HALEY PIERCE
pierceha@lopers.unk.edu
The University of Nebraska Board of Regents voted Thursday to confirm Ted Carter as the university’s next president.
Carter previously served as the superintendent of the U.S. Naval Academy in Maryland. His tenure at the Academy, from 2014 to 2019, makes him the longest serving superintendent. In that position, Carter oversaw record achievements in student diversity and graduation at the Academy. The Naval Academy’s class of 2019 had a 90% graduation rate, and the Academy was consistently ranked among the nations top public and liberal arts universities. Carter himself attend the Naval Academy as a student, earning his bachelor’s degree in physics and oceanography.
Carter will begin transitioning into the presidential position on Dec. 16 and will take on full leadership on Jan. 1 according to the University of Nebraska’s Communications office. He succeeds interim President Susan Fritz.
A national search for NU’s president began last April when President Emeritus Hank Bounds announced his resignation. The search committee, chaired by Regent Jim Pillen, announced their selection of Carter as the priority candidate on Oct. 25 and began Carter’s 30 day public review period. During that time, he attended nearly 30 public events across the state and visited each of NU’s campuses. Students, faculty, staff, and the Kearney area community had the opportunity to meet Carter when he was at UNK on Nov. 1 and 2.
“When we looked at the qualities we were seeking in the next university president, Ted Carter checked every box. He puts students first and values academic excellence. He is a champion of diversity and inclusion and is a skilled relationship-builder. His character is second to none,” Board of Regents chairman Tim Clare of Lincoln told University of Nebraska Communications.
Carter enters the role of University President at a time when the system has faced successive budget cuts and enrollment challenges.
“Nebraskans expect their university to compete with the best institutions in the country. Together with the University of Nebraska community, Ted Carter is going to help us do that. I couldn’t be more excited about what the future holds for our university,” Pillen told University of Nebraska Communications.
