October 6, 2026
Dear colleagues,
One of the privileges of serving as interim chancellor is the opportunity to learn. We are all learners, no matter our positions, and this is one of the many benefits of a land-grant university — learning through various ways, especially through the pathbreaking work being done by so many.
Since my last communication, I have had the chance to visit with faculty, researchers, students, staff, community leaders, alumni and partners from around the world. Each conversation has taught me something new about the University of Nebraska–Lincoln and the people who make it such a special place. (And just so you know, within the past week, I was able to brag about you — on no less than 13 separate occasions with groups ranging from individual senators or legislative candidates to the Lincoln Rotary, from the NU Foundation Board of Directors to ribbon-cutting ceremonies, and from pregame recordings to the game day tailgate.)
Czech Republic Presidential Visit
On Sept. 24, Czech Republic President Petr Pavel visited Nebraska and UNL, highlighting more than a century of educational and cultural connections between our state, our university and the European nation with which we share deep historical connections.
President Pavel spoke about the importance of universities in building understanding between countries and cultures. His visit was also a reminder that the relationships we create through education can endure for generations.
Our Czech Studies program, founded in 1907, is the oldest and largest program of its kind in the United States. Its origins trace back to students who recognized more than a century ago that the language and culture of their families were worth preserving and sharing through a university education.
That is an important lesson for all of us. Universities are sustained not simply by buildings and programs, but by people who believe something is worth learning, teaching, preserving and passing to the next generation.
USSSTRATCOM Visit
Four days after President Pavel’s visit, I had the opportunity to welcome Admiral Richard Correll and members of the U.S. Strategic Command team to our university. We spent the morning exploring some of the research taking place at Nebraska and hearing from students involved in that work.
I came away from the visit with a deep and profound sense of pride.
I was moved by our faculty members who are pursuing research with real-world implications and who bring that work into the educational experience of our students. I was equally proud of our students, who had the opportunity to explain their work, share their perspectives and demonstrate their expertise with the commander of USSTRATCOM.
And I was reminded, yet again, of the professionalism, passion and enthusiasm of our university community.
UNL-UNMC Summit
Last week, 100 faculty and staff from both UNL and the University of Nebraska Medical Center came together for the inaugural UNL-UNMC Summit. The purpose was to explore how we can work more closely together following the university’s move to joint accreditation.
What I saw — and what energized me throughout the summit — was synergy. And just as important, what I heard was synergy. People sitting together, listening carefully, building on one another’s ideas, laughing, challenging assumptions and approaching the future with enthusiasm and fresh perspectives. That is the connective tissue of collaboration.
As I moved from subcommittee to subcommittee, I saw and heard participants exploring opportunities related to educational pathways, research, analytics and communications. Ideas included creating more seamless engagements for students across UNL and UNMC, reducing administrative barriers, developing major cross-campus research and much more.
Of course, the most vital outcome may have been the beginning of a shared way of thinking. I look forward to telling you more in the weeks and months to follow as we enhance our collaborative efforts. And rest assured, this was just the first opportunity to gather; there will be more!
This week, many of those same faculty and staff members (and perhaps you as well) will participate in the Higher Learning Commission’s reaccreditation site visit. Our accreditation is a moment to represent how we define ourselves as a university and showcase our plans for the future.
Westbrook Music Building Dedication
In the middle of Homecoming week, more than 200 faculty, staff, students and community members gathered to mark the opening of the new Westbrook Music Building. This remarkable new facility represents a significant investment in music and the arts, but the true measure will not be the building itself.
The true measure will be what happens inside.
It will be measured in students discovering what they are capable of, faculty challenging and encouraging those students, and performances, recordings, collaborations and ideas traveling from those rooms throughout the state of Nebraska and beyond.
That idea — learning together — has been a common thread through so many of my recent experiences.
Homecoming
I mentioned Homecoming a moment ago. There is something particularly meaningful about seeing generations of Huskers return to the place where their own Nebraska stories began. Homecoming is a reminder that a university’s influence extends far beyond the years a student spends on campus.
Students discover passions here. They develop talents here. They form lifelong relationships here. They launch careers and lives that carry the Nebraska experience into communities locally, regionally, nationally and around the world.
I hope you all were able to participate in many of the activities that occurred as part of Homecoming week. Homecoming is an excellent opportunity to understand just how important our faculty and staff are to the experience of today’s students and tomorrow’s alumni.
And of course, we capped last week with the Celebration of Service. I found myself thinking about all that this university asks of its faculty and staff — and, just as importantly, all that you give to the university in return. I was grateful to have the opportunity to celebrate your remarkable commitment and the lasting difference you make in the lives of the people we serve.
Thank you for the extraordinary work you all do. Keep teaching and learning.
Go Big Red!
Katherine S. Ankerson
Interim Chancellor, University of Nebraska–Lincoln