Melissa Diers has been named director of academic technology.
The IT appointment was effective Sept. 1. She had served as director on an interim basis since March 1.
The academic technology director oversees the development, standardization, deployment, and management of UNMC-wide software and other information systems required for support of education and research programs. The role is responsible for the end-to-end integration of technologies to support the delivery of services across UNMC.
Diers said she is honored to serve as a key facilitator to enhance relationships with UNMC’s education community in order to exceed institutional outcomes. “In our ever-increasing digitized society, we need to continue the momentum of elevating our skills to move ourselves and our students from being digitally literate to being digitally fluent citizens.”
Diers said, an individual who is ‘digitally literate’ has acquired the skills to make and create meaning and select technologies to do so. Being fluent, she said, requires competencies and capabilities that go beyond the literate skill level.
“Someone who is digitally fluent not only selects tools and knows what to do with them but can explain why they work in the way they do and how they might adapt what they do if the context were to change,” she said.
Diers joined UNMC in September 1996. She is an assistant professor in the UNMC College of Allied Health Professions. Prior to her interim position, she led strategic initiatives and expanded the use of educational technology during her career in health sciences academia.
“We’re pleased to have Melissa lead this team,” said Michael Ash, MD, vice chancellor for information technology at UNMC and executive vice president and chief transformation officer at Nebraska Medicine. “She has done an outstanding job as interim director and following a unanimous vote of the selection committee I’m very pleased she accepted the permanent position. Melissa is a talented leader and will do a wonderful job serving the needs of the UNMC academic community.”
Congratulations, Melissa! UNMC is very fortunate to have you leading Academic Technology.
Congratulations! Well deserved!!
Outstanding! Congratulations.
Fantastic news! I look forward to working with Melissa in her much-deserved new role.
Congratulations Melissa! You will continue to do a wonderful job, these are challenging times and we need great leadership to get us through them.
Congratulations Melissa. Well deserved.
Congratulation Melissa!
Congratulations Melissa! Excellent choice by UNMC/IT. Your leadership style is a perfect fit for the educational area on campus.
Congratulations Melissa! We are fortunate to have you leading our educational mission.
Congratulations Melissa! You bring a ton of experience and I wish you the very best.
If ever there was a time that strong communication, collaborations, and visions for the future of work and education were needed, that time is now. Congratulations Melissa, on your enduring leadership. #HerTimeIsNow
Congratulations, Melissa!
Congratulations! Great work.
Congrats! I'm excited for you and UNMC!
Congratulations, Melissa !!!
Good for you, Melissa. Congratulations.