The University of Nebraska-Lincoln (UNL) has announced a commitment from alumnus Fred Hunzeker to create the first named deanship for the University of Nebraska–Lincoln College of Engineering.

The college’s first named deanship will support a salary stipend as well as strategic initiatives within the college, including the health and wellness of engineering students and statewide outreach efforts to improve student recruitment. Pending approval of the university president’s office, the inaugural recipient of the Fred Hunzeker Dean of Engineering will be Lance C. Pérez, who joined UNL in 1996 as a professor in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering.

The pledge, the size of which is being kept confidential at the donor’s request, was made to the University of Nebraska Foundation as part of Only in Nebraska: A Campaign for Our University’s Future, an effort to raise $3 billion in support of the university. Hunzeker serves as the volunteer co-chair of the College of Engineering’s campaign committee and is a University of Nebraska Foundation trustee. He retired as the CEO of Tenaska Marketing Group in 2021.

“Dean Lance Pérez’s visionary leadership and tireless dedication have united stakeholders, from administration and faculty to students and donors, in a shared mission to elevate our engineering program,” said Hunzeker. “Under his guidance, the College of Engineering continues to thrive, expanding its impact as a member of the Big Ten. Dean Pérez’s passion and commitment inspire innovation and excellence within our institution and throughout the region.”

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