The NU Developing Excellence in Academic Leaders (DEAL) program is a focused, two-year investment in personal growth and development. Participants will refine their leadership skills while interacting within the context of the many subcultures of our multifaceted educational enterprise. The program is intended for individuals from each campus who are currently serving in academic leadership roles (department chairs, center directors, assistant/associate deans) and have interest in expanding their leadership practice and skills.
Four participants from each campus will meet as a cohort four times over two years, and up to monthly in small groups or for campus-specific project- based learning. The inter-campus fellowship will provide unprecedented access to the macro systems, information and decision-making that drive the actions and performance of the NU System. NU DEAL strengthens relationships, connections and networks broadly across Nebraska.
For any questions on the program, please contact Faye Haggar at faye.haggar@unmc.edu.
Download Program Brochure
This is not an ordinary leadership development program. It is a selective, generative think tank that:
- Evaluates and creates future-focused skills, behaviors and vision
- Promotes deep connections with people, advancing a NU network of decision-makers and peer advisors
- Examines academia's most significant and complex modern-day issues
- Expands the impact and influence of participants and the NU System by applying a broader lens than the individual campuses
- Problem solves collaboratively using political, human resources, structural and symbolic frameworks
- Invests in current NU leaders with a unified process for continuously refining the art of leading and advancing the NU mission
September 22, 2025 (only 2025 cohort): Lincoln
October 16-17, 2025: UNK Campus, Kearney
April 9-10, 2026: UNO Campus, Omaha
October 22-23, 2026: UNMC Campus, Omaha
April 8-9, 2027: UNL Campus, Lincoln
Jeffrey P. Gold
President
David Jackson
Interim Executive Vice President and Provost, NU System
Mark Button
Interim Executive Vice Chancellor, UNL
Tiffany Heng-Moss
Interim Vice Chancellor, Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources, UNL
H. Dele Davies
Interim Chancellor, UNMC
Julie Shaffer
Senior Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs, UNK
Phil He
Senior Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs, UNO
Executive Steering Committee
Linda Love
Director, Faculty Development, UNMC
Candice Batton
Assistant Vice Chancellor for Faculty Affairs, UNO
Nita Unruh
Associate Vice Chancellor for Academic & Student Affairs, UNK
Connie Schaffer
Director, Center for Faculty Excellence, UNO
Richard Bischoff
Associate Vice Chancellor for Faculty and Academic Leader Success, IANR
Kevin Hanrahan
Director of Faculty Development, UNL
Chris Marks
Associate Vice Chancellor for Faculty Affairs, UNL
