Dear North Platte Chamber Members,
I want to extend my deepest thanks to each of you who joined us during the University of Nebraska’s recent community visit in North Platte. To those who may not have been able to attend, I hope this note offers a sense of the conversations we shared.
Over the course of six days, my team and I traveled more than 1,500 miles across the state, visiting 12 cities and engaging with nearly 500 Nebraskans. From chambers of commerce and local businesses to hospitals, farms, and classrooms, one thing was clear at every stop: Nebraska’s strength lies in its people and in the partnerships between our university and our communities.
These visits reaffirmed what I’ve long believed: Rural communities are the heart of our state and essential to the mission of the University of Nebraska. Your insights—on workforce needs, educational access, economic development, and more—are helping shape our priorities as we plan for the university’s future.
That future is being guided by a systemwide strategic plan focused on what we’re calling our “Odyssey to Extraordinary.” It’s built on five key pillars: exceptional teaching and learning, groundbreaking research, community partnerships, a culture of belonging, and strong stewardship of our resources. If you haven’t already, I invite you to take a look at our plan here: nebraska.edu/strategic-plan.
The University of Nebraska is your public university. Our job is to serve your businesses, your families, and your communities. We can only do that by listening and staying connected.
I welcome your feedback, ideas and questions at any time. Please feel free to reach out to me directly at jeffrey.gold@nebraska.edu or on my cell at 402-661-4411.
Thank you again for the warm welcome. I look forward to many more conversations about how, together, we can build a stronger, more vibrant Nebraska.
With gratitude,
Jeffrey P. Gold, M.D.
President, University of Nebraska