Neal Schnoor, priority candidate for chancellor of the University of Nebraska at Kearney, (Brian Neben, Central Nebraska Today)
KEARNEY — Neal Schnoor, the priority candidate for chancellor of the University of Nebraska at Kearney, visited and spoke with UNK faculty and staff and met with the Kearney community on Wednesday, May 7.
Schnoor is a Nebraska native and was raised in Pierce and chose to pursue education as his career. Schoor is a former music educator in Wakefield, Kearney and Lincoln.
Schnoor earned his Ph.D. and master’s degrees from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and his undergraduate degree from Wayne State College as a first generation student.
Schnoor served as a band director, faculty member and coordinator of K-12 and secondary education at UNK from 1997 to 2010 and as senior advisor to the chancellor from 2012 to 2019.
Schnoor was also chief of staff to the president at California State University Long Beach. Schoor said this time at a division one school in a large metropolitan area helped prepare him in the ways that a university can contribute directly to the economic development of a community.
“Schnoor has served as President of Northern State University since 2021, where he led the development of a five-year strategic plan, implemented academic restructuring to drive innovation and growth, and secured major legislative funding for academic facilities and program expansion—including a new Business and Health Innovation Center and a collaborative nursing program,” according to UNK.
Schoor said that Northern State University shares many similarities with UNK and noted how they have grown into regional comprehensive colleges, and they are focused on helping meet critical workforce needs in the area.
When asked about being named the priority candidate for the UNK chancellor position, said he is both “humbled and excited,” to lead the university in a “truly exciting time.” He put emphasis on collaboration and said that is the way of the future for higher education as they seek to do the most with the resources that they have.
When asked how he plans to guide UNK through the future, Schoor said that all of his previous stops have helped prepare him and given him different skill sets. He said he now plants to put those skill sets to work.
Schnoor noted that years ago, a university might have a strategic plan that looked ahead seven years, however, today with the pace of change, that has shifted to a strategic pathway with room for flexibility to address changes.
“I am eager to build on the leadership trajectories of Doug Kristensen and Charlie Bicak. I look forward to listening, learning and engaging stakeholders to advance UNK and greater Nebraska,” Schnoor said in a UNK press release.
Schoor said he plans to bring energy and a renewed optimism and noted that while there have notable shifts in higher education, he said change is part of life and the university still can be a place to help educate new students and be a place to help upskill experienced workers.
“Schnoor highlighted UNK’s strong teacher education program, a growing partnership with the University of Nebraska Medical Center to recruit and train rural health care professionals and investments in STEM programs while emphasizing the university’s role as an economic engine for central and western Nebraska and its commitment to serving the region,” according to a press release from UNK.
When questioned about what will help guide UNK, Schoor said that UNK and the Kearney community need to have student experience at the forefront. He said the students need to receive a personalize education and experience at college.
He said UNK needs to keep meeting the needs of students in a rapidly evolving future.
Schoor said he also seeks to increase enrollment and use all the tools at their disposal to do so. He also said what is just as important as bringing students to school is retaining them once they are there, to ensure that they get the full benefit of their education and time at college.
One tool Schnoor noted that is being used at Northern State University is a “gap scholarship.” He noted that college can be a trying time for students when the outside pressures of the world weigh in, such as needed car repair, and these types of scholarships can provide needed aid to students to help keep them enrolled and on the road to graduation.
“Schnoor would succeed Chancellor Doug Kristensen, who served from 2002 to 2024 and is the longest-serving chancellor in University of Nebraska history. Dr. Charlie Bicak has served as interim chancellor since Chancellor Kristensen’s retirement,” per UNK.
Schoor was scheduled to hold forums with students, staff and faculty and later meet with community members with the Kearney Area Chamber of Commerce on Wednesday evening.