Retirement day arrives for UNK chancellor Doug Kristensen, Bicak starts as interim leader

KEARNEY, Neb. — For the first time in 22 years, the University of Nebraska-Kearney is transitioning in its top position.

Friday is Chancellor Doug Kristensen’s final day. He retires as the longest serving chancellor in University of Nebraska history.

“This is going to be a part of me for the rest of my life,” Kristensen said in an interview in December. “We’re in great position. The chancellor is not the university. It’s the collection of faculty, staff, students and the community members, donors and alumni. They’ve never, I think, been in better shape than now.”

Kristensen’s tenure was marked by extensive renovations to most of the school’s buildings. UNK expanded its physical footprint with the creation of University Village and the Ernest Grundy Tennis Center. Most recently, UNK broke ground on a $95 million rural health education facility. The NU Regents voted to name the facility after Kristensen.

The chancellor’s retirement coincides with his wife’s retirement. Friday is also Terri Harder’s last day. She is stepping away from the bench after nearly 25 years as a district court judge in the 10th Judicial District.

“Terri and I have decided this is the right time to retire. We feel good,” Kristensen said in December. “This will give me some time to… just take a little bit of time away and then I’ll come back and I’ll still be associated with the university, there’s still plenty of things I can do to help the university.”

Charlie Bicak takes over as interim chancellor. Bicak most recently served as senior vice chancellor for academic and student affairs from 2009 to 2022.

The university is not rushing to find a permanent replacement. An April news release said public listening sessions will happen in the fall. The search firm and search committee could take months after that to select a candidate.