Nancy Busch has been named the finalist to become dean of the UNL Libraries. Busch will deliver a public presentation 3:30 to 4:30 p.m. today (July 12) in the Sheldon Museum of Art auditorium. A reception follows the presentation; both events are free and open to the public.
Busch has served as interim dean of the UNL Libraries since August 2012.
Ellen Weissinger, senior vice chancellor for Academic Affairs, announced the internal search for a new dean of libraries in a June 13 email to library faculty. Lance Perez, dean of graduate studies, led the search committee that recommended one finalist to Weissinger.
Busch has been a member of the UNL Libraries faculty and administration since 2003. Before she was named to the interim post, her responsibilities as associate dean included budget and personnel management, and supervision of staff development and diversity personnel. She was deputy director of the Nebraska Library Commission from 1989 to 2003. Busch has also directed the Panhandle Library System in Nebraska, was Gila County, Ariz., Library System director and has served in numerous other libraries and states, including service with the Peace Corps in Nicaragua.
Busch earned her master's in library science from the University of Iowa and a doctorate from the University of Michigan School of Information. She has taught master's and doctoral level research methods classes, and has experience in evaluation and assessment initiatives in public, academic and state libraries. Her doctoral research investigated recruitment and retention of rural public library directors in the United States.
Busch also is co-administrative director and chair of the internal evaluation team for UNL's National Science Foundation Institutional Transformation Project, which is working to integrate the structures to increase the number of women applicants for faculty positions in science, technology, engineering and mathematics.
For more information, call the Office of Academic Affairs at 402-472-3751.