Welcome to Academic Affairs!

The Office of the Senior Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs (SVCAA) at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln, is responsible for the administration, coordination, and development of all UNL academic activities and functions.

Led by Dr. Barbara Couture, under direction of the Chancellor, the office provides academic leadership for UNL programs and works in cooperation with the Institute for Agriculture and Natural Resources.

In the immediate office, Dr. Couture is assisted by Associate Vice Chancellors Evelyn Jacobson, Ron Roeber, and Dave Wilson, and Assistant Vice Chancellor Greg Gunderson. Summer Sessions and the Association of American Universities Data Exchange are also housed within our office.

Dr. Couture is currently the principal investigator on a National Science Foundation-funded Advance grant. The ADVANCE-Nebraska project director is Mary Anne Holmes, co-principal investigator.

Outside the immediate office, several other individuals report directly to Dr. Couture. They include:

• Rod Bates, Director of University Television;
• Gary Aerts, Interim Associate Vice Chancellor for Information Services;
• David Keck, Director of the Jeffrey S. Raikes School of Computer Science and Management;
• Paul Savory, Interim Associate Vice Chancellor for Extended Education and Outreach, and Director of Summer Sessions;
• Alan Tomkins, Director of the University of Nebraska Public Policy Center; and
• Harriet Turner, Director of International Affairs.
  

The Deans of the nine academic colleges also report directly to the Senior Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs.

Chief Information Officer (CIO) Announced

University of Nebraska-Lincoln Chancellor Harvey Perlman has announced the selection of Mark S. Askren as the new Chief Information Officer for UNL. Askren has been assistant vice chancellor of administrative computing services at University of California, Irvine, since 2003. The Chief Information Officer is a new senior member of the administration who works with all academic and administrative units of the institution. Askren will report to chancellor Perlman and sit on the chancellor's senior administrative team. For more information, see the news release on the University Communications web site.

 

Dean Searches

•   Charlyne Berens, a professor of journalism at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, has been appointed interim dean of the UNL College of Journalism and Mass Communications. The appointment, announced by Barbara Couture, senior vice chancellor for academic affairs, is effective July 1, pending approval by the University of Nebraska president and the NU Board of Regents.   Berens replaces Will Norton Jr., who is leaving to take a position at the University of Mississippi. Plans to search for a permanent dean will be announced later this summer.   See the press release for more details.

• Anna Shavers, Cline Williams Professor of Citizenship Law Chair, has accepted appointment as interim dean of the University of Nebraska-Lincoln College of Law, according to Dr. Barbara Couture, senior vice chancellor for Academic Affairs. Additionally, Robert Denicola, Margaret R. Larson Professor of Intellectual Property Law, will serve as interim associate dean. Both appointments are effective Aug. 17. Shavers will replace Steven Willborn, who intends to return to the law faculty.  Couture said she expects the search for a permanent dean to begin anew in the fall.  See the press release for more details.
  
  

• John E. Anderson has been named interim dean of the College of Business Administration (CBA) at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln effective May 8.  Anderson served as associate dean at CBA and is a Baird Family professor of economics.  Barbara Couture, senior vice chancellor at UNL, made the appointment. For more information, see the university's news release.