NU leadership development program names new fellows

Sixteen University of Nebraska colleagues have been selected to participate in a system-wide program that aims to develop the next generation of higher education leaders.

NU’s Developing Excellence in Academic Leaders (NU DEAL) program, sponsored by all four universities 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.

The 2025-2027 NU DEAL fellows, selected by their campus leadership, are:

UNMC

• Katie Bishop, associate dean for education and research services, McGoogan Health Sciences Library.
• Ed Peters, DMD, SCD, chair of the department of epidemiology, UNMC College of Public Health.
• Chris Shaffer, PharmD, PhD, interim associate dean of academic affairs, UNMC College of Pharmacy.
• Kari Simonsen, MD, chair of the department of pediatrics, UNMC College of Medicine.

University of Nebraska-Lincoln

• Cory Armstrong, PhD, associate dean for research and faculty affairs, UNL College of Journalism and Mass Communications.
• Brittany Duncan, PhD, associate director, computing and technology, UNL School of Computing; director, NIMBUS Lab.
• Rich Leiter, JD, director, Schmid Law Library, UNL Faculty Senate President-Elect.
• Larkin Powell, PhD, director, UNL School of Natural Resources.

University of Nebraska at Omaha

• Julie Blaskewicz Boron, PhD, associate dean, UNO College of Public Affairs and Community Service, associate dean, UNO Graduate Studies.
• Brian Dorn, PhD, associate dean, UNO College of Information Science and Technology.
• Beth Leader-Janssen, PhD, chair, special education and communication disorders, UNO College of Education, Health and Human Sciences.
• Jody Neathery-Castro, PhD, associate professor, political science, UNO College of Arts and Sciences.

University of Nebraska at Kearney

• David Arredondo, collection services librarian, library.
• Janet Eckerson, EdD, graduate program chair, department of modern languages, UNK College of Arts and Sciences.
• Sharon Obasi, PhD, director of research integrity.
• James Vaux, PhD, associate dean of faculty success and chair, department of construction management, UNK College of Business and Technology.

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 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.

The program seeks to build a cadre of senior leadership at all four universities, composed of faculty who understand how the NU System works at the highest level, said H. Dele Davies, MD, UNMC interim chancellor.

“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,” Dr. Davies said.

Applications for the 2026-28 cohort of the NU Deal fellows will open next spring. More information about the program is available on the NU DEAL webpage.