The Coordinating Commission for Postsecondary Education named Dr. Deborah A. Frison as its new chair at its May 30 meeting in North Platte. She will serve from July 1, 2019, to June 30, 2020. Dr. Frison has served as a commissioner since 2012 representing Nebraska Supreme Court Judicial District 2. Dr. Frison is Deputy Commissioner for School Improvement and Support for the Nebraska Department of Education. Prior to joining the Nebraska Department of Education, she served Omaha Public Schools for 38 years as a teacher and administrator, including seven years as principal at Omaha Burke High School.
The commission also voted for Dr. John Bernthal of Lincoln to serve as the vice chair during the coming year. Dr. Bernthal was appointed a commissioner in 2014, representing Nebraska Supreme Court Judicial District 1. Before retiring in 2011, Bernthal was a professor and served as chair of the Department of Special Education and Communication Disorders at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. Frison and Bernthal will be joined on the commission's Executive Committee by Gwenn Aspen of Omaha and Scott Wilson of Plattsmouth, the outgoing chair.
The commission consists of 11 members - six representing the state's judicial districts and five at-large. The commission currently has two at-large vacancies.