The UNMC Interprofessional Academy of Educators inducted a record 46 new members at its annual induction ceremony on Sept. 10. The event also marked the academy’s 10th anniversary of promoting educational excellence, interprofessional collaboration and educational scholarship across UNMC.
The new inductees include 39 faculty and staff as members and six learners as associate members. Thang Tran, PhD, an assistant professor in school counseling at the University of Nebraska at Omaha, joined as an affiliate member.
The academy now includes 300 members across UNMC’s five campuses who are committed to advancing health professions education through collaboration, scholarship and mentorship.
The 2026 induction opened with remarks from Chancellor H. Dele Davies, MD, and Jane Meza, PhD, interim vice chancellor for academic affairs, who shared key milestones from the academy’s 10-year history. A retrospective video and report featuring member voices showcased the academy’s many programs and initiatives, including special interest groups, cross-campus collaboration and educational scholarship. The induction also included recognition of new inductees and opportunities for members to connect, a key part of the academy’s mission to foster collaboration among colleagues across health professions education.
New inductee and College of Nursing Dean Lepaine Sharp-McHenry, DNP, said she is excited to collaborate with and learn from interprofessional colleagues across UNMC.
“I see my role as not only supporting excellence within the College of Nursing, but also creating opportunities for faculty, staff and learners to work across disciplines in ways that improve the educational experience,” Dr. Sharp-McHenry said. “I hope to offer my leadership experience while learning from my colleagues with the goal of strengthening the academy in educating the next generation of health professionals.”
Dr. Tran said he hopes to deepen his relationships with colleagues across disciplines and take new ideas back to his teaching and scholarship at UNO.
“I am especially excited about the chance to deepen my interprofessional collaborations, share perspectives from counselor education and school-based mental health, and continue exploring ways to integrate innovation, including the thoughtful use of emerging technologies, into teaching and student learning,” he said. “I hope the IAE keeps breaking new ground in helping our educators connect, growing its commitment to interdisciplinary engagement.”
Inductee Maribeth Clifton, assistant professor in the UNMC College of Allied Health Professions, cited the opportunity to gain new ideas and perspectives to enrich her teaching and collaboration as a driving factor for joining the academy.
“Learning from others, growing as an educator, and exploring innovative interprofessional partnerships are experiences I am especially eager to embrace as part of this opportunity,” she said.
Academy and affiliate memberships will open in spring 2027, while associate membership for learners will open in August 2027. To learn more about the UNMC Interprofessional Academy of Educators, visit the IAE website.