2023-2024 Leadership Faculty Fellows Announced

Academic Affairs is pleased to announce Ramazan Kilinç, Ph.D., professor of political science and Amy Morris, Ph.D., professor of art history and Director of the School of the Arts, as the University of Nebraska at Omaha’s newest Leadership Faculty Fellows (LFF).

As LFF, Kilinç and Morris will support the efforts to reimagine the assessment and review processes for program vitality efforts and support efforts to enhance decision making by colleges and units across the UNO campus, working collaboratively with Academic Affairs. By working closely with Sarah Edwards, Ph.D., Assistant Vice Chancellor for Curriculum and Programs and Matt Tracy, Ph.D., Senior Director of General Education, Academic Assessment, and Dual Enrollment they will explore opportunities to more effectively integrate assessment to inform program vitality and sustainability.

“With great joy, we embrace the arrival of Dr. Kilinç and Dr. Morris as they join Academic Affairs as Leadership Fellows.” said Edwards. “They bring fresh perspectives, knowledge, and commitment to our shared pursuit of excellence and UNO’s engaged metropolitan mission.”

The LFF program allows faculty to develop leadership skills while working collaboratively on campus initiatives in ways that expand capacity within Academic Affairs in areas such as program assessment, general education curriculum changes, and more.

Kilinç, who earned his Ph.D. in 2008 from Arizona State University, serves as Professor and Graduate Program Chair in the Department of Political Science and served as Director of Islamic Studies Program between 2013 to 2023. His teaching and research focus on religion and politics, democratization, Middle East, and Turkey.

Morris earned her Ph.D. from Indiana University Bloomington (2006) and currently serves as Professor of Art History and Director of the School of the Arts, which includes Art & Art History, Theatre, and Writer's Workshop. A specialist in Northern Renaissance art, her research interests include altarpiece iconography, artistic self-awareness, and technique. Each Spring she teaches a British Art Survey study abroad course.

The LFF program was originally launched in the 1990s as Administrative Leadership Academies and re-launched in 2012 as Administrative Faculty Fellows. Since 2012, seven faculty have served as fellows and, in the years following their service, have gone on to hold key leadership positions across the university.