U. of Nebraska chooses Purdue professor as dean

Purdue University will lose one of its most distinguished faculty members when Joseph Francisco leaves to be a dean at another Big Ten university.

Francisco, the William E. Moore Distinguished Professor of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences and Chemistry, will become dean of the College of Liberal Arts & Science at the University of Nebraska, effective July 1. That university announced the move Friday.

Francisco, whose research is focused on spectroscopy, kinetics and photochemistry, was elected last year to the National Academy of Sciences and was president of the American Chemical Society in 2010. Since 2010, he has been one of 12 members of the President’s Committee on the National Medal of Science. He has been at Purdue since 1995.

“As a researcher and an educator, Joe has demonstrated the highest level of performance at every stage of his career, and he has a rare talent for inspiring excellence in others,” said Ellen Weissinger, Nebraska’s senior vice chancellor of academic affairs.

“His spirited leadership style focuses on enhancing undergraduate education, furthering important interdisciplinary research, and building a rigorous academic culture that evokes great value from diverse people and ideas.”

Francisco, who did not immediately respond to the J&C’s request for comment, solved a 40-year search for an unusual molecule that could help reduce acid rain.

Provost Tim Sands said Francisco’s move is Purdue’s loss.

“Although we are losing one of our most accomplished scientists and a dedicated faculty member, we at Purdue are very pleased for professor Francisco,” Sands said. “He will bring passion, innovative thinking and an appreciation for academic excellence in all of its dimensions to the University of Nebraska.

“As he will be joining a sister land-grant campus that is also a member of the Committee on Institutional Cooperation, Joe and Purdue will remain partners in many important initiatives that span our campuses.”

Jeffrey Roberts, dean of the College of Science, said, “We’ll miss Joe Francisco.”

“We are grateful for the years he’s spent as a member of the Boilermaker family,” he said. “Joe’s had a huge impact on Purdue, as a mentor, teacher, researcher and administrator.”

“It is no surprise to me that an institution of Nebraska’s caliber has recruited Joe to one of its top administrative positions.”