‘It means everything to me’: Neal Schnoor returns home as top candidate for UNK chancellor
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LINCOLN – As he prepared for Wednesday’s press conference, Neal Schnoor needed to add one more item to his attire.
With a little assistance, the priority candidate for the chancellor position at the University of Nebraska at Kearney proudly attached a blue and white UNK lapel pin to the front of his jacket. It’d been six years since he last wore this accessory, and he was honored to be representing the Lopers again.
“It means everything to me,” Schnoor said. “This pin represents an incredible institution – the thousands of alumni who came before me and the thousands who will attend school here in the future.”
“I’ve always loved this institution,” he added. “It means so much to our family.”
Although he was formally introduced at Varner Hall in Lincoln, the press conference was a homecoming for Schnoor, who 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 the chief of staff to the president at California State University, Long Beach for two years before accepting the president position at Northern State University in Aberdeen, South Dakota, in 2021.
Among his many accomplishments at Northern State, 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. Under his leadership, the university also increased private fundraising, launched new academic and co-curricular initiatives and strengthened student support services and community partnerships.
However, his roots were always one state away.
“Nebraska, Kearney and UNK are home,” he said.
SERVING NEBRASKA
Born in Norfolk and raised in Pierce, Schnoor attended Wayne State College as a first-generation student and later served as dean of the School of Education and Counseling at his alma mater. He called his own educational experiences “transformative.”
“Each day I am driven to ensure similar opportunities for future generations through affordable access, quality academic programs, robust student support and impactful experiential learning opportunities,” he said. “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.”
A former music educator in Wakefield, Kearney and Lincoln, Schnoor earned his doctorate and master’s degree from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. His wife Teresa holds a specialist degree from UNK, and their daughter Rachel is also a Loper graduate. A principal at Central Elementary School in Kearney, Teresa will retire this spring after a nearly 40-year career as a K-12 teacher and administrator.
“We have shared a life and a passion for education,” Schnoor said. “And together she is going to join me as we recruit future educators to join us in this very rewarding career.”
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.
“The faculty and staff that I have met are providing transformative educational opportunities that strengthen our communities, including academic programs that prepare students to think critically and creatively to solve problems, to be engaged citizens and to meet critical education and workforce needs,” he said.
THE RIGHT CHOICE
University of Nebraska Board of Regents Chair Paul Kenney of Amherst lauded the top choice for chancellor. “We are fortunate to have a candidate who is so familiar with what makes UNK truly a special place,” he said.
UNK Student Regent Sam Schroeder echoed that sentiment, calling Schnoor an exemplary leader who’s focused on relationship-building and student success.
NU System President Dr. Jeffrey Gold went even further with his praise, pointing to Schnoor’s unique blend of knowledge, leadership skills and passion for higher education as the perfect combination to move UNK, the NU System and state of Nebraska forward.
“What we were looking for is not just somebody who is accomplished on paper but somebody who is equally charismatic, somebody who is interested in building new, broader and deeper relationships with elected officials and, most importantly, with community members and with the students, staff and faculty of the Kearney campus,” Gold said.
“This is the right time, this is the right person and this is the right place to make this leadership transition, and I’m really proud of that,” he added.
As part of the 30-day public vetting process, Schnoor will visit the UNK campus and community to engage with students, faculty, staff and the broader Kearney community. Details on public participation and engagement will be announced in advance of the visit.
The next chancellor will succeed Kristensen, who retired in 2024 after serving in the role for 22 years. A longtime educator and administrator and UNK alumnus, Bicak has served as interim chancellor since June 2024.
Schnoor plans to spend the next month listening, learning and building trust.
“Right now, I have two jobs to do, so I’ll divide my attention, because I love Northern and I love that community and the tremendous support we get. And I love UNK, too, so I have to serve them both well,” Schnoor said.
“But I look forward to Day 30 when we can have this wrapped up,” he added with a smile.