Zaborowski named Nebraska Alumni Association executive director

Shelley Zaborowski has been appointed executive director of the Nebraska Alumni Association.

Bill Mueller, president of the association's executive board, announced Zaborowski's appointment today.

"Shelley has demonstrated solid leadership as interim director and is willing to serve on a longer-term basis in the capacity of executive director," Mueller said. "The NAA board and Chancellor Harvey Perlman agree that Shelley is the right leader at the right time."

A search for a new director began last September following the departure of Diane Mendenhall, who led NAA from September 2008 to August 2014. Mendenhall became associate athletic director for development and ticket operations.

"We are fortunate that Shelley has agreed to continue to serve in this role and the board has high confidence in her ability to move the organization ahead during this critical juncture in the history of the university," Mueller said.

Zaborowski said she was honored to be asked to serve her alma mater as alumni director.

"The momentum and potential of the alumni association at this time present an exciting professional opportunity," she said. "As a Nebraska alum, I know I will derive a great deal of personal satisfaction as well. I look forward to working to further develop the engagement of our alumni in Nebraska, the nation and globally."

Perlman said that in the past several months, Zaborowski has done "an outstanding job" in moving NAA forward.

"As an interim director, it would have been easier for her to maintain status quo during the search for a new director," Perlman said. "Instead, she has stepped into the leadership role and has worked to continue to grow the organization."

Zaborowski said she has agreed to continue to lead the NAA through the transition to a new chancellor. Last week, Perlman announced he will retire in June 2016.

"We have a great team and I'm comfortable expanding the work that is already under way to make continuous progress," Zaborowski said. "Obviously a new chancellor may have his or her own ideas about the direction of NAA but for now we will work hard to pursue the goals set by our board and by Chancellor Perlman."

Zaborowski has been with the NAA for 18 years, administering a variety of programs including the Student Alumni Association, Masters Week, Alumni Advisory Council and the Nebraska Women's Leadership Network (formerly Cather Circle), which she helped develop.

A native of Omaha, she earned a bachelor's degree in journalism from UNL in 1996 and a master's in higher education administration in 2000. She and her husband Keith have two children, Madeline, 13, and Ethan, 12.

Writer: Hilary Winter, Nebraska Alumni Association