Presidential finalist Sally Rockey to visit University of Nebraska Dec. 15-18

Dr. Sally Rockey, deputy director for extramural research at the National Institutes of Health and one of four finalists for the University of Nebraska presidency, will visit Nebraska Dec. 15-18, NU announced today.

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Rockey’s visit will include stops at each NU campus, where she will participate in forums open to all university faculty, staff and students and members of the news media and public; an interview with the full Board of Regents that will be open to the public; and meetings with other key university constituents including agricultural leaders, donors and other community leaders. Rockey will be joined on her visit by her husband, Sam Stribling.

Members of the media, university community and all Nebraskans are invited to the following opportunities to interact with Rockey and hear about her vision for the university. Following the visit, the Board of Regents invites Nebraskans to submit their feedback via an online form available at www.nebraska.edu/presidentsearch/feedback.

• Monday, Dec. 15
  3 p.m.: UNO campus forum
  Location: Milo Bail Student Center, Nebraska Room
  
  4 p.m.: Media availability
  Location: Milo Bail Student Center, Ak-sar-ben Room
  
  
• Tuesday, Dec. 16
  10:30 a.m.: UNMC campus forum
  Location: Michael F. Sorrell Center for Health Science Education, Room 1005
  
  3 p.m.: UNK campus forum
  Location: Nebraskan Student Union, Ponderosa E
  
  4 p.m.: Media availability
  Location: Nebraskan Student Union, 2nd floor/Southwest Lounge
  
  
• Wednesday, Dec. 17
  1 p.m.: Interview with the Board of Regents
  Location: Varner Hall Board Room, 3835 Holdrege St. in Lincoln
  
  
• Thursday, Dec. 18
  9:30 a.m.: UNL campus forum
  Location: Nebraska Union Auditorium, City Campus
  (Note: This forum will be recorded and made available for viewing on the NU website following visits by all four presidential finalists, so that those unable to attend any of the public opportunities may hear Rockey’s presentation and share their feedback.)
  
  10:30 a.m.: Media availability
  Location: Nebraska Union, Regency B&C, City Campus

As deputy director for extramural research, Rockey oversees the development and implementation of the policies and guidelines central to the successful conduct of biomedical research supported by the National Institutes of Health. Rockey earned her Ph.D. in entomology from Ohio State University and has spent the majority of her career in research administration and information technology. She leads or is active on a number of federal committees related to science, federal research assistance and electronic government, and works closely with academic, small business and scientific communities.

In 1986 Rockey joined the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s extramural research arm, where she rose to the post of deputy administrator of the cooperative state research, education and extension service, overseeing the extramural grants program and portfolio. In 2002 she became chief information officer, aligning state-of-the-art information technologies with the department goals and objectives. Three years later she was appointed deputy director of the office of extramural research at NIH, and brought her experience in research administration and federal assistance to biomedical research. She assumed her current position in 2010.

Rockey also is a skilled public speaker, giving countless presentations on extramural research priorities and policies, grantsmanship, the competitive peer review process, scientific integrity and IT.

Rockey’s photo and curriculum vitae are attached.