Associate Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs / Dean of Graduate Studies

Deborah Smith-Howell, Ph.D.

Background

Dr. Smith-Howell came to UNO in 1989 as a faculty member in the then Department of Communication (now School of Communication). She served as chair of the department and the founding director of the School for eight and a half years.

Dr. Smith-Howell received her B.S. degree from Northern Michigan University, her M.A. from Louisiana State University, and her Ph.D. from the University of Texas-Austin. Her areas of specialization and research are communication education, presidential rhetorical, media coverage of the presidency and civic participation. She is co-author with Roderick P. Hart, Sharon Jarvis, and William Jennings of Political Keywords: Using Language that Uses Us, Oxford University Press, 2005. She received the 2004 UNO Chancellor's Commission on the Status of Women Outstanding Achievement Award.

Responsibilities

As Associate Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs, Dr. Smith-Howell is responsible for the Center for Faculty Development, Service Learning Academy/American Humanics program, and Civic Participation Project as well as UNO curriculum & program planning and evaluation. The UNO Honors Program, Thompson Learning Community, Air Force ROTC, and Center for Collaboration Science also report to her. She chairs the University Educational Policy Advisory Committee, Academic Planning Council and General Education Task Force—a UNO AQIP action project. She is a member of the Academic Quality Improvement Program (AQIP) Steering Committee as well as the university Strategic Planning Steering Committee for which she has served as facilitator and co-facilitator. Dr. Smith-Howell also serves as Dean for Graduate Studies.

Supervisory Responsibilities

AFROTC

Avenue Scholars

Center for Faculty Development

Curriculum & Program Development and Approval

Dual Enrollment (Faculty Liason)

General Education

Graduate Studies

Nonprofit Leadership Alliance

OASA Facilities Liason

Project Achieve

Service-Learning Academy

Student-Community Leadership & Service Office

Thompson Learning Communities

University Honors Program

UNO / OPS Middle College

Contact Information

Dr. Deborah Smith-Howell
Associate Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs
University of Nebraska - Omaha
6001 Dodge Street
Eppley Administration Building 202
Omaha, NE 68182
402.554.2262
dsmith-howell@unomaha.edu