Jeff Reese has been named the next dean of the University of Nebraska–Lincoln’s College of Education and Human Sciences. He will also hold a faculty position as a professor of educational psychology.
Reese, an academic leader at Auburn University, will officially assume the dean position on July 1, pending University of Nebraska Board of Regents approval. Mark Button, interim executive vice chancellor and chief academic officer, made the announcement March 14.
"I am pleased to welcome Jeff to Nebraska," Button said. "He has significant experience as a department executive officer, leading undergraduate, graduate and professional programs at two R1 institutions. He is an acclaimed scholar and is committed to student success, research excellence and innovation, and our land-grant mission. He is values-driven and community-focused, and I am excited for the faculty, staff and students of the College of Education and Human Sciences under his leadership."
Reese comes to Nebraska from Auburn, where he is head of the Department of Special Education, Rehabilitation and Counseling and professor of counseling psychology. He has nearly 15 years of administrative experience, including serving as a department chair for four years at the University of Kentucky.
Reese began his career at Abilene Christian University, where he held multiple administrative roles in addition to being a member of the Department of Psychology faculty. As executive director for Abilene's Office of Career and Academic Development, he co-developed an academic alert system that was patented and is used by universities across the country.
He has received federal and foundation funding and has more than 70 peer-reviewed publications and book chapters. He is a co-author of "The Skilled Helper," a popular basic counseling skills text that has been translated into multiple languages, and recently completed a six-year term as associate editor for The Counseling Psychologist. He is a fellow of the American Psychological Association and has received multiple teaching and mentoring awards, including the University of Kentucky Alumni Association Great Teacher Award.
"I have great respect for the college's values and Nebraska's land-grant mission," Reese said. "I am impressed by the college's level of engagement as a community and in the community, the breadth of its portfolio, and the caliber of faculty, staff and students. I am grateful for the opportunity to lead this excellent college and excited to become a member of the Husker community."
The College of Education and Human Sciences is a one-of-a-kind college comprised of seven academic departments, with strong and important collaboration with the Institute for Agriculture and Natural Resources. Its work is dedicated to enhancing the lives of individuals, families, schools and communities, and strengthening the relationships among them. Reese will work with fellow deans and campus leaders, along with the college's leadership team and department chairs, to support the mission and vision of the college and its role within the university and state.
Reese holds a Bachelor of Science in psychology and a Master of Science in clinical psychology from Abilene Christian University. His doctorate in counseling psychology is from Texas A&M University.
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