Ron Schaefer stepped down Friday as interim executive director of UNMC’s Facilities Planning and Construction, but he will work part-time into 2017 as a transition to retirement.
“Ron has guided the campus through one of its largest construction periods in history,” said Ken Hansen, associate vice chancellor of facilities at UNMC. “Although he plans to reduce his work load, we’re pleased that he’ll continue to lead the Global Center for Advanced Interprofessional Learning through the design and competitive bidding process.”
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Jen Bartholomew |
Groundbreaking on the Global Center, which will house the iEXCEL program and the recently announced National Center for Health Security and Biopreparedness training program, is expected in May 2017.
Jen Bartholomew has been named executive director of planning and construction, project management and operations for UNMC and Nebraska Medicine. She has worked at Nebraska Medicine since 2003, and has a bachelor of science in industrial engineering and a Master of Business Administration with an emphasis on executive leadership from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.
Schaefer joined UNMC in January 1995 to manage the production of The Lied Transplant Center.
In 2000, he was appointed director of facilities planning and construction with responsibilities for the planning, design and construction of the UNMC campus. Since that time, UNMC has grown by more than 2.5 million square feet and renewed its education space by developing a student plaza area surrounded by new academic buildings, renovating older buildings and greatly increasing its research laboratory capacity.
Prior to joining UNMC, Schaefer spent nearly 22 years with Northwestern Bell Telephone Company, starting in 1970, and its successor, US WEST Communications. At US WEST, he held various engineering management and operations positions and eventually directed the design and construction of that company’s equipment, office and service buildings in the five states making up the regional telephone company’s service area.
He holds a bachelor of science degree in construction science from the College of Engineering and Architecture at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. He also has studied at Iowa State University, the University of Nebraska at Omaha and Creighton University.
Schaefer serves as a member of the board of directors of the Munroe-Meyer Institute at UNMC, the Nebraska Chapter of the Nature Conservancy and the advisory board of the Margre H. Durham Center for Western Studies at the Joslyn Art Museum.
Ron's good sense and refined aesthetic set the tone for the future. Kudos.
Ron, congratulations on a job well done, and on moving toward retirement. I thank you personally for all you have done for me.
Congratulations, Ron. I have enjoyed working with you over the years. I'll miss you.
Congratulations on your impending retirement, Ron. Your open-mindedness and willingness to 'listen" are great character-strengths that will be missed by the Facilities operation. Enjoy retirement!
Congratulations, Ron! UNMC was fortunate to have you on board during a period of tremendous growth and change. All the best to you and Barb as you enjoy the next chapter!
Kudos to you, Ron. Few people have had the impact on our campus that you've had. What an awesome legacy you leave behind. One question — who am I supposed to call now when the media calls on Friday afternoon? We'll miss you, buddy!
Congratulations! You have done an incredible job during a great period of growth.
Ron, congratulations. Retirement is great.
Ron Niederhaus