I’m willing to bet that if you ask any given person what is the biggest challenge in relationships – whether romantic, with friends, with colleagues – the majority will say “communication.”

And not only is communication one of the keys to a good relationship, it’s also one of the major keys to transparency. And transparency is a necessity when it comes to responsibility.

When I became a Regent I wanted to make sure that there was better communication between those who are responsible for making big decisions that affect not just the University of Nebraska, but the whole community. Part of that is hearing from the community, from you.

So I ask you, directly – what are you curious about?

What are you worried about? What ideas do you have for the university? What do you want to see for the future? What do we need to focus on now?

Don’t get me wrong, I am more than happy to go on about all the interesting and exciting developments at the University of Nebraska – whether it’s the world-class position of the Med Center in dealing with contagious diseases or the uniquely holistic agricultural programs in Curtis, Nebraska.

In fact I talked about both of those things and more at my most recent Office Hours livestream, which I do on a regular basis precisely to invite your questions, comments, and general conversation!

So, please – whether by email, social media, snail mail, or carrier pigeon – send me your thoughts and questions, and join me in the conversation!

*Barbara’s thoughts as written by Kate based on weekly (fascinating) conversations.

Now that we’ve survived a month (and some change) in the new year, I feel like this is a good time to state some intentions.

There’s a lot to look forward to in 2020. Part of what I look forward to, odd as it may sound, is looking at what I can do better. On that note I have a number of things I know I can improve. Speeding up my response time to your messages is one.

I’m also thinking about how to better manage my time.  

Meeting people face to face is something I truly enjoy and I’m grateful to those who write whether happy or unhappy about the Regents’ actions. I value your opinion and am excited by your engagement in issues affecting the university and the community at large, even if we aren’t on the same exact page. So, in addition to the blogs I am blocking out regular times on my calendar for responding by email, livestreaming, on Facebook, or in person.

Also on my list is the intention of spending more time at University of Nebraska Kearney and University of Nebraska Lincoln to gain a better sense of the culture of both. I have had the pleasure of attending a few sports events but there is so much more to see.

These opportunities continue to enrich my sense of what Nebraska has to offer not only to its athletes but all who enjoy their efforts.

And finally – innovation. I know that’s kind of a buzzword, but what I’m really interested in is thinking outside the box. Creativity. Curiosity. Willingness to embrace not only different ideas, but also different ways of thinking. It’s something I want to be much more intentional about, and I encourage you to join me.

There are a lot of complex issues facing our university, our community, and our state. It’s going to take all of us to figure out the best ways to move forward together.

So, what are your 2020 intentions?

*Barbara’s thoughts as written by Kate based on weekly (fascinating) conversations.

Picking up where I left off – my 2019 “wow I can’t believe it I’ve just become a regent” reality check.

Following the glow of the swearing-in ceremony was several days of orientation with the great staff at Varner Hall, which started the process of thinking like a regent.

I loved this process of learning and meeting the people I would be working with over the next six years.

Then, the reading began to pile up… including a whole section in the regent notebook on NCAA rules and regulations – basically I cannot talk to any youth past elementary school as it can be viewed as recruiting. Fortunately, family members do not count. 

Then there were the bylaws, contracts, standing rules, and of course the support reading for items on the agenda of my first Board meeting. Needless to say, speed-reading and time management are two very useful skills.

There was also a lot of joy.

I spent 2019 meeting as many people as I could and I loved meeting the people that make Nebraska such a great place.

They were all welcoming and offered help any time I might need it. I also had the pleasure of attending graduations, greeting all the graduates, family, faculty, and friends on such an exciting day.

Look, I knew the university was a large system. I had worked at UNO long enough to see at least a piece of the organization. But over the past year I’ve come to realize how little I knew about the extent, size, and reach of the entire university.

Being on the Business Affairs Committee was a way to truly experience the big picture, and in the course of this year we moved to a system that will save the university millions with a new way to do our bond work.

In the Audit and Risk Management Committee I learned the interesting ways the university tracks the risks on a large scale.

Communication has been an ongoing struggle. This complex system has so many partners, donors, employees, students, and citizens all needing to communicate and collaborate. We need to strive to simplify and make things as transparent as possible both inside and outside the system. I am planning to continue my blog and do streaming office hours (I have a number of exciting guests willing to come sit with me) and I hope you will send me your ideas and/or questions.

There’s a lot to look forward to in 2020.

So with all that in mind, catch my intentions in the next blog – and maybe you’ll share some of your own!

*Barbara’s thoughts as written by Kate based on weekly (fascinating) conversations.

Well so far this year has kicked off with some major congestion, several rounds of medicine, and a lovely lingering sense of fatigue. Great start, huh? Unpleasant as that has been, I’ve had some real time to think.

Typically in January I like to spend time reviewing the old year and planning for the next.

I gave up on making official resolutions because my resolve to keep to them rarely made it past January 31^st (or January 7^th if I’m being totally honest). Instead I like to think of these new ideas as intentions. For whatever reason, framing them this way gives me the psychological wiggle room I need to adjust, amend, or even sometimes start over.

So now I find myself at the beginning of 2020, sorting through the past, present, and future.

Our first Board of Regents meeting is on February 7^th – coming up fast. This is an important one for a number of reasons. Not only will our new University of Nebraska President Ted Carter be officially present and participating, but we will also be electing new board leadership and receiving our committee assignments for the year. I truly do not know what is in store, but I’m excited about it.

Hang in there with me because this blog is going to be a two-parter. And since our experience of time is that it flows just one way, let’s go ahead and start with the past.

Last year, I was absolutely honored and overwhelmed to be sworn in as Regent at the state capital.

It was a solemn, moving moment that I was proud to be able to share with my husband and children. I wished my parents could have seen it. Carmen Maurer – Corporate Secretary for the Regent Board – captured some wonderful pictures that I could look at later to prove to myself that it wasn’t all a dream. But it was a dream, is a dream, a wonderful dream that so many of you made come true. For that I am eternally grateful.

And inevitably, as with any dream, reality hits.

Check back in part II for more reflections and – importantly – intentions for 2020.

*Barbara’s thoughts as written by Kate based on weekly (fascinating) conversations.

So here it is, the end of my first year as a Regent. It actually reminds me of how I felt at a certain point when I got older. When I was young I believed adults were wise and knew everything that they were about. Turns out, that’s not true in a lot of cases. And I had a strong reaction to learning that most adults were just – well, people trying to figure life out, sometimes stumbling and regrouping along the way.

After a year I thought I would have a solid sense of how the university operated, how ideas and projects came to be realized – who did what, when, and why. Turns out, that’s not how it works either. The systems are tremendously complex. The politics are subtle and I still have so much left to learn. 

I’ve been feeling quite a lot like my younger self lately. 

Learning not only takes time, it takes listening. One of the reasons I ran for Regent was to push for greater communication between the university and Nebraskans. Wanting to hear more from all of you is why I joined a town hall in Bennington. 

It was the reason we created Weitz Up, a place to talk about current issues facing the university. As part of this process I sit down with Kate or send her my scribbles about what’s on my mind, but one thing I’m trying to get better about is taking pictures.

Turns out I am not someone who takes pictures. Admittedly, I prefer writing notes. But as I was thinking, it also occurred to me that a hundred lenses are better than one. I know this blog has my name on it but it’s really about you. Your questions. Your experiences. Your ideas.

That’s why I’m asking you to send me your photos!

I would love for you to send me pictures as you encounter the University of Nebraska – at games, at lectures, with friends. Take pictures of things on campus that catch your eye, especially if you have questions about one thing or another.

Whether through the blog, pictures, scribbles, the office hours, or in person, I look forward to introducing you to all sorts of incredible people at the university. Moreover, I look forward to everything that you have to teach me.

Because as it turns out, we never stop learning.

*Barbara’s thoughts as written by Kate based on weekly (fascinating) conversations.