The University of Nebraska Board of Regents is seeking applications and nominations for the ninth president of the NU system.
In a Nov. 16 letter to all faculty and staff, Regent Tim Clare, chairman of the board, announced that the position profile for the presidency is live on the website of Academic Search, the firm assisting with the search. The board is seeking applications and nominations by Jan. 1.
Clare invited faculty and staff to share the position profile across their networks, saying the board intends to cast as wide a net as possible as it considers candidates for the university’s next leader. The position profile was developed based on input from nearly 200 faculty, staff, students and stakeholders who attended a series of campus listening sessions last month, as well as additional feedback shared online. Clare credited every individual who took time to weigh in, as well as the 22-member presidential search advisory committee for helping to solicit feedback and facilitate discussions.
From that feedback, Clare said, a number of key common themes emerged.
“We heard loud and clear that the presidency of the University of Nebraska (system) is an enormous opportunity and responsibility — a position that has a uniquely significant impact on the lives of students, the well-being of our communities and the strength of our economy,” Clare wrote. “We have the crucial task of finding exactly the right person who will lead our university to its next phase of growth and excellence.
“I’m confident our leadership profile will help us find that person.”
Among other qualities, the board seeks someone who:
• Is an authentic, proven leader who values shared governance, student voices, and the university’s goals for academic excellence;
• Brings a gift for connecting with all Nebraskans and inspiring them around a shared vision;
• Will build effective relationships with the governor, legislature, other elected leaders and donors;
• Brings strong business acumen, with a proven record of financial leadership during challenging times;
• Values the university’s role in innovation, including in agriculture, as well as workforce and economic development; and
• Recognizes the value of being a university community made up of students, faculty and staff from diverse backgrounds.
Applications and nominations should be sent to NUPresident@academicsearch.org.
Current President Ted Carter is stepping down Dec. 31 to become president of Ohio State University. Clare announced last week that the board will consider the appointment of Chris Kabourek, chief financial officer, as interim president at its Dec. 1 meeting. If approved, Kabourek will assume the interim presidency on Jan. 1.
