Nebraska sends thanks, well-wishes following Green's announcement

· 9 min read

Nebraska sends thanks, well-wishes following Green’s announcement

by University Communication and Marketing
Chancellor Ronnie Green and his wife, Jane, talk with Husker fans on the Nebraska/Maryland football game day in 2016. Green, who has led the university for seven years, announced he will step down in 2023.
Craig Chandler | University Communication and Marketing
Chancellor Ronnie Green and his wife, Jane, talk with Husker fans on the Nebraska/Maryland football game day in 2016. Green, who has led the university for seven years, announced he will step down in 2023.

Chancellor Ronnie Green’s Dec. 20 announcement that he will step down in 2023 as leader of the University of Nebraska–Lincoln drew multiple well wishes and thanks from across Husker Nation.

Ted Carter, president of the University of Nebraska system thanked Green for his service and said it is a well-earned retirement.



In an exclusive interview with the Lincoln Journal-Star's Chris Dunker, Green said he knew, "it's the right time for me" and that he is "ready to do the next thing."



Congressman Mike Flood also issued the thanks of Nebraska's First Congressional District to Green.



During the seven years of Green’s tenure, the university recorded record graduation numbers, including an all-time high of 3,611 degrees conferred in a single commencement (May 2022) and 36,038 total degrees awarded from August 2016 to December 2022. The university also saw increases in graduate rates, growing its four-year mark by nearly 10 percent (up to 47.9% for its fall 2018 cohort, which graduated in May 2022).

Ronnie and Jane Green take a selfie inside Love Library's iconic cupola. The Greens climbed up to the cupola to shoot the chancellor's fall 2022 welcome back video.
Craig Chandler | University Communication and Marketing
Ronnie and Jane Green take a selfie inside Love Library's iconic cupola. The Greens climbed up to the cupola to shoot the chancellor's fall 2022 welcome back video.

Roni Miller, an alumna, was appreciate of the Greens' unwavering support during her tenure as a student and president of the Association of Students of the University of Nebraska.



Green was also key in helping the university navigate the COVID-19 pandemic as smoothly as any other higher education institution in the nation. Under his guidance, the university worked hand-in-hand with public health officials, keeping campus as open as possible for student learning, faculty research and community engagement.

Key moments that led to the university’s COVID-19 successes include:

  • Faculty receiving training, equipment and support to achieve a quick pivot to remote learning in March 2020;
  • Free COVID-19 testing to monitor cases on campus, including the university’s own saliva-based testing program;
  • Launch of a spring pre-session, which offered courses during the university’s winter break, which was lengthened in 2020 to mitigate pandemic outbreaks through travel. The spring pre-session has now been offered for three consecutive years; and
  • Multiple contributions to the larger community COVID-19 response, including a temporary manufacturing facility on Nebraska Innovation Campus to alleviate a hand sanitizer shortage.

In the wake of the announcement, Marco Barker, vice chancellor for diversity and inclusion, took a moment to look ahead and consider the impacts that Green can continue to make through June 2023.



Trev Alberts, vice chancellor for athletics, thanked Green for being a steady and respected national leader during a time of change in collegiate athletics.



And Mark Button, dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, showed appreciation for the Greens' impactful leadership.



Other members of the campus community also voiced their admiration for Green.














Chancellor Ronnie Green congratulates a graduate during the graduate commencement on Dec. 16. Green took time to talk with each student as they received their degrees during the university's doctoral/master's degree ceremony.
Craig Chandler | University Communication and Marketing
Chancellor Ronnie Green congratulates a graduate during the graduate commencement on Dec. 16. Green took time to talk with each student as they received their degrees during the university's doctoral/master's degree ceremony.

Additional successes realized under Green’s leadership of Dear Old Nebraska U include:

  • Research expenditures hitting record levels of $321 million in 2021, marking an overall increase of 16% from $295 million in 2016;
  • The diversity of the university’s student body grew 25%, from 3,483 students in 2016 to 4,355 in 2022. These students represent 18% of the university’s current enrollment, compared to 13% in 2016;
  • Significant facilities and infrastructure investments have benefited student learning and community engagement — made possible through private donors and the nationally-recognized deferred maintenance program approved by state lawmakers and signed by the governor. Key examples include Kiewit Hall, an undergraduate learning facility for the College of Engineering; Westbrook Music Building for the College of Fine and Performing Arts; Carolyn Pope Edwards Hall and the Barkley Center Speech, Language and Hearing Clinic, both part of the College of Education and Human Sciences.


Gary Sharp, a local sports radio personality, opined that maybe Green should be thanked by giving him a larger role in Husker football's 2023 spring game.



Husker Nation also showed its appreciation for Green's leadership in its own unique ways.










Review additional responses to Green's plans to step down as chancellor.

Jane and Ronnie Green went for a spin on the Musical Chairs ride during the Cornstalk homecoming celebration on the east side of Memorial Stadium on Sept. 30.
Craig Chandler | University Communication and Marketing
Jane and Ronnie Green went for a spin on the Musical Chairs ride during the Cornstalk homecoming celebration on the east side of Memorial Stadium on Sept. 30.

University leaders plan to launch a national search for Green’s successor. Details will be announced in the new year.

Watch Green’s entire Dec. 20 announcement here or below.

Video: Message to the UNL family

Story compiled by University Communication and Marketing's Leslie Reed, Deb Fiddelke, Deann Gayman, Katie Black, David Fitzgibbon, Taylor DeMaro, Craig Chandler and Troy Fedderson.

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