Jessica Semin, DNP, assistant professor in the UNMC College of Nursing, has been named the inaugural director of the college’s global health program.
The college has long been involved in the international arena but, during the pandemic, spent two years re-envisioning the program after its longtime leader, Sheila Ryan, PhD, retired and COVID-19 shut down travel. As part of the review process, the committee proposed appointing a new director of global health.
Kate Fiandt, PhD, associate dean of transformational practice and partnerships in the UNMC College of Nursing, announced the appointment earlier this month, saying: “Dr. Semin stood out to the search committee for her strong leadership skills and her passion for global health education.”
As director, Dr. Semin will manage both the day-to-day issues related to international academic exchanges and the need for clear strategic vision as the college expands its international activities in partnership with UNMC and the University of Nebraska System.
Dr. Semin’s early plans include creative ideas about evaluating the impact of global experiences on student learning and developing a strategic vision for the global health program that supports the college’s tripartite mission.
“It is a great honor to be named the inaugural director of global health in the UNMC College of Nursing,” Dr. Semin said. “I am excited for this new adventure and grateful for the opportunity to work with our faculty, staff, students and alumni in the College of Nursing along with colleagues across UNMC and the University of Nebraska System to strengthen and expand our global health efforts.”
A registered nurse with a master’s in public health, Dr. Semin joined UNMC in August 2021. Since that time, she has demonstrated leadership in the HEARTS program, as the faculty adviser for the Omaha Student Nurses Association and with the College of Nursing’s first ever “for credit” exchange with the University of Adger in Norway.
Dr. Semin’s scholarship includes participation on three funded grants and principal investigator on a funded pilot study of the impact of a grief awareness support for health professional students.