Dr. Shelton Hendricks

Dr. Shelton Hendricks passed away at home on August 22, 2016. The family suggests that memorials be directed to the Shelton Hendricks Neuroscience Fund at the University of Nebraska Foundation.

Tess Williams of the Omaha World-Herald writes, "Shelton Hendricks fell in love with science as a child and spent his life sharing that passion by inspiring students and faculty." World-Herald article.

Dr. Hendricks earned his Bachelor of Science, Master of Science, and Doctor of Philosophy from Tulane University. He accepted his first appointment as Assistant Professor of Psychology at the University of Nebraska at Omaha in 1969 and was promoted to professor in 1976. He also served as Professor of Psychiatry at the University of Nebraska Medical Center.

Dr Hendricks was Dean of the College of Arts & Sciences from 2001 to 2007. He served as Chair of the Department of Psychology from 1976 to 1980, President of the Faculty Senate from 1997-1999, and Dean of Graduate Studies and Associate Vice Chancellor for Research for UNO from 2000-2001.

What follows is a portion of a letter from Shelton Hendricks, written in 2003, at a time of serious budget cuts:

"I was reminded of a recent article in the Chronicle of Higher Education, the point of which was that the dean's job becomes very easy during budget crises. The dean does not have to make difficult decisions as to the allocation of resources; there is nothing to allocate. Everyone is sympathetic....However, there is one additional area, not mentioned in the article, in which I have experienced a sort of ease and indeed joy.

I really love defending the institution of the liberal arts college in general and the UNO College of Arts and Sciences in particular. Never in my professional life have I been so sure I am right and felt so committed to an idea and an enterprise. It is easy to justify the cost of something that is priceless. It is easy to defend the necessity of an institution that, in addition to being able to assert its importance to the economics and culture of our metropolitan region, can also take signficant credit for Western Civilization, the moral progress of human kind over the past 200 years, the advances of science, the functioning of our democracy, the increase in compassion and tolerance in our society, and the development of the information age in which we live.

I can also take pride in the students, faculty, and staff of this specific liberal arts college.

I do spend time worrying about some of the details. But most of the time what needs to be done is clear. Assurance that one is right and enthusiasm for the cause do not guarantee success. However, they make the pursuit of success a lot easier and allow for a good night of sleep. So, it's easy.