Following a national search, Ellen Weissinger was selected by Chancellor Harvey Perlman to become UNL’s senior vice chancellor for academic affairs. The announcement was made Feb. 24. Weissinger had held the post in an interim role since Dec. 21, 2009. Her appointment was approved March 11 by the NU Board of Regents.

Weissinger, formerly dean of Graduate Studies, has held numerous administrative positions at UNL. She was appointed dean of Graduate studies on 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.”

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