Steve Goddard has been appointed to the position of interim dean in the College of Arts and Sciences. Ellen Weissinger, senior vice chancellor for academic affairs, announced the appointment on May 15.

Goddard will formally accept the appointment, which is pending Board of Regents approval, July 1.

A member of UNL’s faculty since 1998, Goddard has been chair of the Department of Computer Science and Engineering since August 2008. He has served on the Chancellor’s Commission on the Status of Women, the ADVANCE-Nebraska Faculty Committee, the UNL Faculty Senate’s Intercollegiate Athletics Committee and has for the past several months led a campuswide task force to study the potential role and impact of MOOCs — massive online open courses — at UNL.

“Over the last few days, I have been able to consult with several department chairs and directors in the college and have found universal respect for Steve’s integrity and vision,” Weissinger said. “I’m confident in Steve’s academic values and know that he has the administrative experience to be effective in all aspects of the dean role.”

In accepting the interim appointment, Goddard informed Weissinger that he would not be a candidate for the permanent position. He said he would focus on maintaining the college’s momentum as the process to find a new, permanent dean for the college advances.

“I’m honored to have this opportunity to serve the college and the university,” Goddard said. “UNL is a tremendous asset to the state of Nebraska, and I’m looking forward to working with faculty and staff during this time and to help prepare the college for a new dean.”

Before joining UNL, Goddard worked in the computer industry for 13 years, including nine as president of his own company. A Minnesota native, he received a bachelor of arts degree in computer science and mathematics from the University of Minnesota in 1985 and earned his master’s and doctoral degrees in computer science from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

Weissinger said a national search for a permanent dean would begin immediately. Susan Poser, dean of the College of Law, will chair the search committee, to be formed by early July.

David Manderscheid announced his decision to step down as dean of UNL’s College of Arts and Sciences on May 14. He has accepted the position of vice provost and executive dean of the College of Arts and Sciences at Ohio State University.

— Steve Smith, University Communications