What should the next University of Nebraska president be able to accomplish – and how will NU know in the next three to five years that the right person was hired?
What are the key issues, challenges and opportunities facing the campuses, the university as a whole, and the state in the years ahead?
What kinds of prior experiences, skills and personal attributes should the next president have?
Is there anyone that should be recommended as the next NU president?
These are questions the Presidential Search Outreach and Advisory Committee is hoping to answer as the process begins to find a new leader for NU’s four-campus system. Tapped to gather input on what the expectations should be for NU’s new president, the committee is asking for UNL’s thoughts on the matter.
The survey is for students, faculty, staff, parents, alumni, and friends of the university. Organizers are hoping for as many responses as possible before the group begins compiling responses on April 18.
“It is very important that the UNL voice be heard,” said Judy Walker, chair of the UNL Department of Mathematics and a member of the committee.
James B. Milliken announced in January that, after nearly a decade as NU’s president, he would leave Nebraska to become the next chancellor of the City University of New York. On March 21, the NU Board of Regents approved the appointment of James Linder as interim president of the NU system. Linder, who was NU’s senior associate to the president for innovation and economic competitiveness, will begin his interim tenure May 3.
The 21-member Outreach and Advisory committee, co-chaired by regents Tim Clare of Lincoln and Bob Phares of North Platte, is tasked to work with professional search firm Isaacson, Miller to solicit stakeholder input on issues facing the university and qualities the university should seek in the next president; to conduct a broad and inclusive search; seek nominations and applications for the position; and determine how well potential candidates meet the criteria that will be established by the board.
UNL’s representation on the committee includes UNL Chancellor Harvey Perlman; Ronnie Green, vice chancellor of UNL’s Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources; UNL student regent Kevin Knudson; and Walker.
