CEHS Alumni

Dear CEHS Alums,

It is a privilege to write to you for the first time as interim dean of the College of Education and Human Sciences (CEHS). I began this role on Aug. 4 after six years as a faculty member and department chair in CEHS. I have always had a great appreciation for our college, but my first several weeks as interim dean have given me an opportunity to see even more of the work taking place across CEHS.

One of the best parts of these first six weeks has been meeting and talking with faculty, staff and students across the college. I have visited with several of our first-year students and have been struck by their excitement about being here and their expectations for their college experience. I am equally impressed by the talent and commitment of our faculty and staff and the way they put students first. They are committed to helping our students reach their personal and professional goals while continually developing new ways to prepare them for a changing career landscape.

We also have encouraging enrollment news to share this fall. Undergraduate enrollment in CEHS increased 2.4% to 2,400 students, our highest since 2022. First-time freshman enrollment increased 3.4% from last fall. The number of new freshmen from Nebraska remained stable, while nonresident first-time freshman enrollment increased 17%. These gains reflect the work of our faculty and staff to recruit students to CEHS and help them succeed once they are here.

One of the things I value most about CEHS is the breadth of our work. Across our programs, centers and departments, we are preparing students for a wide range of careers, conducting research that addresses important issues, and working with schools, families and communities throughout Nebraska and beyond. Although that work takes many forms, we share a commitment to enhancing the lives of individuals, families, schools and communities while strengthening the relationships among them.

As we look ahead, we will continue to focus on providing an outstanding, comprehensive educational experience for our students, growing enrollment, and strengthening our work in teaching, research, Extension and outreach. This is a time of change for our college and university, and we want to be thoughtful about how we build on the strengths of CEHS and pursue the opportunities ahead. I am fortunate to work alongside talented faculty, staff and students as we pursue the opportunities ahead.

Our alumni are an important part of the CEHS community. More than 54,000 of you are using your education and expertise in Nebraska, across the country and around the world. I greatly appreciate the many ways you support our college, our students and one another, and I hope you will continue to stay connected with CEHS.

Thank you for your continued support of the College of Education and Human Sciences. I look forward to sharing more about our students, faculty, staff and the work of CEHS in the months ahead.

Best,

Michael Merten
Interim Dean
College of Education and Human Sciences