Vice President for University Affairs

Peter G. Kotsiopulos assumed the position of Vice President for University Affairs on July 1, 2005. He is responsible for the division within university administration devoted to economic development and university engagement, strategic communications, public relations, marketing, and state and federal government relations.

Kotsiopulos works with higher education partners, civic and community leaders, government officials and representatives from private business and industry throughout the state to help develop, establish, facilitate and sustain state, regional and national collaborations that will help improve job creation, and economic development, growth and engagement in Nebraska.

He brings extensive business and community service experience to his position, serving as mayor of Kearney from 1994 to 2002 and previously on the Kearney City Council. He also operated successful dry cleaning, formalwear and uniform-linen supply businesses in central Nebraska for more than 35 years.

Kotsiopulos serves on the Advisory Board for the Nebraska Business Development Center; the Entrepreneurship TAG of the Greater Omaha Chamber of Commerce; the Nebraska Innovation Zone Commission; Nebraska Technology’s Executive Committee; the Steering Committee of Future Force; the Nebraska Workforce Investment Board, and the Nebraska Diplomats Board. He co-chairs the University’s Emergency Response Team. He also is a member of the Nebraska Economic Development Association, Midlands Venture Forum, the State Science Technology Institute, Nebraska Renaissance, Greater Omaha Chamber of Commerce, Lincoln Chamber of Commerce, the Kearney Area Chamber of Commerce, and the Nebraska Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

Kotsiopulos has been actively involved in higher education for many years. He is a former chairman and member of the Nebraska State College Board of Trustees, and a former member of the Nebraska Postsecondary Education Commission, the University of Nebraska Medical Center Board of Counselors, and the Chancellor’s Advisory Council at the University of Nebraska-Kearney.

A second-generation Greek-American, Kotsiopulos was born and raised in Kearney. He received his Bachelor of Science degree in business administration from Kearney State College, now the University of Nebraska-Kearney, in 1970. He and his wife Jane have two adult daughters, Julie and Kara.