UNO’s School of Accounting provides new passion, career for student

By Noah Johnson

Matthew Norrie’s future was at a crossroads.

Norrie graduated from the University of Nebraska at Omaha in 2019 with a bachelor’s degree in emergency management. He spent the next four years in law enforcement, working on the campus as a police officer before serving as a deputy sheriff for the Sarpy County Sheriff’s Office.

However, Norrie said something was pulling him in a different direction.

 “I kind of took it as far as I was able to take it,” he said. “I’m also married with two kids, so that kind of changes priorities.”

So, Norrie turned his focus to business.

As a student, Norrie was introduced to accounting through students he met while working as a resident assistant. He was interested in the field and took some introductory classes for non-business students but didn’t pursue the field further.

When Norrie returned to UNO in 2024, he followed up on that interest.

Today, Norrie is entering his final year of study to earn a bachelor’s degree in accounting at UNO’s College of Business Administration School of Accounting.

Over the last year, Norrie has continued to find success within the school. He currently serves as the executive vice president of the School of Accounting’s Beta Alpha Psi Chapter, an international honor organization for financial information students and professionals.

He also volunteered with the School of Accounting’s summer camps, which seeks to spark interest in accounting among Nebraska high school students.

“I love teaching and mentoring, so to see someone get that spark for something that they might enjoy is pretty special,” he said.

Norrie has continued to represent the best in the school, all while balancing life with his family and a job away from school.

The sacrifices he has made along the way, whether it be time away from his wife and children or late nights catching up on coursework, all have been worthwhile thanks to the friends, connections and invaluable experience he’s gained at the School of Accounting.

“I think the fact that I’m going back and finishing this degree tells you everything you need to know about this program,” he said. “It’s worth spending that time to come back again.”