INTERVIEW: Interim UNK Chancellor Dr. Charlie Bicak
Bicak is a Loper through and through. That’s why he was eager to say yes when UNK came calling two years into his retirement.
By News Channel NebraskaDr. Charlie Bicak seeks to continue UNK’s momentum as interim chancellor
KEARNEY, Neb. — There are few people more deeply engrained in the fabric of the University of Nebraska-Kearney than Charlie Bicak.
His ties to the blue and gold date back to his father, Laddie, who worked here as a professor. Bicak graduated from what was then Kearney State College in 1974. He went on to spend 13 years as a professor and 13 years as a senior administrator.
University of Nebraska moving forward with UNK chancellor search
Bicak is a Loper through and through. That’s why he was eager to say yes when UNK came calling two years into his retirement.
“I told (Interim President Chris Kabourek) I would think about it a bit and it didn’t take me long to decide to come back and do this.”
Bicak started as interim chancellor in June and is one month into his first semester as the top official on campus.
“To me, this is the most important thing and the most privileged thing that I could be doing at this point in my life.”
It’s unclear how long Bicak will be in place. University of Nebraska President Jeff Gold started in his post in July and says he’s evaluating what a chancellor’s role should be before picking up the search.
The uncertain timeline won’t stop Bicak from performing.
“I think that I have a responsibility and an obligation to sustain those initiatives that have momentum today, but at the same time, look ahead. Look ahead over several months, one, three and even five years.”
One of the continuing initiatives is the Doug Kristensen Rural Health Education Complex, named after Bicak’s predecessor. Bicak says the transformational project is on-budget and on-schedule for occupation in early 2026.
“The expectation and requirement at this point is to ensure that we have the faculty, UNMC faculty, to serve those five colleges.”
While his temporary post will eventually expire, Bicak says he’ll always remain a Loper.
“We’re home. We live in Kearney, we will stay in Kearney — no question. If I’m asked to do some continual part-time things, I would certainly do so. At the same time, I would readily return to a mostly-retired condition.”
The timeline around the search for a new chancellor is still murky, but Bicak says he expects that a new chancellor could be in place by late spring or summer 2025. The next step in the search process is likely to be a series of public listening sessions.