Retired UNK chancellor reflects on 42 years of public service as ‘living proof’ of NU mission

KEARNEY — University of Nebraska at Kearney Chancellor Doug Kristensen retired May 31 after four decades of public service that he said represents “living proof” of NU’s mission.

Kristensen left UNK after 22 years at the post, a capstone to his career that included nearly 14 years in the Nebraska Legislature and six years as Kearney County Attorney. He hasn’t determined what lies ahead — officiating golf tourneys could be one past time — but he looks back fondly on a career that elevated focus on rural health, tax equalization, court of appeals and residential education.

“I’m a Nebraska kid who got to be involved in the two most important things in the state,” Kristensen said, pointing to the Legislature and NU. “Are you kidding me? I got to do that.”

‘The pendulum will swing’

Kristensen has said NU might be one of the most important institutions for how it daily impacts residents, including through his own education. He said critics who have doubted the value of higher education “will come to their senses.”

“The pendulum will swing and there will be a need again to go, ‘Oh my God, we’ve got to highly train people to keep them here because the jobs are going to demand it,’” Kristensen said.

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