{"id":128176,"date":"2025-12-09T02:00:00","date_gmt":"2025-12-09T08:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.unmc.edu\/newsroom\/?p=128176"},"modified":"2025-12-08T13:21:08","modified_gmt":"2025-12-08T19:21:08","slug":"committee-named-in-search-for-next-allied-health-dean","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.unmc.edu\/newsroom\/2025\/12\/09\/committee-named-in-search-for-next-allied-health-dean\/","title":{"rendered":"Committee named in search for next allied health professions dean"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Lepaine Sharp-McHenry, DNP, dean of the UNMC College of Nursing, will chair the search committee for the next dean of the UNMC College of Allied Health Professions. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The committee will advise the UNMC Office of the Chancellor on potential candidates to\u00a0succeed\u00a0Kyle Meyer, PhD.\u00a0Dr. Meyer announced last summer\u00a0his decision\u00a0to step down from this role in 2026, after what will be 20 years of leading allied health professions education at UNMC.\u00a0Dr. Meyer served as senior associate dean of the then-UNMC School of Allied Health Professions prior to the college\u2019s founding in 2015.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Dr. Meyer will continue to serve as associate vice chancellor for health workforce initiatives and Armstrong Family Distinguished Chair of Rural Healthcare Workforce Strategy. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Dr. Sharp-McHenry will lead a group of more than a dozen leaders and stakeholders from on and off UNMC\u2019s campuses and throughout Nebraska\u2019s communities, including from among the professional health care fields that make up the allied health professions.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The college is searching for a new leader at a time of great momentum, including the addition of multiple programs and\u00a0continued expansion\u00a0at UNMC\u2019s Kearney campus.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe achievements over the past decade in the growth and impact of the college has been truly remarkable,\u201d said H. Dele Davies, MD, interim chancellor of UNMC. \u201cThis is an important moment for the college, and our search committee\u2019s perspective will be invaluable. I want to thank them in advance for taking on this commitment.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Dr. Davies said the search for a new dean will start within the University of Nebraska System. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI am grateful for the strong pool of leaders and deep talent we have within the UNMC College of Allied Health Professions and look forward to a successful search,\u201d Dr. Davies said. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Allied health professions\u00a0comprise\u00a0about 60% of the national health care workforce. With\u00a014 health professions programs at UNMC, the college boasts the second highest enrollment among UNMC colleges. The UNMC College of Allied Health Professions is known as a national leader in distance ducation,\u00a0pedagogy\u00a0and rural health. It has grown exponentially in enrollment, scholarship, philanthropic\u00a0support\u00a0and more under Dr. Meyer\u2019s leadership, especially since becoming a\u00a0college.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI want to thank Dr. Meyer for everything he has done to advance allied health in Nebraska, particularly in our state\u2019s rural and underserved areas, and across the nation,\u201d said Dr. Davies. \u201cThe new dean will continue this legacy of commitment to our Nebraska communities and beyond.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe demand for allied health professionals is vital across our state, particularly in rural areas,\u201d Dr. Sharp-McHenry said. \u201cI am grateful for the opportunity to lead this search. The next dean of the college will build upon Dr. Meyer\u2019s successes by crafting a vision to strengthen the workforce of allied health providers for our state and beyond.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Please reach out to Dr. Sharp-McHenry<\/a> or Anne Bowen Fischer<\/a>, director of strategic relations and senior associate to the chancellor, with any questions, suggestions or feedback on the search for a new dean of the UNMC College of Allied Health Professions. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Members of the search committee are:<\/p>\n\n\n\n