SEMO Alumnus Caleb Fjone Turns Civic Passion Into Community Impact Across Nebraska

As a sixth grader, Fjone became interested in government, history and the people who helped shape the country. That curiosity eventually led him to Southeast Missouri State University, where he studied political science and public administration before building a career focused on helping communities grow.

Today, Fjone serves as executive director of the Gage Development Coalition in Beatrice, Nebraska, where he leads countywide efforts involving community development, tourism and strategic planning. For him, the work comes back to a simple idea: communities are built by the people who choose to invest in them.

"Build the community you can be proud of and that others want to live in," Fjone said.

A native of Festus, Missouri, Fjone chose SEMO because he wanted a college experience where he could build relationships and be known by the people around him. He earned a Bachelor of Science in political science in 2018 and a Master of Public Administration in 2020.

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"I felt more valued because I wasn't in a lecture hall with hundreds of people," Fjone said. "There was camaraderie, better relationships and that personable touch."

During his time at SEMO, Fjone took advantage of opportunities both inside and outside the classroom. He worked in Residence Life, helped establish Graduate Student Government, served in the Residence Hall Association and was involved in several honor societies.

Those experiences helped him understand that leadership is built through showing up and working with others.

"College is only what you make it," Fjone said. "Put in 100%, and it'll give you 200%."

Fjone also found mentors at SEMO who helped him turn his interest in public service into a career path. Drs. Jeremy Walling and Laura Hatcher, professors of political science, helped him balance his desire to create change with the practical work required to make it happen.

"Jeremy helped with my idealism, and Dr. Hatcher grounded me in that idealism," Fjone said. "You can be idealistic and super excited, but you have to ground it in reality. You have to build the rapport."

Those relationships continued after graduation. Walling helped Fjone secure his first position after graduate school as executive director of the Ashland Community Development Corporation in Ashland, Nebraska, by connecting him with an opportunity that matched his interests and experience.

"That's my SEMO family," Fjone said. "Dr. Walling and Dr. Hatcher came to watch my presentation of my summer project. Those relationships don't just end when you graduate."

In his current role with the Gage Development Coalition, Fjone works on projects designed to strengthen the region and engage residents in shaping its future. One initiative he is especially proud of began during his time in Ashland: creating a tourism bureau led by local high school students through Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA).

Fjone wanted young people to have a voice in decisions affecting their hometown.

"Something we lack in small towns is the voice of the kid or the teenager, who are just as important as the rest of us," Fjone said. "That gave students a clearer vision of what they want to see in their community."

His work has also included helping establish arts programming, community partnerships and international connections, including a sister city relationship with a community near Lomé, Togo.

For Fjone, public administration is where ideas meet reality. His education gave him a foundation in theory, but his career has taught him how to apply those ideas alongside residents, elected officials and community leaders.

"Theoretical and practical application sometimes collide," Fjone said. "More often than not, I get to use my theoretical brain to be the basis of my practical application."

Looking ahead, Fjone hopes to continue serving communities through public leadership and eventually pursue a role in the Nebraska legislature.

"I'm a steward of my community and my region," Fjone said. "If I can draft or advocate for policy that makes improvements, the things I'm learning now will be applied."

Even as his career has taken him away from Cape Girardeau, Fjone remains connected to SEMO. He recently returned to campus to teach a civic engagement class and said the opportunity reminded him of what made his college experience unique.

"I don't think I'd be where I'm at now without my alma mater," Fjone said. "It's really cool to be a Redhawk. That's home. That's where my heart is."

Fjone's story is a reminder that leadership often begins with curiosity, involvement and a willingness to serve others. Through the relationships he built at SEMO and the experiences that shaped him, he continues to find ways to strengthen the communities around him.

At SEMO, students are encouraged to get involved, build connections and gain the experiences that prepare them to lead in their communities. Visit semo.edu/apply to begin your Redhawk journey.

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