresso, or an Americano with sugar-free hazelnut. Address is below for coffee deliveries. 😉