University of Nebraska President L. Dennis Smith, Ph.D., announced today
the 31 members who will make up the universitys Task Force on Bioterrorism
Preparedness. As announced last month, Harold M. Maurer, M.D., chancellor
of the University of Nebraska Medical Center, will chair the task force,
which includes representatives of all four campuses as well as the Universitys
Central Administration office in Lincoln.
It is essential to the safety of our University and the people of Nebraska
that we be prepared to deal with bioterrorist activity, President Smith
said. Among our campuses, we have experts in medicine, education, environmental
safety, communications, information technology, biochemistry and other
areas that may be impacted by such activity. It is part of our mission
as a public university to help both our employees and the citizens of Nebraska
prepare for the dangers that we could face.
Its important that we leverage the collective knowledge and expertise
available through the University of Nebraska, Dr. Maurer said. The university
is a tremendous resource for the entire state. The composition of the task
force is outstanding, and Im especially pleased that all the campuses
are represented.
Dr. Maurer said the initial meeting of the task force will be held Thursday,
Nov. 8, at UNMC. He said the task force will strive to develop a comprehensive
plan by Feb. 1 that will focus on four key areas enhancing university
employee and student safety; serving as an information resource for the
public; providing education and training to employers, health professionals,
health insurance leaders and students; and utilizing research and health
sciences to develop innovative uses of information technology and other
health and education tools.
The task force includes 13 members from UNMC/Nebraska Health System,
three from the University of Nebraska at Kearney, eight from the University
of Nebraska-Lincoln/ Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources, four
from the University of Nebraska at Omaha, and three from Central Administration.
The task force members include:
Employee & Student Safety
Owen Yardley, Chair Chief of Police UNL
John Russell Executive Director, Human Resources UNMC
James Griesen, Ph.D. Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs & Professor,
Educational Administration UNL
Alison Freifeld, M.D. Associate Professor, Internal Medicine, Infectious
Diseases UNMC
John (Jack) Schmitz, Ph.D. Head & Professor, Veterinary and
Biomedical Sciences IANR
Mike Jess Senior Lecturer & Water Resources Engineer, Conservation
& Survey Division & School of Natural Resource Sciences IANR
Dave Jacobson Director, Chemical, Radiation Safety, Instructor, Radiation
Oncology UNMC
Stan Schleifer Manager, Environmental Health and Safety UNO
Carmen Maurer, J.D. Associate General Counsel CA
Public Information Resources
William Wozniak, Ph.D., Chair Professor, Psychology UNK
Robert Bartee Executive Assistant to the Chancellor UNMC
Sharon Stephan Director of Marketing CA
Keith Mueller, Ph.D. Professor, Preventative & Societal Medicine
UNMC
Darrell Nelson, Ph.D. Dean and Director, Agricultural Research Division
UNL
Mark Rupp, M.D. Associate Professor, Internal Medicine, Infectious
Diseases UNMC
Stephen Smith, M.D. Chief Medical Officer, NHS, Associate Dean, College
of Medicine UNMC
Sam Augustine, Pharm.D. Associate Professor, Pharmacy Practice UNMC
Professional Education & Training
B.J. Reed, Ph.D., Chair Dean, Center of Public Affairs and Community
Service UNO
Larry Winkler, Ph.D. Assistant Dean, College of Continuing Studies
UNO
Suzanne Watson, R.N. Clinical Manager, Emergency Department NHS
Nancy Gore, CIA, CPA Internal Auditor III UNMC
Cheryl Bressington Assistant Director, Human Resources UNK
Mary Mudd, Ed.D. Vice Chancellor, Student Affairs UNO
Ryan Samuelson Student Regent UNK
Research & Health Sciences
David Crouse, Ph.D., Chair Associate Vice Chancellor, Academic Affairs/
Graduate Studies & Research UNMC
Steve Hinrichs, M.D. Associate Professor, Pathology/Microbiology UNMC
Leon Higley, Ph.D. Professor, Entomology UNL
Clint Jones, Ph.D. Professor, Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences IANR
Walter Weir Chief Information Officer CA
Oksana Lockridge, Ph.D. Associate Professor, Eppley Research Institute
UNMC
Bruce Dvorak, Ph.D. Associate Professor, Civil Engineering UNL