Celebrating Success and Looking Ahead
August 20, 2025
Welcome to the start of a new semester! I hope you had a restorative summer. I’d like to share some exciting updates and opportunities as we begin the year together.
Student Success and Enrollment
Undergraduate enrollment in the College of Arts and Sciences (CAS) has grown by nearly 10% compared to last year, bringing in more than 700 new students, including a high number of transfer students. Retention remains high, with 92% of returning students already registered for fall. Our dedicated student success team is ready to support them as they continue their academic journeys.
New Academic Program
This summer, the new Multidisciplinary Studies major received final approval. This flexible degree pathway offers students additional options for completing their undergraduate education.
Celebrating Faculty Excellence
CAS faculty continue to be recognized nationally and internationally for their outstanding research, teaching, and creative work. Some of the most recent honors include:
- Jay Storz (Biological Sciences) and Timothy Schaffert (English), recipients of the University of Nebraska Outstanding Research and Creative Activity Award
- Sheri Fritz (Earth and Atmospheric Sciences, Biological Sciences), elected to the National Academy of Sciences
- Irina Filina (Earth and Atmospheric Sciences), recipient of a Fulbright Fellowship
- Ng’ang’a Muchiri (English), named a Fellow of the American Council of Learned Societies
We will be celebrating campus and college awards announced last spring at our annual CAS Faculty and Staff Awards Celebration on Wednesday, August 20.
Welcoming New Colleagues
For the start of this academic year, twenty new faculty members joined CAS across tenure-line, practice, research, and lecturer positions, along with postdoctoral fellows. In addition, Eve Brank (Psychology) and Judy Walker (Mathematics) have joined the Dean’s Office as Associate Deans, strengthening our leadership team.
Looking Ahead: Opportunities and Challenges
Like universities across the nation, we continue to navigate financial and policy changes. These shifts bring both challenges and opportunities to reimagine how we deliver on our mission. In CAS, we are approaching this moment with collaboration, creativity, and care for our students, faculty, and staff.
As budget discussions continue across campus, and major adjustments are expected, we are committed to protecting the core strengths of our teaching, research, and creative activity. Similarly, evolving federal and state guidelines around campus policies invite us to reaffirm our values while ensuring we remain fully compliant. Leaders in the college have met and will continue to collaborate on these issues, including the possibility of wider discussions across the College and campus.
These conversations, though difficult, give us the chance to sharpen our priorities, invest wisely in our future, and strengthen the foundation of the College. With the talent, dedication, and resilience of our community, I am confident CAS will emerge from this period even stronger.
In Closing
CAS remains a vibrant place of discovery, creativity, and learning. From student success initiatives to innovative academic programs, from award-winning faculty to new colleagues joining our community, the College is well-positioned for a meaningful and impactful year.
Thank you for the many ways you contribute to our shared mission. I am grateful for your commitment to the College, our University, and the broader community we serve.
Our Mission Continues With Familiar Faces
January 21, 2025
Welcome back! I hope your break was both enjoyable and restful, and that your semester is off to a strong start.
For those who may not know me, I’ve been part of the college in the Department of Chemistry for 36 years and have served as Associate Dean for Faculty for the past four and a half years. It’s an honor to now work with all of you as Acting Dean.
I’d like to take this opportunity to address some likely questions:
Why Acting Dean?
Mark Button has been appointed Interim Executive Vice Chancellor through the summer of 2026. At the conclusion of that appointment, he may choose to return as Dean.
What about the duties as Associate Dean for Faculty (ADF)?
We are deeply grateful to Dr. Marco Abel, Willa Cather Professor of English and Film Studies, for stepping in as Acting ADF on very short notice. A search for a permanent ADF will be announced in the coming weeks.
What’s happening with research and graduate education?
Will Thomas, our former Associate Dean for Research and Graduate Education (ADRGE), has taken on a new role as Dean of the College of Letters and Sciences at Montana State University. We thank him for his leadership and wish him every success.
A search committee, chaired by Margaret Jacobs (Charles Mach Professor of History and Director of the Center for Great Plains Studies), has identified several excellent candidates for the ADRGE position. Interviews will take place in the coming weeks, and we anticipate having someone in the role by July 1st. In the meantime, approvals and routing are being handled by our office. Please direct any questions or concerns to me at pdussault1@unl.edu or Sarah Smith at ssmith135@unl.edu.
What hasn’t changed?
We are fortunate to have a stellar team in the college’s Dean Office. This includes:
- June Griffin, Associate Dean for Undergraduate Education and Strategic Initiatives
- Alecia Kimbrough, Senior Assistant Dean for Business and Finance, Chief Operating Officer
- Lory Dance, Associate Professor, Coordinator for Faculty Community and Belonging
- The entire Dean’s Office (DO) staff including DO assistants, student services, marketing/communication, recruiting, tech, and business office and centers (BPAC, OBC, and PBC).
It is a privilege to work alongside these colleagues, many of whom have taken on additional responsibilities during this transitional period.
Our College’s Strengths
We continue to excel in research achievements, securing funding, and generating student credit hours. Our faculty and staff have consistently earned recognition for their contributions to research, teaching, and service.
We are committed to maintaining strong faculty governance and transparency. Last year, we updated our Bylaws, and both the College Executive Committee and the IDEA Committee continue to review policies and procedures. Faculty involvement remains central to our governance through an active committee structure. If you’re not already involved, I encourage you to explore opportunities with our CAS committees.
We are in the fourth year of our five-year strategic plan and will continue to use it to guide our efforts over the next 18 months.
Should you have any questions, please email casdeansoffice@unl.edu. I look forward to connecting with each of you and wish you all a productive and rewarding semester!
