The next chancellor at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln should be a strong leader who values intellectualism, curiosity, diversity and the unique role UNL plays in the state of Nebraska.
He or she also needs to deeply value the university’s land-grant mission, to be an engaged advocate for students, to build strong philanthropic relationships, to grasp the ever-changing and increasingly challenging economics of higher education and to demonstrate a commitment to infrastructure as the university grows.
And last, it would help if he or she had a good sense of humor.
Those were just a few of the thoughts offered Sept. 10 by UNL administrators, faculty, staff and stakeholders during an informal information-gathering forum at the Nebraska Union, hosted by the firm guiding the search to find UNL’s next leader.
About 50 people attended the event put on by search firm Isaacson, Miller and co-hosted by University of Nebraska President Hank Bounds. Ideas, comments, suggestions and questions freely flowed during the hour-long discussion as the process to choose a new chancellor begins to take shape.
Some suggestions were general – attendees ticked off the basic skills, experiences and personal attributes of a chancellor that would befit a growing, vibrant university. Others were more specific – for instance, there was consensus that the next chancellor must understand the influence Husker athletics has on campus and in the state; he or she should clearly grasp the unique statewide role UNL’s chancellor plays compared with other chancellors in the NU system, and to appreciate what UNL should begin to look like in the coming years as it solidifies its home in the Big Ten.
All suggestions were valuable and welcome, said David Bellshaw, vice president of Isaacson, Miller.
“We’re not coming in with preconceived notions about what it takes to run the University of Nebraska-Lincoln at this moment in time,” Bellshaw said. “That’s why we’re here to listen to you, to talk about the things that are most important to you in terms of the future of this campus and where the campus needs to go – and what you need out of a chancellor.”
The public forum was among a number of campus and community meetings for Isaacson, Miller this week. Bellshaw and associates Lindsay Gold and Courtney Wilk gathered with a number of campus constituencies to gather information to be put toward a job prospectus for the position.
The meetings, he said, also help identify the most important characteristics for UNL’s next leader, as well as the challenges and opportunities that await that person.
Bellshaw said the firm would work closely with the 24-member Search Advisory Committee, which will vet candidates with a goal of bringing finalists to campus this winter. If all goes well, finalists would be on campus in early 2016, he said. The appointment of the next chancellor will be made by the president, subject to approval by the Board of Regents.
Regular updates on the UNL chancellor search are being posted online.
Bellshaw encouraged faculty, staff and administrators to not wait until finalists arrive on campus to react and conduct due diligence. Now is the time for everyone at UNL – not just the Search Advisory Committee – to spread the net far and wide and make a pitch to colleagues at other institutions about why UNL is a great place to be, he said.
“We hope to shake up the market (with this search),” he said.
Attendees were left with source/candidate suggestion forms, which they were encouraged to return to Isaacson, Miller at awebester@imsearch.com. Individuals can also share thoughts on the chancellor search through an online survey. Responses to the survey also will help inform a job description and candidate profile for the next chancellor.
Chancellor Harvey Perlman announced in April that he would step down on June 30, 2016, after leading the university through an era of significant growth and progress.
