KEARNEY, Neb. — The priority candidate for University of Nebraska president is making his case to the public.

“This to me would be the very best opportunity that I could ever, ever have,” Dr. Jeff Gold said.

Gold was in Kearney Friday for the first two of nine forums regarding his candidacy. If public feedback is good, he’ll likely be appointed to the job on Friday, the 19th.

“We’re not only going to compete, but we’re going to win,” Gold said.

He says one of his goals would be to get UNL back in the Association of American Universities, the prestigious group that kicked Nebraska out in 2011. It could take 10 years or more… but he said the AAU’s criteria is already what the university should be striving for.

“Successful research, awards and recognition of faculty, student success, six-year graduation rates," Gold said. "Those are the kinds of things that we need to be focused on every day, and we are. We just need to do a better job of sharpening that focus.”

Gold says discussions about restructuring in order to reach that goal are for the future.

Right now, he has the support of retiring UNK chancellor Doug Kristensen.

“He’s got a great vision for the state," Kristensen said. "I’m confident that (the public is) going to react positively to him and I think then the board will take that input and look positively on his priority candidacy.”

If selected, Gold will need to enter the political arena to secure state funding for NU. He’s confident in his existing relationships with state senators and Gov. Jim Pillen.

“At the end of the day, it’s about demonstrating value — what the university brings to the table," Gold said. "We have to continue to bring high value to the table.”

As a Nebraskan by choice, the native New Yorker says he understands the state’s pride in its university and the responsibility that falls on its president.

“I’ve yet to meet somebody who says that the university is not critically important to the future of the state," Gold said. "There are many things that we could be doing better. Believe me, we all need to roll up our sleeves and do that.”