In August, top University of Nebraska-Lincoln administrators will travel across the state to engage with Nebraskans about the role and goals of Nebraska’s flagship land-grant university.
College deans and other university leaders will “Blanket Nebraska” beginning Aug. 3. The tour will provide university leaders an opportunity to talk about UNL among stakeholders throughout Nebraska.
“I know from my own travels across the state the past six years that there is no substitute for face-to-face conversation,” said Chancellor Ronnie Green, who served from 2010 to 2016 as UNL’s vice chancellor for the Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources. “That’s why I’ve asked the academic leadership of our university to make it a priority to branch out across the state and talk with Nebraskans.”
All told, 15 academic leaders will make nearly 50 stops in several Nebraska towns and cities, including Wayne, O’Neill, Grand Island, Lexington, South Sioux City, Kearney, North Platte, Norfolk, Scottsbluff, Sidney, Burwell, Imperial, McCook, Ogallala, Red Cloud, West Point, Columbus, Falls City, Fairbury and Beatrice, as well as Omaha and Lincoln.
The tour got an informal start in late July as Richard Moberly, interim dean of the College of Law, traveled to Omaha, Broken Bow, Chadron, North Platte, Valentine and Kearney; and Ron Yoder, interim vice chancellor for UNL’s Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources, visited Ogallala and Arthur.
Green said it was important during a time of leadership transition for UNL leaders to engage stakeholders. Green became the university’s 20th chancellor in May.
Administrators will attend gatherings of local organizations, meet with local officials, visit businesses, and engage with a range of Nebraskans about UNL. In late August, gatherings in Lincoln and Omaha will cap the statewide tour.
“We have an opportunity with this initiative to show our Nebraska stakeholders how we are building on our globally recognized expertise to advance the excellence of the university as we train the next generation of Nebraskans to be leaders in a complex global community,” said Joe Francisco, dean of the College of Arts and Sciences. “Blanket Nebraska is an opportunity to connect and engage with alumni, friends and supporters by sharing the visions of the college and the university for an exciting future.”
UNL officials’ tour schedules are:
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Aug. 3-4, 24: Chuck Hibberd, Nebraska Extension – Wayne, O’Neill, South Sioux City, Whitman
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Aug. 4-5: Amy Goodburn, interim dean of enrollment management, and Amber Williams, director of admissions – Grand Island, Lexington, Kearney, Grand Island
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Aug. 4-5: Lance Perez, College of Engineering – Lexington, North Platte
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Aug. 5, 12, 23: Maria Marron, College of Journalism and Mass Communications – Omaha and Sarpy County, West Point, Norfolk, Columbus, Lincoln
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Aug. 8-10: Donde Plowman, College of Business Administration – Scottsbluff, Sidney, Ogallala
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Aug. 8-9: Marjorie Kostelnik, interim senior vice chancellor foracademic affairs – Grand Island, Burwell
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Aug. 9, 23-24: Ron Yoder, Institute of Agriculture and Natural Sciences– Concord, North Platte, Whitman
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Aug. 9-10: Joe Francisco, College of Arts and Sciences – Hastings, Grand Island, Kearney
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Aug. 9-10: Katherine Ankerson, College of Architecture – Imperial, McCook, Red Cloud
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Aug. 9-11: Chuck O’Connor, Hixson-Lied College of Fine and Performing Arts – Norfolk, North Platte, Ogallala, Holdrege
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Aug. 15, 18: Beth Doll, College of Education and Human Sciences – Columbus, Fremont
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Aug. 18, 24: Archie Clutter, Agricultural Research Division – Falls City, Fairbury, Beatrice, Whitman
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Aug. 24: Steven Waller, College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources – Whitman
For individual administrators’ public visit schedules, contact Steve Smith, News Director, University Communications, 402-472-4226 office, 402-217-2774 mobile or ssmith13@unl.edu.
