UNL's chancellor will step down in 2023.
Ronnie Green's arc from Virginia farm boy to first-generation college student to 20th chancellor of the University of Nebraska-Lincoln has been, in his words, surreal.
UNL is the place that Green said launched his family on a professional and personal journey "beyond our wildest dreams" over the course of nearly four decades.
But after nearly seven years as the campus' top leader, Green, 61, announced he'll step down next year.
The announcement was made in a video emailed to UNL students, faculty and staff Tuesday morning, where Green appeared alongside his wife, Jane.
"Today, we are sharing the news of our plan that I will retire from the role of chancellor at the end of June 2023 or when my successor is in place for a seamless transition," he said.
Previously the vice chancellor and vice president of the Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Green was appointed chancellor in 2016.
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His tenure has seen a global pandemic that disrupted two academic years, budget ups and downs, and on-campus incidents that have put UNL in the crossfire of the nation's culture wars.
UNL's enrollment surpassed 26,000 students for the first time in 2018-19 during Green's tenure before falling to a 10-year low this year. The state's flagship campus has also recorded rising graduation rates, particularly among students who earn a degree in four years.
He has also presided over UNL as it has seen a 31% increase in research spending over the past decade, and overseen more than $1 billion invested in campus construction projects since 2019.
Green asked the university to reflect back on its 150 years as a land grant institution in 2019, as well as to look forward to the next quarter-century for how UNL might address the most pressing challenges of the future.
He has also navigated the university through intense protests by students against racism and sexual assault on campus, censure from a national academic group, and political jabs from elected officials.
Throughout it all, Green said the opportunity to lead a place like UNL has been "almost too surreal to believe," adding he had turned down offers from other universities along the way.
"It has been a distinct calling, privilege, honor and our greatest pleasure to serve the university," Green said.

University of Nebraska-Lincoln Chancellor Ronnie Green speaks during an interview Monday at Canfield Administration Building in Lincoln.
The decision to step away has been in the works for more than a year, Green told the Journal Star in an interview Monday, after Green hit a personal milestone that has weighed on his mind.
Green turned 60 in the summer of 2021, surpassing the age of his father, who died of cancer at the age of 59. Green's father, who grew crops and raised Angus cattle in the Blue Ridge Mountains, didn't get to enjoy his own retirement or his growing family, he said.
Even as Green prepared to "charge ahead" in his duties — he said he was energized by a 2021 leadership retreat at Mahoney State Park with UNL's top administrators — he was also beginning to discuss with his family when the right time to step back might be.
The chancellorship of an institution like UNL is "exciting and exhilarating," but can also often be "taxing on our physical and mental batteries," he said.
UNL's challenges — academic, extracurricular, financial, political and cultural — aren't unique in higher education, but they require commitment, he said, and over the following months, the reflection and discussions centered on how long Green's commitment should continue.
Green hinted at the topic at his state of the university address in late September, when he said becoming the longest-tenured member of the Big Ten Council of Presidents and Chancellors this January had given him time to think about "the persistence of leadership in today's higher education landscape."
Ultimately, Green made the decision to step aside at the end of the school year, giving the university time to look for his replacement, and allowing the new leader to assume office in a new academic and biennial budget year.
"I know it's the right time for me," he said. "I know I'm ready to retire. I know I'm ready to do the next thing."
NU President Ted Carter, in a statement Tuesday, said the Greens have "a deep love" for the university, its students, faculty, staff and Nebraskans who are "part of this special extended family."
"We owe them a debt of gratitude for answering the call to serve UNL over the past 13 years," Carter said. "This is a well-earned decision for them and I am happy knowing they will soon get more time with each other and their growing family."
Rep. Mike Flood, a former state senator from Norfolk, thanked Green in a statement, and extended his "best wishes" to the Greens on their next chapter.
"Looking to the future, UNL's next chancellor will lead the university's flagship campus at a pivotal moment as the state seeks to take advantage of new research opportunities that can grow Lincoln while helping agriculture and our state's entire economy thrive," Flood said.
The 1st District congressman said Nebraska's federal delegation "will keep fighting for those opportunities to build an even brighter future for the university and the next generation in the years to come."
And Regent Tim Clare of Lincoln, who will chair the NU Board of Regents in 2023, said the Greens "led with their hearts."
"I'm very grateful they answered the call to serve," Clare said. "It's a hard job, but they've got a deep love for students, for the university and for Nebraska, and I think that's always been obvious."
Green said he will continue in a behind-the-scenes role at the university for one year, as the NU system seeks to raise $3 billion to support students and faculty, academic and research programs, while continuing to serve on boards and other organizations.
In 2024, Green will step back completely. He and Jane will stay in Lincoln — "this is our home," he said — but won't remain on the faculty or in any other official university capacity.
The separation will mark a new chapter in a nearly 40-year relationship Green has had with UNL.
A first-generation college student and recipient of a Pell Grant, Green graduated from Virginia Tech University and Colorado State University with bachelor’s and master’s degrees in animal science before he enrolled in a doctoral program at UNL in 1985.
It was “the place where the leaders in his field were working,” he told UNL faculty when interviewing for the chancellor position in early 2016.
At Nebraska, in addition to a degree in animal breeding and genetics, Green met and fell in love with “Husker Jane.” The two were married a year later.
“Little did we know that it was the genesis of a nearly 40-year deep and abiding love with and for this great institution for us as a couple and ultimately a family,” Jane Green said in the video.
After graduating from UNL, Green taught for six years at Texas Tech University before joining the animal science faculty at Colorado State.
He then shifted into the private sector, working at a company called Future Beef that would later go out of business and declare bankruptcy, before returning once more to the public sector, conducting research for the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
Green also worked as senior global director of technical services for animal genomics for Pfizer until he was recruited by UNL Chancellor Harvey Perlman and other Husker alumni to become leader of the Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources in 2010.
Over the next five years, Green led IANR, until he was tapped once again by Perlman to become interim senior vice chancellor for academic affairs — the campus’ chief academic officer — following the retirement of Ellen Weissinger.
Following Perlman’s retirement, Green was selected by then-NU President Hank Bounds over three other finalists to become UNL’s top administrator on April 6, 2016.
He was formally installed as chancellor a year to the day later — April 6, 2017 — the start of what would be the longest stay in any job of his professional career.
When he leaves after the 2023 spring commencement, his 21st as chancellor, Green will have congratulated more than 36,000 students who have graduated with degrees from UNL.
Leaders from the University of Nebraska announced the "Only in Nebraska" campaign on Friday, Nov. 18. The comprehensive campaign is seeking to raise $3 billion from 150,000 donors.
Photos: UNL Chancellor Ronnie Green through the years

Ronnie D. Green, University of Nebraska vice president

Ronnie Green

New University of Nebraska President Hank Bounds (from right), Ronnie Green and Ron Rosati talk Tuesday with instructor Jo Bek (middle) while freshman student Kaylyn Long demonstrates how to shoe a horse during Bounds' visit to the Nebraska College of Technical Agriculture in Curtis. Bounds took the walking tour of the campus -- which included many demonstrations -- with Rosati, dean of the Curtis campus; Green, vice chancellor for the Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources, and other staff members.

Ronnie Green, senior vice chancellor at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, speaks to students on Thursday as a candidate to replace outgoing chancellor Harvey Perlman.

Ronnie Green (right) hugs Greg Bouvier, pastor at Sheridan Lutheran Church, after being named chancellor of the University of Nebraska-Lincoln on Wednesday.

New chancellor Ronnie Green has set goals for the University of Nebraska-Lincoln to grow to 35,000 students and double its research funding by 2025.

University of Nebraska-Lincoln Chancellor Ronnie Green delivers his inaugural State of the University address.

Nebraska Gov. Pete Ricketts (from left) applauds newly installed University of Nebraska-Lincoln Chancellor Ronnie Green along with the Rev. Gregory Bouvier, Chairman Emeritus of Burlington Capital Michael Yanney II and UNL Director of the Institute for Ethnic Studies Joy Castro after the installation of Ronnie Green as the twentieth chancellor Thursday at the Lied Center.

Chancellor Ronnie Green watches with thousands of others as totality neared at 12:53 pm. Students gather on the green space between the Nebraska Union and the Raikes School to view the solar eclipse. August 21, 2017.

University of Nebraska-Lincoln Chancellor Ronnie Green (left) and NU President Hank Bounds listen to a reporter's question during a news conference Thursday regarding the firing of athletic director Shawn Eichorst.

Chancellor Ronnie Green (from left), athletic director Bill Moos, football coach Scott Frost, NU President Hank Bounds and former football coach Tom Osborne pose for photos following a 2017 news conference to introduce Frost at Memorial Stadium.

In Columbus as part of his summer tour across the state, UNL Chancellor Ronnie Green (right) checks out the STEM Wing of the new Columbus High School with Superintendent Troy Loeffelholz.

University of Nebraska-Lincoln Chancellor Ronnie Green delivers the State of the University speech in 2019 at the Lied Center.

University of Nebraska–Lincoln Chancellor Ronnie Green (left) photographs deans as they hand out ice cream as part of NU's sesquicentennial celebration Friday at the East Campus Dairy Store.

Chancellor Ronnie Green talks with Lauren Dunn, a junior from Omaha, as he waits for his coffee at the Nebraska Union Starbucks. First day for in-person learning for the fall semester. August 24, 2020. Photo by Craig Chandler / University Communication.

UNL Chancellor Ronnie Green (left) shakes hands with new athletic director Trev Alberts as NU President Ted Carter looks on during a news conference in July 2021.

2017: UNL Chancellor Ronnie Green, Athletic Director Bill Moos, Nebraska President Hank M. Bounds and Tom Osborne pose for a photograph with Scott Frost after Frost was officially introduced as the Huskers' new head football coach.

LINCOLN, NEB. - 09/11/2022 - University of Nebraska Chancellor Ronnie Green speaks during a dedication of the University of Nebraska's Veterans’ Tribute, Sunday, Sept. 11, 2022, at Pershing Military and Naval Science Building. NOAH RIFFE, Journal Star

University of Nebraska Chancellor Ronnie Green delivers the 2022 State of the University address on Wednesday at the Lied Center for Performing Arts in Lincoln.

Ted Carter (left), Trev Alberts (first left), and Ronnie Green (first right) stand alongside the Rhule family after Matt Rhule (center) was named Nebraska's new head coach during an introductory press conference on Monday, Nov. 28, 2022, at the Hawks Championship Center. Rhule was introduced as the University's 31st permanent head coach, The 47-year-old, has experience coaching at both the collegiate level and the professional level. Working as a head coach for the past 10 years, seven in college programs and three season for the Carolina Panthers. Nebraska signed Rhule to an eight-year contract