Sixteen University of Nebraska System colleagues, including four from UNMC, have been selected to participate in a system-wide program that aims to develop the next generation of higher education leaders.
The NU System’s Developing Excellence in Academic Leaders (NU DEAL) program, sponsored by all four campuses with support from the Office of the President, 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.
“I’m delighted to welcome another cohort to the NU DEAL,” said NU System President Jeffrey P. Gold, MD. “This program ensures promising leaders have opportunities to hone the skills that will position the NU System to meet the ever-changing needs of the students we educate and the state we serve. This program, the experiences it provides and the network it fosters, is critical to the long-term sustained success of our institution.”
The 2026-2028 NU DEAL fellows, selected by their campus leadership, are:
UNMC
- Ann Anderson-Berry, MD, PhD, executive director, Child Health Research Institute; professor, UNMC Division of Neonatology; vice chair of research, department of pediatrics
- Rusty McCulloh, MD, associate vice chancellor for clinical research, UNMC; vice president for research, Nebraska Medicine; professor, UNMC Division of Biomedical Informatics and Health Systems
- Sheri Rowland, PhD, assistant dean for evaluation and continuous quality improvement; associate professor, college of nursing
- Meghan Wolever, assistant dean, business and finance
University of Nebraska–Lincoln
- Yusong Li, PhD, associate dean, college of engineering
- Santosh Pitla, PhD, co-director, University of Nebraska Artificial Intelligence Institute
- Jamie Reimer Seaman, DMA, faculty senate president elect
- Joe Luck, PhD, interim department head, biological systems engineering
University of Nebraska at Omaha
- Jodi Kreiling, PhD, associate dean, college of arts and sciences; professor, chemistry
- Adam Rosen, PhD, director and professor, school of health and kinesiology
- Erin Pleggenkuhle-Miles, associate dean, college of business administration, professor of management
- Susan Reay, EdD, director and associate professor, Grace Abbott School of Social Work
University of Nebraska at Kearney
- Kristy Kounovsky-Shafer, PhD, associate dean, college of arts and sciences; professor, chemistry
- Joel Berrier, PhD, chair and associate professor, physics and astronomy
- Daniel Chaffin, PhD, associate professor, management
- Bryce Abbey, PhD, co-chair and professor, kinesiology and sport sciences
Over the course of the program, the fellows will hear presentations from University of Nebraska System representatives and members of the NU Board of Regents, visit each NU System 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
“NU DEAL is designed to build a cadre of senior leadership with faculty who already have leadership skills to understand how the NU System works at the highest level,” said UNMC Chancellor H. Dele Davies, MD, who developed the program. “NU DEAL cultivates advanced thinking skills and empowers participants to lead with vision, purpose and lasting impact in today’s changing world, positioning them to step confidently into the next level of leadership.”
Applications for the 2028-30 cohort of the NU Deal fellows will open next spring. More information about the program is available on the NU Deal webpage.