Julie ShafferSenior Vice Chancellor Academic Affairs
Julie Shaffer was appointed senior vice chancellor for academic affairs at UNK in April 2024 after serving as interim SVCAA since August 2023. A longtime faculty member, she joined the Department of Biology in 1999 and has held multiple leadership roles including graduate program chair, online director, and department chair. An accomplished educator and researcher in microbial ecology and tickborne pathogens, Shaffer has secured over $6 million in grant funding and mentored numerous students while earning top teaching honors such as the Pratt-Heins Award and the Leland Holdt/Security Mutual Life Distinguished Faculty Award. She played a key role in revising biology curricula and developing new courses, and currently serves as a fellow for the National Strategic Research Institute. Shaffer holds dual bachelor’s degrees in biology and English and a Ph.D. in biology from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, and maintains active membership in several national scientific and teaching organizations.
Larry EbertSenior Instructor, Educator (leadership, innovation, and change management), business consultant and musician
Larry Ebert is a researcher, educator, writer, and speaker about the human impacts of AI. As an instructor at Golden Gate University and the University of San Francisco, he teaches courses in leadership, innovation, and change. He is exploring the role of AI in education, including the impact of AI on critical thinking and creative thinking, and is developing a taxonomy to guide suitable use of AI in re-imagining class assignments. Larry co-developed the Student-AI Collaboration Rubric, a tool for teachers to evaluate student work completed using AI. He has conducted and published research on the role and impact of AI in the Arts, and is presenting, this summer, a new model and professional development workshop on systems thinking mindset (STM), an orientation to responsible AI adoption within organizations. Larry is also a management consultant, focused on strategy and transformational change for organizations, and a professional musician.
Website: https://larryebert.substack.com/
Todd GottulaSenior Director, Communications and Marketing
Todd Gottula is Senior Director of Communications and Marketing at the University of Nebraska at Kearney, where he leads the university’s marketing and communications team. A former journalist, he also worked in sports and entertainment as vice president of communications for the Tri-City Storm and Viaero Event Center.
CEO, Fourth Star
Greg Simon is the CEO of Fourth Star, a Nebraska-based company pioneering immersive cinematic streaming and AI-powered learning systems. He holds an MBA from Columbia University and brings over 20 years of experience in international finance and emerging technologies, including 14 years in global banking and the past decade leading innovation in AI, blockchain, and immersive media. A Nebraska native, he recently returned home after years overseas and in California, committed to strengthening the state’s tech ecosystem and expanding opportunities for rural communities.
IT Systems Analyst, CSS Farms
Darin Barth, a graduate of the University of Nebraska-Lincoln in Computer Science, is an IT Systems Analyst for CSS Farms. In this capacity, he is actively involved in spearheading the integration of Artificial Intelligence solutions, driving the digital transformation of operational workflows to achieve greater efficiency and provide employees with advanced tools. His focus is on unlocking new insights from agricultural data and fostering Artificial Intelligence usage within the workforce at CSS Farms.
Director of Human Resources for Kearney Public Schools
Melissa Herrmann is the Director of Human Resources for Kearney Public Schools. She has served in a variety of roles in education from high school teacher and coach, to building administrator and at the District level. She is keenly aware of the changing dynamics in education and the challenges that come with staying ahead of the employment market.
Owner, Logic Nebraska
Jeremy Heeg started Logic Nebraska to prove there’s plenty of room for nerds in central Nebraska. Thirteen years later, his hometown software team partners with Nebraska businesses and is diving deep into AI to find new ways to add value close to home.
