UNO Mourns the Passing of Chancellor Emeritus John E. Christensen, Ph.D.

University of Nebraska at Omaha (UNO) Chancellor Emeritus John E. Christensen, Ph.D., who led the university through a transformational period in the university’s history from 2007 to 2017, passed away Wednesday, May 28, at age 76.

UNO Chancellor Joanne Li, Ph.D., CFA, expressed her gratitude to Christensen.

“Chancellor Christensen laid the foundation for the university we know today through wisdom, integrity, and a spirit of service that defines what it means to be a Maverick,” Li said. “He loved this university and community with all his heart and his presence will be missed. Our thoughts are with his wife, Jan, and their family as we honor John's legacy and celebrate a life well lived.”

Read University of Nebraska (NU) System President Jeffrey P. Gold, M.D.'s statement.

Honoring a Legacy

UNO leaders celebrated Chancellor Christensen’s life and lasting impact:

• Phil He, Ph.D., UNO Senior Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs: "Chancellor Christensen charted a bold path for our university that made academic excellence and transformative research central to UNO’s identity. His deep belief in the ability of UNO students, faculty, and staff to innovate helped shape a university that is not only student-centered but globally engaged and research driven. His legacy is the foundation on which our academic mission stands today."

• Adrian Dowell, UNO Vice Chancellor / Director of Athletics: "Dr. Christensen’s vision and steady leadership through our move to Division I still inspires today. He saw athletics as a vital extension of UNO’s mission to develop leaders, whether in competition, the classroom, or the community. Facilities we enjoy and successes we celebrate today as a program can be traced back to values he embedded in Omaha Athletics."

• Brian F. Hastings, President and CEO, University of Nebraska Foundation: “Under John Christensen’s leadership, UNO grew to become the thriving metropolitan university it is today. John’s Midwestern values and passion for his alma mater helped him forge meaningful connections with the UNO community, Omaha business leaders, alumni and donors. Because of his exemplary service, John and his wife, Jan, were honored in 2023 with one of the foundation’s top service awards, the Harlan J. Noddle Award for Distinguished Development Service. We join the entire Maverick community in mourning his loss.”

A True Maverick

An Omaha native and first-generation student, Christensen received a Master of Science in Special Education/Speech Pathology from UNO in the 1970s. In 1978, he began his tenure at UNO as a faculty member in the College of Education’s Department of Special Education and Communication Disorders. He later served as chair of the department, dean of the College of Education, and vice chancellor for Academic and Student Affairs.

Christensen was named interim chancellor in 2006 and was named chancellor in May 2007, making him the first UNO chancellor to have earned a UNO degree.

Transformational Achievements

As chancellor, Christensen led UNO in achieving its three overarching goals as part of its strategic plan to be “student-centered, academically excellent, and engaged with the community.”

During Christensen’s tenure as chancellor, UNO:

• Led the nation in advancing the metropolitan university mission, earning recognition from the Carnegie Foundation and inclusion on the President’s Higher Education Community Service Honor Roll.
• Served as host for the national Coalition of Urban Metropolitan Universities Conference.
• Opened the Barbara Weitz Community Engagement Center.
• Completed a four-year transition from Division II to Division I athletics and opened Baxter Arena.
• Established a unified brand for UNO and Omaha Athletics.
• Hosted then-President Barack Obama in January 2016 at Baxter Arena for a public speech following his final State of the Union Address.
• Built the Biomechanics Research Building, the world’s first stand-alone building dedicated to biomechanics research.
• Ranked No. 1 nationwide for military and veteran students in Military Times’ “Best for Vets” list two years running (2015 and 2016).
• Launched the Metropolitan Advantage Program, which offers residents or high school graduates of several southwestern Iowa counties the opportunity to attend UNO at significantly reduced tuition rates.
  Constructed Mammel Hall, UNO’s first Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certified building on campus.

The John E. Christensen Community Chair in Child Welfare is associated with an endowed fund established at the University of Nebraska Foundation with a gift from the Weitz Family Foundation of Omaha. This position plays an important role in UNO’s mission as a leader in community engagement and child and adolescent welfare. The special focus of the endowed faculty position is child welfare education and administration within the context of social work practice and to best serve youth and families in Nebraska.

“Bless This Place”

In his retirement announcement to the university, Christensen reflected upon his time with the university and expressed his optimism for the university’s future.

“Maybe it’s just me, but I tend not to look back. I look to the future. UNO has an incredibly bright future,” Christensen said from UNO’s Roskens Hall, where he spent his formative years as student. “It’s full of optimism, Maverick momentum, and excitement around our core mission as a premier metropolitan university. We will continue helping people in this community live a better tomorrow and raising the quality of life for everyone. I know there are some of you that may be tired of hearing this again, but I want you to know I’m the luckiest guy in the world. Bless this place and the people who have changed my life.”

Services Planned

Services are scheduled for Wednesday, June 4, at 10 A.M. at Baxter Arena.