Following a national search, Ellen Weissinger, interim senior vice chancellor for academic affairs, has been selected by Chancellor Harvey Perlman to take over that position permanently on March 15. The action is pending approval by the University of Nebraska Board of Regents.

Weissinger, formerly dean of Graduate Studies, was appointed interim vice chancellor Dec. 21, 2009, by Perlman. She held numerous administrative positions at UNL before being appointed dean of Graduate Studies Jan. 18, 2008. She was the associate director of the Buros Institute for Mental Measurements (1992-94), associate dean of Teachers College (1995-99) and executive associate dean of Graduate Studies (2002-08).

A professor of educational psychology specializing in quantitative research methodology, she has taught research methods courses in the quantitative and qualitative methods in education program, including foundations of educational research, survey methods, experimental methods and evaluation theory. She was recognized with the UNL Teachers College Distinguished Teaching Award in 1999. She specialized in psychometric research and has published three measurement instruments. From 1996 to 2001, she served as editor of the Journal of Leisure Research.

A Nebraska native and graduate of Omaha North High School, Weissinger finished her undergraduate degree from UNL in 1980. She completed her master of arts degree from the University of Iowa in 1982 and a doctorate from the University of Maryland in 1985. She taught at the University of Iowa for one year before joining the UNL faculty in 1986. She was promoted to associate professor in 1992 and professor in 1999.

“I am delighted that Dr. Weissinger agreed to become a candidate,” Perlman said. “She has been tested against candidates that surfaced in a national search, she has secured the strong and enthusiastic support of a broad segment of the campus, and she has demonstrated in her tenure as interim that she is not afraid to make the hard decisions necessary to move UNL forward into the Big Ten.”

The Office of the Senior Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs is responsible for the administration, coordination, and development of all UNL academic activities and functions. Academic Affairs provides academic leadership for UNL programs and works in cooperation with the Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources. The UNL academic deans report directly to the senior vice chancellor for academic affairs.

Former senior vice chancellor Barbara Couture was appointed president of New Mexico State University in November 2009. Weissinger was one of five candidates to replace Couture who were interviewed on campus as finalists following the national search under the direction of a search committee and a consultant.

• Kelly Bartling, University Communications