UNL Chancellor Rodney Bennett leaving role on Jan. 12

University of Nebraska-Lincoln Chancellor Rodney Bennett announced in an email to the campus community that he will leave his role effective Jan. 12, the start of the spring semester.

In the email, Bennett said he was proud of his work to stabilize enrollment and increase the number of freshmen, improve research and develop a plan for financial sustainability.

“I believe in the transformative power of higher education, and I look forward to exploring opportunities on the horizon that will enable me to elevate mission and purpose in support of student success,” Bennett said in the email.

Bennett started as chancellor in July 2023 with a three-year contract that was set to end on June 30 this year. His announcement comes after he proposed eliminating six academic departments at UNL last year. A later proposal spared two of those departments, and the Board of Regents approved cutting the remaining four last month.

The university will give Bennett a payout of more than $1.1 million for resigning, according to the resignation agreement. The American Association of University Professors released a statement Tuesday against the $1.1 million payout, especially after the eliminations.

“The university cannot credibly claim that it lacks the resources to sustain academic programs and faculty positions while simultaneously paying over a million dollars to a failed chancellor,” Sarah Zuckerman, President of the UNL AAUP, said in the statement. “This payout exposes the administration’s financial crisis narrative as a matter of priorities, not necessity.”

UNL Chancellor Rodney Bennett Resignation Agreement

The eliminations were part of $27.5 million in budget reductions on the Lincoln campus, including $21 million in cuts due to a budget deficit and $6.5 in proactive cuts. The NU system is set to cut more than $40 million across all its campuses due to a smaller-than-expected state allocation.

In an interview with Nebraska Public Media News, Zuckerman said Bennett’s resignation feels like a deflection of how the budget cuts were handled.

“I think the board and President Gold have really shown us quite clearly that even if you do fall in line as the chancellor did, you're still disposable to the university,” Zuckerman said. “I think it's a worrying sign for Gold's leadership, because we have yet another UNL administrator turning over.”

Zuckerman said she hopes to see the next chancellor be involved and present on campus.

“Having someone who is on the ground, who is talking to people, who's building relationships, who's listening, who's straightforward, who's honest, I think those things are going to be really important, and someone who is a servant leader, who is not there for their own benefit, but is really there because they believe in the value of higher education,” Zuckerman said.

Ahead of the eliminations, the UNL Faculty Senate passed a no-confidence resolution against Bennett, citing concerns with his performance and criticizing the budget reduction process. UNL Faculty President John Shrader said it’s important for university and campus leadership to collaborate with faculty moving forward, which he expects will happen.

“I'm talking about the damage that's been done, not just in the loss of all those jobs, which is bad enough, but also the credibility, the accountability, the transparency that needs to happen to make this whole process work well in the future,” Shrader said.

University of Nebraska President Jeffrey Gold thanked Bennett for his leadership in his own message to the campus community on Monday.

“His work to stabilize the campus’s financial position, strengthen fundraising and advance student success and retention has helped position UNL well for the future,” Gold said.

In an interview with Nebraska Public Media News, NU President Jeffrey Gold called Bennett a great friend and partner.

“We are all, and I personally am very grateful to Chancellor Bennett for his years of service to the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and for his participation in all of the leadership activities of the university,” Gold said.

Gold also announced that Katherine Ankerson, former UNL executive vice chancellor who retired in 2024, would return as interim chancellor following Bennett’s departure. Ankerson also served as dean, associate dean and a professor in the College of Architecture before she was EVC.

“We have to maintain the incredible momentum that we have had, and actually redouble our efforts to accelerate that momentum,” Gold said. “I believe, and several others, all of us that are involved in this decision making, believe that Kathy Ankerson is the right person at the right time and the right place.”

Shrader complimented the choice to have Ankerson take over as interim chancellor.

“I think the President has made a really good choice of somebody who knows how it works here and knows what needs to be done,” he said. “Whether it's six months or a year, or however long she's in that role, we're confident that it'll be a good working relationship.”

Bennett thanked faculty, staff, his leadership team and students in his message.

“Most importantly, I want to express my appreciation to our outstanding students, for all that you bring not only to the university, but also to the city of Lincoln and the state of Nebraska," Bennett said. "Your energy, your enthusiasm, your optimism, and your determination to do your part to make our communities, our state, and our world better are an inspiration to us all, and it has been my highest honor and privilege to have served as your Chancellor.”