After nearly a decade of transformative leadership, Mike Boehm has announced that he will step down from his dual role as the University of Nebraska’s Harlan Vice Chancellor for the Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources (IANR) and Vice President for Agriculture and Natural Resources in May 2025. Boehm will return to a faculty position in the Department of Plant Pathology, where he will contribute to advancing key university initiatives.
Tiffany Heng-Moss, dean of the College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources (CASNR), will serve as interim leader of IANR beginning June 1, 2025.
“Leading IANR has been the honor of a lifetime,” said Boehm. “It’s been a wonderful experience to work with talented and incredibly passionate faculty, staff, students, alumni, and stakeholders from every corner of the state. I have been impressed each day by the dedication of the people of IANR to our state’s agricultural and natural resources ecosystems, as well as to Nebraska’s 530 villages, towns, and cities. After nine planting and calving seasons in Nebraska, I am a Nebraskan through and through.”
Boehm reflected on his tenure, emphasizing that while new facilities and program growth were significant milestones, the most meaningful part of his role was working alongside the people of IANR.
“The most important aspect of the work has been the opportunity to work side-by-side with IANR’s students, staff, faculty, partners, and leaders to co-create, launch, and implement the most amazing and impactful efforts and initiatives,” Boehm said. “The people are the best part of the gig, and I’m proud to continue working with them through May 2025.”
In a message to campus, Chancellor Rodney D. Bennett praised Boehm as a trusted partner and campus leader.
“Together, we have logged countless miles traveling across the state — from Nebraska City to Scottsbluff — meeting the remarkable people who make Nebraska unique,” Bennett said. “His dedication to IANR, the university, and the state has been inspiring and impactful, leaving a legacy of progress and collaboration.”
A Legacy of Progress and Innovation
Under Boehm’s leadership, IANR achieved numerous milestones:
- Increased Research Funding: Growth in research funding and expenditures within the Agricultural Research Division.
- Enrollment Growth: Record enrollment growth in CASNR.
- Nebraska Extension Reimagined: Strategic updates and reimagining of Nebraska Extension to enhance its impact statewide.
- Capital Projects: Completion and initiation of major infrastructure projects, including:
- Renovations of the Nebraska East Union and the Dinsdale Family Learning Commons.
- Construction of the Klosterman Feedlot Innovation Center at the Eastern Nebraska Research, Extension, and Education Center near Mead.
- Addressing deferred maintenance at research, Extension, and education centers across Nebraska.
- New student housing at the Panhandle and West Central Research, Extension, and Education Centers.
- Groundbreaking for the National Center for Resilient and Regenerative Precision Agriculture at Nebraska Innovation Campus.
The Nebraska Farm Bureau also recognized Boehm’s contributions, issuing the following statement:
“On behalf of Nebraska agriculture, Nebraska Farm Bureau would like to extend our appreciation and highest gratitude for the leadership and service of Dr. Mike Boehm as the Vice Chancellor and Vice President of the Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources (IANR). Nebraska agriculture partnership with the University of Nebraska and IANR is critical to the continued growth of the state’s largest industry. Mike solidified and grew that partnership in many areas during his nine-year tenure leading the Institute. Programs and services provided by IANR to farmers, ranchers, and rural Nebraskans are in much higher level in the areas of agricultural education, research, and extension. Mike’s visionary and innovative approach to many initiatives over his tenure will leave a legacy of progress that we in agriculture can build upon in the future. His accessibility, vision, and his passion for the IANR and agriculture has certainly made an impact on the future of Nebraska agriculture.”
Leadership Transition
Through the next year, Boehm will work closely with Heng-Moss to ensure a seamless leadership transition.
Heng-Moss has served as dean of CASNR since 2019, following two years as interim dean and five years as associate dean. A faculty member at the university since 2001, she brings a wealth of experience and a strong vision for the future of IANR.
“Tiffany is an incredible leader, and I’m excited to watch the amazing things she and her team will accomplish as she leads IANR into its next era,” said Boehm.
A celebration honoring Boehm’s contributions to the university will take place later in 2025, with details to be announced.