University of Nebraska Foundation Announces New Board Chair, Chair-Elect, and Directors

The University of Nebraska Foundation has announced the election of Don Voelte of Omaha as chair of its board of directors and Angie Muhleisen of Lincoln as chair-elect. The positions were announced at the foundation’s annual meeting of trustees on Oct. 1.

Voelte replaces Bill Jackman of Dallas, whose term as board chair has concluded.

Voelte is an alumnus of the UNL College of Engineering and is co-owner of VoKee Group of Companies. He began his career as a structural engineer at Mobil in 1975, ultimately becoming the CEO of several companies, the last being Seven Group Holdings, an Australian operating and investment group concentrated in industrial services, oil, gas and media. In 2013 he was awarded an honorary award of the Order of Australia, in recognition of his services to industry and philanthropic contributions to arts and education. He has been a foundation trustee since 2001.

Voelte and his wife, Nancy Keegan, who served as the chair of the foundation’s board of directors from 2009-2011, operate a private foundation focused on education. In 2012, UNL named its new Nanotechnology and Metrology Research Center for the couple.

“A civil engineering degree from the University of Nebraska absolutely changed my life,” Voelte said. “I am dedicated to this cause of higher education because I believe it is a great provider, a great enabler—the ultimate delta in society and in life. So, I am pleased to serve in this volunteer role as the chair of the foundation’s board of directors and continue giving back to the University of Nebraska.”

Muhleisen is the president and CEO of Union Bank and Trust Company and will become the chair of the foundation’s board of directors in 2023. She has been a foundation trustee since 1998 and is a graduate of Avila University.

The foundation’s trustees also elected Julie Jacobson of North Platte and William Lester of Lincoln to the board of directors.

Jacobson is an alumna of UNL and took master’s degree studies at UNK. She is director of M.B. Jacobson Farms and became a trustee of the foundation in 2016.

Lester is an alumnus of UNL and is the president and CEO of Ameritas Mutual Holding Company and of Ameritas Life Insurance Corporation. He has been a trustee of the foundation since 2007.

Dan Bahensky of Kearney, Robert Kelley of Scottsbluff, Rodrigo López of Omaha and JoAnn Martin of Lincoln all concluded their terms of service on the board of directors.

“We’re grateful for the volunteer service of these community and business leaders who give of their time and talents to assist the University of Nebraska Foundation in its mission to grow relationships and resources that enable the university to change lives and save lives,” said Brian Hastings, president and CEO of the foundation. “The foundation was founded 85 years ago by volunteers who wanted to strengthen the university, and they have been providing steadfast leadership ever since.”