LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Gov. Dave Heineman says he is looking seriously at applying for the presidency of the University of Nebraska.

Heineman made the comments Monday during his weekly call-in show on Lincoln radio station KFOR (http://bit.ly/1k5INAy ).

The position came open in April with the departure of university President J.B. Milliken, who left to become chancellor of the City University of New York. Heineman is leaving the governor’s office in January because of term limits.

A search committee and outside firm are working with the university’s Board of Regents to conduct a national search to replace Milliken.

Heineman’s remarks came in response to a caller who encouraged him to apply. He previously has deflected questions about whether he’s interested in the job, saying he wanted to focus on his work as governor.