Around this time last year, Chancellor Doug Kristensen announced his retirement. He served UNK for 22 years, and the search for who will permanently fill his shoes is underway.
When it comes to finding UNK’s next leader, there is a lot at stake. It is a big position and should be treated as such.
In mid-November, the UNK chancellor search committee hosted six listening sessions, inviting students, faculty, staff and community members to share their input. Students were also sent a survey to give their feedback on the chancellor search.
We are happy to see that students are being included in the search. Not only can we provide a unique perspective, but we are also the ones our next chancellor will be serving.
Our staff has identified some important qualities that our next chancellor should possess.
Candidates for the chancellor position need to demonstrate that they are invested in UNK and in it for the long run. We don’t want UNK just to be another step in their path toward somewhere else. Ideally, the candidate would be ready to plant their roots in Kearney and be committed to staying long-term. This is especially important because the position entails making decisions that have long-term effects.
Each college campus is unique and different from the rest, including UNK. Because of this, we would suggest a candidate who has experience with campuses of our size and one who is familiar with the Midwest.
Universities in smaller towns, such as Kearney, run differently than those in big cities.
One of those differences can be seen in UNK’s connection to the Kearney community. Our previous chancellor held the position for over two decades and spent time in the Nebraska legislature. These experiences allowed him to develop many connections and grow support for our University.
We hope to see the next chancellor devote time to fostering a relationship with us and our community.
With that dedication should come presence – presence on our campus, meeting students directly. We want a leader who is willing to get involved, hear our voices and visibly work for us. Whether that is greeting students as they walk to class or sitting in the stands at sporting events, it should be clear that our next chancellor wants to be present with us.
As the search continues, we encourage the committee to continuously seek feedback. The chancellor holds a critical role on campus, serving as a top leader representing our University. Because of this, it is vital to get as much input from students, staff, faculty and community members as possible.
It is essential that we find the right person for the job – one who is fully committed and devoted to UNK.
