UNO Sr. Vice Chancellor Named to National Academic Board of Directors

Omaha – The University of Nebraska at Omaha’s (UNO) Senior Vice Chancellor for Academic and Student Affairs, B.J. Reed, was named today to the inaugural Board of Directors of the Association of Chief Academic Officers, ACAO.

The ACAO is the first national organization representing chief academic officers (CAOs), such as provosts and vice presidents for academic affairs, from all accredited higher education institutions. The organization provides a forum for discussing important academic affairs issues, as well as an environment where CAOs can communicate with, inform and educate one another.

Reed has served as UNO’s chief academic officer since January 2012. He has been at UNO since 1982 and has served as the chair of the then-Department of Public Affairs from 1985 to 2000 before becoming Dean of the College of Public Affairs and Community Service in September of 2000. Reed was appointed as Executive Assistant to the Chancellor in 2006 and served as interim Senior Vice Chancellor from September 2011 until his appointment in 2012.

In addition to his work at UNO, Reed has served as President of the National Council of the National Association of School of Public Affairs and Administration (NASPAA), chair of the Council on Peer Review and Accreditation for the NASPAA, as well as serving as chair of the Board of Directors of the Omaha Healthy Community Partnership, chair of the Omaha Community Partnership, co-chair of the Hate Crimes Coordination Council, president of the Dundee Memorial Park Neighborhood Association, chair of the Curriculum Committee for Leadership Omaha and as a member of the Omaha Housing Authority Board.

“It is an honor to be elected as to the board as a charter member and reflects the respect with UNO is held at a national level,” Reed said. “To be involved with building the foundation for this group is a unique opportunity that I believe will be incredibly rewarding."

The American Council on Education (ACE), in its role as a convener for higher education associations, has assisted in the organization’s start-up. The ACAO held its initial organizational meeting during ACE’s 2013 Annual Meeting in Washington, DC. The election of the association’s first officers and Board of Directors and approval of its bylaws took place at the March 2014 ACE Annual Meeting held in San Diego, Cal.

Wendy K. Wilkins, Executive VP and Provost Emerita at New Mexico State University, headed the Steering Committee of CAOs who worked to stand up the organization, serving as ACAO’s Interim President. Other steering committee members were Denise A. Battles, University of North Carolina, Wilmington; Doris Helms, Clemson University (SC); April Mason, Kansas State University; Steve O. Michael, Arcadia University (PA); and Carolyn J. Stefanco, Agnes Scott College (GA).

“The groundswell of support from CAOs across the country, and across institutional types, for ACAO has demonstrated the need for an organization of this character,” said Wilkins. “We anticipate a rapidly growing set of institutional members now that the organization is incorporated and the inaugural Board of Directors has been elected.”

Accepting its first members in 2013, ACAO has enrolled 75 institutions as charter members, in addition to association and individual members. The organization is actively soliciting institutional, association and individual members. Membership information is available at ACAO’s website, www.acao.org.

For question or media requests, please contact Charley Reed, UNO media relations coordinator, at unonews@unomaha.edu or by phone at 402.554.2129.

About the University of Nebraska at Omaha

Located in one of America’s best cities to live, work and learn, the University of Nebraska at Omaha (UNO) is Nebraska’s premier metropolitan university. With more than 15,000 students enrolled in 200-plus programs of study, UNO is recognized nationally for its online education, graduate education, military friendliness and community engagement efforts. Founded in 1908, UNO has served learners of all backgrounds for more than 100 years and is dedicated to another century of excellence both in the classroom and in the community.

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