University of Nebraska President James B. Milliken announced the beginning of the search for a new University General Counsel. A member of the University of Nebraska’s senior administrative leadership, the general counsel reports to the president and is the chief legal officer of the four-campus university.
The incumbent, Richard Wood, has announced his intent to retire at the end of 2007 after a 30-year tenure at the University of Nebraska.
President Milliken has named a search committee to recruit and screen candidates. The committee will be co-chaired by John Boyer of Omaha, a partner with Fraser Stryker P.C., L.L.C., a law firm based in Omaha, and Linda Crump of Lincoln, Assistant to the Chancellor of the University of Nebraska-Lincoln for Equity, Access and Diversity Programs, and the president of the Nebraska State Bar Association.
“The University of Nebraska is a very large, complex organization, with a myriad of sophisticated legal, business and other issues. It would be difficult to overestimate the importance of attracting a first-rate general counsel to advise and represent the board of regents, the campuses, and my office,” Milliken said. “I am very pleased that two leaders in the Nebraska Bar, John Boyer and Linda Crump, have agreed to lead this effort.”
In addition to Boyer and Crump, the members of the search committee include:
- Bruce Elder, interim chairman of the department of economics and professor of accounting and finance, University of Nebraska at Kearney;
- Juan Franco, vice chancellor for student affairs, University of Nebraska-Lincoln;
- Jonathan Henning, president of the UNMC Student Senate;
- David Lechner, vice president for business and finance, University of Nebraska
- James Linder, M.D., associate vice chancellor for research, UNMC;
- Julie Totten, interim vice chancellor for business and finance, University of Nebraska at Omaha; and
- Dara Troutman, senior associate to the president of the University of Nebraska.
The vice president and general counsel leads a legal staff responsible for all university legal matters, including employment issues, real estate transactions, contract negotiations, administrative matters, litigation and appeals, intellectual property and technology transfer, athletics, health affairs, university policies, rules, regulations, and compliance with all local, state and federal laws. When appropriate, the general counsel retains and oversees outside legal counsel.
Qualified applicants must have a juris doctorate from an accredited law school, be licensed and in good standing as a member of a state bar, and have at least ten years of active law practice to include supervisory experience in a legal environment and experience in litigation management and/or as corporate counsel or comparable experience.
Candidates must demonstrate excellent oral and written communication skills, exceptional judgment, unquestioned integrity, a record of outstanding professional ethics and a commitment to diversity.
Substantial knowledge of and experience with the array of legal issues involved in higher education is preferred.
The review of applications will begin Nov. 1 and will continue until the position is filled.
More information about the position and how to apply can be found on the Web at http://www.nebraska.edu.