Ann Tillery
308.865.8131
Douglas A. Kristensen will be formally installed as the ninth chancellor of the University of Nebraska at Kearney on Friday, May 2 at 2 p.m. in the Health and Sports Center.
Ron Roskens, former president of the University of Nebraska system, will be the guest speaker. Roskens was named President of the University of Nebraska in 1977 and served this position for 13 years. In 1996 Dr. Roskens became President of Global Connections, Inc., an international business-consulting firm.
A reception will follow at the College of Education building. Both events are open to the public and free of charge. Parking is available on West Campus with shuttle service to the Health & Sports Center.
Preceding the chancellor’s installation will be a campus-wide open house on Thursday, May 1. The open house will take place from 3-6 p.m. at sites including the Health and Sports Center, West Center building, College of Education, Copeland Hall and the Nebraskan Student Union. “This is a way for high school students to find out what UNK is all about and if they could see this as their future home. It will be a unique opportunity to talk with students and faculty about all types of majors,” Daryl Kelley, installation committee member, said.
The open house will be followed by a community-wide picnic from 5-7 p.m. on the south side of the Nebraskan Student Union. The UNK Faculty, Staff and Student Senates, Kearney area businesses and the Kearney Area Chamber of Commerce are sponsoring the picnic.
(Chancellor Douglas A. Kristensen bio attached below.)
Schedule of events:
| Thursday, May 1 | |
| 3-6 p.m. Open House | |
| College of Business & Technology, West Center College of Education, College of Education Building College of Fine Arts & Humanities, Fine Arts Building College of Natural & Social Sciences, Copeland Hall Majors Fair, Nebraskan Student Union |
|
| 5-7 p.m. Community-wide Picnic Nebraskan Student Union Plaza-South Side |
|
| Friday, May 2 | |
| 2 p.m. Chancellor’s Installation Health and Sports Center Reception to follow installation College of Education Buildin |
|
Douglas A. Kristensen
Chancellor Kristensen began his tenure at the University of Nebraska at Kearney on July 1, 2002. A native and life-long resident of Minden, Kristensen was the former, and longest serving, Speaker of the Nebraska State Legislature at the time of his appointment as chancellor. He was first elected into the 37th legislative district in 1988. He was then reelected in 1992, 1996 and 2000. During this time, he was also an active partner in the law firm of Lieske & Kristensen and served as Kearney County Attorney from 1983 to 1988.
Chancellor Kristensen’s civic and professional awards include the Nebraska State Bar Association Award of Merit; recognition as a Friend of the University at the University of Nebraska at Kearney in 1998; League of Nebraska Municipalities Distinguished Services Award; American Council of Young Political Leaders; Presidents’ Award, Nebraska Association of County Officials; Outstanding Young Men of America; and the Innocents Society, University of Nebraska. In 1992 he authored the article “The Nebraska Court of Appeals: Finally an Opportunity for Prompt Justice,” which was published in the Creighton Law Review.
Dr. Kristensen’s current memberships include the U.S. Supreme Court Bar Association; Nebraska Bar Association; and the Kearney Area Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors. He is the former National Vice President of the National Conference of State Legislatures; Executive Board Member of the Council of State Governments; and a member of the State Legislative Leaders Foundation. He has also served on the Nebraska Constitutional Review Commission and the Federal Communications Commission Local and State Government advisory Committee.
Kristensen earned his bachelor’s degree in economics and political science from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln in 1977 and the Doctor of Jurisprudence from Drake University in 1980. He and his wife, District Judge Terri S. Harder, have two daughters.
