The University of Nebraska announced Thursday that it is initiating a search for a new chancellor for the University of Nebraska Medical Center.
Dr. Dele Davies has served as interim chancellor for more than a year, ever since previous chancellor Dr. Jeffrey Gold was promoted to president of the university.
“It is absolutely critical to find the right person to lead UNMC during this pivotal time for the campus, for health care, and for higher education,” Gold said in a news release. “UNMC is a cornerstone of health care for our state, and its next leader must be deeply committed to advancing excellence in research, education, and patient care for the benefit of Nebraska and beyond.”
A search committee made up of representatives from UNMC, Nebraska Medicine, each of the other NU campuses and members of the community will lead the process, first conducting an internal search open to qualified candidates from across the NU system. The search committee, which will be convened by Interim NU Executive Vice President and Provost David Jackson and assisted by executive search firm CarterBaldwin, may, in a second phase, decide to expand to a national search to draw a broader candidate pool.
“We are taking this search process very seriously, with a strong commitment to identifying a visionary and collaborative leader who can build on UNMC’s momentum,” Jackson said. “CarterBaldwin is working closely with the committee to develop a comprehensive position profile that reflects the critical role this chancellor will play in the future of the university and the state.”
Jackson said the goal is to have a permanent chancellor hired and working in the role before the end of the year.
The move to hire a permanent chancellor comes amid turmoil surrounding UNMC’s clinical partner, Nebraska Medicine.
The Board of Regents last month approved a plan for the university to pay $800 million to buy out Clarkson Regional Health Services’ 50% stake in Nebraska Medicine.
The plan led to a lawsuit by the Nebraska Medicine board, which was later replaced and the lawsuit dropped.