Sixteen University of Nebraska colleagues have been selected to participate in a system-wide program that aims to develop the next generation of higher education leaders.
NU’s “Developing Excellence in Academic Leaders” program, sponsored by the Office of the President together with the system provost and campus chief academic officers, offers an intensive two-year curriculum that helps participants develop their leadership skills, expand their networks and explore key issues and challenges facing the University of Nebraska and higher education. The 2024-2026 NU DEAL fellows, selected by their campus leadership, are:
University of Nebraska–Lincoln
- Shannon Bartelt-Hunt, chair, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering
- Thomas Burkey, associate dean, College of Agricultural Sciences & Natural Resources
- Charlene Maxey-Harris, associate dean, University Libraries
- John Shrader, associate professor, Department of Broadcasting, Faculty Senate President-Elect
UNMC
- Jennifer Blackford, director, Research at Munroe-Meyer Institute
- Karen Gould, interim executive associate dean, Graduate Studies, interim assistant vice chancellor, Academic Affairs
- Joseph Khoury, M.D., chair, Department of Pathology and Microbiology, College of Medicine
- Tammy Webster, assistant dean, College of Allied Health Professions
University of Nebraska at Omaha
- Kristin Girten, assistant vice chancellor, Office of Research and Creative Activity
- William Melanson, chair, Department of Philosophy; Faculty Senate Past-President
- Troy Romero, chair, Goodrich Scholarship Program
- Roopa Venkatesh, director, School of Accounting
University of Nebraska at Kearney
- Megan Adkins, associate dean, Office of Graduate Studies and Academic Outreach
- Derek Boeckner, chair, Department of Mathematics and Statistics
- Angela Hollman, director, Honors Program
- Whitney Schneider-Cline, chair, Department of Communication Disorders
Over the course of the program, the fellows will hear presentations from University of Nebraska System representatives and members of the Board of Regents, visit each NU campus to engage with senior leaders, and discuss timely higher education topics including:
- Strategic planning
- Philanthropy
- Higher education finances
- Facilities and infrastructure
- Opportunities and challenges related to teaching, learning and research
- Academic leadership skills and styles
"Initially modeled after the highly successful Big Ten Academic Alliance leadership development cohort programs, the NU DEAL program provides our faculty an excellent opportunity to enhance leadership, learn from current leaders and each other, and develop the acumen necessary to build critical capacity while delving into the different cultures within the NU System," said Katherine Ankerson, UNL executive vice chancellor and chief academic officer. "The connections and relationships these fellows develop during this time will broaden their understanding of how to best support NU and enable them to have a deeper impact on the transformative goals of their home campuses."
Applications for the 2025-27 cohort of the NU Deal fellows will open next spring. More information about the program is available here.
