LINCOLN – Leadership Nebraska has selected Michael Christen to participate in the year’s upcoming Leadership Nebraska class. Christen, a 2010 Anselmo-Merna alum, will join twelve other Nebraskans in the fourteenth class of the Nebraska Chamber Foundation’s program, which identifies current and emerging leaders throughout the state to enhance leadership skills and deepen knowledge of challenges and opportunities facing the state.
Selected candidates have demonstrated an abiding interest in Nebraska and its future, and Christen is no exception, growing up working on his family’s ranch with his three siblings and extended family. He earned his Bachelor of Science in Mathematics with a Finance Minor from the University of Nebraska at Kearney (UNK), graduating with honors and as an Honors Program graduate. He received his Master of Business Association with a Supply Chain/Marketing emphasis from the University of Kansas and graduated with honors.
Christen began a five-year tenure at UNK as the Assistant Director of Business services in 2016, and was promoted two years later to the Director of Business Services as well as taking on the role of Executive Director of the University Village Development Corporation of Kearney, overseeing insurance, risk management, dining, the bookstore, spirit shop, vending, banking, and concessions operations, in addition to consultation and recruitment. In June 2021, Christen received the KUDOS award from the University of Nebraska, the highest award given to a university staff member.
Additionally, Michael serves as an area representative on the Diocese of Grand Island Bishop’s Pastoral Council and leads and directs the “Called” Faith Program for junior and senior high boys. He has served as a religious education teacher, retreat director, and a faith formation committee member for the Diocese of Grand Island. He participated in Leadership Kearney and mentored for the TeamMates Mentoring Program of Kearney.
The Leadership Nebraska program spans nine months and a variety of key issues for Nebraska including economic development, workforce and education, agriculture and environment, health care, and policy development.
