Gov. Jim Pillen has appointed former state Sen. Jim Scheer of Norfolk to the University of Nebraska Board of Regents.
Scheer will serve District 3, which covers northeast Nebraska. It's the district Pillen had served until he resigned the day before he was sworn in as the state's 41st governor .
Scheer will serve out the remainder of Pillen's term, which expires at the end of 2024.
"Jim is a public servant who will work to grow the University of Nebraska," Pillen said in a news release. "He believes in educational excellence, the importance of agriculture and fiscal conservative leadership."
NU President Ted Carter said he looks forward to Scheer's leadership on the board and working together to serve students' needs and to grow the workforce.
Scheer served two terms representing District 19 in the Legislature from 2013 to 2021. He was elected speaker in 2017. Previously, he served on the Norfolk school board and as the mayor of Norfolk. In 2004 and 2008, he was elected to the Nebraska State Board of Education and served as the board president in 2011 and 2012.
He is a small-business owner, with an insurance agency and an auto parts store. Scheer earned his Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.
The Board of Regents has eight members elected by district to six-year terms. The board next meets Friday.
Scheer is the second high-profile appointment to an elected position that Pillen has made in his first month as governor. He picked his predecessor, former-Gov. Pete Ricketts, to serve in the U.S. Senate seat previously held by Ben Sasse.
Ricketts was one of Pillen's most prominent backers and he contributed $100,000 directly to Pillen's campaign for governor, which raked in more than $11 million during the election cycle, according to state disclosure records. By contrast, Scheer made two contributions to Pillen's campaign totaling $1,250.
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Top Journal Star photos for January 2023
Nebraska Supreme Court Chief Justice Michael Heavican (left) swears in the new senators for 2023, on Wednesday, Jan. 4, 2023, at Nebraska State Capitol in Lincoln.
KENNETH FERRIERA Journal Star
Sen. John Fredrickson shows his son, Leon, the inside of the west wing on the first day of the 2023 Legislature on Wednesday, Jan. 4, 2023, at the Nebraska State Capitol in Lincoln.
KENNETH FERRIERA, Journal Star
Kristina Konecko, an administrative aide for Sen. Mike Jacobson of North Platte, boxes up items at his old desk Tuesday at the Capitol. The new session begins Wednesday.
JUSTIN WAN, Journal Star
Gov. Jim Pillen shakes hands with Senator Tony Vargas after the inauguration ceremony for the governor on Thursday, Jan. 5, 2023, at Nebraska State Capitol in Lincoln.
KENNETH FERRIERA Journal Star
A camera flash illuminates the newly elected Gov. Jim Pillen (center left) as he is escorted through the rotunda to the West Chamber to be sworn in on Thursday at Capitol in Lincoln.
KENNETH FERRIERA, Journal Star
Milford's Izzy Yeackley (left) grabs a rebound in front of Malcolm's Emma Brown on Thursday in Malcolm.Â
JUSTIN WAN Journal Star
Tell Hanes (left) of the Waverly Fire Department and Southeast Rural Fire's Trey Wayne jump over freezing water to high-five while practicing surface ice rescues Friday at Holmes Lake. "We try to run these trainings for both our students and local first responders to make sure they are ready in case anything real happens," said Andrew Saunders, of the International Rescue and Relief program at Union College.
KENNETH FERRIERA, Journal Star
Lincoln Southeast's Kaitlyn Freudenberg (from left) tries to hold onto the ball against Lincoln Southwest's Brinly Christensen and Aniya Seymore on Friday at Lincoln Southwest.
JUSTIN WAN Journal Star
Nebraska's Kendall Moriarty does push-ups as her teammates cheer after the Huskers beat Penn State on Wednesday at Pinnacle Bank Arena.
JUSTIN WAN, Journal Star
Nebraska's Brock Hardy (right) wrestles Minnesota's Jakob Bergeland in the 141-pound match, Friday, Jan. 13, 2023, at the Devaney Center.
JUSTIN WAN Journal Star
Ali Al-Mohammed, 17, kicks a soccer ball after school on Tuesday in front of Park Middle School. Renovations at Park that were part of the 2020 bond issue included a new cafeteria space.
LARRY ROBINSON, Journal Star
Parkview Christian's Isabella Minatti (middle, right) is fouled against Johnson-Brock during a MUDECAS Tournament semifinal game Thursday at Beatrice Auditorium.
LARRY ROBINSON Journal Star
Nebraska's Emmanuel Bandoumel makes a dunk against Illinois' Matthew Mayer on Tuesday at Pinnacle Bank Arena.
JUSTIN WAN Journal Star
Nebraska's Derrick Walker is introduced before the Illinois game, Tuesday, Jan. 10, 2023, at Pinnacle Bank Arena.
JUSTIN WAN Journal Star
A truck passes over an icy Platte River along U.S. 6 on Friday near Ashland. Friday's temperature failed to get above freezing, but the forecast for Saturday and Sunday is much better, with temperatures in the high 40s and low 50s before precipitation chances Sunday night and Monday.
KENNETH FERRIERA, Journal Star
A pair of ice skaters journey across a frozen Holmes Lake at sunset on Friday, Jan. 13, 2023, in Lincoln. As winter continues, weather this week will be consistently in the 40s with a dry weekend.
KENNETH FERRIERA Journal Star
Ohio State's Rebeka Mikulášiková collides with Nebraska's Maddie Krull as they battle for the ball underneath the rim in the third quarter Saturday at Pinnacle Bank Arena.Â
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Kyrie Kelley-Johnson, son of Lincoln High head coach Dominique Kelley-Johnson, tries to keep the attention of the players while the Links stretch before their game Saturday at Lincoln High.
KENNETH FERRIERA, Journal Star
Governor Jim Pillen (center) announces the appointment of former governor Pete Ricketts to Nebraska's open senate seat, during an announcement on Thursday, Jan. 12, 2023, at Nebraska State Capitol in Lincoln. The vacancy, left open by the departure of Ben Sasse, has been expected to go to Ricketts after his depurate from the governorship last year.
KENNETH FERRIERA Journal Star
Oscar and Yenifer Contreras, (left to right) both family workers, enjoy some of the food they made before lunch on Wednesday, Jan. 11, 2023, at Restaurante & Bar Sabor Latino in Lincoln.
KENNETH FERRIERA Journal Star
Parker Moll braves a mix of snow and rain to clear the driveway outside his family's home on Wednesday.
KENNETH FERRIERA, Journal Star
Ohio State's Zed Key (left) lays the ball into the basket off of the backboard against Nebraska's Derrick Walker on Wednesday at Pinnacle Bank Arena.
LARRY ROBINSON Journal Star
Nebraska's Sam Griesel (right) embraces teammate Keisei Tominaga after defeating Ohio State on Wednesday at Pinnacle Bank Arena.
JUSTIN WAN Journal Star
Nebraska's Isabelle Bourne (left) is blocked at the rim by Maryland's Gia Cooke on Sunday at Pinnacle Bank Arena.
LARRY ROBINSON Journal Star
Lincoln Pius X's Jackson Kessler (middle, bottom) celebrates after hitting a three-point shot against Lincoln Southwest on Thursday at Pius X High School.
LARRY ROBINSON Journal Star
Nebraska's Allie Gard completes a back hand spring during her routine on the balance beam during their duel against Maryland on Saturday, Jan. 21, 2023, at the Devaney Sports Center.
KENNETH FERRIERA Journal Star
Lincoln Pius X's Nate Schauer (left) and Treyson Anderson celebrate after defeating Omaha Skutt on Tuesday at Pius X High School.
LARRY ROBINSON Journal Star
Nebraska's Denim Dawson bites a towel after the Huskers lost to Northwestern on Wednesday at Pinnacle Bank Arena.
LARRY ROBINSON Journal Star
Leona Nissen (left) and Mackenzie Derowitsch chat during some one-on-one mentorship time at Lincoln Lutheran on Thursday. The 6-12 school has implemented a new mentor program called Warrior Walk that pairs a middle school student with a high school counterpart.
LARRY ROBINSON, Journal Star
April and Stormi Mrsny hurtle down the hill on their sled while followed by their dog, Penni, on Monday at Pioneers Park. Chilly temperatures are in the forecast this week ahead of an Arctic air mass that could arrive by the weekend.
KENNETH FERRIERA, Journal Star
Gov. Jim Pillen delivers his State of the State address on Wednesday at the Capitol in Lincoln.
KENNETH FERRIERA, Journal Star
Lincoln High School senior Kristie Trinh was recently selected for the prestigious United States Senate Youth Program.
KENNETH FERRIERA, Journal Star
John Lee (left), an opponent of LB77, open carries his great-great grandfather's musket outside a Judiciary Committee hearing on Thursday at the Capitol. "This is the only arms that they knew of when they were writing the Constitution," Lee said. LB77 would remove a requirement that gun owners obtain a permit to be able to carry a concealed weapon.
KENNETH FERRIERA, Journal Star
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