Neurosurgeon announces candidacy for Nebraska Board of Regents

Less than a day after Nebraska Education Commissioner Brian Maher suspended his campaign for the University of Nebraska Board of Regents, the race has a new candidate.

Dr. Jeremy Hosein, a neurosurgeon and former student regent, announced Friday he will run to replace District 1 Regent Tim Clare, who announced earlier this year he will not seek reelection. District 1 includes Lincoln and northern Lancaster County.

“I'm running for the board because the challenges facing our students demand both vision and experience,” Hosein said. “We're living in a time of extraordinary change.”

Hosein said his vision for the University of Nebraska includes integration of artificial intelligence literacy into every discipline. He also said there are roles for AI to play in making university administration more efficient.

“The next five years will demand graduates who can work alongside AI, harness its power ethically and innovate in ways that benefit society,” he said. “Our university must be proactive in this transformation.”

Hosein floated the idea of creating an NIL for academically-gifted students and said he plans to work with business and industry leaders to help the university fund its core mission of educating students.

“There are superstars in medicine, in engineering, in agriculture,” he said. “They're across the United States, and I would love to see the university recruit them with the same kind of fervor that we recruit our Husker volleyball and football coaches.”

Hosein was previously a policy advisor to former Nebraska governors Mike Johanns and Dave Heineman. He also served as a White House Fellow during President Donald Trump’s first term, where he advised the U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services on public health.

Heineman, who introduced Hosein at the campaign launch, said his former policy advisor is the kind of young leader needed on the Board of Regents.

“Jeremy will emphasize excellence in education, fight for increased research funding and be a fierce, fierce advocate for UNL,” Heineman said. “He knows the extraordinary value of UNL and the University of Nebraska system as an economic engine for the state of Nebraska.”

Hosein will face Brent Comstock, the CEO of Lincoln-based marketing company BCom, in the District 1 race.

Comstock has the endorsements of Lincoln mayor Leirion Gaylor Baird, former University of Nebraska-Lincoln Chancellor Ronnie Green and former Nebraska governor and senator Bob Kerrey.

Hosein has the support of Nebraska Attorney General Mike Hilgers, former State Senator Suzanne Geist and former Nebraska Chief Medical Officer Joann Schaefer.

The University of Nebraska Board of Regents nonpartisan primary election will take place on May 12, 2026.