Changes announced in academic affairs

James Turpen, Ph.D., has been named assistant vice chancellor for academic affairs and Jialin Zheng, M.D., is the new associate dean for graduate studies as part of a series of changes in UNMC Academic Affairs.

James Turpen, Ph.D.

Jialin Zheng, M.D.

In their new part-time roles, Drs. Turpen and Dr. Zheng will split duties previously assigned to David Crouse, Ph.D., who became interim vice chancellor for academic affairs after the untimely death of Rubens Pamies, M.D., in February.

“Our growth as an institution made it necessary to adjust our operations in academic affairs,” Dr. Crouse said. “These changes are a continuation of plans started by Dr. Pamies in his time as vice chancellor for academic affairs.”

Dr. Turpen will remain professor and vice chairman for education in the department in genetics, cell biology and anatomy, and Dr. Zheng will maintain his posts as professor of pharmacology and experimental neurosciences and director of UNMC’s Asia Pacific Rim Development Program.

In other changes:

• Devin Nickol, M.D., assistant professor of internal medicine, joined academic affairs part-time as the new assistant dean for interprofessional education in graduate studies;
  
• Cheryl Thompson, Ph.D., associate professor in the College of Nursing, has been named the new interim assistant vice chancellor for academic affairs-student affairs and chief student affairs officer; and
  
• Terri Vadovski will join the academic affairs staff in late June as director of graduate studies, replacing Amy Schlueter.

Iqbal Ahmad, Ph.D., professor of ophthalmology and visual sciences, will continue as associate dean for postdoctoral affairs in graduate studies.