University of Nebraska President L. Dennis Smith, Ph.D., has named Jorge
F. Rodriguez-Sierra, Ph.D., professor of cell biology and anatomy at the
University of Nebraska Medical Center, to join 22 other Nebraskans on a
task force panel which will determine criteria by which academic programs
on the four campuses will be evaluated and prioritized.
The appointment of the task force is the first step in a prioritization
process that is designed to help the University of Nebraska identify academic
programs of excellence on the four campuses, premier programs that have
the opportunity for regional, national, and international recognition.
The task force will not conduct the program evaluation; its charge is solely
to determine criteria by which evaluation and prioritization will take
place. Dr. Smith said prioritization will eventually fall to faculty, administrators,
and governing board members.
“Our goal in prioritizing programs is not to eliminate some of them
but rather to attempt to identify those academic programs on the four campuses
that have the greatest opportunity to bring positive statewide, regional,
and national recognition to the University of Nebraska,” Dr. Smith said.
“It is possible that, as a result of this process, some academic programs
will be discontinued over time, but that is not the primary goal of this
endeavor. Our goal, first and foremost, is to strengthen the University
of Nebraska through a determination of what we do better than others.”
The prioritization panel is comprised of faculty and administrators
from the four campuses, two student representatives, and several members
of the public. It is chaired by University of Nebraska Executive Vice President
and Provost Lee B. Jones. Dr. Smith said he made the additional appointments
in response to concerns about the lack of ethnic diversity among the previously-appointed
members of the committee. He indicated that Dr. Rodriguez-Sierra, an Hispanic,
will bring perspectives to the committee that will strengthen its decisions
regarding criteria for academic prioritization.
Dr. Rodriguez-Sierra received his bachelors degree in psychology in
1970 and a masters degree in 1972 at California State College in Los Angeles.
In 1976, he earned a doctorate in psychobiology from Rutgers University
in Newark, N.J.
He joined UNMC in 1978 as assistant professor in the Department of Cell
Biology and Anatomy and was elevated to associate professor in 1982 and
named professor of cell biology and anatomy in 1989. Prior to coming to
UNMC, he did a two-year post-doctoral fellowship at the Wisconsin Regional
Primate Research Center in Madison, Wis. He also did a post-doctoral anatomy
fellowship at UNMC.
UNMC is the only public academic health science center in the state.
Through its commitment to research, education, outreach and patient care,
UNMC has established itself as one of the country’s leading centers for
cancer research and treatment and solid organ transplantation. Nearly $31
million in research grants and contracts were awarded to UNMC scientists
during the past fiscal year. In addition, UNMCs educational programs are
responsible for training more health professionals practicing in Nebraska
than any other institution.