Staff Spotlight:
In honor of Women's History Month, we want to lift up the voices and victories of women. We asked PPC researchers and staff to share their advice for young women today. During the month of March, we will be sharing their replies. Today, we spoke with Senior Design Specialist Stacie Kotschwar, who leads our graphic design team.
Q&A with Stacie Kotschwar
- What advice do you have for young women today?
If it is important to you, you will find a way. Don't let obstacles stop you from achieving your goals. Women face many challenges, but I think it is important to show determination and keep working towards your objective. If you have to work harder than you planned or it takes you longer to get where you are going, it is important to not lose hope. If you stick with it, your hard work will pay off.
- What is one way your life/work has been impacted by women?
Some of my greatest mentors and teachers in life have been women. I am lucky to have many capable and supportive women around me. Nothing is more valuable than having a supportive network of friends, colleagues, and mentors. It is especially important for women to support other women.
- Can you think of a specific project you have worked on that directly impacts women?
I worked on the redesign the Lincoln Vital Signs website and 2019 report, which presents data about how Lincoln compares to other communities in areas like education, behavioral health services, childcare costs, and families in poverty. The project is part of the Prosper Lincoln Initiative and helps inform decisions, spark connections, and spur collaboration among community members. I also worked on creating branding and outreach materials for the Nebraska Strong Recovery Project, which provided crisis counseling and support to Nebraskans after the 2019 flooding and during the COVID-19 pandemic.