Joe Selig was raised in Alexandria, Nebraska, a south-central Nebraska town of about 140 people. His parents owned a printing press, and Selig spent much of his youth helping out at the local newspaper. He attended Meridian High School, where he played football, wrestled, ran track and met the woman who would become his wife of 42 years, Patty.

Selig loved Husker football and spent many Saturdays in the fall at UNL’s Memorial Stadium. After high school, Selig moved to Lincoln to attend UNL. He earned his bachelor’s degree in business administration from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln in 1980 and later earned his MBA from Nebraska in 1987.

His first job was as a student manager on the football team in 1976. The next year he became a student worker in the ticket office. Selig spent 27 years in Husker athletics, ultimately becoming associate athletics director. In 2003, he transitioned to a full-time fundraising role supporting the entire University of Nebraska System at the University of Nebraska Foundation. He spent 19 years serving the foundation, where he led the fundraising efforts for some of the university’s largest projects ever, which were driven by strong, sincere relationships with donors.

Selig is very involved in his church and is a consummate family man. His family includes three children and five grandchildren. In his free time, he enjoys playing golf and traveling.