Prokop brings public sector, nonprofit experience to Capitol

Above: Sen. Jason Prokop and family cheer on the Huskers together at a night game in Memorial Stadium.

Sen. Jason Prokop’s father is 76 years old and still works at the grain mill in Crete, the freshman senator’s hometown. It’s the kind of “nose to the grindstone” work ethic that has shaped Prokop’s own life, he said.

“He’s not good at sitting around and I have that trait in me as well,” Prokop said.

The desire to work hard and have a positive impact on those around him has been a theme since Prokop was in college at Nebraska Wesleyan University.

There, he met U.S. Sen. Ben Nelson and interned in the senator’s Lincoln office in the spring semester of his senior year. That internship led to a variety of positions in Nelson’s DC and Lincoln offices, giving Prokop a front-row seat to the kind of public service he now hopes to emulate.

“Sen. Nelson was an incredibly strong leader,” Prokop said. “He was pragmatic in how he approached the work and solutions oriented.”

Prokop stayed in DC after leaving Nelson’s office, taking a position as chief of staff at the National Association of Insurance Commissioners. It was during that time that he met his wife, Jennifer. Though from northern Virginia, Jennifer’s grandfather worked at the University of Nebraska Medical Center.

“I mentioned that I was from Nebraska and she knew about the Huskers, she knew about Runza — and I thought, that’s it, I’m in love!” Prokop laughed.

The couple decided Nebraska was where they wanted to raise a family, so Prokop was excited to take a position in state government and head back to Lincoln. Their two young children, Eleanor and Everett, keep them busy with sports and other activities. They also have a family dog named Jane.

The District 27 senator has since transitioned to leading First Five Nebraska, a nonprofit focused on public policy around early childhood care and education. Jennifer works remotely in the field of senior care management.

“So we really focus on both ends of the spectrum,” Prokop said. “Both times in life come with a lot of challenges — many of them similar.”

In the little free time that such a busy life affords, Prokop tries to keep up on all things Husker athletics, especially football game days. A player himself in high school, Prokop acknowledged that, like probably every kid who grew up in Nebraska, he harbored hopes of someday playing in Memorial Stadium himself.

“But, the harsh reality of not being fast enough, or big enough, or strong enough eventually dawns on you,” he laughed.

So, Prokop focused on the fields where he knew he could make a difference.

“Throughout my professional career, public service has always been a common thread,” he said. “I’ve always felt like I’ve had a contribution to make. Now I have a chance to do it through elected office and I’m excited about the opportunity.”