Editor’s Note — Throughout the spring, summer and fall 2023 terms, Curt Bright, videographer in University Communication and Marketing, worked with the Nebraska Alumni Association to highlight the deans and their respective colleges at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln. This video and Q&A is the first in the resulting series, “Downtime with the Deans,” that ran in Nebraska Quarterly. Each month, a vignette from the series will be featured on Nebraska Today.
Richard Moberly serves the University of Nebraska–Lincoln as the dean of the College of Law. To relax, get exercise and be outdoors, Moberly took up paddle boarding.
What do you enjoy doing when you are not wearing your Dean hat?
I try to do things that bring me joy. Those often focus on hobbies that are active, such as basketball, stand up paddleboarding, bike riding with my wife, pickleball. I would say golf, which I do play, but it does not really bring me joy, yet.
How did you become interested in paddleboarding?
During the pandemic I was looking for an activity that I could do outside and that was distanced. Stand up paddleboarding was perfect — I got to be on the water, it was incredibly calming, and no one was around.
Do others participate with you?
No. Part of the joy is just being on the water by myself. It gives me a chance to be reflective and let my mind wander.
If you were granted three wishes for your college what would those be?
I already received one of those wishes when the Acklie Family provided the College with the largest gift in our history this summer — a gift that will be transformative. So, I feel like I am pressing my luck to wish for more. But, since you asked: I would wish one, that our students pass the bar exam in record numbers; two, that we continue to hire great new faculty as part of a generational change at the college; and three, that our reunion weekend is packed with alumni so that they can see all of the tremendous changes going on at the College of Law.
