Roskens served as president of the University of Nebraska from 1977 to 1989. Prior to that, he was the chancellor of the University of Nebraska at Omaha.
In a statement posted to social media, current NU systems president Ted Carter wrote, “Ron spent much of his career in education, and after serving as chancellor of UNO, he went on to become the longest-serving president of the NU System. His footprint includes the building at UNO that bears his name, where we help prepare future generations of Nebraska educators.
“Lynda and I are thinking of president Roskens’ wife Lois and their four children during this difficult time.”
Following his time at Nebraska, he served as administrator of the United States Agency for International Development from 1990-1992 during George H.W. Bush’s presidency.
