University of Nebraska system
Roskens became Chancellor of the University of Nebraska Omaha (UNO) in 1972, a position he held until 1977, when he became president of the University of Nebraska system for the next twelve years. UNO honored Roskens with the Order of the Tower award, the university's highest non-academic award, at the spring 2009 commencement ceremony. He served as Administrator of USAID from 1990-1992 during the presidential administration of George H. W. Bush.