Sara Myers, Ph.D., Appointed Associate Vice Chancellor for Research and Creative Activity

“I want to welcome and congratulate Dr. Myers, a visionary leader who deeply understands the significance of research and its transformative power,” said Phil He, Senior Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs. “With Dr. Myers’ expertise, commitment and vision, I am certain that we will reach new heights of innovation, research, and creative activity.”

Dr. Myers is a Professor of Biomechanics, who began her tenure at UNO in 2005. She joined the Office of Research and Creative Activity (ORCA) as Assistant Vice Chancellor for Research in the STEM disciplines in 2016 and most recently served as Interim Associate Vice Chancellor (AVC) for ORCA since October 2022.

Since being appointed Interim AVC for ORCA, Dr. Myers has led efforts to enhance support for student research and creative activity programs by developing training for graduate students applying for fellowships and seeking additional funding for the Fund for Undergraduate Scholarly Experience (FUSE) and the Graduate Research and Creative Activity (GRACA) student programs. She is also working collaboratively with Academic Affairs to expand support for faculty research and creative activity in new faculty onboarding and academic administrator training and to also heighten the visibility of research and creative activity excellence at UNO and on a broader scale.

“I am so grateful and excited to be leading UNO’s Office of Research and Creative Activity,” Dr. Myers said. “UNO’s scholarly activities are known nationally and internationally and also contribute to fulfilling our metropolitan mission here in Omaha. In recent years, we have experienced tremendous growth in campus research and creative activity, and I plan to work hard to continue that trajectory.”

Previously, as Assistant Vice Chancellor for Research (focused on STEM disciplines), Dr. Myers contributed to setting the strategic direction for research on UNO’s campus; facilitated collaborations across campus and the University of Nebraska System; mentored and facilitated the success of junior faculty; oversaw ORCA’s internal funding/seed programs; oversaw and ensured research compliance; represented UNO on the university’s federal relations team; and served as liaison to UNO’s technology transfer partner, UNeMed. Dr. Myers has also led the development of new UNO faculty collaborations with the United States Department of Defense research labs, which led to a new Cooperative Research and Development Agreement (CRADA) with the Association of Research Libraries (ARL) and contracts to perform research and development at UNO.