Dussault selected as dean of Graduate Studies

Patrick Dussault
Patrick Dussault

Patrick Dussault, Charles Bessey professor of chemistry at UNL, has been selected the new dean of Graduate Studies at the university. Senior Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs Ellen Weissinger announced the appointment today. Dussault will take over duties as graduate dean June 1, pending approval by the University of Nebraska Board of Regents.

Dussault has been at UNL since 1988, as assistant professor (1988-94), associate professor (1994-2001) and full professor. He was chemistry department chair from 2001-2007. He earned a bachelor's degree in chemistry from University of California at Irvine, and a Ph.D in organic chemistry from California Institute of Technology. His research interests are peroxide synthesis, oxidations in organic chemistry, chemical biology and nanostructured materials. He was a postdoctoral fellow for the National Cancer Institute at Duke University.

Dussault earned his named professorship in 2009. He has received numerous awards and honors for his teaching. He has supervised 16 doctoral theses, 10 masters' theses, and has an extensive record research-training undergraduates and postdoctoral fellows. He also serves as the director of the Center for Nanohybrid Functional Materials, part of a National Science Foundation-EPSCoR-funded grant.

"Dr. Dussault is well suited to the graduate dean role," Weissinger said. "He is an experienced academic administrator who appreciates the unique circumstances of graduate education across the scholarly disciplines. He's been a very successful mentor of graduate students and post-doctoral scholars. Pat has built a positive reputation as a collaborative leader and is respected by his colleagues in academic affairs and in the Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources. I'm very pleased he accepted our offer to become the new graduate dean."

The selection comes after a search process. Kimberly Andrews Espy has served as acting dean since January 2010 while Weissinger, the former graduate dean, served as interim senior vice chancellor. Espy is leaving UNL June 1 for a position as vice president for research and innovation and dean of the graduate school at University of Oregon.

- Kelly Bartling, University Communications