As I reflect on my 12 years as your dean, I am filled with heartfelt gratitude for the opportunity to have traveled with you on your academic and professional journeys.
Graduate education is demanding, and it has been truly inspiring to watch our students’ dedication and passion as they transition to successful careers. It has been an honor to witness your growth, achievements, and the impactful research and projects you have undertaken. Over the years, I’ve had the privilege of working with many of you and have been consistently impressed by your resilience, creativity and ability to overcome challenges.
I also want to acknowledge the support and collaboration that have been the hallmarks of our graduate faculty and our support staff, and I want to express my sincere appreciation for all you do every day in making UNMC such a special place. Your innovative ideas and tireless efforts have elevated the learning experience of our students.
During the past 12 years, our graduate studies student body has grown from 476 to 720, making this the fastest growth of any student body during that period; our students are now the third largest student body at UNMC. The consolidation of six independent departmental programs into the umbrella IGPBS program has led to a threefold increase in the number of applicants, and student attrition during training has dropped substantially. Our nationally funded institutional training grants have grown from one to an unprecedented eight. Our graduate students have also been honored with 89 individual national awards and are now called graduate students of distinction.
With the introduction of the Seguidor learning management system, we have been able to better track the progress of our students and better support them during their training with us. We have introduced a major assessment strategic initiative that ensures every graduate student meets clearly defined universal core and co-curricular competencies before they graduate. Our programs also have been enhanced by introduction of external peer reviews every five years. We’ve also established several new philanthropic dollars that provide scholarships that have enabled us to better compete for and attract the best students, as well as provide new funding opportunities for travel to national and international meetings for our students to present their research findings.
One thing of which I am particularly proud is the accomplishments that have been made toward supporting students’ professional and personal growth. A new “Wellness Hub” helps our students connect better to one another and de-stress, and it provides a safe space for students to meet with experienced emeritus faculty, who serve as sage counsels and advocates. The introductions of dissertation and thesis boot camps have helped students who need support in completing this pivotal step in their academic journey. Our students are provided with professional skills upon graduation through our monthly “lunch and learn” professional development series.
In addition, those interested in working in industry are also better connected to opportunities through our partnerships with BioNebraska and alumni. The Graduate Studies Alumni Council, introduced in 2014, has supported and helped graduate students connect with alumni and has provided an important platform for us to recognize the accomplishments of our outstanding alumni. Introduction of the graduate studies matriculation and convocation ceremonies has also strengthened the campus culture and provided a sense of belonging by both welcoming our incoming students and celebrating the accomplishments of our outgoing graduates.
None of these accomplishments would have been possible without the excellent leadership team that I have had the privilege of working with during my tenure. This includes my previous executive associate deans, Drs. David Crouse, James Turpen and Pam Carmines, the current team of Drs. Kendra Schmid, and Karen Gould, the excellent office staff led by Terri Vadovski, our dedicated program directors, and of course the faculty, staff and students who have served on the Graduate Council. Our Graduate Student Association has also been a strong partner and catalysts of change, and their ideas and energy have contributed to many of the innovations we have introduced during my tenure.
While I will miss serving as your dean, I remain committed to your professional and personal success. I will continue to maintain an open-door policy and remain interested in learning more about your insights, concerns and aspirations, and how I can help you achieve them.
I am thrilled that Drs. Kendra Schmid and Karen Gould have accepted their new roles within UNMC Graduate Studies as the interim dean and interim executive associate dean, respectively. Both are well-known to you as dedicated and skilled current members of our team and bring a wealth of experience that will serve the program well in ensuring student and faculty success. I know you all will continue to flourish under their guidance.
Thank you for making my tenure as dean a rewarding and memorable experience. I look forward to seeing the incredible things you will achieve, together, in the future.