The Association for Undergraduate Education at Research Universities (UERU) is pleased to announce that April Belback (University of Pittsburgh) and Amy Goodburn (University of Nebraska–Lincoln) have been named recipients of the UERU Leadership Award, the organization’s highest honor.
Established in 2025 in recognition of UERU’s 25th anniversary, the Leadership Award is conferred on no more than two individuals at each biannual Undergraduate Vice Provost (UVP) meeting. The award recognizes extraordinary volunteer service and sustained contributions to advancing UERU’s mission of improving undergraduate education at research universities.
Dr. April Belback, Associate Vice Provost for Student Success and Advising at the University of Pittsburgh, is recognized for her leadership in building UERU’s Advising Administration Community of Practice (AACoP) into one of the association’s most active and impactful communities. Thanks to her leadership, AACoP has expanded its reach and influence in recent years, not least of which is its role in the University of Pittsburgh’s annual Mentoring and Advising Summit which reaches over 3,000 advising practitioners globally.
Dr. Amy Goodburn, Senior Associate Vice Chancellor and Dean of Undergraduate Education at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln, is recognized for nine consecutive years of service on the UERU Board, including leadership roles as President-Elect, President, and Past President. During her tenure, she hosted a UVP Meeting and contributed extensively to UERU’s strategic direction through national conference planning, strategic planning efforts, and bylaws reform. Her leadership has been instrumental to UERU’s growth and development.
“In establishing the UERU Leadership Award, the Board sought to recognize a form of leadership that is sustained, generative, and oriented toward the collective advancement of undergraduate education at research universities,” said Dr. Steven P. Dandaneau, UERU’s Executive Director and Associate Provost at Colorado State University. “Dr. Belback’s work exemplifies how rigorous, intentional community-building can produce structures of lasting value. Dr. Goodburn’s contributions similarly reflect sustained engagement with the institutional and collaborative challenges central to UERU’s mission.”
UERU also recognizes the inaugural recipients of the Leadership Award, whose contributions helped define the standard of service and impact the award seeks to honor. These are Beth Loizeaux (Boston University emeritus), Michael Dennin (University of California, Irvine), Rachel Holloway (Virginia Tech), and Archie Holmes Jr. (University of Texas System), recognized in 2025 for their extraordinary service to the association.
As UERU continues to convene leaders across research universities, the Leadership Award underscores the association’s commitment to fostering a collaborative, national network dedicated to equity and excellence in undergraduate education.
About UERU
The Association for Undergraduate Education at Research Universities (UERU, pronounced "You-Roo") is a national consortium dedicated to transforming undergraduate education at research universities. UERU engages its 141 R1 and R2 university members and 8 international affiliates in collaborative projects, professional development, and knowledge creation. Founded in 2000 as the Reinvention Center and inspired by the landmark 1998 Boyer Commission report, UERU continues to shape the future of undergraduate learning. The UERU-sponsored Boyer 2030 Commission report, The Equity Excellence Imperative, has been downloaded over 40,000 times and provides a blueprint for undergraduate education at U.S. research universities. Hosted by Colorado State University since 2013, UERU supports leadership development through communities of practice, events, and publications that advance its equity and excellence mission. Learn more at ueru.org.
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