Chuck Schroeder, executive director of the University of Nebraska Rural Futures Institute, will present “The Rural Futures Institute at the University of Nebraska: Impacting Hope” at 3:30 p.m., Jan. 21 in the Hardin Hall auditorium (room 107). The seminar is free and open to the public.

Schroeder’s talk is presented by the Nebraska Water Center and the UNL School of Natural Resources as part of the spring 2015 water seminar series and the spring 2015 geography seminar series.

Charles P. “Chuck” Schroeder is a native of western Nebraska ranch country who was named Founding Executive Director of the Rural Futures Institute at the University of Nebraska in 2013. Prior to beginning his duties in that role, Schroeder served as president and executive director of the National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, where he worked since 2002. Prior to that, he held other leadership positions in the public, private and non-profit sectors, including serving as founding CEO of the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association, headquartered in Denver, Colorado and Washington, D.C. Schroeder also served as executive vice president and director of development at the University of Nebraska Foundation and director of the Nebraska Department of Agriculture.

Schroeder was with his family’s company, the Schroeder Cattle Company, for about 30 years, the last 10 as owner and president. Schroeder is a graduate of the University of Nebraska with a degree in animal science.