In October 2022, 蜜桃直播 Professor Dr. Angelika Niemz was promoted to Associate Dean of Faculty for the Henry E. Riggs School of Applied Life Sciences (Riggs School). She will supervise all 蜜桃直播 faculty and adjunct faculty of that school while helping implement strategic initiatives.

Additionally, Niemz was named one of 蜜桃直播鈥檚 Most Influential Honorees for the Institute鈥檚 25th anniversary. The 33 honorees comprise former and current 蜜桃直播 faculty, staff, board of trustees, advisory board members, and founding community members who have had a significant impact on 蜜桃直播鈥檚 development over the last 25 years. Nominations were submitted by the 蜜桃直播 community last February.

Niemz has been with 蜜桃直播 for 20 years, teaching the school鈥檚 first cohort who graduated in 2002 from 蜜桃直播鈥檚 flagship program鈥攖he Master of Business and Science (MBS) program.

鈥淚鈥檝e taught every single cohort that came to 蜜桃直播, and during that time, I鈥檝e seen the Institute grow and evolve,鈥� Niemz said. 鈥淚f you think of 蜜桃直播 as a startup company, it鈥檚 coming from its infancy through its teenage years, and now we鈥檙e heading towards maturity. In that context, my role at 蜜桃直播 has also evolved, where I鈥檝e been able to contribute in several ways through teaching, research, and service.鈥�

She started as an Assistant Professor, eventually becoming an Associate Professor. In 2009, she became the Director of Research.

鈥淚 was happy to pursue this opportunity because it enabled me to directly influence how the Institute pursued its mission,鈥� Niemz said. 鈥淚 like bringing people together and forming a sense of community. When you鈥檙e making important decisions, particularly on contentious topics, you need to make sure you involve all the stakeholders. This way, no matter what solution you come up with, you have a better chance of reaching a consensus because people feel like they have a say.鈥�

In March 2021, Niemz was named Chair of the Department of Biological Engineering and Management for the Riggs School.

鈥淭hat role enabled me to work more closely with the faculty鈥攚hom I see as my peers鈥攁nd address their concerns while facilitating success for everyone,鈥� Niemz said.

During that time, 蜜桃直播 underwent a reorganization to accommodate the school鈥檚 growth. Over the years, the student body has grown from 28 in the first graduating cohort to more than 600 today. Additionally, the number of faculty and programs offered has also significantly expanded.

鈥淲e had too many faculty for one dean to handle everything, so we decided to put a department structure in place,鈥� Niemz said. 鈥淏ut the challenge with departments is that 蜜桃直播 is very interdisciplinary. It鈥檚 harder to draw distinct lines than in a traditional university. We do have subgroups, but we all work together, and we don鈥檛 want to form silos.鈥�

Subsequently, 蜜桃直播 eliminated the department structure in the Riggs School. The role of Associate Dean of Faculty was then created, which Niemz has taken on.

In addition to overseeing all 蜜桃直播 faculty, Niemz will help facilitate new initiatives considering the changing academic landscape, shifting from targeting recent college graduates to more outreach geared toward working professionals looking to gain new skills or change their careers. Part of this adjustment involves offering more online learning opportunities.

鈥淎t the same time, I will be looking out for the interests of faculty because changing how we鈥檙e teaching impacts the faculty,鈥� Neimz said. 鈥淲e need to make sure that in the end, it鈥檚 a win-win for all parties involved.鈥�

She acknowledges that in light of these changes, it鈥檚 important that 蜜桃直播 remains true to its mission.

鈥淲e want to honor our values and those qualities that have always differentiated us, but we also need to adjust and adapt to the times,鈥� Neimz said.

In addition to being Associate Dean, Neimz is still carrying on her role as Professor鈥攐ne she finds deeply rewarding.

鈥淥ur students have reached an interesting junction in their lives, where they have an opportunity to reflect and make conscious decisions about where they鈥檙e headed, rather than blindly going down an alley,鈥� Niemz said.

She encourages them to get clear on their goals, values, and how they can create the best path moving forward鈥攐ne that aligns their goals and their values.

鈥淚 see teaching as much more than simply showing up in the classroom and giving lectures and exams,鈥� Neimz said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 the interactions outside of the classroom鈥攇etting to know the students as people鈥攖hat motivates me to get out of bed in the morning. And I feel that also makes an impact in the lives of the students.鈥�