Welcome back — a new semester and a new year.
Dear Colleagues,
Happy new year and welcome to the start of the spring 2026 semester. I wish you all a semester and new year full of personal and professional growth.
Reflecting on the past year, it seems safe to say that 2025 will go down as among one of the most vexing periods for our university community. Through all the significant challenges that we faced from various sources and across numerous domains, the members of our community — students, staff, faculty, alumni, and community partners — demonstrated the courage, resilience, dedication, and care that truly define what it means to be a Husker.
These same virtues of character will continue to serve us well in confronting, adapting, and learning from the challenges and opportunities that we will face together in 2026. As a community of life-long learners dedicated to the relentless pursuit of truth, our work and vital contributions to Nebraska and the world will continue to depend upon and benefit from the strong spirit of collaboration and mutual support that our unique enterprise requires.
2026 has started with some significant leadership transitions for UNL. Chancellor Bennett will conclude his service as UNL’s 21st Chancellor next week. I am grateful to Chancellor Bennett for his service to UNL during a time of significant challenge for institutions of higher education. I wish Chancellor Bennett the very best in all his future endeavors.
I am also pleased to have the opportunity to work closely again with Katherine Ankerson as the incoming Interim Chancellor. Kathy is a thoughtful, collaborative, and dedicated servant-leader and I am grateful for her willingness to accept this role at an important time for our campus.
If 2025 turns out to be an inflection point in the institutional history of UNL, 2026 will be the year where our story takes an important turn as we set off on a new and positive trajectory. Every member of our campus community has a critical role to play in bringing this future to life. To that end, look for forthcoming opportunities to help shape UNL’s next strategic framework — aligned with the NU System’s Odyssey to the Extraordinary — early in the new year.
Best wishes, and GBR!
Mark E. Button, Ph.D.
Executive Vice Chancellor
and Chief Academic Officer
EVC Office