Douglas A. Kristensen

Chancellor
University of Nebraska At Kearney

Chancellor Douglas A. Kristensen, J.D., was appointed to lead the University of Nebraska at Kearney in July 2002 following a distinguished career in the Nebraska Legislature, representing the 37th legislative district. During his tenure as Nebraska State Senator, Chancellor Kristensen was instrumental in passing significant legislation and numerous constitutional amendments. He sponsored legislation that created the Nebraska Court of Appeals and the Tax Equalization and Review Commission, and was also one of the sponsors of legislation that brought then Kearney State College into the University of Nebraska system. At the time he held political office he practiced law and was a partner in the law firm of Lieske & Kristensen in Minden, Nebraska.

An enthusiastic advocate of everything UNK, Kristensen, since his appointment as Chancellor, has directed a number of dramatic residential renewal projects. These include construction of Antelope and Nester residence halls; refurbishing Men’s, Randall and Mantor Halls, and Centennial Towers East and West; the Cope Stadium/Foster Field project; comprehensive upgrades to the Central Utilities Plant; improvements to campus dining facilities; extensive landscaping; significant renovation of Bruner Hall of Science. In addition, UNK’s new state-of-the-art Wellness Center opened in Fall 2014 and, in August 2015, the campus celebrated the grand opening of its new Health Science Education Complex.

Hank M. Bounds

President
University of Nebraska

University of Nebraska President Hank M. Bounds leads the University and its four campuses. He is the university’s chief executive officer and reports to the Board of Regents. Bounds was appointed seventh president of the University of Nebraska in January 2015 and began his tenure as president April 13. He grew up on a small farm in rural Mississippi. His service in the Army National Guard helped him pay for college, and he earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees from the University of Southern Mississippi and a doctorate from the University of Mississippi.

Bounds’ 25-year career in education began as a high school teacher. He then rose to principal, superintendent and state superintendent before becoming Mississippi’s commissioner of higher education in 2009. In that role, he oversaw a complex system of eight public universities including research universities, regional universities, an academic health science center, historically black institutions, a law center, a school of veterinary medicine and 200 institutes and centers. Together the system enrolled 85,000 students, employed 26,000 faculty and staff, and operated with a combined annual budget of $4.5 billion, including $500 million in research and development. Bounds also worked with partners to develop plans to increase educational attainment in Mississippi, including a Center for Education Innovation focused on improving learning opportunities for disadvantaged children. Bounds created an office to foster relationships among university researchers, business and industry, and economic developers. He was tapped by the business community to chair a major statewide initiative to create an action plan to improve Mississippi’s competitive position.

Kent Schroeder

Regent
University of Nebraska Board of Regents

Kent A. Schroeder, J.D., is a Kearney-based attorney who has been a member of the University of Nebraska Board of Regents since 1998. Currently the president of the Board of Regents, Schroeder was also chairman in 2002 and 2009.

A native of Genoa, Schroeder is a pilot and a Captain in the Nebraska Air National Guard, in addition to being a licensed amateur radio operator. His long service and commitment to Kearney is evident in his community activities: He is a member of the boards of directors of Good Samaritan Health Systems, Sentinel Health Care, Kearney Chamber of Commerce, and Kearney Country Club. He also served on the Kearney City Council and Kearney School Board, and Central Community College Board.

Jon Watts

Vice Chancellor of Business and Finance
University of Nebraska at Kearney

A native of Kearney, Jon has been Director of Business Services and Accounts Payable for the University of Nebraska at Kearney since 2013. Prior to his directorial appointment, Jon served as Assistant Director. Before joining the University, Jon was Marketing Manager at Intralot, where he was responsible for managing contracts with annual sales in excess of $140 million. In his current position, Jon is responsible for managing a wide variety of financial activities including directing and evaluating campus procure-to-pay activities. He also provides fiscal, budget and business advice to all levels of administration. Additionally, Jon provides auxiliary operational oversight to the Child Development Center, Dining Services, Antelope Bookstore and The College Store. Jon has received CASP certification for his expertise and understanding of auxiliary/ancillary services. Jon is a two-time president of UNK’s staff senate and current president of the Kearney Public Schools Board of Education. He serves as finance chair for the Kearney Public Schools Foundation and is a member of the Yanney Heritage Park Foundation Board. Jon earned a bachelor's degree in Communication from the University of Nebraska at Lincoln in 2004 and a master's degree in Management from Bellevue University in 2009.

Larry E. Butler

Butler, Voigt & Stewart, PC

Attorney Larry Butler is a Member of Butler, Voigt & Stewart, PC, a law firm in Kearney, NE. As a lawyer in Kearney, Nebraska, Butler serves Buffalo County, as well as clients throughout Nebraska. He was admitted to practice law in Nebraska and US District Court, District of Nebraska in 1977 and the US Court of Appeals, Eighth Circuit in 1978. He earned a BS from Kearney State College (1973) and his JD, cum laude, from Creighton University (1977). Extensively involved in the community, Mr. Butler served as a Trustee on the Good Samaritan Hospital Board of Directors (1986-2000) and for Sentinel Health Care (1994 to the present). He has represented many regional businesses, most notably Paul Younes’ highly successful Hospitality company. Mr. Butler has a great sense of the region and needs of the University and served as a member of the original community group that studied the concept of the Kearney University Village development.

Reed Miller

P.E., President, CEO and Founder, Miller & Associates,
Consulting Engineers, P.C.

Reed A. Miller is the President, CEO and founder of a civil/environmental engineering firm, Miller & Associates, headquartered in Kearney, Nebraska. Since his founding of the firm in 1976, it has steadily grown to employ a diverse staff of engineers, architects, registered land surveyors, geologists, grant administrators, planners, computer programmers and technicians. Mr. Miller obtained a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering and later received a Master of Science in Civil Engineering. He is a Registered Professional Engineer in the states of Nebraska, Colorado and Kansas, and also holds Class A City Street Superintendent and County Highway Superintendent licenses. Mr. Miller is a member of the American Water Works Association, Water Environment Federation, and is on the Advisory Council on Public Water Supply. He is well respected for his keen insight into helping communities develop a wide range of projects and he has close ties to the UNL College of Engineering and several statewide organizations. Mr. Miller also served as a member of the original community group that studied the concept of the Kearney University Village development.

Joey Cochran

Vice President of Business Banking
NebraskaLand National Bank, Kearney, Nebraska

A native of Cozad Nebraska, Joey is a 2003 graduate of the University of Nebraska at Kearney majoring in Business Administration with an emphasis in Management and also a graduate of the College of Credit in Minneapolis, MN. Joey worked for Wells Fargo in Kearney for 12 years before recently moving to NebraskaLand National Bank. He specializes in business banking and is skilled in reading financial reports and business proposals. Joey is very active in the Kearney community, highlighted by his completion of Leadership Kearney and service on the community advisory board for the successful passage of Kearney Public School’s substantial bond proposal. While at UNK, Joey was highly visible as a four-year letterman in basketball—he is now recognized as an up-and-coming business professional throughout the Kearney area