Susanne Shore

Susanne Shore earned a bachelor's degree from Oklahoma State University in 1986 and a bachelor's degree from Creighton University in 1994. Shore also earned a graduate degree from Oklahoma State University in 1988. Her career experience includes working as a community volunteer.[1]

Who are you? Tell us about yourself.

I worked my way through college as a Resident Assistant and then worked in universities, focusing on student success. I later transitioned into healthcare, becoming a nurse at St. Joseph’s Hospital.

My career has been grounded in service to Omaha and Nebraska. As a CASA volunteer, I advocated for children in the court system, ensuring they received the supports they needed. I’ve also led nonprofit boards focused on strengthening families and improving outcomes for young people.

I built on that work and changed the way the state serves our children, delivering real results like reducing the number of children entering foster care, strengthening families, and improving student outcomes. As First Lady of Nebraska, our team created community-based collaborations that reduced foster care entries by 18%, creating a model now recognized nationally.

I also built a statewide nonprofit to celebrate Nebraska and its people. I created and met multimillion dollar budgets, set strategy and built an effective team. Together we produced statewide programs to encourage volunteerism and Nebraska pride, created an award-winning educational YouTube channel for fourth graders, and distributed books on Chief Standing Bear to every fifth grader in the state.

My husband Pete, and together we have great three children.

Please list below 3 key messages of your campaign. What are the main points you want voters to remember about your goals for your time in office?

Talent is universal, but opportunity is not. Education expands real opportunity for students from every background and every zip code—but it must be accessible and affordable.

As a student who worked to pay for college, I understand the importance of cost. A degree is worth the investment, but not a lifetime of debt. We should expand student aid, scholarships, and work-study, along with flexible options like hybrid, online, and accelerated programs.

Accessibility requires creating multiple, clear pathways into and through college—so students know how to begin, can stay on track, and graduate. My work in universities focused on helping students persist, complete their degrees, and succeed beyond graduation.Students come to college to invest in their future. Their education and experiences must create real value - aligned with their goals, our communities’ needs and tomorrow’s economy. As the world changes, our universities must not only keep pace but lead.

Universities are uniquely situated to teach critical thinking, creativity and problem-solving, the skills that will be valued as technology reshapes how we learn and work. The humanities are as essential as technical and professional courses - and integrating them will strengthen outcomes and make for the value our students seek.

As nontraditional students return to expand their skills and knowledge over time, we must grow flexible options for classes, certifications and degrees.The Board of Regents must ensure the university system remains a strong, relevant leader today and for decades to come through solid governance. This requires wise financial oversight, including the financing of major capital projects, and the continual evaluation of leadership. Recent decisions to incur more debt require transparency, clear communication with the public, and open discussion of plans and alternatives.

The Board is one of many stakeholders committed to excellence and must be a stronger partner, rebuilding trust with students, faculty, and staff, healthcare providers at UNMC, donors, and Nebraska’s elected, civic, and business leaders. It must also build trust with taxpayers who invest in and expect value from our system.

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

I focused my career and volunteer work on strengthening individuals, families and communities. From my time volunteering in my children’s school and my church to heading a board of directors as we developed a much-needed children’s crisis shelter, I focus on providing positive, principled leadership.

Building our community collaboratives to provide services to struggling families required bringing a wide range of people together: urban, rural and tribal; Republicans and Democrats; those with lived experience; community activists and elected officials. Together we solved challenges that allowed us to successfully serve our communities.

I lead by listening carefully, respecting different perspectives, and building workable solutions.

What organizations or individuals have endorsed your campaign?

Former Governor and US Senator Ben Nelson.

State Senators John Fredrickson, Wendy DeBoer and Danielle Conrad.

Former State Senators Patty Pansing Brooks and Justin Wayne.

Douglas County Commissioner Chris Rodgers

University Board of Regent Barbara Weitz

Lincoln Mayor Leirion Gaylor Baird

Women Who Run

Campaign websiteShore's campaign website stated the following:Accessibility & AffordabilityWith average student debt in Nebraska reaching $32,000, we must ensure a public university education remains attainable and worth the investment.My CommitmentsLimit tuition and fee increases to keep costs predictable and responsible for Nebraska families.Expand work-study and paid internships to reduce the financial burden on students while increasing employability.Create flexible entry points including seamless transfers, dual enrollment, and adult-learner pathways to meet students where they are.Track student success by using system-level goals that reward improvements in retention, persistence, and completion.Building a Next-Generation InstitutionAs rapid technological change and AI reshape the global economy, our university must function as a strategic asset that links research to future prosperity.My CommitmentsGrow innovation ecosystems that translate university research into startups, new industries, and good-paying jobs.Integrate AI and technological training across all disciplines to prepare graduates for a world being remade by great change.Embed “work-and-learn” models like co-ops and project-based courses that connect students to real-world challenges.Require public reporting on economic-impact metrics, industry partnerships, and graduate outcomes in dynamic sectors.Quality and Value for Students & the StateTo combat the loss of 6,000 young residents annually, we must ensure graduates leave with the specific skills and experience required to thrive in Nebraska.My CommitmentsAlign academic programs with real workforce needs to strengthen pipelines for healthcare, STEM, and education.Partner with employers and nonprofits to expand experiential learning and applied research opportunities.Blend technical and human skills—including critical thinking and creativity—to prepare graduates to solve problems and lead.Preserve a strong liberal arts education that prepares informed graduates to participate responsibly in civic life.Strong Governance and Principled LeadershipIn an era of tightening budgets and strained public trust, Regents must provide the disciplined, transparent governance necessary to ensure a strong return on investment.My CommitmentsPrioritize fiscal oversight that emphasizes transparency, accountability, and long-term sustainability.Foster an intellectually diverse campus grounded in civil discourse, academic freedom, and mutual respect.Build public trust through consistent communication and performance-informed funding tied to clear goals.Stay mission-centered by providing leadership that focuses every campus and department on a shared vision.— Susanne Shore's campaign website (May 5, 2026)Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.