New Faculty Orientation

NIC Conference Center

Abstract red shapes with overlapping gradients forming smooth arcs and curves.

New Faculty Orientation is a comprehensive onboarding event designed to welcome new faculty to the University of Nebraska–Lincoln. Faculty will learn about UNL’s mission and their role in fulfilling it while becoming acquainted with our community and resources.

August 19, 2026 | 8:30 a.m. - 3 p.m.

Register

Register by Tuesday, Aug. 11, 2026

Campus and Community Resource Fair

Begin the day exploring the resource fair featuring 30 campus and community vendors who will help new faculty connect with support services across the university and the broader Lincoln community. Official UNL portraits will be taken and a light breakfast will be served. View list of resource fair campus partners.

Breakout Session: Teaching and Student Success

Gain valuable insights into the services, programs, and campus partnerships that support undergraduate and graduate student achievement at UNL. Highlights include the role of Academic Navigators in helping students overcome barriers; teaching support and professional development opportunities offered by the Center for Transformative Teaching; and mentoring and support resources available through Graduate Studies.

Wendy Smith, Director, Center for Transformative Teaching | Amy Goodburn, Senior Associate Vice Chancellor and Dean of Undergraduate Education | Deb Hope, Associate Vice Chancellor and Dean of Graduate Education

Academic Navigator smiling and shaking hands with a student admissions office door, with red overlay circles.

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Breakout Session: Research and Engagement

Learn how to connect scholarship with communities across Nebraska and beyond through university engagement opportunities, community partnership resources, and tools that support impactful outreach and collaboration. Research and Innovation will share resources that support research development and funding; regulatory guidance; and strategies for building a successful research program during your first year.

Nathan Meier, Associate Vice Chancellor for Research, Capacity and Competitiveness | Matthew Dwyer, Senior Research Development Program Coordinator | Kathleen Lodl, Associate Dean and State 4-H Program Administrator, Nebraska Extension | Jentry Barrett, Engagement Zone Coordinator, Nebraska Extension

Faculty Panel

Engage in a panel discussion with faculty members who have had successful starts to their careers at Nebraska. New faculty will gain practical insights and strategies to help them thrive and establish a strong foundation for long-term success.

Kristen Blankley
(Moderator)

Henry M. Grether, Jr. Professor of Law, College of Law

Amy T. Desaulniers

Associate Professor, School of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences

Kevin Gonzales

Assistant Professor of Practice, Mathematics

Kristen Graves

Assistant Professor, Glenn Korff School of Music

Michael Park

Assistant Professor, College of Journalism and Mass Communications

Bonita Sharif

Associate Professor, College of Engineering

Register

Register by Tuesday, Aug. 11, 2026