University of Nebraska President Hank Bounds to continue travels across state

University of Nebraska President Hank Bounds, who began his tenure as NU’s seventh president on April 13, will continue his travels around the state this week with stops in several Nebraska communities including North Platte, McCook and Holdrege.

Members of the news media are invited to attend the following events with President Bounds:

Wednesday, July 29

• Noon: North Platte Rotary, Quality Inn, 2102 S. Jeffers St., North Platte
• 1-1:30 p.m.: Media availability, Quality Inn, 2102 S. Jeffers St., North Platte
• 5:30 p.m.: Stakeholder reception, Coppermill Steakhouse, N. Highway 83 and Coppermill, McCook

Thursday, July 30

• Noon: Holdrege Rotary, Taste of Texas BBQ, 304 East Avenue, Holdrege

Bounds’ travels this week continue an extended “listening and learning” tour of the state that began on his first day on the job and has included visits to dozens of Nebraska communities and meetings with a diverse range of NU constituents including faculty and staff, current and prospective students, leaders in business, education and agriculture, donors and alumni, policymakers, and others. Bounds’ reflections on his initial travels, aimed at learning about Nebraskans’ thoughts about and goals for their university, are posted here.

Bounds most recently served as commissioner of higher education in his native Mississippi, where he oversaw a complex system of eight public universities that enrolled a combined 85,000 students, employed 26,000 faculty and staff, and operated with an annual budget of $4.5 billion. He began his career as a high school teacher before rising to principal, superintendent and state superintendent prior to becoming commissioner in 2009. Bounds grew up on a small farm in rural Mississippi.

Nebraskans are encouraged to keep up with Bounds by following him on Twitter at @hankbounds, or by visiting his website at www.nebraska.edu/president.