Much of John Falconer’s work at the University of Nebraska at Kearney happens out of the spotlight.
As senior advisor to the chancellor, he has more of a behind-the-scenes role, coordinating campus leadership, overseeing compliance and supporting university priorities.
These responsibilities align with the work he’s done throughout his time at UNK. Since his return to campus in 1999, Falconer has helped shape several key programs and initiatives, from expanding undergraduate research opportunities and launching the New Frontiers faculty research magazine to growing the Honors Program and securing funding for projects like the UNK Planetarium.
That work, he notes, has always been rooted in collaboration rather than recognition.
“I’m not sure I’d call myself a leader,” Falconer said. “I’m a team member. I like working with people who are good at what they do, and my reward is being able to support the group’s success.”
Falconer’s connection to UNK and Kearney predates his professional career. Raised in Michigan, Florida and Texas, he moved to the community in middle school when his mother joined the faculty at Kearney State College. He enrolled at Kearney State in 1985 and met his future wife Tracy, a former assistant director in the UNK Office of International Education.
“I got lucky and hit gold,” Falconer said. “Kearney State was a fantastic experience. I found faculty who challenged and supported me and friends I still have to this day.”
After graduating with degrees in sociology and political science, Falconer went on to earn a master’s degree in foreign affairs from the University of Virginia in 1992 and a doctorate in higher education administration, curriculum and instruction from the University of Nebraska in 2006.
He worked in Washington, D.C., on democratic development efforts in Ukraine and later with American Forests on corporate-supported environmental projects. But a desire to raise his family closer to home brought him back to Kearney.
“One starts with a plan and adapts as opportunities allow,” Falconer explained. “I feel very fortunate to have been on a path that is interesting and rewarding.”
Why did you choose Kearney State as an undergraduate student?
I had an insider, my mom, who knew we had a good political science program, and that was my goal. Part of the deal I made with myself was that if I went to Kearney State, I needed to spend a year elsewhere. So, I signed up for the National Student Exchange. Turns out, everyone says they want to go to Hawaii, so I got my third choice in Ashland, Oregon. It was a tremendous shock. The students had a different culture than in Kearney. And Ashland sits between two mountain chains. Most people would find this exhilarating. I found it claustrophobic. But it was a rich experience for me, and I’m glad I did it.
What roles have you had at UNK?
I was hired as the director of Sponsored Programs in 1999, which was the previous century. Because I was the first director of that office, we worked hard to set up policies and procedures. I was lucky to work with Billy Rayburn, who is so phenomenally organized and methodical that we were able to get some things done despite me.
After I grew the undergraduate research program, I became director of that, too. Then I became Honors Program director, keeping the undergraduate research role but moving out of Sponsored Programs. Then I moved to the Chancellor’s Office in 2019. If you look at my resume, there is a lot of overlap. You can start a new job, but you don’t let go of the old one until someone new is hired.
Tell us about your current role:
As senior advisor to the chancellor, I facilitate coordination among the Chancellor’s Leadership Team and supervise the Office of Compliance and UNK Police Department. I am also the campus lead on state government relations. Everything else is driven by identifying needs and addressing them. Broadly, my function is to support campus leadership as needed.
As the interim Honors Program director, I’m working with Eileen Jahn to keep the train on the tracks until a permanent director can be found. Our goal is to support the students as they go about doing the good stuff they do. We managed the Honors scholarship process, set up Honors classes for the fall and talked to a lot of great students during advising. Now, we’re setting up for the annual Honors Banquet.
What do you love most about your job?
Right now, I love interacting with the Honors students. They’re great students who pursue their appetites for learning and development. UNK’s students are interesting, inspiring and engaging. My guess is that almost everyone who works with our students would have the same answer.
Outside of Honors, I really value the camaraderie among the campus leadership. It is a group of talented, committed and kind people constantly working in the best interest of UNK. And I appreciate how they tolerate me when I meddle in their work.
How has UNK changed during your time here?
It is easy to see the physical changes, from the new buildings to the improvements in our grounds. Students have changed, even since I started my current position. While they have always been good people working toward their future, they come in with different experiences, preparation and expectations, and we need to take them as they are so we can get them where they want to be.
A constant has been the nature of our faculty. I really value that we have a campus that attracts highly prepared, engaged people who are focused on educating and supporting students. If we can maintain that, UNK will continue to be a premier regional university.
What advice do you have for young professionals who want to take on leadership roles?
You have to think about people. There are particular jobs that we each find challenging and rewarding. What that is for me is different than what that is for someone else. If we can get a person in a position where they will thrive, they will give their all to that work.
Share something unique about yourself:
Miss Tracy and I have been sailing together for over 10 years. We like the adventure, and we like the vibe. It is sort of like being a soccer goalie: Lots of calm with a bit of adrenaline thrown in.
We sail every weekend that we can in the summer. We like to sail at Harlan, but there isn’t much water this year. We’re in full panic mode, because I don’t think I’ll be well without that regular dose of serenity. It’s such a great community. We also sail in the Caribbean, which is good sailing and a wonderful culture.
Additionally, I have been volunteering for the American Red Cross for three years. My job is to work with families who have lost their homes to a fire or other disaster. I believe we each owe something to each other, and this work helps me feel that I am helping people in need.
