Priorities

PRESERVING THE NEBRASKA PROMISE

THE ISSUE: For generations, the University of Nebraska was a reliable ladder to the middle class and a more prosperous life. Today, that ladder feels increasingly out of reach. A college degree remains the single best predictor of economic success, but only if it doesn't come anchored by lifelong debt. We are also seeing a shift in how people learn and approach higher education. The "traditional" four-year path is now just one of many. Whether it’s a community college transfer, a professional seeking new credentials, or a high schooler in northeast Omaha, the University must meet students where they are.

To accomplish this, we need Regents who understand the burden of student loans. We need Regents who understand that every tuition increase has real financial and opportunity costs for students and families. We also need Regents who understand that the road to higher education is not as linear as it once was. A Regent must be willing to push the system to innovate and meet the needs of today’s students - wherever they are in their journey.

THE PROMISE: I promise to treat every tuition dollar as sacred. I will oppose unnecessary tuition hikes and will champion "frictionless" transfer pathways, ensuring that no student loses time or money when bringing their hard-earned credits to the University.

NU AS DISTRICT' 4’S ECONOMIC ENGINE

THE ISSUE: The University of Nebraska is the economic heartbeat of District 4 and the entire state. However, the modern economy moves at the speed of light, while higher education often moves at the speed of… well, higher education. Employers are desperate for skilled talent, and students are eager for high-wage careers. To bridge this gap, the University must be more than a credential-issuer; it must be an agile partner that responds to the real-time needs of our workforce. We need to ensure students can graduate quickly and with the real-world skills employers are seeking. We need Regents who will prioritize the role of the University in the economic success of our communities and hold university leadership accountable if we aren’t meeting the mark.

Point blank, the University needs leaders on the Board of Regents who have developed a vision for large organizations, who have hired leaders to implement the strategy created by the board and senior leadership, and who have engaged in getting entire organizations pushing in the same direction.

THE PROMISE: I promise to bridge the gap between the boardroom and the classroom. I will advocate for a "Rapid Response" curriculum framework that enables the University to partner with District 4 and statewide employers to launch certificate programs and specialized training within months—not years—ensuring our graduates are the most competitive candidates in the global market upon graduation and beyond.

I promise to work with our employers across the district to develop actionable, reportable metrics that demonstrate real success as it relates to graduating students ready to contribute to the workforce immediately.

I promise to bring the expertise and skills of running a large, multi-state company to the Board of Regents, to develop the vision for NU that ensures we’re competitive now and in the future, and to ensure we have the leaders in place to meet that vision.

THE ISSUE: In December, the Board of Regents voted to eliminate UNL's Earth and Atmospheric Sciences Department—the only meteorology, climatology, and geology program in the state—to save $1.85 million. Ag economists and Extension educators called it what it is: a direct hit to the long-term viability of farming in Nebraska, cutting the pipeline that trains the people who track our groundwater, forecast our weather, and keep our ag economy running.

At the same time, students nationally are pouring into climate and environmental fields, and USDA projects over 100,000 agriculture-related job openings a year through 2030 requiring exactly this kind of expertise. Nebraska just walked away from the field at the moment it matters most.

THE PROMISE: I promise to fight to restore a real climate and atmospheric sciences program at UNL, funded in a way that doesn't leave it exposed to the next budget cycle.

I promise to champion next-generation clean energy and climate-smart agriculture training and upskilling programs, built with our state's ag employers so Nebraskans can move into good jobs fast.

And I promise to push the NU Foundation toward real transparency and divestment from the fossil fuel industry, so the endowment that funds our University's future actually reflects it.

THE ISSUE: A university’s prestige is built on the strength of its ideas. For the University of Nebraska to remain a world-class institution, our faculty must be free to pursue the truth, wherever the data leads, without fear of political retaliation. When we allow political ideology to dictate curriculum or restrict research, we don't just hurt our reputation—we stifle the very innovation that drives Nebraska’s agricultural, medical, and technological breakthroughs. Academic freedom isn't a luxury; it is the engine of discovery.

THE PROMISE: I promise to serve as a firewall between political pressure and the classroom. I will fiercely protect the right of our instructors to teach challenging subjects, ensuring that the University remains a marketplace of ideas rather than a battlefield for partisan ideology.