“Our people. Our place. Our time.”
That phrase was more than a slogan during a Charter Day celebration on Feb. 13 — it was a call to recognize the university’s purpose in action, from student-centered work on campus to statewide engagement through Extension and research with global reach.
Interim Chancellor Katherine S. Ankerson asked the campus community to pause and recommit to a shared purpose — not simply to preserve a legacy, but to expand it.
“Charter Day is more than an anniversary,” Ankerson said. “It is a reminder of who we are and why we exist as a community.”
She said that “why” is grounded in UNL’s people, its place and its time. And, it is reflected in UNL being a place where “every person and every interaction matters.”
Across UNL, that purpose is not abstract. It is visible in the work of faculty and staff — in the support provided to students, in outreach that strengthens communities across the state, and in research that addresses the world’s most pressing challenges.
Here are three examples of that purpose in action.
Showing up for students
At the center of UNL’s mission are the people who ensure students feel supported and valued.
In the Nebraska Union, Cory Densberger has spent nearly 14 years doing just that. As a hospitality service associate, he does more than maintain welcoming spaces — he builds relationships. He greets students by name, checks in on how they are doing and creates an environment that feels like home.
“I do it all for the students,” Densberger said, explaining that he wants students to feel comfortable and cared for when they walk through the doors.
His work reflects a core truth shared on Charter Day: student success is not powered by programs alone, but by people — staff and faculty whose daily interactions shape belonging, confidence and growth.
Read more about Densberger’s commitment to serving students.
Serving Nebraskans
UNL’s purpose extends far beyond campus through Nebraska Extension, which brings teaching, research and engagement to communities in every county.
Kristen Herrick’s journey reflects that enduring impact. A UNL graduate and lifelong 4-H participant, she recently returned to serve as a 4-H Extension assistant in Otoe County — stepping into the same system that helped shape her own leadership and communication skills.
From coordinating nearly 1,000 livestock entries at the Otoe County Fair to mentoring youth participants, Herrick now helps cultivate the next generation of Nebraskans.
“It was such an important part of my life growing up,” she said of 4-H. “Being able to work within the organization again is really special to me.”
Her work embodies the land-grant mission Ankerson reaffirmed on Charter Day — that education and opportunity rooted in Nebraska’s communities strengthens the state from the ground up.
Learn more about Herrick’s desire to serve Nebraska.
Addressing global challenges
UNL’s “why” is also defined by the urgency of its time — and by faculty whose research addresses complex global challenges.
That commitment was underscored when plant geneticist James Schnable, Nebraska Corn Presidential Chair and professor of agronomy and horticulture, received one of the National Academy of Sciences’ highest honors for his pioneering work in plant genomics and quantitative genetics.
Schnable’s research has advanced understanding of crop genomes, including foundational contributions to mapping and analyzing the corn genome. By integrating genetics, data science and field research, his interdisciplinary approach is accelerating crop improvement and strengthening agricultural resilience.
The recognition reflects Schnable’s individual achievement and the strength of UNL’s broader research enterprise — work that translates discovery into impact for Nebraska’s agricultural economy and global food security.
Learn more about Schnable’s research and recent honor.
Share your 'why'
Together, these stories reflect the message at the heart of Charter Day.
Now, we want to hear from you.
Why do you teach? Why do you research? Why do you serve? Why does your work at UNL matter to you — and to Nebraska?
Faculty and staff are invited to share their “why” for consideration in our ongoing One of U series. Together, these stories reflect the talent, curiosity and compassion that power our university — and the shared purpose that continues to shape our future.
