University of Nebraska President Jeffrey P. Gold, MD, was honored in December by representatives of the UNMC Faculty and Student Senates at an event held at the Wigton Heritage Center.
Student Senate President Pranita Devaraju and Faculty Senate Vice President Jordan Warchol, MD, read resolutions expounding on Dr. Gold’s achievements and the support of UNMC students and faculty during his decade-long tenure as UNMC’s chancellor.
“When we brought this idea to the faculty senate, everyone was, ‘Of course, it’s a no-brainer, how would we not celebrate our goals and all the things that he’s done for the university and specifically for the faculty of the university?’” Dr. Warchol said.
One item in the UNMC Student Senate resolution Devaraju shared was its “dissatisfaction that the wider University of Nebraska system stole our chancellor,” adding, “but in our great generosity, we allowed it to occur for the betterment of students across the system.
“Therefore, be it resolved that the UNMC Student Senate expresses a sincere appreciation for Dr. Jeffrey P. Gold’s long record of leadership at UNMC, including his dedication to responding to student concerns, improving student education opportunities and ensuring a positive and enriching student experience across all colleges.”
Dr. Gold told Dr. Warchol, Devaraju and the gathered guests that he was “honored and touched” by the event.
“I thought about it driving up today from Lincoln,” he said. “Over 10,000 graduates, over $2.5 billion of research, about 70 commencement ceremonies – it’s just a long list of experiences.
“But at the end of the day, the legacy is always the people – the leadership team, every student who applies their touch to this institution, the faculty that we are able to recruit and continually transform the world through the clinics and the research laboratories, etc. The statistics never talk about that.
“But I’m just really honored and touched by this.”
UNMC Interim Chancellor H. Dele Davies, MD, hosted the event and presented Dr. Gold with a small gift at its conclusion.