College of Public Affairs and Community Service
About the Search
The University of Nebraska at Omaha (UNO) and its College of Public Affairs and Community Service (CPACS) seek a visionary, strategic leader to serve as the next dean of the college, starting in 2024.
The next dean will have the opportunity to lead collaborative efforts to build on the college’s many successes and develop a compelling vision for CPACS' future. The dean will enhance and grow the college's research and creative activity enterprise, develop and advance a strategic enrollment management strategy, and prepare CPACS graduates for professional success while strengthening UNO's connection to Omaha. The dean will be a champion for student, faculty, and staff success while advocating for the college and it's programs.
Search Committee Members
Juan Casas, Dean of Graduate Studies - Search Committee Co-ChairDavid Richards, Dean of Library Services - Search Committee Co-Chair
Candice Batton, Assistant Vice Chancellor for Faculty Affairs - ex officio member
Sam Clinkinbeard, Assistant Dean, College of Public Affairs and Community Service - ex officio member
Nellie Beyan-Olabige, Academic Advisor, Division of Continuing Studies
Christine Billings, Director, Division of Continuing Studies
Angela Eikenberry, Professor, School of Public Administration
Mark Foxall, Community Service Associate, School of Criminology and Criminal Justice
Liam Heerten-Rodriguez, Assistant Professor, Grace Abbott School of Social Work
Julie Masters, Professor, Gerontology
Patty Patton Shearer, Coordinator of Academic Services, Goodrich Scholarship Program
Tara Richards, Associate Professor, School of Criminology and Criminal Justice
Josie Schafer, Director, Center for Public Affairs Research
Stevie Seibert Desjarlais, Assistant Professor, Goodrich Scholarship Program
Rhonda Sheibal Carver, Business Manager, Dean’s Office
Scott Vlasek, Director, Aviation Institute
Sara Woods, UNO Chief Engagement Officer
Edouardo Zendejas, Senior Lecturer, Tribal Management and Emergency Services
Leadership Profile and Application Information
Additional information about the CPACS Dean search can be found in the Leadership Profile including information about the opportunity and the college as well as about UNO and Omaha. Applications must be submitted electronically via the UNO Employment website by Friday, January 5, 2024 to receive full consideration.
Inquiries about the opportunity should be directed to Juan Casas, Search Committee Co-Chair at jcasas@unomaha.edu or David Richards, Search Committee Co-Chair at derichards@unomaha.edu. Candidate nominations are welcome and should be submitted to Candice Batton at 402.554.4452 or cbatton@unomaha.edu. All inquiries and nominations will be held in the strictest of confidence.
Our College | Our Campus | Our City
The College of Public Affairs and Community Service
The College of Public Affairs and Community Service (CPACS) comprises eight units and several subunits. Our programs are interdisciplinary and work with countless local, national, and international organizations to make a difference in communities in Nebraska and around the world. As our state's highest ranked college, we have eight programs ranked in the top 25 in the nation by U.S. News & World Report.
The University of Nebraska at Omaha
UNO is Nebraska’s metropolitan university – a university with strong academic values and significant relationships with our community that transforms and improves the lives of those on a local, regional, national, and international level.
For more than 100 years, UNO has been firmly anchored in its community, forging partnerships with business, government, education, arts, and civic organizations. Today, the campus is known for its student-centered environment, its community engagement, and its dedication to embracing students from all types of backgrounds.
Omaha, Nebraska
Located on the eastern border of Nebraska, near the Missouri River, the city of Omaha is a center of creativity, business, and philanthropy. This is where Fortune 500 companies, visionary nonprofits, award-winning arts and culture, and innovative start-ups flourish and attract a range of world-class talent—from entrepreneurs to artists.
Omaha is more than simply our location; the city truly functions as part of the UNO campus. With a population of more than 1.2 million within a 50-mile radius, Omaha is integral to what UNO is as a university and offers unlimited opportunities for collaboration. UNO and Omaha enjoy a dynamic, fruitful, long-term partnership with a shared goal: changing the lives of students and residents while enriching the global community.