Dr. Ronnie D. Green entered office as the 20th Chancellor of the University of Nebraska-Lincoln on May 8, 2016. He was formally installed in the position at a ceremony held on April 6, 2017. In December of 2022, Green announced he would be retiring the following summer. He completed his tenure as chancellor on June 30, 2023.

Prior to being named chancellor, Green led the university's research-focused Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources for six years, and served as interim Senior Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs, the university's highest academic office, from 2015 to 2016.

Green was raised on a mixed beef, dairy, and cropping farm in southwestern Virginia. A first-generation college student, he received B.S. and M.S. degrees in animal science from Virginia Tech and Colorado State University, respectively. His doctoral program was completed jointly at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln and the United States Department of Agriculture's U.S. Meat Animal Research Center in animal breeding and genetics.

Green's professional path included service on the animal science faculties of Texas Tech University and Colorado State University, as the national program leader for animal production research for the USDA’s Agricultural Research Service, and as executive secretary of the White House’s interagency working group on animal genomics within the National Science and Technology Council. Prior to returning to the University of Nebraska in an academic role, he served as senior global director of technical services for Zoetis (then Pfizer) Animal Health’s animal genomics business.

Serving UNL as its chancellor was from the start a profound honor, then an unexpected and unprecedented challenge for Green. Across his seven-year tenure, the university made good on its promise that a course of education should be completed in four years. This resulted in record numbers of graduates; Green presided over commencement ceremonies where over 40,000 Huskers received degrees. The global COVID-19 pandemic brought extraordinary upheaval, and Green responded by guiding the university through a period of existential creativity and innovation in all areas of function and practice.

An internationally recognized authority in animal genetics, Green published over 130 refereed publications and abstracts, nine book chapters and 56 invited symposia papers during his career, and delivered invited presentations throughout the world. He served as president of both the National Block and Bridle Club and the American Society of Animal Science (ASAS). He received the ASAS's highest honor, the Morrison Award, in 2017. He also served in leadership positions for the U.S. Beef Improvement Federation, National Cattlemen’s Beef Association, National Pork Board, and National Research Council. As chancellor, Green served on the board of directors of the Association of Public Land-grant Universities (APLU) and as a member of the Big Ten Council of Presidents and Chancellors. He has been honored as a Fellow of both ASAS and the American Association for the Advancement of Science.

Green's retirement plans included traveling with his wife and partner, Jane, and spending time with family and friends.

State of Our University Addresses from Ronnie Green

Radio Interviews with Ronnie Green

Parting Dialogue with Ronnie Green