Alan Tomkins Retires

By Mario Scalora, Professor of Psychology, Clinical and Law-Psychology Programs; Director University of Nebraska Public Policy Center

After 30 years of service to the University, Alan Tomkins resigned as Professor of Psychology and Director of the University of Nebraska Public Policy Center. Soon after he joined the faculty of the Law/Psychology Program at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln in 1986, Alan provided extensive administrative guidance and professional mentorship to the joint degree program. Trained as both an attorney and psychologist, Alan worked extensively to promote empirically-supported policy as well as legally-informed research and training. He wrote extensively detailing the nature and impact of cross-disciplinary training approaches. Alan is well known for his generous mentorship of a long line of graduate and post-doctoral trainees who have pursued public service oriented careers across a range of academic and applied settings.

Photo of Alan Tomkins
Alan Tomkins

As the founding director of the Public Policy Center, Alan oversaw a diverse research portfolio partnering with state and federal agencies on issues including, but not limited to, emergency preparedness, public engagement, risk assessment, as well as policy issues related to natural resources as well as behavioral health services. He also maintained an active research program addressing perceived trust in government, examining effective public participation as well as science communication. Alan’s role in developing a self-sustaining multidisciplinary university research center with such a broad impact cannot be understated.

Though he has resigned his Director and faculty positions, Alan still remains very professionally active. He is currently serving as Deputy Division Director for the social and economic sciences section of the National Science Foundation. He holds the title of Director Emeritus of the University of Nebraska Public Policy Center.

Alan’s contributions to the department and the University have been substantial, and he will be missed.