Concordia announces College of Education, Health and Human Sciences, names Elwell as dean

Concordia University, Nebraska has announced a new alignment of academic programs to enhance its College of Education. The college will be named the College of Education, Health and Human Sciences, effective July 1, 2015. Concordia has named Dr. Nancy Elwell dean of the college.

The College of Education, Health and Human Sciences will include approximately 40 percent of the university’s students, who will be part of five academic departments: Department of Teacher Education, Department of Christian Educational Leadership, Department of Intercultural Studies and Modern Languages, Department of Human and Social Sciences and Department of Health and Human Performance.

“The College of Education, Health and Human Services will be organized in a way that supports majors, minors, departments and opportunities for students whose call to service is to help people,” said Elwell. “The alignment of programs under one college expands the capability of students to more naturally and successfully nurture cognitive, social, emotional, physical and spiritual growth in others. We are excited to see how the synergies among the college’s programs will enhance the educational experience of our students.”

Elwell earned her bachelor’s degree in elementary education from Chadron State College. She continued her education to earn a master’s degree in educational psychology from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and a doctorate in psychology from Capella University in Minnesota.

"Dr. Elwell's creative and visionary teaching strategies will provide a valuable perspective to professors and students as she leads our expanding college," Concordia’s Provost Jenny Mueller-Roebke said. “She is driven by serving others, and that passion is sure to come through in her leadership of the programs within the College of Education, Health and Human Sciences.”

Elwell began her career at Concordia in 1997 as the director of student employment. She then transitioned into additional roles including director of the department of lifelong learning, director of the educational administration program at the graduate level and psychology instructor for nearly 15 years.

Elwell has taught more than 30 classes at Concordia in the undergraduate, graduate and degree completion programs. She was awarded with Concordia’s Outstanding Teaching Award in 2009.