NU leader will focus on student success

The University of Nebraska announced this week that Gabrielle Banick, Ph.D., a longtime educator with experience in improving student outcomes and connecting education to workforce needs, will join NU today as assistant vice president for P-16 initiatives.

Gabrielle Banick, Ph.D.

Banick most recently served as dean of general education and academic support at Blackhawk Technical College in Janesville, Wis., a role she had held since 2010. Prior to that, she was the career and technical education coordinator for the Madison Metropolitan School District in Madison, Wis.

In her new role, Banick will be responsible for leading the development, coordination and implementation of the university’s efforts in support of the Nebraska P-16 Initiative, which is dedicated to improving student success in the state. She will work closely with the university president, the four campuses and other P-16 stakeholders around Nebraska to develop strategies that prepare students for the workforce and facilitate a culture of lifelong learning in the state.

“Gabrielle Banick has the experience, leadership skills and passion necessary to move the P-16 Initiative forward. Her long career in education includes teaching, research and administrative roles that will serve her well in this new position at the University of Nebraska,” said Susan Fritz, Ph.D., NU executive vice president and provost.

Banick’s immediate duties will include fulfilling the “college pipeline” commitments the university made to the White House earlier this year as part of a national initiative to expand college access and success among underrepresented students. She also will be engaged in Nebraska’s pilot this fall of the American College Application Campaign.

Expanding access to high-quality, rigorous STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) courses for Nebraska students – one of the core goals of the P-16 Initiative — will be another priority for Banick.

“UNMC is excited about working with Dr. Banick to help expand access to high-quality, rigorous, health-related STEM courses that will position Nebraska students to be competitive in applying to college level health-related professional training programs,” said Dele Davies, M.D., vice chancellor for academic affairs. “The demonstrated success of the UNMC High School Alliance, our signature Health Science Enrichment Program for Omaha-area high school students, and our other pipeline programs show the value of these efforts in preparing our students to be major participants in the burgeoning opportunities for health-related workforce in Nebraska and across the nation.”