Patricia Sollars stepped into her new role as the University of Nebraska-Lincoln’s director of Undergraduate Education Programs on Aug. 14.

Nancy Mitchell, who has led Undergraduate Education Programs since the inception of the Achievement Centered Education program in 2008, is returning to the faculty in the College of Journalism and Mass Communications.

The director of Undergraduate Education Programs oversees the Achievement-Centered General Education Program, undergraduate curriculum and assessment processes, transfer credit processes, academic learning communities, bulletin polices and processes and is on advisory committees related to undergraduate student success.

“Dr. Sollars has served on numerous institutional committees such as the Academic Planning Committee, the Faculty Senate Executive Committee, and the Enrollment Management Council,” said Amy Goodburn, associate vice chancellor for the Office of the Executive Vice Chancellor. “She has expertise with the curricular and assessment processes that support the undergraduate experience and a deep commitment to valuing faculty governance in decision-making.”

Sollars is associate professor of neuroscience in the School of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences. She has taught courses in neurobiology and neuroanatomy, has been a pre-vet academic advisor, and is a member of the school’s undergraduate curriculum committee. Her research examines circadian rhythm regulation and more recently has focused on the transport mechanisms used by neuroinvasive viruses. She earned her bachelor’s degree from St. John’s College in Annapolis and her doctorate in neurobiology from the University of Oregon.

“I am an ardent advocate of coherent general education programs such as ACE and truly believe in the benefits a broad and diverse education can provide to our students,” Sollars said. “I relish the opportunity to more fully support the university’s undergraduate education programs by serving as director.”