Here are five stories Nebraska students, faculty and staff need to be aware of for the week of Jan. 14.

State of the U Address

Chancellor Ronnie Green will deliver the State of the University address to faculty, staff, students and the community at 3:30 p.m. Jan. 15 at the Lied Center for Performing Arts, 301 N. 12th St. The address outlines priorities for the university in the coming year. It is traditionally held at the start of the fall semester, but it was shifted to align with the start of the start of the university’s 150th anniversary in 2019. Learn more about the speech.

Chancellor Ronnie Green talks with deans and directors during a town hall meeting, Jan. 9 at Nebraska Innovation Campus. Green will deliver the State of the University address Jan. 15.

Student Luminary nominations

Nominations are being accepted through Jan. 25 for Nebraska’s first-ever Student Luminary Awards. The new honor recognizes eight undergraduates and two graduate students for exceptional leadership and commitment. Each recipient will be awarded $1,000. Learn more about the award.

Arts and Sciences dean search continues

Finalists have been named in the university’s search for its next dean of the College of Arts and Sciences. The finalists are Christopher Boyer, Norma Bouchard, Valerio Ferme and Mark Button. On-campus interviews began Jan. 7 and continue through Jan. 18. The last two finalists — Ferme and Button — deliver public presentations Jan. 14 and Jan. 17, respectively. Learn more about the finalists and the search.

Finalists vying to serve as Nebraska’s next dean of Arts and Sciences are (from left) Christopher Boyer, Norma Bouchard, Valerio Ferme and Mark Button. Interviews will be held Jan. 7-18.

UPC Nebraska hosts hypnotist

Hypnotist Sailesh will perform at 7:30 p.m. Jan. 18 in the Nebraska East Union’s Great Plains Room. He will entertain the audience with a mix of hypnosis, improv, music and interactivity. The event is free for students with a valid NCard and $5 for faculty, staff and the public.

Courtesy photo

Hypnotist Sailesh will perform at 7:30 p.m. Jan. 18 in the Nebraska East Union’s Great Plains Room.

Rad drugs research

David Berkowitz, professor of chemistry, is helping lead a University of Nebraska research project aimed at developing drug therapies to protect soldiers from the effects of radiation exposure. The project, which is aligned with the university’s National Strategic Research Institute, recently received federal funding worth up to nearly $11 million over the next five years. The work may also be applied in other capacities, including cancer patients undergoing radiation treatment.

Craig Chandler | University Communication

Researchers Becky Deegan and Kenneth Bayles of UNMC and David Berkowitz of UNL are jumpstarting the development of drug therapies to protect military service members from the effects of radiation exposure. The same drug therapies could improve the health effects for cancer patients receiving radiation treatments. Photo taken in the Department of Radiation Oncology at the Fred & Pamela Buffett Cancer Center in Omaha, NE.