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The Christensen Community Chair in Early Childhood Welfare Search

In the fall of 2015, the Grace Abbott School of Social Work began the search for a tenure-track senior level professor that would also hold a five-year renewable appointment in partnership with the Buffett Early Childhood Institute.

Chancellor John Christensen
In the fall of 2015, the Grace Abbott School of Social Work began the search for a tenure-track senior level professor in social work that would also hold a five-year renewable appointment in partnership with the Buffett Early Childhood Institute. The appointment, originally called the Endowed Community Chair in Social Work in Early Childhood, was recently renamed. In June 2016, the University of Nebraska at Omaha announced the official renaming of the position as the Christiensen Community Chair, in honor of UNO Chancellor John E. Christensen. (Read the story.)

The GASSW faculty and staff agree that Chancellor Christensen is a social worker at heart."

 Amanda Randall, director, Grace Abbott School of Social Work

“It is such an honor for our school” says Amanda Randall, director of Grace Abbott School of Social Work about the naming, “The GASSW faculty and staff agree that Chancellor Christensen is a social worker at heart.”

The search committee for the Christensen Community Chair is made up a diverse group representing UNO, the Buffett Early Childhood Institute, and the Omaha child welfare community.

  • Kerry Beldin, Ph.D., is an assistant professor and MSW coordinator for the Grace Abbott School of Social Work and serves as co-chair of the search committee.
  • Deb Anderson, Ph.D., MSW, is the director of Connections at Project Harmony and also serves as co-chair of the search committee.
  • Jeanette Harder, Ph.D., CMSW, is a professor for Grace Abbott School of Social Work and director of Support and Training for the Evaluation of Program.
  • Theresa BArron-McKeagney, Ph.D., LCSW, is a professor and associate dean with the UNO College of Public Affairs and Community Service.
  • Dan Kissinger, Ph.D., LIMHP, is the chair of the UNO Counseling Department.
  • Christine Maxwell, Ph.D. is the director of Program Development for the Buffett Early Childhood Institute.
  • Jamalia Parker, MSW, is the director of Family Engagement Services at the Learning Communities of Douglas and Sarpy Counties.

Each member of the committee brings a wealth of knowledge and an enlightened perspective to the search. The search firm, Perrett Laver, is assisting with the search.

Dr. Harder says of UNO and the Christensen Community Chair, “I love that UNO has such an authentic focus on contributing to the local community as well as our state, national, and international communities. UNO invests significantly in bringing knowledge, leadership, and energy to making life better for all of its communities. The Omaha community, in turn, has a lot to offer as well—a passion and earnestness and determination that I have not experienced in other places. This endowed community chair position represents not only the best in inter-disciplinary collaboration, but also an investment in the present and future of Omaha and Nebraska.”