Public forums announced June 5-9 for University of Nebraska-Lincoln chancellor candidate

LINCOLN — Multiple public forums will kick off next week for the public to meet Rodney Bennett, the priority candidate to be chancellor of the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.

Bennett, the former president of the University of Southern Mississippi, will attend nearly 20 forums, generally targeted to specific stakeholder groups but open to all members of the UNL community and the public.

“I hope every member of the UNL community will take this opportunity to engage with Rodney and share their feedback,” University of Nebraska President Ted Carter said in a statement.

Following a national search, Bennett was announced May 22 as the priority candidate to succeed Chancellor Ronnie Green, who plans to retire at the end of June.

Per state law, Bennett is undergoing a 30-day public vetting period. Carter can, at the conclusion of that period, bring Bennett’s candidacy to the June 22 NU Board of Regents meeting for final approval.

Carter said that he cannot wait to introduce Bennett to the UNL community and that public forums are an important phase in the search process.

“I have every confidence that the same qualities that made Dr. Bennett stand out to me in our search process will resonate with Nebraskans — his passionate belief in the land-grant mission, his relentless focus on outcomes, and his ability to bring people together around a shared vision for excellence,” Carter said.

Each forum will include an in-person and Zoom option, which is linked below for each event.

Monday, June 5

Location: Prem S. Paul Research Center at Whittier School, Boardroom, 2200 Vine St.

2:30 p.m., Research and Economic Development Forum (Zoom)

Tuesday, June 6

Location: Great Hall of the Wick Alumni Center, 1520 R St.

9:30 a.m., Fine and Performing Arts and Architecture Forum (Zoom)

11 a.m., Engineering Forum (Zoom)

1 p.m., Office of Diversity and Inclusion and Chancellor’s Commissions Forum (Zoom)

2:30 p.m., Arts and Sciences Forum (Zoom)

4 p.m., Journalism and Mass Communications and Libraries Forum (Zoom)

Wednesday, June 7

Location: Great Hall of the Wick Alumni Center, 1520 R St. 

9:30 a.m., College of Business Forum, (Zoom)

11 a.m., Student Affairs Division Forum (Zoom)

1 p.m., Open Forum (Zoom)

2:30 p.m., Education and Human Sciences Forum (Zoom)

4 p.m., Staff Senate Forum (Zoom)

Thursday, June 8

Location: Varner Hall, 3835 Holdrege St.

2 p.m., College of Law Forum (Zoom)

3:30 p.m., Graduate Student and Graduate Student Assembly Forum (Zoom)

5 p.m., Student and Association of Students of the University of Nebraska Forum (Zoom)

Friday, June 9

Location: Nebraska East Union, Great Plains B, 1705 Arbor Drive

9:30 a.m., College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources Forum (Zoom)

11 a.m., Agricultural Research Division and Nebraska Extension Forum (Zoom)

12:30 p.m., Business and Finance Division Forum (Zoom)