Nebraska’s current Commissioner of Education, Dr. Brian Maher, has announced his candidacy for the University of Nebraska Board of Regents representing District 1. District 1 Board of Regents is comprised of the northern-half of Lancaster County, including Lincoln.
Maher is a native of Hooper and the youngest of seven children.
Maher says he’s running for the Board of Regents “to ensure the next generation of Nebraskans has access to an affordable, high-quality education” and an opportunity to thrive in the state.
Maher has a nearly 40-year career in education. He’s served as a teacher, coach, principal, superintendent, CEO of the South Dakota Board of Regents, and now the Commissioner of Education for Nebraska. He has earned two degrees from the University of Nebraska System, including an Educational Doctorate in Educational Administration. In 2015, Maher was awarded the Nebraska Superintendent of the Year.
In 2025, the Nebraska Legislature selected Maher to lead the Nebraska School Financing Review Commission to make recommendations for long-term property tax reform in Nebraska without sacrificing critical funding for schools.
