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From left: UNMC Chancellor Harold M. Maurer, M.D., College of Public Health Dean Jay Noren, M.D., and University of Nebraska President J.B. Milliken at a farewell reception for Dr. Noren, who will take over as president of Detroit’s Wayne State University on Aug. 1. |
Much of Dr. Noren’s educational training was in public health, and it had always been one of his passions.
On Monday, Dr. Noren was recognized for his two years as founding dean at a reception in the University Tower private dining rooms. Starting Aug. 1, he will become the new president of Wayne State University in Detroit.
“These two years at UNMC have been the most satisfying of my career, and that’s no exaggeration,” he said. “They’ve been just plain fun.”
Under Dr. Noren’s leadership, the College of Public Health:
- Became operational within six months;
- Recruited 11 new faculty members;
- Established three new doctoral programs;
- Received a gift from Omaha philanthropists Ruth and Bill Scott to construct a new building for the college;
- Helped initiate a community-wide health and wellness collaborative; and
- Will apply for full accreditation in 2010.
Although there are 125 academic medical centers in the United States similar to UNMC, only 38 of these centers have accredited schools or colleges of public health. UNMC’s college will be the 39th when it is fully accredited. It is the first new college at UNMC since 1968.
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“In a very brief period of time, he brought everyone together and created something substantive,” he said. “Jay was a true leader … he’s made a great impact on the medical center.”
Dr. Maurer cited Dr. Noren for going out and recruiting “young, bright, energetic, hungry faculty members,” rather than going after more seasoned recruits.
Calling Dr. Noren “a great ambassador … who provided great leadership university-wide,” J.B. Milliken, president of the University of Nebraska, said: “Jay did a fantastic job of getting the college started and on its feet.”
He also thanked Dr. Noren for his work as executive vice president, provost and dean of the graduate college of the University of Nebraska from 2002 to 2006 and for his key role in assisting Milliken when he became president four years ago.
Keith Mueller, Ph.D., who has been named interim dean of the College of Public Health, presented Dr. Noren with a glass sculpture recognizing him for his two years as founding dean. He appreciated “Jay’s very open style … where no idea is final.”
“It’s been a delight learning from that management style,” he said. “We’ll miss Jay’s leadership. … I was just hoping for a couple more years of learning (from him).”