Matt Blomstedt, PhD, a former Nebraska Secretary of Education and lifelong Nebraskan with decades of experience in education and public policy, has been appointed the University of Nebraska’s next vice president for government relations, President Jeffrey P. Gold, MD, announced.
Dr. Blomstedt, who currently serves as principal at Washington, DC-based education law firm Foresight Law + Policy, will begin in his new role on October 1st.
As Vice Chancellor, Dr. Blomstedt serves as the University’s chief lobbyist and represents the University of Nebraska System before the Governor’s Office, the Nebraska State Legislature, state government agencies, Congress and federal agencies. Dr. Blomstedt will work closely with government relations officers across campuses to build productive relationships with government officials and other community leaders. He will also advise the President, Board of Trustees and senior University of Nebraska leadership on all government relations issues.
“We are excited to welcome Dr. Matt Blomstedt to our team,” said Dr. Gold. “As a Nebraska native and University of Nebraska alumnus, Matt knows the state and the university well and has built strong, trusted relationships as an advocate for students, faculty and staff. I look forward to the leadership and energy Matt will bring to the University of Nebraska.”
Dr. Gold credited the search committee, chaired by Chris Kratochvil, M.D., interim vice chancellor for external affairs for the University of Nebraska System and vice chancellor for external affairs at UNMC, for their work in evaluating the candidates. In addition to Dr. Kratochvil, the search committee included Matt Hammons, assistant vice chancellor and director of federal relations for the University of Nebraska System, Erin Cooper, director of government relations for the University of Nebraska System, Victoria Kohout, chief of external affairs for the University of Nebraska at Omaha, and Jeff Kratz, director of government relations at UNMC.
“As a committee, we were impressed with Matt’s broad leadership experience, deep policy knowledge and, above all, his passion for education and the success of all Nebraska students,” said Dr. Kratochvil. “He is exceptionally well-suited to lead government relations work across the University of Nebraska system, and we are excited to have him on board.”
Dr. Blomstedt said, “I am excited to help advance the university’s mission and Dr. Gold’s vision. Nebraska is a special place, and the university provides many important pillars for the future success of our state’s education and economy. I look forward to bringing the many talents and experiences I have gained from my NU education to this important role. I am excited to join a group of dedicated and talented people who share this passion, from the Board of Trustees to the entire system and campus community.”
Dr. Blomstedt served as Nebraska’s Secretary of Education from 2014 to 2023, leading the state’s school system and serving as administrative head of the Department of Education, an agency with 530 employees and a budget of $2 billion. As Secretary, Dr. Blomstedt worked on education issues with a wide range of stakeholders, including policymakers at the local, state and national levels.
He led the development of new assessment and accountability policies to help improve educational expectations and outcomes and initiated a multi-agency effort to share data on key state policy functions across early childhood through higher education, health, and the workforce. Dr. Blomstedt also led the Department of Education through the pandemic, establishing protocols for the safe return of students to schools by fall 2020.
Prior to serving as Commissioner, Dr. Blomstedt served as Executive Director of the Nebraska Educational Service Unit Coordinating Council, which organizes statewide programs and services to maximize opportunities for students and schools. He has also served as a research analyst for the State Legislature’s Education Committee, Executive Director of the Nebraska Association of Rural Community Schools, and in other education, policy and legislative positions.
Dr. Blomstedt comes from Nebraska’s K-12 public schools and earned a Bachelor’s degree in Political Science, a Master’s degree in Community and Regional Planning, and a Doctorate in Educational Leadership and Higher Education from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.
