Janice R. Andrews
The Board of Regents of the University of Nebraska is split between two well-known contenders for the position of president: Bryan Slone, president of the Nebraska Chamber of Commerce, and Dr. Jeffrey Gold, chancellor of the UNMC. The search for the next president of the university has come to a standstill.
This choice was made in accordance with closely aligned criteria established by former regent Governor Jim Pillen. Governor Pillen stressed the significance of the next president having ties to Nebraska, being willing to serve a ten-year term, and being in line with conservative Nebraskan values, particularly with regard to diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives.
Insider sources disclose the board’s impasse despite the search process’s secrecy; neither Gold nor Slone have responded as of yet.
Other possible candidates have also been mentioned in the negotiations; one of them is U.S. Representative Mike Flood, who reaffirmed his commitment to his current position while acknowledging communication from a NU representative.
There were also rumors that NU had gotten in touch with former US Senator Ben Sasse, who is presently the president of the University of Florida. However, people close to Sasse refute these rumors.
Concerns about a leadership vacuum at NU have been raised by the prolonged search for a new president, which has been made worse by the recent exits of significant individuals including Trev Alberts, the athletics director, and former NU President Ted Carter.
Pressure to move quickly has increased as a result of Governor Pillen’s open criticism of the board’s drawn-out search. Rumors have it that the search may be declared a failure in order to reevaluate previously rejected candidates, such as NU interim President Chris Kabourek.
The board continues to support Regent Tim Clare’s search team in spite of obstacles and outside pressure, but it also recognizes that a swift resolution to the impasse is necessary to guarantee the university’s stability and advancement.
