Lewis Named Interim VC for Business Affairs; Dickey Interim Extension Dean

Scott Lewis, associate vice chancellor for business and finance at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, has been named interim vice chancellor for business and finance, pending approval of the NU board of regents.

Chancellor James Moeser, who announced the appointment, said Lewis will serve as interim vice chancellor until a permanent replacement has been found for Melvin Jones, who died last month following a heart attack.

"I believe Scott is the best-positioned person to fill the role of interim director during the search process," Moeser said. "Scott has proven himself to be an excellent spokesperson for UNL in matters related to business and finance and his duties as associate vice chancellor have been campuswide in scope.

"Under Melvin Jones' leadership, the business and finance leadership team did a superb job. What impressed me most during my recent meetings with that leadership team regarding this appointment was the unanimous sense that the business and finance team really is that - a team. I have no doubt that that commitment will continue during the search for a permanent vice chancellor."

Lewis came to Nebraska last year from Arkansas State University, where he had been executive assistant to the president since 1984. At Arkansas State, he was also the chief executive and financial officer for the university's foundation and served as ASU's general counsel. From 1977 to 1984, he worked in finance and budgeting for the Arkansas Legislature.

He earned his bachelor's degree in history and political science at Hendrix College in Conway, Ark., and his law degree at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock.

In another appointment, Elbert Dickey, professor of biological systems engineering, has been appointed interim dean and director for cooperative extension in IANR.

Two Added to Program Prioritization Panel

NU President L. Dennis Smith named two additional members to the panel which will determine criteria by which academic programs on the four campuses will be evaluated and prioritized.

Thomas C. Calhoun, associate professor of sociology at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, and Jorge F. Rodriguez-Sierra, professor of cell biology and anatomy at the University of Nebraska Medical Center, join 21 Nebraskans previously appointed to the panel. The first meeting of the task force is scheduled for Oct. 29 in Lincoln.

The appointment of the task force is the first step in a prioritization process that is designed to help the University of Nebraska identify academic programs of excellence on the four campuses, premier programs that have the opportunity for regional, national, and international recognition. The task force will not conduct the program evaluation; its charge is solely to determine criteria by which evaluation and prioritization will take place.

Smith said prioritization will eventually fall to faculty, administrators, and governing board members.

"Our goal, first and foremost, is to strengthen the University of Nebraska through a determination of what we do better than others," Smith said.

The prioritization panel is composed of faculty and administrators from the four campuses, two student representatives, and several members of the public.

Smith said he made the additional appointments in response to concerns about the lack of ethnic diversity among the previously appointed members of the committee.

Bates on PBS Board of Directors

Rod Bates, general manager of Nebraska Educational Telecommunications, begins a three-year term on the Board of Directors for the Public Broadcasting Service.

Bates, who was elected as a professional director by PBS members from across the country, described his position as both an honor and a challenge.

"There has never been a more important and exciting time to be in public broadcasting," he said. "While the conversion from analog to digital broadcasting has been compared to the transition from black and white to color, I believe it is far more profound. We are just beginning to imagine the possibilities and opportunities. With high definition television and multiple programming streams, we are defining tomorrow's service."

One of Batesí goals as a PBS director is to help sharpen the business sense among PBS affiliates across the nation. For example, one objective in educational television is to develop the best non-commercial programming available.

"We do such a great job," Bates said, "many of our programs eventually migrate to commercial cable networks, with no financial benefit to the public television stations who invested the initial risk capital to produce these programs."

If the affiliate stations were to invest in the programs they broadcast, they would benefit from the sale of each program and its promotional items. These earnings could help subsidize the development of new programs. "Public television would become less dependent on government and viewer support," said Bates.

Bates was one of six professional directors, four lay directors and two general directors sworn into office at the PBS Organizational Meeting in Alexandria, Va., Oct. 26.

NU Tabs Texas A&M's Finnell as Admissions Director

Susanna Finnell, executive director of the Office of Honors Programs and Academic Scholarships at Texas A&M University since 1996, has been named director of the Office of Admissions at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.

At Texas A&M, Finnell is responsible for special student recruitment programs and administers the university's large merit scholarship program, its honors program (which ranks as one of the largest in the country) and the Office of Professional School Advising.

"We're very pleased to be able to recruit someone of Dr. Finnell's caliber for this extremely important position," said James Griesen, vice chancellor for student affairs at Nebraska. "She has an impressive record in directing recruitment programs for targeted student populations, including high-ability students, students of color and students with special talents. She also has broad experience as an administrator of student advising programs and is accustomed to directing a large staff with a large operating budget. She has a reputation at Texas A&M for building strong staff teams and delivering high-quality programs."

At A&M, where she is also adjunct associate professor of English, Finnell heads a staff of 25 that works with 5,000 high-achieving students and oversees an annual operating budget of $1 million and a scholarship budget of $7 million. Griesen said her staff and operating budget at Nebraska will be significantly larger when she starts her new position Jan. 1. At NU, she will have full responsibility for all undergraduate recruitment and admission processes, including the New Student Enrollment and New Student Welcome programs.

Raised in Switzerland, Finnell began her higher-education experience at a community college in Canada, then earned a bachelor's degree with honors (1976) and a doctorate (1985), both in French, from the University of British Columbia in Vancouver.

A native German speaker, she also has near-native fluency in French and English and reading knowledge of Latin, Italian and Spanish. She served as a lecturer in foreign languages at Portland (Ore.) State University (1981-82) and in foreign languages and literatures, women's studies and the honors program at Washington State University (1982-85). She was assistant director of Washington State's honors program for six years before going to Texas A&M in 1991 as associate director of the honors programs and academic scholarships. Finnell will succeed Peg Blake, who left last year to become vice president for student affairs at Boise State University. Larry Routh, director of career services, has served as interim director of admissions.

Robert Carlson New Bookstore Director

University Services announces Robert Carlson is the new director of the University Bookstore. Carlson has 28 years of college book store experience and was director of the Ohio State University Bookstore. He has held other bookstore leadership positions at Portland State University, the University of Michigan, the University of Wisconsin at Madison and Stout, and at Hamline University.

Carlson can be contacted at 472-8531.

Charlene Posild Receives Two Awards For Book on The Klondike

Charlene Porsild, assistant professor of history at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and editor of Great Plains Quarterly, has garnered two awards for her book, Gamblers and Dreamers: Women, Men, and Community in the Klondike (UBC Press, 1998).

In June this year, the Canadian Historical Association presented her with the CLIO Award for the best book in 1998 on the history of the Canadian West.

Last week the Western History Association presented her with the W. Turrentine Jackson Prize at their annual conference Oct. 6-9 in Portland, Ore. The Jackson Prize is a biennial award of $1,000 for a professional historian's first book on the history of the American West.

In Gamblers and Dreamers, Porsild tackles some of the myths about the history of the North in the era of the gold rush and shows that many inhabitants put down roots. The picture she presents of Dawson City at the turn of the century reveals that it had a cosmopolitan character, a stratified society, and a definite permanence. Porsild looks at how Native American people were affected by the newcomers and explores the lives of miners and other laborers, professionals, merchants, dance hall performers, and prostitutes, providing fascinating detail about those who left homes and jobs to strike it rich in the last gold rush of the 19th century.

Foundation Honors Jack Maddux

The University of Nebraska Foundation bestowed its highest honor upon a trustee and member of its board of directors at its annual trustees meeting Oct. 8. Jack Maddux of Wauneta, Neb., received the Perry Branch Award in recognition of his dedication to the University of Nebraska though years of service, commitment and leadership.

The Perry Branch Award is named for the foundation's first full-time director, Perry W. Branch, whose 20 years of service exemplified commitment and dedication to the foundation and the University. The award recognizes individuals like Maddux who demonstrate those same qualities while upholding the foundation's mission to provide opportunities for excellence at the University of Nebraska.

A foundation trustee since 1978, Maddux has served as a member of the board of directors for 11 years, participating in the executive, nominating and audit committees. In 1995, Maddux was elected chairman of the board. Under his leadership, foundation assets grew to an unprecedented amount while allocations to the University of Nebraska increased dramatically.

Maddux, a 1953 graduate of Colorado State University, is recognized across the state as an agricultural and community leader. He is president of Maddux Cattle Company of Wauneta and is a former member of the Legislative Water Advisory Committee and the Platte River Whooping Crane Trust.

In 1991, he received the University of Nebraska's Builder's Award and was recognized by the Cattleman's Association as its first Cattle Businessman of the Year. In May 1999, Maddux was awarded the Business Leadership Award from the College of Business Administration's Alumni Association at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.

Foundation Elects New Leadership

Winston J. Wade of Denver, Colo., was named chairman of the NU Foundation Board of Directors at the NU Foundation's Annual Trustees Meeting Oct. 8. Wade follows Jim Abel of Lincoln, Neb., who served as chairman from 1997-1999 and will continue as a member of the board of directors. Wade has served as an NU Foundation trustee since 1988 and has been a member of the board of directors for nine years.

John C. Goldner of Omaha, Neb. will fill Wade's vacated position of vice chairman of the board of directors. In addition, Catherine Schmoker of Minneapolis, Minn., Stephen Lancaster of Grand Island, Neb., Harley Bergmeyer of DeWitt, Neb., and Thomas C. Smith of Lincoln, Neb., were appointed to serve on the board of directors for a three-year term. Larry Arth of Lincoln, Neb., John Goldner of Omaha, Neb. and Frank Hilsabeck of Lincoln, Neb. were re-elected and will serve an additional three-year term on the board.

The following directors were appointed to head committees: Administrative - John Boyer, Audit - Jim Abel, Development - Tom Smith, Finance - Larry Arth, Grants - Maryanne Harry, Nominating - Eric Brown.

Eighteen new trustees were elected at the annual meeting. The following individuals will serve six-year terms: Sam and Viann Augustine of Omaha, Neb., William Dana and Charlotte Connor of Valley, Neb., Tom and Carol Geu of Vermillion, S.D., Norman and Deb Hedgecock of Lincoln, Neb., Donald and Geraldine Kelley of Highlands Ranch, Colo., John and Myra Kingsbury of Ponca, Neb., David and Susan Lutton of Ashland, Neb., Tom and Cindy McGowan of Omaha, Neb. and John and JoDell Payne of Kearney, Neb.

Grew Awarded Campbell Medal

Priscilla Grew was awarded the 1999 Ian Campbell medal by the American Geological Institute. The medal was presented at the Geological Scoeity of America Presidential Address and Awards Ceremony Oct. 25 in Denver.

The Campbell medal is measured against the distinguished career of Ian Campbell, whose service to the profession touched virtually every facet of the geosciences.

Ag Alumni Awards Announced

The alumni association of the Institute of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln will honor two distinguished alumni during the institute's annual fall reunion in November.

Gordon Quick will be honored as the Alumnus of the Year and Richard Goodding will receive an Award of Merit Nov. 6 at the Wick Alumni Center.

Quick, a York native who lives in Tacoma, Wash., earned his bachelor's degree in vocational agriculture and natural science from NU (1953) and earned his master's and doctoral degrees in education from NU (1959, 1966). From 1966 until his retirement in 1998, he held many positions at the Clover Park Vocational-Technical Institute in Tacoma, where he worked with thousands of young people. He began as administrator of vocational and technical programming and worked his way up to become director of vocational and continuing education from 1984 to 1988. He has taught vocational education programs as a visiting lecturer at the University of Washington and is active in Rotary International and the Lakewood (Wash.) Chamber of Commerce.

A Lincoln resident, Goodding graduated from NU in 1942 and played a key behind-the-scenes role that led to the creation of IANR 25 years ago. As vice president for public affairs for the Nebraska Farm Bureau in the early 1970s, Goodding drafted LB149, a bill to create a free-standing College of Agriculture (later called IANR) separate from the university. The bill recognized and supported the significant role of agriculture to the university and the state. In 1982, he established the Goodding Learning Center in the Plant Sciences Building to honor his late father, who had been a popular agronomy professor at the university from 1917 to 1957.

Stanek Receives Hulleson Award

Kaye Stanek, associate professor in Nutritional Science and Dietetics (Omaha campus), has received the 16th Annual Huddleson Award for her research article, "Lead consumption of 18- to 36-month-old children as determined from duplicate diet collections: Nutrient intakes, blood lead levels, and effects on growth," published in the February 1998 issue of the Journal of The American Dietetic Association.

This award honors a registered dietitian who was the lead author of a peer-reviewed article that made an important contribution to the dietetics profession and that was published in the Journal during the previous year. She was honored at the Foundation dinner during the annual meeting of The American Dietetic Association Oct. 19.