Dr. Joanne Li, Ph.D., CFA, became UNO's 16th chancellor in July 2021 following a national search and unanimous approval from the University of Nebraska System Board of Regents. She is the first woman of color to serve as UNO chancellor and the first Asian-American in the history of the University of Nebraska System to hold an executive leadership role.
Since joining UNO, Dr. Li has focused on positioning the university – and Omaha – as the state's workforce development engine through innovative approaches to teaching, learning, working, research, affordability, and partnerships, as well as student retention and support.
Dr. Li works with UNO's students, faculty, and staff to ensure Maverick voices are heard, as well as community leaders, the University of Nebraska System campus partners, the University of Nebraska Foundation, area employers, area school districts and many other organizations to ensure that all UNO Mavericks have the resources and support needed to be successful in their journey and strengthen their economic and social mobility.
Dr. Li is an internationally recognized leader committed to transforming communities through enhancing access to higher education, developing strategic workforce development programs, and inspiring learning as a lifelong pursuit.
As a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA), Dr. Li's areas of expertise include corporate governance, executive compensation, investments, and international finance.
Dr. Li is a highly engaged leader and scholar who lends her expertise and experience to a wide array of causes and organizations. Prior to assuming the role of UNO's chancellor, Dr. Li served as the dean of the Florida International University (FIU) College of Business in Miami, Florida from May 2017 to June 2021. Currently, she is a member of CNBC's Financial Wellness Council. She also serves as a member of the European Foundation for Management Development (EFMD) Global Network Americas Advisory Board; a founding member of the International Advisory Council of the Lisbon School of Economics and Management in Portugal; National Sun Yat-Sen University, Taiwan College of Management; a former member of the Advisory Council of CENTRUM PUCP, the business school of the Pontifical Catholic University of Peru; and a member of the Higher Learning Commission's (HLC) Board of Trustees. In 2022 she was appointed to the Kansas City Federal Reserve Bank Omaha Branch Board of Directors and to the Coalition of Urban and Metropolitan Universities (CUMU) Board of Directors and in 2023 Dr. Li was appointed to the United States Strategic Command Consultation Committee.