University of Nebraska President Jeffrey P. Gold, M.D, speaks at UNK on July 31, (Brian Neben, Central Nebraska Today)
KEARNEY — The University of Nebraska President Jeffrey P. Gold, M.D, visited Kearney for the first time in his new role that he assumed at the start of the month.
Gold was in the midst of a five-day tour, beginning in Nebraska City and concluding in Scottsbluff. On Wednesday, July 31 he visited with community leaders in Kearney before heading west to hold a meet and greet in Lexington.
Gold met with civic, business, education, agricultural, health care, philanthropic and government leaders, along with students, faculty and staff and members of the media.
Conversations in every community will help inform the university’s vision for its next chapter, according to Gold.
“This trip is dedicated to listening and learning from Nebraskans in every corner of our state about how we can work together to create a strong future,” Gold said.
“I’m excited to travel across our 500-mile campus to learn more about the University of Nebraska’s statewide impact and hear from community members about our opportunities to build upon our long history, strengthen our partnerships, and collectively continue to change lives, build the workforce and keep Nebraska competitive and growing,” said Gold.
Meeting in the Ponderosa Room at in the Student Union on the University of Nebraska – Kearney campus, Gold stressed that it is not “his” university system, but that it belongs to the people of Nebraska.
“The University of Nebraska has delivered on that promise for Nebraskans for more than 150 years, and together we will continue to deliver the quality education, world-class research, engagement, economic development and health care that our citizens expect and deserve,” Gold said when he accepted the position.
Gold spoke about his background, growing up in New York City and his experience that education was the sure way to help uplift oneself from their current conditions.
Attending Cornell University, Gold would learn the medical trade and later practice 25 years as a cardiac surgeon, often working on children who were only hours old.
He earned his M.D. from the Weill Cornell College of Medicine and completed his general surgery residency at The New York-Presbyterian Hospital and Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. Gold completed his cardiothoracic surgical fellowship training at the Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston, with additional training in pediatric cardiac surgery at the Boston Children’s Hospital of Harvard Medical School.
Gold has served as UNMC chancellor and chair of the board of UNMC’s clinical partner, Nebraska Medicine, since 2014. He assumed executive vice president and provost duties in 2021, becoming the university system’s chief academic officer and primary liaison to the Board for academic affairs matters.
From 2017 to 2021, Gold concurrently held the role of University of Nebraska at Omaha chancellor, leading the state’s metropolitan university.
Gold said shepherding a land grant university will be similar to his position when a family put his trust in him to help their children who were in critical condition.
He said the parents who spend their hard earned money to send their child to the University of Nebraska need to know that their children will be taken care of, that they will be afforded the best possibilities.
Gold quoted Governor Jim Pillen, saying that, “our children are the future,” and that it’s the university system’s job to provide for that future by teaching kids how to think critically, not that to think.
Simply put, Gold said his job as the ninth president of the University of Nebraska is to, “make other people’s dreams come true.”
He said every student that comes to the university comes with unique dreams and aspirations and that the university should be “laser focused,” on helping them to achieve their goals. He said that trying to drive a square peg into a round hole in regard to education will not work.
Gold asked what is the “north star of the university,” and said that it needs to be at the forefront in every place, the classroom, the laboratory, the sports arena, etc.
At the end of the day, Gold said he is proud of the University of Nebraska system and asks that people, “dream big.”
Reporting to the regents, the president is the chief executive officer of the four-campus University of Nebraska System. The president is responsible for carrying out the strategic priorities of the Board and is the primary advocate to the Nebraska Legislature and other constituencies. Direct reports to the president include the campus chancellors and NU-wide chief business, academic, legal and information technology officers.
Gold has been married for almost 50 years to Robin Hayworth, M.D., a medical school classmate. The couple has two adult children and two grandchildren.
University of Nebraska President Jeff Gold at UNK, (Brian Neben, Central Nebraska Today)
