Dr. Covington to join academic affairs leadership team

Phil Covington, Ed.D.

Phil Covington, Ed.D., currently the senior director of student life at the University of Nebraska at Omaha, has agreed to become the interim student services director and assistant vice chancellor for academic affairs at UNMC.

UNMC and UNO leaders announced Tuesday that Dr. Covington would begin his new UNMC role on July 19. Dr. Covington will have a joint administrative appointment supporting student services at both UNO and UNMC. This appointment serves as another example of collaboration between the two institutions, similar to the recent appointment of Jane Meza, Ph.D., as interim associate vice chancellor for global and student support for UNMC, UNO and Nebraska Medicine. Dr. Meza’s appointment took effect on Jan. 1, 2017.

Dr. Covington brings more than 20 years of student affairs and enrollment services experience as a leader (as assistant dean, associate dean or dean of students), from five different institutions of higher education, including UNO and the University of South Dakota.

Dr. Covington received his B.B.A., Cum Laude, from Fort Hays State University, followed by an M.S. degree in counseling with an emphasis on student personnel from the same institution.

He also has an Ed.D. degree from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln in educational leadership and higher education.

Dr. Covington will work with Cheryl Thompson, Ph.D., to ensure a smooth transition, said Dele Davies, M.D., vice chancellor for academic affairs at UNMC.

“I would like to thank Dr. Thompson again for her seven years of excellent service to UNMC and wish her a successful transition back to the faculty within the College of Nursing,” he said. “We look forward to working with Dr. Covington in the support of our students.”