Jaci Lindburg to Serve as Associate Vice Chancellor for Innovative and Learning-Centric Institution

Chancellor Joanne Li, Ph.D., CFA, announced today the creation of a new leadership role at UNO to guide the campus forward through the next evolution of campus digital technologies and online education offerings.

Jaci Lindburg, Ph.D., who currently serves as associate vice president for digital education for the University of Nebraska System, will become UNO’s associate vice chancellor for innovative and learning-centric institution while also maintaining her role at the NU system.

Lindburg will begin her new responsibilities on Monday, May 16, and report directly to UNO Chancellor Joannne Li, Ph.D., CFA, in the role.

“Jaci has been a champion for educational access since joining the NU System a decade ago and her focus on exploring what is possible for our students is going to be vital in the coming years as an increasing number of our students want flexible options,” Chancellor Li said. “Her knowledge of UNO and strategic insights as a part of President Ted Carter’s team is what we need to be trendsetters in higher education.”

As associate vice chancellor, Lindburg will help unify the goals of UNO’s academic mission, technological capabilities, and student support initiatives. She will work closely with the Office of Academic Affairs; Division of Strategic Institution and Student Success; deans; and Information Technology Services to ensure UNO is meeting the needs of its students, faculty, and staff.

Lindburg’s role will also serve as lead strategist for further developing the capabilities to offer microcredentials, professional development accreditations, and access to other lifelong learning opportunities to meet the needs of the city, state, and national workforce.

“UNO has been building its digital infrastructure since the 1990's and because of that we were well prepared to adapt to remote teaching, learning, and working,” Lindburg said. “This highlights the urgency with which we must anticipate the needs of our students into the future.”

The development of a unifying digital education leadership position comes a time of growth – and change – for online education. No longer a niche offering, but instead a necessity, successful universities will need to have their own defined strategies in order to meet the increasing flexibility, accessibility, and digital readiness needs of all learners.

Lindburg first joined the UNO in 2012 as assistant director for academic affairs in the Division of Continuing Studies before becoming UNO's director of digital learning in 2016 and later an assistant vice president for NU ITS in 2019. Following a national search, she was selected as associate vice president for digital education at the system level and director of University of Nebraska Online in 2021. In her time at UNO, Lindburg helped support the growth of online student credit hour production at UNO, which grew 22 percent from 2016 to 2019.

A sixth-generation Nebraskan, Lindburg earned her bachelor’s degree from Hastings College, a master’s from Doane College and her Ph.D. from St. Louis University in Missouri.