Deb Hamernik and David Jackson have been appointed new associate deans in UNL’s Agricultural Research Division.

Hamernik, who will arrive at UNL in March, is national program leader in the animal systems division of the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service. She also served as USDA’s program director for the National Research Initiative’s Bovine Genome Sequencing and Porcine Genome Sequencing programs, and before going to USDA, was a scientific review administrator with the National Institutes of Health. She also held faculty positions at the University of Arizona and UNL.

Hamernik received a bachelor’s degree in animal science from UNL, a master’s in animal science from Washington State University and a doctorate in reproductive endocrinology from Colorado State University.

Jackson, a professor in the Department of Food Science and Technology, is former interim head of that department and also served as an administrative intern in ARD.

Jackson has a bachelor’s degree in food science from Cornell University, and his master’s and doctorate in food science and technology from Texas A&M University.

Gary Cunningham, ARD dean,  said Jackson and Hamernik will play key roles in promoting interdisciplinary collaboration among units, tracking accountability for ARD research and helping with faculty development.

Cunningham said both Jackson and Hamernik would carry a teaching load in addition to administrative responsibilities.

Z B Mayo, associate dean for ARD, retired Nov. 1.