November 29

Rural and Urban Education Policy

December 4

Rural and Urban Economic Development

May 22

Sorensen Forum for Political Leadership

Seminar Leaders:

Ardyce Bohlke is a former Nebraska State Senator for District #33 (which encompasses all of Adams County and a portion of Hall County in central Nebraska). She was first appointed by Governor Ben Nelson in 1991 and was reelected in 1992 and again in 1996. Senator Bohlke has served as Senate Education Committee Chair since 1994. She is a former member of the Hastings Board of Education, 1980-1988, where she served as president from 1984 to 1987. Her awards of recognition include the 1999 Distinguished Service Award from the Nebraska Educational Service Units, the 1999 Nebraska State Education Association Friend of Education Award, the 1998-1999 Education Commission of the States Chairman's Award, and Nebraska Schoolmasters 2000 Distinguished Service Award. Senator Bohlke has a B.S. in education from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.

Doug Christensen has served as Commissioner of Education for the State of Nebraska, making him the Chief Executive Officer of the Nebraska State Board of Education since 1994. Prior to becoming the Commissioner of Education, Dr. Christensen served as superintendent of schools in North Platte (Nebraska), Colby (Kansas), and Bloomfield (Nebraska). In addition, he has been an instructor in secondary education at the University of Nebraska­Lincoln. Dr. Christensen is the author of numerous publications in the fields of policy, leadership standards for learning, school improvement, and accountability. Dr. Christensen received his M.A. and Ph.D. in Education from the University of Nebraska­Lincoln.

Jody Isernhagen is Associate Professor of Educational Administration at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. She received a M.A. in curriculum and instruction and Ed.D. in administration, curriculum, and instruction from Virginia Polytechnic Institute. Dr. Isernhagen is the co-author of three books and numerous articles on school leadership and improving schools. Recent publications have appeared in the Journal for School Improvement, T.H.E. Journal, Technology Horizons in Education, and The Rural School. Dr. Isernhagen was the state representative to U.S. Department of Education National School Design Conference. She was also the Convener of the National Council of Professors of Educational Administration. In 1997, she received both The University Council for Educational Administration Excellence in Education Award and the Nebraska Council of School Administrators Distinguished Service Award.

Seminar Leaders:

Robert Blair is an Assistant Professor of Public Administration at the University of Nebraska at Omaha. He received an M.P.A. from the University of Nebraska at Omaha and a Ph.D. in political science from the University of Nebraska­Lincoln. Dr. Blair has conducted applied community development research and delivered strategic planning services to more than 40 Nebraska communities while at UNO's Center for Public Affairs Research. His professional experience includes work as a community developer, industrial consultant, assistant city manager, personnel director, and public works administrator and planner. Dr. Blair has published in Public Administration Quarterly and Public Administration Review. He also served five years as the editor of the Journal of the Community Development Society.

Al Wenstrand is the Director of the Nebraska Department of Economic Development. He was appointed in 1999 by Governor Mike Johanns. Prior to this he was the Executive Director of the Sarpy County Economic Development Corporation. Mr. Wenstrand's office was located in the Greater Omaha Chamber of Commerce, where he and his staff worked on economic development projects. Before his work in economic development he was a teacher, including eleven years teaching marketing at Bellevue West High School. In 1989, Mr. Wenstrand was named the National Marketing Educator of the Year by the Marketing Education Association. He has a B.S. in Business Administration and a M.A. in Education from the University of Nebraska­Lincoln.

William R. "Bob" Wickersham is the Nebraska State Senator for District #49, which encompasses the northwestern-most corner of Nebraska. He was first appointed by Governor Ben Nelson in 1991 and was reelected in 1992, 1996, and again in 2000. Senator Wickersham serves as Chair of the Committee on Revenue and was the 1997 Nebraska Rural Development Commission Champion of Rural Nebraska. He is the vice president of Sioux County Agricultural Society and is on the board of directors of The School at the Center, Inc. Senator Wickersham has a B.A. and B.S. from Creighton University and a J.D. from the University of Nebraska School of Law.

Seminar Leaders:

Stephen Buhler is Associate Professor of English at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. He has been the Project Convener for the university's Leadership for Institutional Change (LINC) initiative, funded by the Kellogg Foundation, since 1999. He received a Ph.D. in English from UCLA. Dr. Buhler is the author of Shakespeare in the Cinema: Ocular Proof and of several articles dealing with literature, performance, and teaching. He has given talks based on his research--and on his experiences as a high school and college educator--for local organizations, regional schools, and international conferences. His community involvement has included giving commentaries over the Nebraska Public Radio Network, along with serving on the Strategy Team of Nebraska Network 21, the Advisory Board for Prairie Schooner, and the Board of Directors for the Lincoln Community Playhouse. In 1999, he was inducted into UNL's Academy of Distinguished Teachers and was the recipient of an Outstanding Teaching and Instructional Creativity Award (OTICA) from the University of Nebraska state-wide system.

Scott Moore is the Director of Government Affairs for Union Pacific Corp. He is the former Nebraska Secretary of State from 1995 to 2000, serving as the Chief Election Officer, Chair of Nebraska Brand Committee, Chair of the State Real Estate Commission, and Secretary of the State Canvassing Board. Former Secretary of State Moore was a senate page who rose to be a state senator, representing the 24th district from 1986 to 1994. While in the Senate, he served as Chair of the Senate Committee on Appropriations. Mr. Moore has a B.A. in political science from the University of Nebraska­Lincoln.

Irv Omtvedt is Vice President Emeritus for Agriculture and Natural Resources in the University of Nebraska, Vice Chancellor Emeritus for the Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources at the University of Nebraska­Lincoln, and Professor Emeritus of Animal Science. He received his B.A. from the University of Wisconsin­Madison and M.S. and Ph.D. from Oklahoma State University. Dr. Omtvedt joined UNL in 1975 as Head of the Department of Animal Science. Prior to being appointed IANR Vice Chancellor in 1988, he served five years as Dean for Agricultural Research at UNL. In addition, he served as Interim Senior Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs in 1996­97 and served as the Vice Chancellor for Extended Education from 1997­99.

Kim Robak is the Vice President for External Affairs and Corporation Secretary to the Nebraska University Board of Regents. She was Nebraska Lieutenant Governor from 1993 to 1998. Prior to her appointment, former Lieutenant Governor Robak was Chief of Staff to Governor Ben Nelson and legal counsel to the Governor. She also was a partner in Remboldt, Ludtke, Parker, and Berger law firm and a teacher in the Lincoln Public School system. While Lieutenant Governor she served as Chair of the National Conference of Lieutenant Governors as well as Director of the National Foundation of Women Legislators. Former Lieutenant Governor Robak was the 1998 winner of the George H. Turner Award for Public Service. Ms. Robak has a B.A. from the University of Nebraska­Lincoln and a J.D. from the University of Nebraska College of Law.