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University of Nebraska (NU) System Regents Appoint Presidential Search Committee, Schedule Public Listening Sessions

University of Nebraska (NU) System Seal

The University of Nebraska (NU) System 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 Board’s 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.


Listening Sessions

Details on the listening sessions are as follows:

Tuesday, October 24

Wednesday, October 25

  • UNK Session #1: 10:30 A.M. to Noon, Ockinga Conference Room

  • UNK Session #2: 1 to 2:30 P.M., Ockinga Conference Room

Thursday, October 26

  • UNL Session #1: 9 to 10:30 A.M., Nebraska Union, Platte River Room South

  • UNL Session #2: Noon to 1:30 P.M., Nebraska East Union, Arbor A (Cottonwood)

The sessions are in-person only.


Feedback

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 Thursday, 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.