Ronnie Green has a big vision for UNL research.<\/p>\n
He sees world-leading research in water and food security, early childhood education, national defense, and materials and nanoscience. He sees the university as a distinctive member of the Big Ten and one of the country\u2019s top 35 public universities.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe are going to be bigger, better and more impactful than ever,\u201d said Green, who became UNL\u2019s 20th chancellor in May 2016.<\/p>\n
Green knows UNL research. Twenty-two years after earning his doctorate in animal genetics from Nebraska, he returned in 2010 as vice chancellor of the Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources and vice president for agriculture and natural resources for the University of Nebraska system. In 2015 he added the role of interim senior vice chancellor for academic affairs.<\/p>\n
Green\u2019s ambitious 2025 goals include doubling research expenditures, increasing enrollment to 35,000 from the current 25,000, graduating students faster and building more private sector partnerships.<\/p>\n
“There has never been a time when what we do as a leading land grant university has been more important.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
Expanding collaborations with the University of Nebraska Medical Center, which Green calls Nebraska\u2019s \u201cother flagship campus,\u201d is one strategy. UNL research expenditures currently are $278 million and, combined with UNMC, total $407 million. Green thinks the two campuses together can reach $800 million in 10 years or less.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m convinced that the opportunities are there to make it happen,\u201d he said, citing the new NU systemwide food for health initiative, research on preventing obesity-related diseases and potential collaborations on health care design and delivery.<\/p>\n
\u201cAn area of great promise where we already are taking a lead is the microbiome,\u201d Green said. UNL\u2019s strong research programs across the spectrum of plant, animal and human microbiomes have earned significant grants from the U.S. Departments of Energy and Agriculture, the National Institutes of Health and the National Science Foundation.<\/p>\n
While research is critical to Green\u2019s goal for UNL to be a distinctive member of the Big Ten, it\u2019s only part of the equation.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe need to be distinctive in the quality of students we produce and distinctive in how we relate to our state,\u201d Green said. \u201cThere has never been a time when what we do as a leading land grant university has been more important.\u201d<\/p>\n