Sixteen University of Nebraska colleagues have been selected to participate in a system-wide program that aims to develop the next generation of higher education leaders.
NU’s Developing Excellence in Academic Leaders (NU DEAL) program, sponsored by all four universities with support from the Office of the President, offers an intensive two-year curriculum that helps participants develop their leadership skills, expand their networks and explore key issues and challenges facing the University of Nebraska and higher education.
The 2025-2027 NU DEAL fellows, selected by their campus leadership, are:
University of Nebraska-Lincoln
• Cory Armstrong, associate dean for research and faculty affairs, College of Journalism and Mass Communications
• Brittany Duncan, associate director, Computing and Technology, School of Computing; Director, NIMBUS Lab
• Rich Leiter, director, Schmid Law Library, UNL Faculty Senate president-elect
• Larkin Powell, director, School of Natural Resources
UNMC
• Katie Bishop, associate dean for education and research services, Library
• Ed Peters, chair, Department of Epidemiology, College of Public Health
• Chris Shaffer, interim associate dean of academic affairs, College of Pharmacy
• Kari Simonsen, chair, Department of Pediatrics, College of Medicine
University of Nebraska at Omaha
• Julie Blaskewicz Boron, associate dean, College of Public Affairs and Community Service; associate dean, Graduate Studies
• Brian Dorn, associate dean, College of Information Science & Technology
• Beth Leader-Janssen, chair, Special Education and Communication Disorders, College of Education, Health & Human Sciences
• Jody Neathery-Castro, professor, political science, College of Arts and Sciences
University of Nebraska at Kearney
• David Arredondo, collection services librarian, Library
• Janet Eckerson, associate dean for engagement & retention, College of Arts and Sciences
• Sharon Obasi, chair, Department of Counseling, School Psychology and Family Science
• James Vaux, associate dean of faculty success, College of Business and Technology
Over the course of the program, the fellows will hear presentations from University of Nebraska System representatives and members of the Board of Regents, visit each NU campus to engage with senior leaders, and discuss timely higher education topics including:
• Strategic planning
• Philanthropy
• Higher education finances
• Facilities and infrastructure
• Opportunities and challenges related to teaching, learning and research
• Academic leadership skills and styles
Applications for the 2026-28 cohort of the NU Deal fellows will open next spring. More information about the program is available on the NU DEAL webpage.
More details at: https://news.unl.edu/article/nu-leadership-development-program-names-new-fellows-0