Bob Bartee and family announce ‘community engagement’ lectureship

Former UNMC Vice Chancellor for External Relations Bob Bartee, along with his family, announced the establishment of the Bob and Helen Bartee and Family Lectureship and Award for Scientists and Community Engagement.

The announcement was made at a retirement reception for Bartee held on Feb. 1.

The purpose of the lectureship will be to invite a recognized expert to UNMC to provide a lecture and engage with UNMC faculty and students on topics related to making science relevant, creating ways for scientists to engage with the community and build science literacy and trust in scientific rigor and results.

See a video on Bartee’s career. 

In addition to funding an invited lecturer, the Bartee Fund will create an award to be given to a UNMC scientist who exemplifies and lives out a commitment to community engagement. The recipient will be chosen by a process led by the vice chancellor for external relations and presented at an appropriate campus award ceremony.

UNMC Chancellor Jeffrey P. Gold, MD, called the lectureship an example of Bartee’s commitment to research and science.

“It is an incredibly generous gesture that exemplifies the personal passion which Bob and his entire family have committed to advancing science and impacting the health of our state and beyond.”

Said Bartee, “I and my family believe we need to recognize and celebrate our researchers and leaders who reach out to the community to build relationships and promote trust in science. Putting a human face on our scientists and researchers – letting our fellow Nebraskans know that we are their neighbors – is critical to the future of our research enterprise.”

Mike Yanney, chairman emeritus of Burlington Capital and the tireless advocate and champion for UNMC, has worked closely with Bartee throughout his career.

“Bob Bartee has humbly and quietly transformed UNMC and created public/private partnerships that I have had the privilege of collaborating on,” Yanney said. “It is an honor for me to join Bob in supporting this important lectureship that will continue to highlight the work that Bob began in our state. We all owe Bob a debt of gratitude for caring so deeply about the health and wellbeing of our community, state and beyond.”

Bartee, who led government relations and communication efforts at UNMC for more than four decades, retired in early January. He will remain in an advisory role as senior advisor to the chancellor.

Bartee began at UNMC in 1980, serving as the executive assistant to the chancellor. In 2006, his position was elevated to vice chancellor for external affairs, with responsibilities for government relations, strategic communications, alumni relations, rural health initiatives and community relations. Bartee also served as the vice chancellor for external relations at the University of Nebraska at Omaha from 2019 to 2021.

Prior to joining UNMC, Bartee spent five years in the University of Nebraska’s government relations office. A native of Battle Creek and a 1969 graduate of the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Bartee has a master’s degree from Syracuse University’s Maxwell Graduate School of Public Affairs.

See more information about the fund. Those interested in potentially supporting the fund can contact Amy Volk at the University of Nebraska Foundation at 402-502-0300. Gifts toward the lectureship can be sent to the University of Nebraska Foundation, 2285 S. 67^th St.  Suite 200, Omaha, NE, 68106.