Nebraska Wesleyan University has named Elizabeth MacLeod Walls as the new Dean of University College.

MacLeod Walls will be responsible for overseeing the university’s graduate programs including forensic science, historical studies, and nursing; the adult learning program — Wesleyan Advantage — which includes social work, organizational communication, business, and nursing; and the concurrent enrollment program for high school students, Wesleyan Honors Academy.

A native of Lincoln, MacLeod Walls received her undergraduate degree at Hiram College in Ohio and her Ph.D. in English at Texas Christian University. In January 2010, she was named president of BryanLGH College of Health Sciences, serving as the school’s second president and one of the youngest college presidents in the country. Most recently MacLeod Walls served as executive consultant for Catholic Health Initiatives Nebraska.

“The energy and vision that Elizabeth has demonstrated in her previous experiences promises to be a significant asset to Nebraska Wesleyan University,” said President Fred Ohles.

Many of the University College programs are offered both in Omaha and on Nebraska Wesleyan’s traditional campus in Lincoln. This summer NWU partnered with Iowa Western Community College (IWCC) to expand its Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree to IWCC’s Council Bluffs, Iowa, campus and Clarinda, Iowa, site. NWU also recently added a bachelor’s of social work degree to its Omaha site.

“Elizabeth’s arrival presents a great opportunity for Nebraska Wesleyan,” said Ohles. “We’ve expanded north to Omaha, east to Iowa, and I’m excited to see what direction we go next.”