Dr. Lance D. Nielsen is the Supervisor of Music for Lincoln Public Schools where he supervises all music programs K–12. Prior to becoming an administrator, he taught for 23 years in both public schools and higher education. His teaching appointments included Associate Professor of Music at Doane University, music teacher at Lincoln East High School, Norris Public Schools, and Kimball Public Schools in Nebraska. He continues to serve as an adjunct professor for Doane University teaching online music courses.

Lance has served as National Association for Music Education (NAfME) North Central Division President and Chair of NAfME Professional Development Committee, President of the Nebraska Music Educators Association, NAfME National Tri-M Chair, and NMEA Chair of Band Affairs. He serves on various boards including Lincoln’s Symphony Orchestra Board of Directors and the University of Nebraska-Lincoln Hixson-Lied Performing Arts College Alumni Advisory Board. He served on the Nebraska Department of Education Fine Arts standards writing committee in 2013–14 and is frequently advocating for music and arts education. He is a frequent presenter at music conferences including the 3rd International Symposium on Assessment in Music Education in Bremen, Germany, ISME Conferences in Greece and Brazil, and various state level conferences. He has published articles in Music Educators Journal, Teaching Music, Update: Applications of Research in Music Education, and the ISTE Leading with Innovations journal.

Lance received his Bachelor of Science in Education, Master of Music with emphasis in Music Education, and Doctor of Philosophy in Music with an emphasis in Music Education from the University of Nebraska–Lincoln. He has been awarded the NSBA Duane E. Johnson Distinguished Service Award, NMEA Brian Johnson Distinguished Service Award, inducted into the NMEA Hall of Fame and was recognized with the 2017 Alumni Achievement Award in Music by the University of Nebraska-Lincoln Hixson-Lied College of Fine and Performing Arts. Lance and his husband, Victor Salgado Romero, reside in Lincoln. They are avid arts supporters and love to travel and explore new places.