Born 1964

Michael S. Dunlap, Executive Chairman of the Board, established the company that would become Nelnet with Stephen Butterfield in 1996. Mr. Dunlap previously served as Chairman and CEO of the company (co-CEO with current Vice Chairman Butterfield 2003-2007) from its inception.

Mr. Dunlap attained his undergraduate degree from the University of Nebraska – Lincoln in 1986, and his Juris Doctor from the University of Nebraska – Lincoln in 1988. He is a member of the Nebraska State Bar Association.

Mr. Dunlap serves on boards for many organizations, including Union Bank & Trust, Union College, Hudl, Capital Casualty Company, the University of Nebraska College of Law, and the Jeffrey S. Raikes School, among others.

In addition to his role as Executive Chairman of the Board, Mr. Dunlap also serves as Executive Committee Chair.

Chairman of the Executive Committee

Born 1950

James P. Abel has been a member of Nelnet's Board of Directors since August 2003. Mr. Abel had previously served as a Director of NHELP-I, Inc., a Nelnet subsidiary, for three years until August 2003.

Mr. Abel received a B.S. degree from Arizona State University in 1973. Since 1983, Mr. Abel has served as Chief Executive Officer of NEBCO, Inc., a Lincoln, Nebraska-based company with interests in the manufacturing of building materials, construction, insurance, mining, railroading, farming, and real estate.

Mr. Abel serves on the Board of Directors of Ameritas Life Insurance Corp., and is an Advisory Board Member for US Bank Lincoln. He also serves as Chairman of the Nebraska Game & Parks Foundation.

A committed board member, Mr. Abel serves on the Compensation committee as well as the Nominating and Corporate Governance committee. Mr. Abel holds a leadership role as the Chair of the Compliance committee.

Member of the Compensation Committee

Member of the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee

Chairman of the Compliance Committee

Born 1964

Kathleen A. Farrell has served as a member of Nelnet’s Board of Directors since October 2007. Possessing admirable expertise in corporate finance, executive turnover, and executive compensation, Dr. Farrell is a Professor of Finance and Interim Dean of the College of Business Administration at the University of Nebraska – Lincoln. Dr. Farrell also serves on the Board of Directors of Assurity, Inc., a mutual insurance company headquartered in Lincoln, NE.

Dr. Farrell joined the finance faculty at the University of Nebraska – Lincoln in the fall of 1993. Dr. Farrell received her Ph.D in finance from the University of Georgia, and a BBA in finance and accounting from Kent State University. Dr. Farrell's publications have appeared in several academic journals.

In 1996, Dr. Farrell received the Distinguished Teaching Award and in 2004 she received the University Distinguished Teaching Award from the College of Business Administration. Dr. Farrell draws on her experience from KPMG Peat Marwick as a supervising senior where she was involved with audit engagements.

An active board member, Dr. Farrell serves on the Audit, Executive, and Compliance committees, in addition to her leadership role as the Chair of the Risk and Finance committee.

Member of the Audit Committee

Member of the Executive Committee

Chairman of the Risk and Finance Committee

Member of the Compliance Committee

Born 1953

Thomas E. Henning has served as a member of Nelnet’s Board of Directors since August 2003. He currently serves as President and Chief Executive Officer of Assurity Group Inc. and its wholly owned subsidiary, Assurity Life Insurance Company.

Mr. Henning is a 1975 graduate of the University of Nebraska – Lincoln, as well as Stonier Graduate School of Banking at Rutgers University. He also has completed the Wharton School's Effective Management Program, as well as a comprehensive program of study by the National Association of Corporate Directors (NACD). Mr. Henning holds the CLU and CFA designations, and has been named an NACD fellow.

Previously, Mr. Henning served concurrently as President and Chief Operating Officer of National Bank of Commerce of Lincoln, Nebraska, and Executive Vice President of First Commerce Bancshares between 1985 and 1990. Mr. Henning serves on the boards of directors of the Nebraska Innovation Campus, Great Western Bancorp, the Investment Committee of the University of Nebraska Foundation, and the Lincoln Chamber of Commerce Economic Development Corporation.

Mr. Henning serves as Chair of the Audit committee, as well as a member of the Executive and Risk and Finance committees.

Chairman of the Audit Committee

Member of the Executive Committee

Member of the Risk and Finance Committee

Born 1953

Michael D. Reardon has served as a member of Nelnet’s Board of Directors since December 2003 and is currently the Chairman of Provision Networks, a telecommunications consulting firm established in 2000.

A graduate of Arizona State University, Mr. Reardon holds a degree in economics. Mr. Reardon has gained over 35 years of experience in starting and building companies from the ground up, providing strategy, leadership, business development, and management expertise.

He also served as Director of HyperFlo, a manufacturer of precision cleaning equipment, from 2010 to 2013. Mr. Reardon previously served as Chairman for Geos Communications Inc., a publicly traded mobile communications company, from 2010 to 2013.

Mr. Reardon serves on the Compensation committee as well as Chair of the Nominating and Governance committee.

Member of the Compensation Committee

Chairman of the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee