Interim Chancellor Davies names new interim academic leaders at UNMC

Dele Davies, MD, interim chancellor of UNMC, announced on Monday the appointments of interim leaders in the UNMC Office of Academic Affairs and in Graduate Studies.

Effective immediately:

• Jane Meza, PhD, will become interim vice chancellor for academic affairs.
• Kendra Schmid, PhD, will become interim dean of graduate studies and interim associate vice chancellor for academic affairs.
• Karen Gould, PhD, will become interim executive associate dean of graduate studies and interim assistant vice chancellor for academic affairs.

“I am excited to welcome this team,” Dr. Davies said.

“Throughout her career at UNMC, Dr. Meza has proven an innovative, inspirational and thoughtful leader,” Dr. Davies said. “She has played an integral role on many fronts, including helping to lead the campus through the COVID pandemic and expanding UNMC’s global presence. She has worked with colleges and institutes across the university, and she brings a proven record of leadership success.

“Dr. Schmid also has been an innovator and has been an impactful voice for UNMC accreditations and student enrollment efforts, and Dr. Gould has been a strong voice for educational programs, including leading important new efforts in mentorship for graduate faculty and student wellness.”

Dr. Davies added, “This is a strong team of leaders, who each has a demonstrated record of academic innovation and achievement. They have played valuable roles in such recent successes as our threefold increase in applicants, 62% increase in enrollment at the graduate college and a 12% reduction in student attrition. These are just a few of their many successes — and I am certain there are more to come.”

Dr. Meza, who was named associate vice chancellor for academic affairs in 2023, said she was excited for the new role.

“I am excited and honored to be the interim vice chancellor for academic affairs,” Dr. Meza said. “I look forward to working with our UNMC community to further create enriching learning experiences for students and trainees and to cultivate the ongoing professional growth of faculty.”

In her new role, Dr. Meza will continue her work in global engagement and strategic planning at UNMC. She previously has held positions that included the interim executive director for health security, created as part of the UNMC response to COVID; interim dean of the UNMC College of Public Health; chair of the UNMC Department of Biostatistics; and senior associate dean of the UNMC College of Public Health.

Dr. Schmid has served as assistant vice chancellor for academic affairs since 2020. She was named executive associate dean of graduate studies in 2022. She currently is a professor in the UNMC Department of Biostatistics, where she has served as interim chair, and serves as UNMC’s academic liaison to the Higher Learning Commission.

“I’m looking forward to this new role and continuing the strong course set for Graduate Studies under Dr. Davies’ leadership to ensure our students are supported and well-positioned for success,” Dr. Schmid said. “I’m grateful for the opportunity to support UNMC, colleagues and students during this time of transition.”

Dr. Gould was named assistant dean for graduate student success and campus-wide director of assessment in 2022. She also is deputy research integrity officer. She is a professor and vice-chair for faculty development in the UNMC Department of Genetics, Cell Biology and Anatomy.

“I look forward to the opportunity to continue to support academic affairs and graduate studies at UNMC by serving in these interim roles,” Dr. Gould said. “Our team is committed to providing stability through this period of change.”

“Students are the heart of UNMC,” Dr. Davies said. “As the interim chancellor, I know that, with Drs. Meza, Schmid and Gould in these important roles, our students’ success will continue to be at the forefront of everything we do.”