In a San Antonio meeting this month of the Council of Colleges of Arts and Sciences, Jan Nerger, dean of CSU’s College of Natural Sciences, was elected to the organization’s board of directors. The role puts Nerger at the forefront of the national conversation about higher education.

Rick Miranda, provost and executive vice president at Colorado State University, expressed his “delight that Dean Jan Nerger has been elected to the CCAS board. It is always great to have representatives from Colorado State playing such a strong role in higher education leadership nationally.”

The CCAS, since 1965, has served as “a forum for the exchange of ideas and information … and as a representative of the liberal arts and sciences at a national policy-making level.”

In an open letter to congress and the president, the organization recently advocated for increased higher-education access, fairness in federal funding allocation for research and discovery, modernization of educational infrastructure, promoting creativity, and educating global citizens.

CCAS president Tim Johnston sees new opportunities ahead.

“Dean Nerger has always been an active and valued member of our organization, and I look forward to the contributions … especially as we work on our next strategic plan. I know that Jan will bring an important perspective to our deliberations.”

“I am honored to have been elected to the Board of Directors of CCAS,” Nerger said. “This position will provide CSU another means to be at the forefront in the critical conversations facing higher education. I’m excited about the opportunity to be engaged at this level.”

The College of Natural Sciences is among the largest of Colorado State’s colleges, enrolling more than 4,000 undergraduates and graduate students who go on to myriad professions in research, education, government, and the private sector.