KEARNEY, Neb. — A longtime administrator is coming out of retirement to serve as interim chancellor at the University of Nebraska-Kearney.

University of Nebraska interim president Chris Kabourek appointed Charlie Bicak to the interim chancellor role on Monday. He will start in the position on June 1 following Doug Kristensen’s retirement. Kristensen is stepping down after 22 years, the longest tenure of any chancellor in NU history.

“Charlie Bicak is the right person to keep UNK moving forward through this transition period,” Kabourek said. “He knows the campus and the community well, he is an outstanding champion for UNK’s mission to serve rural Nebraska, and he has the knowledge and relationships necessary to pick up where Chancellor Kristensen will leave off.

Bicak most recently served as senior vice chancellor for academic and student affairs from 2009 to 2022.

“I thank Interim President Kabourek for the opportunity to serve my alma mater in this way," Bicak said in a statement. "UNK means so much to me and my family, and I will do whatever I can to support our students, faculty, staff and greater community as we continue to deliver the quality, affordable education and skilled workforce that rural Nebraska needs. The University of Nebraska at Kearney is an outstanding institution in which the best teaching, scholarship and service are witnessed on a daily basis. Marylin and I are humbled and excited to be part of the UNK community.”

Bicak is a Kearney native who graduated from Kearney State College (now UNK) in 1974. After earning master’s and doctorate degrees, he started teaching at UNK in 1992. He left to be dean of the School of Natural Sciences at St. Edward’s University in Texas for four years before returning to Kearney for good in 2009.

Kabourek says in a news release that campus listening sessions about the chancellor search are likely to happen in the fall to maximize participation. A 13-person search committee is guiding the search with assistance from executive search firm CarterBaldwin.

Bicak’s appointment will last until a permanent chancellor is in place. His appointment is subject to approval by the Board of Regents.