The University of Nebraska Board of Regents on Thursday named a 22-member Presidential Search Advisory Committee to assist in the national search for the NU System’s ninth president.
The committee will work with the board to identify potential candidates, solicit input from key constituencies with which the president interacts, and determine desired qualifications and characteristics of the next president. The board is also being assisted in the process by Academic Search, a professional executive search firm.
The Presidential Search Advisory Committee will be chaired by Tim Clare of Lincoln, chairman of the Board of Regents and the District 1 representative. Other members are:
Leah Barrett, president, Northeast Community College, Norfolk
Chris Exstrom, Faculty Senate president and professor of inorganic chemistry, University of Nebraska at Kearney
Paul Kenney, Board of Regents, District 6, Amherst
Kelli Kopocis, Faculty Senate president and assistant professor of practice in the Durham School of Architectural Engineering and Construction, University of Nebraska-Lincoln
Hakim Lotoro, student body president and regent and molecular biology and biomedical sciences major, University of Nebraska at Omaha
Scott McPheeters, ag producer and vice chairman of the Nebraska Ethanol Board, Gothenburg
William Melanson, Faculty Senate president and associate professor of philosophy, University of Nebraska at Omaha
Heath Mello, president and CEO, Greater Omaha Chamber, Omaha
Jane Miller, chairwoman-elect of the University of Nebraska Foundation, Omaha
Temo Molina, student body president and regent and political science and business administration major, University of Nebraska at Kearney
Amar Natarajan, Faculty Senate president and professor in the Eppley Institute, University of Nebraska Medical Center
Elizabeth O’Connor, Board of Regents, District 4, Omaha
Rob Otte, general counsel at US Property Inc., Lincoln
Paul Pechous, student body president and regent and 7-12 special education major, University of Nebraska-Lincoln
Rob Schafer, vice chairman of the Board of Regents, District 5, Beatrice
Jim Scheer, Board of Regents, District 3, Norfolk
Katie Schlutis, student body president and regent and medical student, University of Nebraska Medical Center
Jack Stark, Board of Regents, District 2, Omaha
John Stinner, president and CEO (retired) at Valley Bank & Trust Co., Gering
Barbara Weitz, Board of Regents, District 8, Omaha
Kathy Wilmot, Board of Regents, District 7, Beaver City
The Board also announced a series of public listening sessions to be held next week on all four University of Nebraska campuses to gather input on the search. All members of the university community and the public are invited to attend and share their thoughts on what they think the Board should look for in the next president.
Two listening sessions will be held at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln Oct. 26:
9 to 10:30 a.m., Nebraska Union, Platte River Room South
Noon to 1:30 p.m., Nebraska East Union, Arbor A (Cottonwood)
The sessions are in-person only.
For those unable to attend a listening session or who prefer to share feedback electronically, the Board has created an online submission form. Submissions are anonymous.
Feedback gathered from the listening sessions and electronic survey will inform the development of the “position profile” that will be used to recruit potential candidates. In a letter to all faculty, staff and students Oct. 19, Clare said the board’s goal is to “cast as wide a net as possible” and consider a range of candidates before ultimately bringing a priority candidate forward for vetting by NU stakeholders.
Clare stressed the importance of stakeholder participation in the search process and urged as many Nebraskans as possible to provide input.
“The presidency of the university is one of the most important leadership positions in the state,” Clare wrote. “I believe we have a great opportunity to attract a candidate who recognizes our university’s unique role in transforming lives and can rally all Nebraskans around a shared vision for excellence.”
The next president will succeed Ted Carter, who is stepping down Dec. 31.
