Chancellor’s ‘Parting Dialogue’ looks back on successes, momentum

Video: Parting Dialogue with Chancellor Green

A love for the University of Nebraska–Lincoln, career successes, and the institution’s continued momentum were all explored in Chancellor Ronnie Green’s May 9 conversation with students, faculty, staff and alumni.

Held at the Dinsdale Learning Commons, the “Parting Dialogue with Chancellor Green” was an opportunity for Green to talk with the campus community prior to his retirement on June 30.

The dialogue, available in full above, featured questions from faculty leaders Sue Sheridan and Shane Farritor; students Osvaldo Palma Vargas, Paul Pechous and Lauren Kruger; and alumni Roni Miller and Hunter Traynor (both former presidents of the Association of Students of the University of Nebraska). Topics explored included the university’s strong focus on research; strategic plans; navigation of the COVID-19 pandemic; student engagement; and the importance of UNL’s land-grant mission.

Chancellor Ronnie Green chats with students prior to the start of the May 9 conversation. After seven years leading the university, Green will retire on June 30.

“When I came here to interview for the vice chancellor position, I distinctly remember when I walked onto campus, I knew this was where I was supposed to be,” Green said. “I just knew it. And it was because of our focus on students, that every interaction matters, because of the need there was in agriculture at the time, and because of the value we were going to be able to build.

“And, it is those same things — though at different levels and not just ag focused — are what has made me excited to come to work every day (as chancellor).”

In the discussion about the university’s COVID-19 response, Green said he was particularly proud of the response by staff.

“Our staff stood up an unbelievable amount of new things in order for (students) to be able to be back on campus,” Green said. “It was a gargantuan accomplishment.

“I could go on and on (about our COVID response). It was an immensely difficult time, but I’m incredibly proud of the response of our campus community.”

Green announced in December his plan to retire on June 30. Learn more about Green’s tenure and how he will be the featured speaker at the university’s spring commencement exercises on May 19-20.