Dee Dee Anderson is the University of Nebraska–Lincoln’s next vice chancellor for student affairs.
Anderson will assume the position Sept. 5, pending approval by the University of Nebraska Board of Regents. Bill Watts, interim vice chancellor, has served in the role since Aug. 7. Executive Vice Chancellor Katherine Ankerson made the announcement Aug. 17.
“I am excited to welcome Dr. Anderson to Nebraska,” Ankerson said. “She is a passionate student affairs professional who has dedicated her life to serving students. She has deep experience in leading a number of student affairs units and has implemented best practices to improve the student experience. She is savvy about the major issues that students face post-COVID in modern higher education. I look forward to her mission-oriented leadership.
“I would also like to thank Bill Watts for serving as interim vice chancellor during this transition. Efforts to enhance collaboration between academics, student success initiatives, and the student experience will be possible with committed leaders, faculty, staff and students. I’m incredibly optimistic about our future work and impact.”
Anderson was Special Advisor to the President and Vice President for Student Affairs at the University of Southern Mississippi. As vice president, she provided oversight and supervision for over 300 professional staff, 500 student employees, 15 functional departments, and a budget of $36 million. She also served as a professor of practice for the School of Education in the College of Education and Human Sciences. Anderson led her team in fulfilling the mission of the division of student affairs in developing healthy, connected, learning-focused students and communities. Through co-curricular programs and services, the division of student affairs partnered with academic affairs in helping a diverse population of students achieve success both inside and outside of the classroom.
Prior to her tenure at the University of Southern Mississippi, Anderson worked at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga serving in multiple leadership positions including interim vice chancellor of student affairs, associate vice chancellor, and dean of students. At the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, she served as a senior leader on issues involving student engagement and success, student conduct, health and wellness, and residential life. She began her career at Louisiana Tech University working in Residential Life and serving as the dean of student development.
“I am honored to lead the Student Affairs division at UNL and eager to work with its committed staff and university leadership to shape and promote the vision of a fully integrated student experience across campus in alignment with the commitment to every person and every interaction matters,” said Anderson. “I look forward to building upon a culture where all students have a voice, their voices are heard, and they have an opportunity for growth and success.”
An accomplished leader in higher education, Anderson’s broad experiences are complemented by leadership positions in various professional associations and community service organizations. She is an active member of the National Association of Student Personnel Administrators where she served on the AVP Steering Committee, Region III Awards Committee, and served as the 2015 AVP PreCon Chair. She was a member of the Miss Hospitality Board and the American Heart Association Pine Belt Board. In 2017, she received the Women in Higher Education Tennessee Women of Achievement Award. She served as a peer reviewer for the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges representing student services.
Anderson holds a Bachelor of Arts and Master of Arts in elementary education, a Master of Arts in industrial and organizational psychology, and a doctorate in education leadership from Louisiana Tech University.
