* 1994 - The University of Nebraska-Lincoln's Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources (IANR) develops a proposal for a W. K. Kellogg Foundation grant. At this time, the grant focuses on Food Systems Professions Education, but that would soon change.



* 1994-1995 - Dr. Joyce Povlacs Lunde leads Phase I of the NN21 project, a discussion involving over 800 Nebraskans with diverse backgrounds. This discussion forms into the NN21 vision. NN21's scope evolves; it reaches beyond Food Systems Professions Education and encompasses many other aspects of education.



* Keeping in mind its potential for bringing about needed changes to better address the educational needs of Nebraskans, NN21 creates a plan for achieving the NN21 vision and submits it to the W. K. Kellogg Foundation for Phase II funding.



* 1996 - The W. K. Kellogg Foundation approves the NN21 Phase II funding for a total of $1.5 million over five years. Although these funds are from Kellogg's Food Systems Initiative, NN21 involves non-IANR faculty and administrators as much as possible. Glen Vollmar serves as Phase II Director.



* 1997 (October 1) - Glen Vollmar leaves his Director position to become Interim Associate Vice Chancellor for UNL's IANR. Ellen Russell becomes Director (having been Associate Director since April 1997). Office staff is shared with UNL's International Programs. Irv Omtvedt, IANR Vice Chancellor assumes the role of NN21's main UNL administrative contact.



* A Strategy Team provides oversight and guidance for NN21. The Strategy Team approves funding for NN21 Action Teams.



* NN21 funds Demonstration Projects to accelerate certain parts of the NN21 initiative.



* As the visibility of action team activities increases, those who were not actively involved in Phase I planning of NN21 become aware that NN21 is more than an agriculture-related initiative and more than an IANR project.



* 1998 (August) - The NN21 office moves to a new location, now with full-time support dedicated solely to NN21 business and activities. Valerie Egger becomes the NN21 Staff Assistant responsible for the overall management of the project.


* 2000 (July 1) - Ellen Russell and her husband begin retirement. Don Edwards, former Dean of the UNL College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources (CASNR), becomes Director.


* Thirty Action Teams, Regional Teams and Demonstration Projects have received support by NN21 funds over the 5-year Phase II period. Most of them become sustainable through other sources of funding.


* 2001 (June 30) - The W. K. Kellogg Foundation grant-funding period for Nebraska Network 21 expires. The project terminates. For further information, please contact individual team and project leaders, which are found on the About NN21 page.


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