LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — The University of Nebraska Board of Regents has approved the appointment of a new chancellor for the university’s Lincoln campus.

The board voted Wednesday in favor of Ronnie Green, who had previously served as vice president for agriculture and natural resources within the university system. Green replaces Harvey Perlman, who left the office and returned to the law school faculty.

Green has said his plans as chancellor include raising the university’s academic profile, including its stature as a research university.

Green grew up in Virginia and received bachelor and master’s degrees in animal science from Virginia Tech and Colorado State University, respectively. He completed his doctorate jointly at the University of Nebraska and the USDA-ARS U.S. Meat Animal Research Center in animal breeding and genetics in 1988.