Give Now

Board of Directors

Board of Directors and Committees

The board of directors consists of volunteers who meet three times a year to oversee the business affairs and property of the foundation. The chair of the University of Nebraska board of regents and the president of the University of Nebraska serve as ex officio, nonvoting members. The president and CEO of the University of Nebraska Foundation is a voting ex officio member.

Board of Directors

Jane E. Miller, Chair
Retired President and Chief Operating Officer, Gallup
Omaha, Nebraska

William Lester, Chair-Elect
Retired President and CEO, Ameritas Mutual Holding Company and Ameritas Life Insurance Corporation
Lincoln, Nebraska

Paul Mendlik
Audit Committee Chair
Retired Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer, West Corporation
Waterloo, Nebraska

Sandra Massey
Finance Committee Chair
Retired Senior Vice President-Director of Human Resources, Platte Valley Financial Service Companies
Scottsbluff, Nebraska

Angie Muhleisen
Governance Committee Chair
Retired President and CEO
Union Bank & Trust Company
Lincoln, Nebraska

Ted Harris
Investment Committee Chair
Managing Partner of Sachem Hill LLC
Denver, Colorado

Susan Thaden
Trustee Engagement Committee Chair
Founder and CEO, Client Resources Inc. and From Now On
Omaha, Nebraska

Lori Druse
Managing Director, Deloitte
Lincoln, Nebraska

Ivan Gilreath
President and CEO, Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Scottsdale
Scottsdale, Arizona

Julie Jacobson
Director, M B Jacobson Farms LLC
North Platte, Nebraska

Janet Labenz
Partner, Labenz & Associates LLC
Lincoln, Nebraska

Holly Ostergard
Vice Chair, Crete Carrier Corporation and President, Acklie Charitable Foundation
Lincoln, Nebraska

John S. Schuele
President and CEO, Waitt Company
Omaha, Nebraska

Steve Seline
President, Walnut Private Equity Partners LLC and President and Owner, Walnut Radio LLC
Omaha, Nebraska

Douglas B. Waggoner
Investment and Finance Executive
Palm Beach, Florida

Susan K. Wilkinson
President and COO, Ameritas Life Insurance Corporation
Lincoln, Nebraska

Jeffrey P. Gold, M.D., Ex Officio
President, University of Nebraska System
Lincoln, Nebraska

Paul Kenney, Ex Officio
Chair, University of Nebraska Board of Regents
Amherst, Nebraska

Brian F. Hastings, Ex Officio
President and CEO, University of Nebraska Foundation
Lincoln, Nebraska

Executive Committee

This committee is responsible for exercising the authority, as needed, of the board of directors at all times between meetings of the full board.

  • Jane E. Miller, Chair, ex officio
  • Ted Harris
  • Sandra Massey 
  • Paul Mendlik 
  • Angie Muhleisen 
  • Susan Thaden
  • Jeffrey P. Gold, M.D., ex officio 
  • Brian F. Hastings, ex officio
  • Paul Kenney, ex officio 
  • William Lester, ex officio

Governance Committee

The purpose of the committee is to support the board of directors by providing effective volunteer leadership, continued volunteer development, and by evaluating and assessing governance policies and processes.

  • Angie Muhleisen, Chair
  • Viv Ewing 
  • Carla B. Frye, Pharm.D. 
  • Ivan Gilreath 
  • Julie Jacobson 
  • Holly Ostergard
  • Todd Pankratz, M.D.
  • Gabriel A. Romero  
  • Steve Seline
  • Aileen Warren 
  • Susan K. Wilkinson
  • Brian Hastings, ex officio
  • William Lester, ex officio
  • Jane E. Miller, ex officio

Finance Committee

The primary responsibilities of the finance committee include recommending financial policies, goals and budgets that support the mission, values and strategic goals of the foundation.

  •  
  • Sandra Massey, Chair
  • Jerry A. Catlett
  • Kris A. Grosshans
  • Ted Harris
  • Larissa L. Johnson
  • Janet Labenz
  • Larry Miller
  • Ronald J. Nebbia
  • Will Scott
  • Susan Thaden
  • Douglas B. Waggoner
  • Susan K. Wilkinson
  • William Lester, ex officio
  • Jane E. Miller, ex officio 
  •  

Trustee Engagement Committee

The committee is responsible for enhancing the engagement, cultivation and philanthropic support of University of Nebraska Foundation Trustees.

  •  
  • Susan Thaden, Chair
  • Deanna Armstrong
  • Norberto Ayala-Flores 
  • Daisy Berexa
  • Kristin A. Bergmeyer
  • Shawn Buchanan 
  • Brenda Christensen
  • Lori Druse
  • Julie Jacobson
  • Dan Kinsella
  • Sandra Massey
  • Angie Muhleisen
  • Holly Ostergard
  • William Lester, ex officio
  • Jane E. Miller, ex officio
  •  

Audit Committee

This committee is responsible for auditing the foundation’s financial books and records annually or otherwise and employs an external auditor for assistance.

  • Paul Mendlik, Chair
  • Paul Becker    
  • Bob Caldwell
  • Lori Druse
  • Ivan Gilreath
  • Brian Kaiser
  • John Ryan
  • John S. Schuele
  • Lee Stuart
  • William Lester, ex officio
  • Jane E. Miller, ex officio 

Investment Committee

The responsibilities of this committee are to maintain the prudent and effective investment of the endowment, formulate investment policies and oversee management of the endowment.

  • Ted Harris, Chair
  • Joseph Elston
  • Janet Labenz
  • Paul Mendlik
  • Roy J. Patterson
  • Karen J. Plessinger 
  • John S. Schuele
  • Steve Seline
  • Tina Udell
  • Douglas B. Waggoner
  • William Lester, ex officio
  • Jane E. Miller, ex officio
  •  

Compensation Subcommittee

The purpose of this subcommittee is to approve a compensation strategy that enables the foundation to recruit and retain qualified, experienced executive leadership, professional staff and support staff.

  • Jane E. Miller, Chair
  • William Lester
  • Angie Muhleisen
  •