Rodney D. Bennett, chancellor of the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, has announced he will resign on January 12, following less than three years of service.
“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,” said Dr. Bennett in his announcement. “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. You are the reason we are all here, and I look forward to witnessing how you will embody our belief that every person and every interaction matters, as you change the world for the better.”
Dr. Bennett’s contract was set to expire at the end of the current academic year and no exact reason was given for his early resignation. Notably, the university’s faculty senate recently passed a vote of no confidence in Dr. Bennett at a special meeting in November, according to an article from the Daily Nebraskan. While the vote had no official effect on Dr. Bennett’s employment, it did signify the faculty’s lack of trust in his leadership.
Before taking the helm of the University of Nebraska-Lincoln in July 2023, Dr. Bennett was president of the University of Southern Mississippi for nearly 10 years. Earlier in his career, he held administrative leadership positions with the University of Georgia and Winthrop University in Rock Hill, South Carolina.
Dr. Bennett earned a bachelor’s degree in mass communication and a master’s degree in educational administration from Middle Tennessee State University. He received an educational doctorate from Tennessee State University.
