The University of Nebraska–Lincoln has named two additional finalists for assistant vice chancellor for inclusive leadership and learning within the Office of Diversity and Inclusion.
All candidates were selected through a national search. The second candidate duo will visit campus Dec. 13-14. They will participate in all-day interviews, including hour-long public presentations with a question-and-answer opportunity at 11:15 a.m. each day. The presentations are open to the public.
The additional finalists and public presentations are:
• Margaret Browne Huntt, assistant director for strategic research initiatives and chief diversity officer for the Cancer Center at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign — 11:15 a.m., Dec. 13, Nebraska Union, Swanson Auditorium; and
• Jennifer PeeksMease, associate professor of organizational and cultural communication at James Madison University — 11:15 a.m., Dec. 14, Nebraska Union, Swanson Auditorium.
“The appointment of the assistant vice chancellor for inclusive leadership and learning is a critical role in our efforts to streamline and expand diversity and inclusion education and leadership development opportunities at Nebraska,” said Marco Barker, vice chancellor for diversity and inclusion. “Education is foundational to inclusive excellence and to the successful implementation of our N2025 Strategic Plan goals. Finding an innovative, thought leader to continue this work is important to the future of our institution, and I commend the search committee on their hard work.”
The search committee is chaired by Nick Monk, director of the university’s Center for Transformative Teaching.
“The search committee was delighted to receive a large number of high-quality applications for the AVC role from exceptionally well-qualified candidates,” Monk said. “The applications were particularly strong, and we are excited that (the finalists) will be sharing their ideas with us on their campus visit.”
For each public presentation, the candidates have been asked to describe how they would design inclusive leadership and learning experiences that leverages faculty, staff and students, and builds capacity for the university community to incorporate inclusive excellence in its practice, teaching, engagement and leadership.
Details about each candidate and links to provide feedback are below.
Nebraska’s Office of Diversity and Inclusion is tasked with collaborating across campus, shaping policies, protocols and practices necessary to advance diversity, equity and inclusion in the university’s recruitment, retention, education and research efforts.
The assistant vice chancellor for inclusive leadership and learning reports to the vice chancellor for diversity and inclusion and will serve as a leader in the Office of Diversity and Inclusion. They will also be a leader of diversity education and leadership development for the university.
The position will develop and coordinate efforts that develop, build and enhance the diversity, equity and inclusive-based learning offered through the Office of Diversity and Inclusion. The assistant vice chancellor will develop and coordinate efforts that build diverse staff talent searches, onboarding, retention and success.
Additionally, the position will provide thought leadership, education and consultative services that facilitate a shared responsibility for advancing institutional learning goals; will provide support for university committees, groups and programs aimed at building an inclusive campus community; and will facilitate or lead programs and initiatives that positions the office and the university as a national model for diversity and inclusion.
The first two candidates, Rory James and Khrys FuQua’, interviewed on Nov. 8-9.
Margaret Browne Huntt
Public Presentation: 11:15 a.m. to 12:15 p.m., Dec. 13, Nebraska Union, Swanson Auditorium Attend via Zoom
Margaret Browne Huntt, Ph.D., serves as the assistant director for strategic research initiatives and chief diversity officer for the Cancer Center at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Browne Huntt has been with the Cancer Center since its inception and plays a vital role in developing and executing the center’s activities. She supports the center’s strategic research activities, partnerships and special projects by building collaborative research networks. She aids in the assessment and development of numerous research and strategic thematic areas. She also works with institutional stakeholders — both internal and external — to determine infrastructure needs and implements processes to promote those collaborations. She leads in the administration of the center’s strategic planning process, the development and execution of new programs, and engagement opportunities with clinical partners.
Browne Huntt’s proven administrative and facilitative skills have furthered the integration of vision, decision-making, and resource allocation. She has more than a decade of experience in diversity, equity, inclusion, and access research and training within higher education. She is a co- principal investigator of the Racial Microaggression Interdisciplinary Research Project. She is a research assistant professor in the College of Education and an affiliate of the Epstein Health and Policy Program in the College of Law, both at the University of Illinois.
Her master’s and doctoral degrees are from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign’s Educational Organization and Leadership Higher Education Administration program.
The candidate evaluation form is available here.
Jennifer PeeksMease
Public Presentation: 11:15 a.m. to 12:15 p.m., Dec. 14, Nebraska Union, Swanson Auditorium Attend via Zoom
Jennifer PeeksMease (also Mease) earned her doctorate in communication studies from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and her Master of Arts in human communication from Arizona State University. Her diversity, equity and inclusion experience spans research, consulting, pedagogy, programing and strategy.
Mease is currently an associate professor of organizational and cultural communication at James Madison University where she serves on the co-chair team for the 150-plus member Task Force for Racial Equity, serves on the steering committee for the Intergroup Dialogue Program, and is the co-founder and coordinator for the Wake Up program, the AAAD Accomplice Network, and the Community Engagement Liaison Program with the Office of Community Service-Learning.
Her research addresses how social bias is built into organizational structures, and how individuals and groups cope with, challenge and change those structures. Her consulting experience includes diversity and inclusion work, executive coaching, and team development. In all aspects of her work, she is guided by her commitment to courageous humility and to creating the conditions under which all people can be the best versions of themselves.
The candidate evaluation form is available here.
