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The president of the University of Nebraska is the chief administrator of the University of Nebraska system and is selected by the university system's board of regents. Nine individuals have held the post as well as four others in an interim capacity. The position has been held by Jeffrey P. Gold since July 1, 2024.[1]
The Municipal University of Omaha (now the University of Nebraska Omaha) was founded in 1908, and by the 1950s was run-down and inadequately funded, threatening the existence of the school entirely. The Nebraska Legislature, faced with the prospect of its most populated city not having a major institute of higher learning of any kind, decided to merge the Municipal University with the larger University of Nebraska in Lincoln to form a state-wide university system and offer the Omaha school additional budget pools to draw from. The University of Nebraska's medical center, located in Omaha, was separated from the Lincoln school and brought under the direction of the new state-wide system.
Clifford M. Hardin, initially the chancellor of what was renamed the University of Nebraska–Lincoln, was critical to the creation of the University of Nebraska system and was named its first chancellor on July 1, 1968.[a] In sixteen years as an administrator at Nebraska, Hardin greatly increased enrollment and improved salaries and benefits for faculty.[2] After two years serving as the head of the University of Nebraska system, Hardin was named United States secretary of agriculture under President Richard Nixon.[2]
Durwood B. Varner was appointed chancellor of the University of Nebraska system in 1970, and a year later became the system's first "president" following a title change. As the president of a new university system with one very large school and two much smaller ones, Varner's primary task was to ensure the schools operated on "equal standing."[3] Varner left the post in 1976 to become president of the University of Nebraska Foundation, where he spearheaded fundraising for the Lied Center for Performing Arts, which opened in 1990. The Board of Regents selected Omaha chancellor Ronald Roskens as Varner's successor. Roskens became NU's longest-tenured president, serving from 1977 to 1989, and established strong overseas relationships with universities from Afghanistan and China.[4] During his term, the university's appropriations doubled and its endowment fund increased seven-fold.[5] However, Roskens was fired after a seven-to-one vote of the Board of Regents in 1989;[5] the reasoning for his removal is unclear as all parties involved were advised against making public statements. Just weeks after Roskens was fired as NU's president, he was appointed administrator of the United States Agency for International Development under George H. W. Bush.[5]
University of Nebraska–Lincoln chancellor Martin Massengale was named acting president of the NU system in 1989 and appointed to the full-time position in 1991. Massengale served for another three years, supporting agricultural research and overseeing the creation of NU's Center for Grassland Studies.[6] The NU system added a fourth school, the University of Nebraska at Kearney, during Massengale's tenure. He retired from administrative work in 1994 and was inducted into the United States Department of Agriculture Hall of Fame in 2004.[7]L. Dennis Smith was selected as NU's fifth president and quickly began a significant renovation of many NU facilities. During his ten years as president, over five million square feet of classrooms, laboratories, and dormitories were renovated or constructed.[8]
The Board of Regents named Fremont native James Milliken NU's president in 2004. Milliken prioritized tuition assistance programs for students from Nebraska, resulting in a significant increase in enrollment across the four NU campuses during his ten-year tenure.[9] Milliken announced his intention to leave NU to become chancellor of the City University of New York on January 16, 2014. Nebraska Medicine chief executive officer James Linder served as interim president until Hank Bounds was named NU's seventh president in 2015. Bounds served for four years before stepping down in 2019, though he was retained by the university as a consultant to help fundraise for its new football training facility in Lincoln.[10] Former superintendent of the United States Naval AcademyTed Carter was named Bounds' replacement. Shortly after Carter's tenure began on January 1, 2020, the United States was impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic; in response, the University of Nebraska announced a two-year tuition freeze for its students.[11]
The following persons have led the University of Nebraska system:[12]
The University of Nebraska Board of Regents selected Dr. Jeffrey Gold on Friday in a nearly unanimous vote as the university's ninth system president... to take over the presidency effective July 1.
Dr. Merk Hobson, vice chancellor for academic affairs and corporation secretary of the University of Nebraska, Friday was named acting chancellor to fill in for Dr. Clifford M. Hardin, newly-named secretary of agriculture. The NU Board of Regents unanimously approved Hobson's appointment after granting Hardin a one-year leave of absence beginning Jan. 20, 1969, or the date his Cabinet appointment is confirmed by the U.S. Senate.
U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Clifford M. Hardin ceremonially stepped down from his position as chancellor of the University of Nebraska during Saturday's Centennial Commencement exercises. With Hardin's resignation, the post of chancellor is officially vacant, although it is generally believed that the of Regents have been searching for a possible successor since the former chancellor accepted the cabinet post. The former chancellor, now a cabinet member, read a brief, but personal two page letter he had submitted to the University of Nebraska Board of Regents earlier in the week. In the letter he referred to the year's leave of absence that had been granted by Regents. At the time the leave was offered he had said that if it became likely he would not be returning at the end of the year, he would then submit his resigna- tion. "We are now at that point," Hardin said. "I am tendering you my resignation as chancellor."
Dr. Merk Hobson... became acting chancellor of the University of Nebraska Monday [Jan. 20, 1969].... Dr. Hobson replaces Dr. Clifford Hardin....
The board of regents of the University of Nebraska selected Varner to replace Merk Hobson who has been acting chancellor since former Chancellor Clifford M. Hardin was named secretary of agriculture.
The search for a chancellor became necessary when Clifford Hardin was given a leave of absence to become U.S. secretary of agriculture last January. On May 31, Hardin submitted his resignation and a committee of students, faculty and administrators was formed to screen candidates... Hobson was named chancellor for the interim period until Varner assumes the position Feb. 1...
University of Nebraska President D. B. Varner announced his resignation Saturday after six and one-half years in the position. He will join the University of Nebraska Foundation on fulltime on or before Jan. 1, 1977.
Ronald W. Roskens was named acting University of Nebraska-Lincoln and the president of the University of Nebraska NU Medical Center in Omaha, Saturday by the NU Board of Regents. The regents made the choice after a three and one-half hour executive session. James Moylan, regents chairman, said none of the six candidates for the permanent job as NU president was willing to accept an offer. Roskens is currently chancellor of the University of Nebraska at Omaha.
Ronald W. Roskens... has been named University of Nebraska president. Roskens, 44, was confirmed by the NU Board of Regents Saturday after an executive session... The former University of Nebraska at Omaha chancellor has been interim president since Jan. 1, when President D. B. Varner resigned to head a $25 million NU Foundation drive.
Ronald Roskens' term as president of the University of Nebraska ended Monday and Chancellor Martin Massengale was appointed interim president at an emergency session called by the NU Board of Regents. The board on a 7-1 vote approved an agreement with Roskens naming him president emeritus.
The University of Nebraska Board of Regents on Tuesday approved a three-year contract with Martin Massengale, who will become NU president Jan. 1.
Martin Massengale on Friday refused to confirm speculation about why he is letting the contract for his job as University of Nebraska president expire Jan. 1, 1994.
Dennis Smith of California was named president of the University of Nebraska, on Sunday. Smith will take over as head of the four-campus NU system March 1.
University of Nebraska President L. Dennis Smith Monday announced that he will step down effective June 30, 2004. He has served as president of the four-campus University of Nebraska system since March 1, 1994.
The University of Nebraska Board of Regents on May 22 selected James "J.B." Milliken as president of the NU system. He begins his duties Aug. 1.
The CUNY Board of Trustees unanimously approved Milliken's appointment in a special meeting. Milliken will begin his tenure at CUNY no later than June 1.
At its March 21 meeting, the University of Nebraska Board of Regents will consider the appointment of James Linder, M.D., of Omaha as interim president of the university effective May 3... This will help ensure a smooth presidential transition by allowing Linder to work closely for about a month with Milliken, whose resignation is effective May 2.
The University of Nebraska Board of Regents has appointed Hank M. Bounds... as the seventh president of the University of Nebraska... Bounds will begin his tenure as president on April 13.
According to a University of Nebraska press release, Bounds will leave the role toward the end of the summer and move to the south, where he is originally from.
Susan M. Fritz, Ph.D. served as interim president of the University of Nebraska from August 16 to December 31, 2019.
Because the regents confirmed him, Carter will assume the presidency on Jan. 1, following a president-elect transition period beginning on Dec. 16.
Ted Carter, NU system president, announced to faculty and staff Aug. 22 that after four years of leadership, he will step down from his Nebraska post on Dec. 31 to become the next president of Ohio State University.
Chris Kabourek, senior vice president and chief financial officer for the University of Nebraska system, will assume the role of interim president on Jan. 1.