Following an internal search, the University of Nebraska-Lincoln will interview two finalists for associate vice chancellor for faculty and academic affairs. The announcement was made May 26 by Donde Plowman, the university’s executive vice chancellor and chief academic officer.
Judy Walker and Mark Balschweid will meet with the search committee, administrators, representatives of the faculty senate and department executive officers. Walker will interview May 30 and Balschweid on May 31.
Both finalists have held interim associate vice chancellor roles at the university. Walker, professor of mathematics, has been interim associate vice chancellor since July 2016. Balschweid, professor and head of the Department of Agricultural Leadership, Education and Communication, was recently interim associate vice chancellor of the Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources at Nebraska.
Reporting to the executive vice chancellor and chief academic officer, the associate vice chancellor for faculty and academic affairs provides leadership on activities, initiatives, and policies that support faculty careers, enhance faculty productivity, recognize faculty excellence, cultivate academic leadership, promote an inclusive climate, and advise on faculty rights and responsibilities.
The associate vice chancellor also:
provides leadership and coordination on recruitment and hiring, orientation and faculty development, promotion and tenure, faculty appointments, and professorships, awards and recognition.
supports deans, chairs and department heads on faculty personnel and policy issues, and facilitates the resolution of academic and professional conduct concerns;
leads efforts to enhance faculty excellence and morale by assessing campus needs and developing new initiatives;
facilitates processes for Academic Program Reviews in collaboration with departments and college deans’ offices; and
leads the Department Executive Officers group, facilitates the Faculty Affairs College Liaisons group, chairs the Teaching Council and coordinates the university’s involvement in the Big Ten Academic Alliance Department Executive Officers and Academic Leadership Program.
The position has been open since Lance Pérez was appointed interim dean of the College of Engineering in June 2016. Nancy Busch, dean of University Libraries, chairs the search committee.
