The new academic year brings a new, collaborative leadership structure for the University Honors Program.
In an effort to maximize the expertise and leadership of staff and ensure continuity and efficiency in operations, the program will be led by Tyler White, faculty director of the University Honors Program, and Tamy Burnett, director of Honors Program operations.
Tyler White
White is a professor of practice in the political science department where he has specialized in international relations, human security, intelligence studies, and U.S foreign policy since 2010. He has also served as the director of UNL’s National Security Program since 2020 and was a College of Arts and Sciences Teaching Academy member from 2021-2024. From 2022-2024, he served as a Strategic Leadership Fellows program mentor for the U.S. Strategic Command.
White has taught numerous Honors courses, including Ethics in a Globalized World; Understanding the IC through Structured Analytic Techniques; The Global War on Terror; and You MAD Bro? The Politics of Weapons of Mass Destruction.
As faculty director, White will represent the program at recruitment and engagement events; collaborate with academic colleges and honors partners to develop innovative and interdisciplinary honors curriculum; oversee the Honors 102 curriculum in collaboration with its instructors; and coordinate professional development for program faculty. The role is a half-time, nine-month faculty appointment, which he began on Aug. 19.
Tamy Burnett
Burnett has been with the Honors Program since 2012, serving in a variety of roles, including associate director since 2021. She is a courtesy faculty member in the English department and a campus associate in the Women’s and Gender Studies program where she specializes in popular culture, narrative, and pedagogy in higher education.
Burnett has taught a wide variety of Honors courses, including Women, Leadership, and Power; Popular Culture and Social Justice; and Harry Potter and Social Activism; as well as Honors abroad courses in Rome, London, and Paris. She has also been a faculty mentor for numerous honors theses, Undergraduate Creative Activities and Research Experience projects, and learning assistant experiences.
As director of operations, Burnett will manage and supervise program staff; coordinate with Admissions on recruitment strategies, application processes and communications; coordinate with the faculty director to identify and schedule Honors courses; and collaborate with campus units and community partners on co-curricular programming.
The role is a full-time, 12-month staff appointment, which she began on May 20.
"I am excited to welcome Tyler as faculty director, and grateful for Tamy's continued leadership within the program," said Amy Goodburn, senior associate vice chancellor and dean of undergraduate education. "Interest in Honors continues to grow, with our largest class this year. I look forward to their collaborative leadership, along with our dedicated Honors faculty, staff, and mentors, in creating the best student experience in honors education at a Big Ten university."
Change in leadership for the program follows Patrice McMahon, professor in the political science department, returning to faculty to engage in ethnographic field research sponsored by the National Endowment for the Humanities. She had been director of the program since 2018.
