Jill Wolfe
Non-partisanQ19 What opportunities, if any, do you see for partnerships between state government, universities, industry, and nonprofit organizations to strengthen scientific education?
“I believe the future of university and our work force is dependent on collaboration between business and government. With advancement in AI there is a real need to provide a workforce that is able to enter at a much higher level than is currently done The future lies in people who can be critical thinkers and adapt to a new type of technology and work environment.”
KEYWORDS: Collaboration, critical thinking, integration
Q23 Both research universities and government-funded research programs play a critical role in advancing scientific discovery, training the future workforce, and driving economic development. How would you approach funding and oversight of research universities and government-funded research programs, and what outcomes would you hope to achieve through those investments?
“My approach funding and oversight include competitive peer review, priority alignment, stage funding, financial auditing, ethical and regulatory compliance, and conflict of interest management. Outcomes I would hope to achieve include new technologies, medical treatments and clean energy solutions that save lives and improve daily living standards, spurring jobs creation and new industries by research into commercial startups and patents. building robust infrastructure, training next generation of critical thinkers and addressing complex large-scale challenges such as climate change and food insecurity.”
KEYWORDS: Ethical, Purposeful, future forward
Q24 In order to avoid sweeping cuts and promote long-term financial stability, some academic departments at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln have been eliminated, which has raised concerns about the consequences to educational quality, workforce preparedness, and loss of life-saving data (Wendling, 2025). Are you concerned about the immediate and long-term effects of cuts to research and education- why or why not? How should university leaders evaluate budget reductions and what are your suggestions?
“Budget restraints are going to continue to exist. There needs to be a focus on conserving core curriculum while containing costs. There needs to be an overall look at what programs have low enrollment. Specific degrees can be combined into a multidisciplinary school to save on costs. Everyone should be concerned when programs are cut. There needs to be a strict focus on viable programs and degrees. The University needs to be aware of the people (our students) who are affected by these changes.”
KEYWORDS: Common sense, core curriculum, budget constraints
Q25 The federal government is pursuing large-scale changes to student visa approval, including increased visa denials, revoking existing visas, restricting travel from certain countries, and decreasing student visa durations. How, if at all, should Nebraska respond to federal visa changes affecting international STEM students and researchers?
“These federal mandates are currently on hold. The University has an obligation to keep themselves and their students advised of any and all changes.”
KEYWORDS: Awareness, compliance , legal status
Q26 What programs, if any, should the University of Nebraska school systems implement to attempt to reduce the financial burden of attending a college or graduate school for STEM-affiliated degrees in Nebraska?
“Given that science, technology, engineering and math fields are going to be needed for a future workforce, there needs to be cooperation between private businesses and the University to develop programs, internships with stipends, that meet future needs. This would help reduce the financial burden of earning a college degree. Focus needs to be in developing people and programs that meet the needs of business and technology.”
KEYWORDS: Cooperation, internships, future workforce