Two years ago, Sherman Petite visited the 48-acre campus of Louisiana’s first historically black college with one goal: to recruit students.
Serendipitously, he met with Dillard University Provost Bettye Parker-Smith, Ph.D., who raised the possibility of developing an affiliation agreement with UNMC. Petite’s supervisor, John McClain, Ph.D., associate vice chancellor for academic affairs at UNMC, agreed it was a wonderful opportunity. So did other UNMC administrators.
On Tuesday, Dr. McClain and Petite watched as Dillard University President Michael Lomax, Ph.D., and UNMC Chancellor Harold M. Maurer, M.D., formalized the agreement during a signing ceremony in Omaha. The historic signing — which follows a December signing ceremony at Dillard University — marks UNMC’s first formal affiliation with an historically black college.
“This is a great opportunity,” said Petite, UNMC’s outreach and retention specialist. “I’m looking forward to seeing students here on campus and introducing them to Nebraska. If they come here and have a good experience and go back and tell their friends, it makes my job easier. As Dr. Lomax said, ‘the easy part is signing the agreement. The hard part is to make sure it lives.’ ”
Initially, the affiliation agreement will consist of a:
- Summer Visiting Student Program in which Dillard University students will engage in research activities at UNMC under the guidance of UNMC faculty. The students will work in UNMC research laboratories for eight to 10 weeks, while participating in weekly research seminar and other educational activities.
- Faculty Exchange Program, which will encourage and support collaboration between the UNMC and Dillard University faculties. Junior faculty from Dillard will come to UNMC for eight to 10 weeks during the summer to study under UNMC faculty. UNMC faculty will make several visits to Dillard each year to make presentations to students and faculty.
“This is a unique opportunity to improve diversity on our campus and in the health professions, not only in Omaha and Nebraska but beyond,” Dr. Maurer said. “Our hope is to attract these students into our professional schools.”
Founded in 1869 and located on the northeast side of New Orleans, Dillard University has more than 2,000 students. Graduates of the private undergraduate school include Dr. Karen Drake, the physician who delivered the Iowa septuplets; Dr. Ruth Simmons, the first African-American to be named president of an Ivy League university; and Joyce Roche, national director of Girls Inc.
The affiliation agreement is about continuing to guide and lead Dillard students to new levels of excellence, Dr. Lomax said. “We know that not every kid is going to flourish in a large university environment. Some students will always need the small liberal arts environment. But, we’re not going to move Dillard to Omaha. We’ll send those we know will thrive and do well.”
The Dillard campus is “absolutely a spectacular place,” said William Berndt, Ph.D., UNMC’s vice chancellor for academic affairs and dean for graduate studies, who made the 1,100-mile trip for the December signing ceremony. “This is a campus that is extremely student-centered. I think we’ll see it grow into extremely remarkable prominence. This is a great opportunity for us to join with them.”
In addition to Dr. Lomax, the Dillard delegation included Dr. Parker-Smith; John Donohue, vice president of development; and Dr. John Wilson, dean of natural sciences. The group toured campus and learned about islet transplantation, minority health research, computer-assisted surgery, the Lied Transplant Center, cardiovascular research, the Munroe-Meyer Institute and the Center for Neurovirology and Neurodegenerative Disorders.
“I have never witnessed a more extraordinary reception from a local African-American community,” Dr. Lomax said. “It is clear that the black community in Omaha believes in UNMC and what it is trying to accomplish. We intend to become the historically black college/university of choice for UNMC.
“You’ll see Dillard coming back to Omaha, meeting students in the Omaha Public Schools and telling them they, too, can pursue dreams that will take them beyond the neighborhood and community they know and then come back home and further pursue their education.”
The affiliation agreement will bear much fruit, Dr. Lomax said. “When two institutions have a good idea it yields great results not just for the institutions but the individuals whose lives are changed,” he said.
For more information on Dillard University, visit www.dillard.edu.
Photos in descending order: 1) Sherman Petite, left, talks with Dillard University President Michael Lomax, Ph.D., while UNMC Chancellor Harold M. Maurer, M.D., looks on; 2) From left to right, UNMC Chancellor Harold M. Maurer, M.D., Sherman Petite, UNMC’s outreach and retention specialist, Dr. John Wilson, dean of natural sciences, Dillard University President Michael Lomax, Ph.D., Dr. Bettye Parker-Smith, and John Donohue, vice president of development; 3) John Donohue and Bettye Parker-Smith, Ph.D.