The University of Nebraska–Lincoln College of Arts and Sciences seeks its next Dean to lead the university's largest and most academically diverse college, serving as the intellectual cornerstone of Nebraska's flagship land-grant institution.
Home to a broad array of interdisciplinary programs across the humanities, social sciences, natural sciences, and interdisciplinary fields, the college carries the university's largest research portfolio and plays a central role in advancing UNL's missions of teaching, research, service, and outreach. This leader will bring vision, collaboration, and strategic acumen to unite faculty, staff, students, alumni, and partners around a shared future, strengthening the college's role as a driving force behind the university's aspirations.
University of Nebraska-Lincoln
IN OUR GRIT, OUR GLORY
We are Nebraska.
We believe in the power of every person. We don't rest on our strengths—we stretch them. Sweat them. Combine them. Growing flexible, nimble and strong minds. That's how we do big things.
FOR MORE THAN 150 YEARS, A LEADER IN HIGHER EDUCATION
Founded as a land-grant institution in 1869, the University of Nebraska–Lincoln is the flagship institution among the four universities of the University of Nebraska system and serves as both the land-grant and comprehensive public research university of the state of Nebraska. UNL ranks among the world’s leading universities and is the state’s primary intellectual center through its missions of teaching, research, and service. UNL is a proud member of the Big Ten Conference, the Big Ten Academic Alliance, and the Association of Public and Land-grant Universities.
UNL is designated in the Carnegie Classification system as an R1 research university with very high research activity, is one of the nation’s leading public teaching institutions, and is a research leader with a wide array of grant-funded projects aimed at broadening knowledge in the sciences and humanities. UNL is among nearly 300 U.S. universities that have a Community Engagement classification from the Carnegie Foundation for its wide-ranging outreach efforts across the state.
The university’s land-grant mission creates a state-wide responsibility to serve the needs of Nebraska and its citizens, and through Nebraska Extension and its partnerships with federal, state, and county agencies, the university has an outreach program in each county in the state. By connecting everything it does to its research, scholarship, creative activity, and engagement, the university ensures these innovations shape the education provided to its undergraduate, graduate, and professional students.
In June 2026, the U.S. Department of Education and the Higher Learning Commission formally recognized the joint accreditation of the University of Nebraska–Lincoln and the University of Nebraska Medical Center, integrating the flagship, R1, land-grant institution with the research and clinical expertise of UNMC. This effort marks an important step in strengthening the University of Nebraska’s academic standing, aligning with national peers, and expanding opportunities for collaboration — opening even more pathways for current and future learners, accelerating fundamental research and life-changing discoveries, and deepening service and contributions to the people of Nebraska. The combined reporting structure also strengthens the university’s national visibility and better reflects its overall research enterprise. Both universities will continue to operate as separate institutions within the University of Nebraska system with distinct missions and academic programs.
UNL's nine colleges — Architecture, Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources, Arts and Sciences, Business, Education and Human Sciences, Engineering, Hixson-Lied Fine and Performing Arts, Journalism and Mass Communications, and Law — provide exceptional breadth and depth of opportunity in the sciences, liberal arts, and professional disciplines, with strong student enrollment, student diversity, and sponsored research funding. Experiential learning is highly valued at UNL and is a requirement for graduation. Every college offers a range of experiential opportunities for students.
Academic Excellence
While a research-intensive institution, UNL faculty possess an extraordinary and primary focus on educational excellence. The university offers more than 100 undergraduate majors and over 170 graduate degree and certificate programs in its nine academic colleges. UNL holds access to high-quality education as a principal part of its mission. In congruence with this value, the university enrolled just over 23,500 students pursuing undergraduate, graduate, and professional degrees in fall 2026.
In the 2026 edition of U.S. News & World Report, the University of Nebraska–Lincoln was ranked No. 84 among public universities in the United States and No. 158 nationally among all universities. UNL was also recognized as No. 112 in Best Colleges for Veterans, reflecting its continued commitment to serving military-affiliated students.
UNL, also known as "Big Red" in Division I sports, lifts Nebraska's visibility nationally and allows the university to compete both athletically and academically. Nebraska athletes have earned more Academic All-American awards and NCAA Top Eight Awards than any other D1 institution.
The university is an R1 research institution whose students are awarded Fulbright scholarships, and UNL undergraduates consistently succeed in prestigious national scholarship competitions. In 2026, UNL was recognized as a Gilman Scholarship Top Producer.
The general education curriculum, Achievement-Centered Education, is built on student learning outcomes that answer the fundamental question: “What should all undergraduate students — irrespective of their majors and career aspirations — know or be able to do upon graduation?” UNL also provides attractive professional and graduate education offerings and aims to foster a meaningful and excellent graduate student experience through its individual development plans, Preparing Future Faculty program, and Teaching Development program.
UNL students learn from faculty who create new knowledge, who are leading scientists, artists, and scholars, and who care deeply about students’ success. The university is home to a distinguished standing faculty of over 1,800 engaged in groundbreaking research and professional practice that crosses disciplinary and professional boundaries. UNL faculty regularly receive prestigious external honors and awards for research, scholarship, and creative endeavors.
In addition to its regional and national collaborations, the university brings international dimensions to its programs through the faculty’s global engagement, a student body that includes students from throughout the world, exchange agreements with other universities abroad, and the incorporation of international components in a variety of courses and curricula.
Research, Creative Activity and Economic Development
For the eighth consecutive year, the University of Nebraska system ranks among the world’s top 100 academic institutions for U.S. utility patents — most recently at No. 49. NUtech Ventures, UNL’s technology commercialization arm, brought in $5.3 million in licensing revenue in the fiscal year 2025. Beginning with fiscal year 2023, the National Science Foundation’s Higher Education Research and Development Survey has combined the federally funded research expenditures of UNL, the University of Nebraska Medical Center, and the NU System Office of the President to align more closely with the reporting of other Big Ten institutions and the Association of American Universities. At the end of fiscal year 2024, combined research growth reached $657 million, a 57.5% increase over the past 10 years.
UNL has invested $1 billion over the last ten years in significant academic and research facilities, including new construction and renovations. Plans for additional projects are underway. In 2018, the University of Nebraska System launched “Only in Nebraska” — a campaign across all four campuses to encourage at least 150,000 benefactors to give $3 billion to support students, faculty, academic programs, and research to address the needs of the state. This ambitious goal has already been achieved, with UNL meeting its individual goal of $1.5 billion in April 2026.
While the campaign has three key areas, the top priority is a relentless focus on student access and success supporting scholarships, experiential learning, collaborative research initiatives, global experiences, and graduate and professional student fellowships. Support for endowed faculty chairs and professorships will help UNL continue to recruit and retain faculty who are a source of intellectual capital for the state as well as the inspiration and teachers of the next generation of students. Transformational research and innovation are the third key area, providing support for research and innovation that bring solutions and discoveries to the state and improve outcomes for Nebraskans.
A 2025 Tripp Umbach Economic Contribution Report found the NU System generates $10 for every $1 the state invests. The report also found UNL's direct annual overall economic impact across the state of Nebraska was $3.06 billion, including directly or indirectly supporting 25,121 jobs across the state.
N150 Vision
Launched during its sesquicentennial in 2019, the university embarked on a 25-year N150 Vision and launched a five-year N2025 strategic plan, which established aims, strategies, expectations, and measurable targets for student success, research, experiential learning, inclusive excellence, global engagement, community partnerships, and institutional innovation. Upon completion of the N2025, UNL developed Our Bold Path Forward, a strategic framework which was launched in fall 2026 and is directly aligned with the pillars and the strategic performance indicators outlined in the University of Nebraska system's Odyssey to Extraordinary. UNL colleges and divisions will align annual planning efforts, targets, and strategic priorities with both campus and system-levels plans.
Humanities
Classics and Religious Studies, English, Film Studies, French, German, History, Philosophy, Spanish
Natural and Mathematical Sciences
Actuarial Science, Biochemistry, Biological Sciences, Chemistry, Data Science, Mathematics, Microbiology, Physics
Social and Behavioral
Sciences
Anthropology, Communication Studies, Economics, Geography, Political Science, Psychology, Sociology
Interdisciplinary Studies
Environmental and Sustainability Studies, Ethnic Studies, Global Studies, Women's and Gender Studies
In the College of Arts and Sciences, passion drives discovery and creative activity. Research and teaching engage multiple disciplines and foster multiple paths for exploring the world. Faculty and students are encouraged to think deeply and broadly, integrating ideas from the humanities, social sciences, and natural sciences in ways that lead to future innovation. These ideals are reflected in the core commitments of the college's identity statement.
The College of Arts and Sciences exemplifies excellence in the humanities, the social sciences, the natural sciences, and in emerging interdisciplinary areas. We provide a foundation for intellectual and creative experiences at the leading edge of the human experience. We advance the frontiers of knowledge through research, scholarship, and creative activity. We integrate and celebrate diverse perspectives in transforming the world, enriching lives, and meeting societal needs. We are globally recognized scholars and educators who prepare students to become leaders in the world in which they will live. We create lifelong relationships with our students and alumni that guide our development and planning. We foster collaboration, promote quality, recognize excellence and thoughtfully steward financial and natural resources.
This statement is supported by the college's strategic plan, which focuses on six core areas — research, education, inclusive excellence, global engagement, partnerships, and donor support — and provides the framework for new initiatives to support growth in each area.
Faculty-, staff-, and student-powered committees are key elements of governance and communication. The Dean’s Advisory Council, composed of alumni and college stakeholders, supports the advancement of the college's priorities, initiatives, strategies, and goals. Members serve as liaisons and advocates to enhance and broaden the reputation of the college within the public and private sectors in Nebraska, the nation, and the world.
Academic Excellence and Student Success
The college's 14 departments and schools, 35 centers, programs, and institutes are united in their commitment to deliver excellence in liberal arts education and scholarship. The 330 faculty, which includes 222 tenure-line faculty, 44 professors of practice, 23 research faculty, as well as multi-year lecturers, are internationally recognized scholars, innovative researchers, and award-winning teachers who are dedicated to sharing their knowledge and ideas with approximately 3,100 undergraduate and 700 graduate students. In addition to delivering course content for 26 majors and 46 minors, the college provides foundational undergraduate instruction for the university. In 2025-26, college faculty delivered over 254,000 student credit hours, which was 41% of the university's total.
The college is committed to providing undergraduate students with excellent support for their personal, academic, and professional success, including high-quality advising and career coaching, as well as an emphasis on doing well academically while gaining real-world experiences through research, internships, education abroad, service, and leadership. Student success is supported through a range of initiatives:
- Challenge for Achieving Success in Undergraduate Programs, known as CAS UP! — the Dean’s Office partnering with departments to review key student success data, identify opportunities, and determine strategies for improving recruitment, retention, graduation, and career readiness.
- Student Experience Project — piloting UNL’s involvement in a national collaborative of universities promoting evidence-based practices focusing on belonging and growth mindset to improve college persistence, retention, and degree attainment.
- CAS Instructional Improvement Fund — providing incentives for planning and implementing significant undergraduate instructional improvement projects.
- CAS Cares — helping support undergraduate and graduate students needing short-term financial assistance to stay enrolled.
National and Interdisciplinary Research
The college's faculty are engaged in a broad base of research activity, including a strong and growing foundation of funded research. In fiscal year 2026, the college had total research expenditures of over $80 million, a third of which was federal grant research expenditures. CAS researchers receive funding from federal sources such as the National Science Foundation, the National Institutes of Health, and the U.S. Department of Education.
In addition, research expenditures from industry sources have been steadily increasing over the past five years. The college's faculty have received numerous awards for their research and creative activity, recently including one Carnegie Fellow, three American Association for the Advancement of Science fellows, one faculty Fulbright award, and multiple Guggenheim and National Science Foundation CAREER Awards.
The college participates in and supports a variety of interdisciplinary research collaborations, many of which are located within university centers. The Center for Digital Research in the Humanities and the Center for Great Plains Studies are two examples of interdisciplinary centers with a primary emphasis on humanities scholarship. Social Sciences faculty play lead roles in the Center for Brain, Biology and Behavior; the Center on Children, Families, and the Law; the Minority Health Disparities Initiative; and the NIH-funded Rural Drug Addiction Research Center.
The natural and mathematical sciences faculty are also highly engaged in several interdisciplinary research centers. Faculty members in physics and chemistry partner with colleagues in engineering and beyond to create nationally visible scholarship involving the Nebraska Center for Materials and Nanoscience and the NSF-funded Materials Research Science and Engineering Center. The NIH-funded Center for Integrated Biomolecular Communication, a partnership led by the Department of Chemistry and involving multiple UNL and University of Nebraska Medical Center departments, explores new biomedical sensing strategies with a focus on metabolic pathways. Also, the newly created interdisciplinary, interdepartmental and multi-campus research and education cluster, EQUATE: Emergent Quantum Materials and Technologies, consolidates the quantum science and technology expertise of 20 faculty researchers across four Nebraska institutions.
Faculty from the School of Biological Sciences play a major role in the Nebraska Center for Virology, a world-renowned center supporting virology research and education based upon a partnership between UNL, UNMC, and Creighton University. Faculty in the Department of Mathematics are leaders in the Center for Science, Mathematics, and Computer Education, which brings together educators, researchers, partners, and students to imagine, build, and sustain meaningful improvements in PK-16 STEM teaching and learning.
Learn more about the college's wide range of research, outreach, and scholarship at cas.unl.edu.
The Dean reports directly to the Executive Vice Chancellor and is the chief academic and administrative officer of the College of Arts and Sciences. The Dean has the responsibility for the strategic, programmatic, financial, fundraising, and management operations that support the mission and vision of the College of Arts and Sciences and its role within the university and across the state. The Dean will join a group of fellow deans and campus leaders who are collaborative, supportive and committed. The Dean works alongside campus leaders to represent a liberal arts education in the national conversation and advance the values and mission of the university, ensuring the College’s efforts are in alignment with the overall priorities and goals.
The incoming Dean will:
- Further the development of a relevant and distinctive identity for the college and the multiple disciplines represented throughout the college;
- Serve as a public voice to develop the reputation of the college on national and international stages;
- Along with the chairs and directors, assure the continued prominence of the faculty by prioritizing the recruiting and retention of distinguished faculty at all levels;
- Work to fully realize and enact the college and university commitment to community and belonging, ensuring that all individuals and interactions matter;
- Seek out and continue valuable collaborations with other academic units and partners;
- Promote and support a strong and diverse research agenda including attracting external funding;
- Be a vocal advocate for the value of the liberal arts in both research and teaching;
- Willingly take calculated risks to achieve excellence;
- Assure that the college continues to serve its students with academic programs of the highest quality and effectiveness, promoting practices for experiential learning, student success, persistence, retention, graduation and placement;
- Lead and support graduate education, fostering excellence in research and student outcomes;
- Support the recruitment and retention of high-quality staff;
- Engage alumni and other external supporters to advance the mission of the college;
- Take a leading role in attracting interested donors to support the college’s mission;
- Promote and support the college as an economic development engine and technology driver for the state of Nebraska, as well as an incubator for new theoretical approaches to enduring socio-cultural challenges for the world; and
- Be an engaged academic leader at the university, working collaboratively and advancing the overall mission and priorities of the campus.
Candidates must hold an earned doctorate and a record of scholarly achievement sufficient to warrant appointment as a full professor in an academic department within the College. The next Dean must possess the experience, vision, and collaborative leadership skills necessary to strengthen the College's academic excellence, research enterprise, student success, and long-term sustainability.
Specifically, candidates will demonstrate:
- Success advancing excellence in undergraduate and graduate education, including evidence of improving student outcomes, program quality, academic innovation, and enrollment growth;
- Experience leading complex academic organizations, budgets, and diverse teams in support of institutional priorities and measurable results;
- A record of supporting and advancing research excellence through faculty development, scholarly productivity, interdisciplinary collaboration, and resource acquisition;
- Effective communication and advocacy for the transformative value of a liberal arts education;
- The ability to effectively navigate a complex academic environment and organizational structure to achieve meaningful results;
- Evidence of successful fundraising, alumni engagement, donor cultivation, and building strategic external partnerships;
- The ability to develop and execute sustainable strategic initiatives that strengthen academic quality, research impact, student success, and institutional reputation;
- Success fostering an inclusive and collaborative environment that supports community, belonging, and shared achievement; and
- The highest level of integrity.
The ideal candidate should also demonstrate:
- A proven record of advocating effectively for academic programs, faculty, students, and institutional resources;
- Success empowering faculty and staff to build upon existing strengths while fostering innovation, collaboration, and professional growth;
- The ability to address complex organizational challenges through creative, data-informed, and strategic decision-making;
- An established commitment to advancing Arts and Sciences research, including supporting faculty scholarship, interdisciplinary initiatives, and research growth;
- Exceptional communication skills, with the ability to serve as an effective spokesperson, storyteller, and ambassador for the College;
- Success strengthening both undergraduate and graduate education, including support for program quality, student success, enrollment growth, and post-graduate outcomes;
- Experience aligning strategic priorities with fundraising initiatives and securing philanthropic investments that advance institutional goals;
- A record of building consensus among diverse stakeholders and fostering a culture of trust, transparency, shared governance, and collaboration;
- The ability to establish clear strategic priorities, define measurable outcomes, and align faculty, staff, and campus partners around their achievement;
- An energetic, optimistic, and future-oriented leadership style that inspires confidence, engagement, and momentum during periods of opportunity and change
- A willingness to embrace the challenges and unknowns of higher education today including the enrollment landscape and bring meaningful solutions for growing the reach and impact of the college; and
- Experience navigating technological changes, adapting curricula and/or research and creative activity for emerging media technologies and evolving digital platforms, such as AI.
Lincoln, Nebraska is the capital city of the state and is known for its vibrant mix of history, culture, and modern amenities. With a population of around 300,000, it’s the second-largest city in Nebraska and serves as a major economic and educational hub, anchored by the University of Nebraska–Lincoln. The city’s university presence infuses it with a youthful energy, driving research, sports culture, and diverse cultural events, including art exhibitions, theater, and music festivals. Lincoln has earned recognition for its high quality of life, low cost of living, and friendly Midwestern charm.
The city’s history is deeply tied to its agricultural roots, but in recent years, Lincoln has experienced rapid growth in technology and startup sectors, giving it a modern edge while maintaining a strong connection to its past. The Haymarket District, a revitalized historic area downtown, blends old and new with trendy restaurants, coffee shops, art galleries, and unique shops housed in restored brick warehouses. Lincoln’s commitment to green spaces is notable, with over 130 parks, including the sprawling Pioneers Park, which offers hiking trails, wildlife sanctuaries, and an outdoor amphitheater.
As the capital city, Lincoln is significant as the seat of the Nebraska state government, housed in the impressive Nebraska State Capitol building, known for its rare Art Deco design. Lincoln is home to people from a variety of cultural and international backgrounds and offers community organizations, cultural events, and faith communities that reflect the people who call the city home. It is also home to a highly engaged community with active civic participation and events that reflect the diverse backgrounds of its residents. Lincoln’s economy includes a wide range of sectors like technology, manufacturing, banking, insurance, and healthcare, while its central location makes it a transportation and logistics hub within the Midwest.
Whether enjoying a Nebraska Cornhuskers football game, exploring the extensive network of bike trails, or attending one of the many cultural events at the Lied Center for Performing Arts, Lincoln offers a blend of small-town warmth and big-city opportunities. Its growing food scene, affordable housing, and reputation for being a welcoming place make it a city where many come to study, work, and build a life.
How to Apply
A confidential review of applications will begin immediately and continue until the position has been filled. For full consideration, individuals are encouraged to apply by January 4, 2027. Submit a cover letter and CV as two separate PDF files to ZRG Partners:
For Questions, Nominations or Recommendations:
The University of Nebraska-Lincoln seeks to attract and retain a high performing and collaborative workforce. UNL is committed to providing a work environment and culture that fosters personal and professional success where every person and every interaction matters. The University is proud to be one of Nebraska’s preferred and largest employers where individuals are able to participate and contribute to their full potential.
The University of Nebraska does not discriminate based on race, color, ethnicity, national origin, sex, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, disability, age, genetic information, veteran status, marital status, and/or political affiliation in its programs, activities, or employment. See equity.unl.edu/notice-nondiscrimination.