Last April we held our annual elections for new board positions. We had many apply and today we are happy to announce 4 new board roles for the upcoming cycle. Please join us in welcoming (list names alphabetically). Below are brief bios serving as a snapshot of their expertise and contributions to our board.
Derek Babb
“I am a computer science teacher at Omaha North Magnet High School. I am passionate about equity in education and specifically CS education for all. My favorite form of transportation is bike and I ride as often as I can. I am also concerned about the fiscal consequences of our land use policy in Omaha and hope to make the city more bike and pedestrian friendly as well as more financially solvent.” Derek has a Bachelors degree in Secondary Education from UNL, a Masters in Mathematics from UNO and a Masters in Educational Leadership from Midland University.
John Cavanaugh 
Born and raised in Omaha, John Cavanaugh returned to Omaha in 2014 after living in Vermont and Washington D.C. John has a Law Degree and a Masters in Environmental Policy from Vermont Law School. He currently works as a criminal defense Attorney for indigent clients.
“I became interested in transportation as an environmental issue but have come to see it also as an economic justice issue. I want to help make Omaha a City that is livable for everyone regardless of Neighborhood or income.”
I have received all of my degrees from Nebraska institutions. A 1994 graduate of Ravenna Senior High School, I have long shown a passion for serving others through my work. Raised in the United Methodist tradition of social justice and trained at the University of Nebraska in sociology, I have studied the issues of inequality that divide us and sought out the connections to bring us together. As a high school student I engaged in service and as a college student I learned through service.
In 2005, I received a PhD from University of Nebraska Lincoln and now as an adjunct Professor of Sociology at the University of Nebraska Omaha, I encourage service through community research. Currently, I host a website sharing student driven sociological research about Omaha called the Omaha Social Project. I encourage everyone to spend time sociologically exploring Omaha. I love to walk and I wish that I felt more inspired to do that in Omaha. I feel that the overwhelming preference for cars, and the unusual feeling of anonymity and power it provides to drivers makes it difficult for anyone to enjoy the city who isn’t driving through it. I will avoid walking if it means crossing busy thoroughfares and I really despise this so I am choosing to make Omaha a more walkable place. We must encourage alternatives for transportation because it will improve our overall lifestyle and reduce our costs and the alternatives should be fun and creative. I joined Mode Shift to put my back into it.
Originally from Green Bay, Wisconsin, Nick came to Omaha by way of Ottumwa, Iowa where he led the city’s planning and development department. He now works as a community planning consultant helping cities throughout the Midwest to address their issues and capitalize on their opportunities. “I got involved in ModeShift because the form the city’s transportation network is important – it will dictate how residents of Omaha will live and how the city will function for decades to come.”
