Associate Vice Chancellor and Dean › Graduate Education
University of Nebraska-Lincoln • 123A SEH • Lincoln NE, 68583-0619 • 402-472-2875 • dhope1@unl.edu
Debra Hope has served as associate vice chancellor and dean of graduate education since September 2021. The position reports directly to the executive vice chancellor and includes oversight of Nebraska’s offices of graduate and postdoctoral studies.
Hope, Aaron Douglas Professor of psychology, is a nationally-recognized expert in the assessment and treatment of anxiety disorders, particularly social anxiety. She joined the University of Nebraska-Lincoln in 1990 as an assistant professor with a doctorate from the University at Albany-State University of New York. Hope has over 130 peer-reviewed articles, book chapters, books and other publications. She recently co-founded Trans Collaborations and has been the primary lead on funded research on improving behavioral health care for transgender and gender diverse adults. She has received numerous awards for her teaching and work on inclusive excellence, most recently the College of Arts and Sciences Dean’s Award for Excellence in Graduate Education in 2016; the Chancellor’s Martin Luther King, Jr. Fulfilling the Dream Award in 2016; and the College of Arts and Sciences Award for Outstanding Teaching in 2010 for both her graduate and undergraduate teaching.
Hope has a long history of leadership and significant service. She served for 13 years as graduate chair in psychology, presiding over a large and diverse program which has approximately 100 graduate students in residence and 32 graduate faculty. She was the chair of the Chancellor’s Commission on the Status of Women and co-chair of the College of Arts and Sciences’ Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, and Access Committee. She has also served her profession's national organization, as president of the Association of Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies.
Hope earned her Bachelor of Arts in psychology from Lewis & Clark College in Oregon and her Master of Arts and doctorate in clinical psychology from University at Albany - State University of New York. She uses she/her/hers pronouns.