Denise Maybank, associate to the president at the University of Nebraska since October 2003, and former director of multicultural affairs at the University of Nebraska at Omaha, has accepted a position as associate vice president for student affairs and services at her alma mater, Michigan State University (MSU) in East Lansing. Her last day at the University of Nebraska will be Aug. 1.
Maybank has been responsible for ensuring that the university continues to be a diverse and equitable environment, and for formulating and implementing policies and strategies that enhance the gender and racial/ethnic diversity of the university. During her tenure, she standardized the university wide Diversity Committee data reporting process, aligned accountability processes for Gender Equity and Diversity Committees, and established a new Equity in Opportunity Leadership Grant Program. She also worked closely with leaders at the University of Nebraska Medical Center on the Virginia-Nebraska Alliance, a program designed to increase the number of underrepresented minorities in the health sciences.
“The experiences I have had at the University of Nebraska have certainly prepared me for this next phase of my career,” Maybank said. “The UNO campus experience kept me connected to students and the excitement of their growth and development, while being in the office of the president broadened my perspective on policy and leadership in higher education. I am grateful to President L. Dennis Smith for opening the door and to President Milliken for expanding my opportunities for involvement and engagement. Although I have an offer I just can’t refuse, I am leaving a place where I’ve been warmly received, so my emotions are mixed.”
University of Nebraska President James B. Milliken offered high praise for Maybank’s work at the university. “Denise has done a great deal to further the ideals of equity and diversity on all four university campuses,” Milliken said. “We will miss her tremendously, but we recognize that she is taking on an important position with significant responsibilities. We tried to keep her at Nebraska, but understand that this is a very attractive career move — and it’s her alma mater.” Maybank earned her doctorate at MSU.
Milliken underscored the importance of Maybank’s position to the university’s goals of increasing student and faculty diversity, and increasing access to education for underrepresented minorities, and said that the university will launch a search for a replacement soon.
Maybank’s new responsibilities will include supervision of the Department of Student Life, leadership in the development of new programs that ensure student success and effectiveness, and shared responsibility for program planning and operations, budget planning and personnel oversight.