Neal Schnoor, chancellor of the University of Nebraska at Kearney, (Brian Neben, Central Nebraska Today)
KEARNEY – The University of Nebraska at Kearney will celebrate the investiture of Chancellor Neal H. Schnoor during a public ceremony 10 a.m. March 27 at the UNK Health and Sports Center. Community members, faculty, staff, students and alumni are invited to attend.
An investiture is the formal academic ceremony that confers the authority and symbols of high office upon a university leader. Rooted in centuries-old traditions of higher education, the event marks the official installation of a new chancellor and celebrates the university’s mission and future.
The ceremony will feature remarks from University of Nebraska System President Jeffrey P. Gold, Schnoor and several university and community representatives. Greetings will be offered on behalf of faculty, staff, students, the University of Nebraska Board of Regents, city leadership and others.
Musical performances by UNK student ensembles will also be part of the program.
During the ceremony, Gold will formally install Schnoor as UNK’s 10th chancellor. The program will conclude with Schnoor’s inaugural response.
Schnoor became chancellor in July 2025, returning to a campus where he previously served for more than two decades as a faculty member, director of bands and senior advisor to the chancellor.
A Nebraska native and first-generation college graduate, Schnoor has more than 30 years of experience in higher education leadership. Before returning to UNK, he served as president of Northern State University in Aberdeen, South Dakota, and previously held leadership roles at California State University, Long Beach and Wayne State College.
He earned a bachelor’s degree from Wayne State and both a master’s degree and doctorate from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.
Investiture ceremonies date back centuries in academia and symbolize the pursuit of knowledge and responsibilities of university leadership.
The ceremony includes academic regalia, a formal processional and presentations representing the campus and community.
UNK leaders through the years
• Douglas A. Kristensen, chancellor, University of Nebraska at Kearney (2002-2024)
• Gladys Styles Johnston, chancellor, University of Nebraska at Kearney (1993-2002)
• William R. Nester, president, Kearney State College; chancellor, University of Nebraska at Kearney (1983-1993)
• Brendan J. McDonald, president, Kearney State College (1972-1982)
• Milton J. Hassel, president, Kearney State College (1961-1971)
• Herbert L. Cushing, president, Nebraska State Teachers College (1936-1961)
• George Martin, president, Nebraska State Normal School/Nebraska State Teachers College (1919-1936)
• George S. Dick, president, Nebraska State Normal School (1914-1919)
• A.O. Thomas, president, Nebraska State Normal School (1905-1913)
