The University of Nebraska-Lincoln's Center on Children, Families and the Law will hold a farewell reception to celebrate and thank Eve Brank, outgoing director of the center. The event will be 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Aug. 14 in the Olson Training Center, Sharp Building, 206 S. 13th St. Remarks and presentations will begin at 12:15 p.m.
The center, part of the College of Arts and Sciences, was established in 1987 to serve as a home for interdisciplinary research, teaching and public service on issues related to child and family policy. Brank became director in 2016 and has served for the last 10 years.
"I want to express my sincere gratitude to Dr. Eve Brank for her exceptional leadership of CCFL over the past decade," said Pat Dussault, interim dean of the College of Arts and Sciences. "Under her direction, the center has achieved remarkable success in community-engaged research and outreach and has become one of the College of Arts and Sciences’ top units for external funding and expenditures. Her contributions have strengthened CCFL's impact across Nebraska and beyond, and we are deeply appreciative of her service."
Brank first joined the center as a graduate research assistant in the fall of 1998 and remained through the spring of 2001, when she earned her doctorate from the University of Nebraska–Lincoln. Fifteen years later, she returned as the center's third director. Director appointments are made every five years, and Brank was reappointed in 2021.
In the fall of 2025, Brank announced she would not request another five-year appointment when her term ended at the end of the academic year. After a national search, the center appointed Dr. Keith Cruise as the next director. To ensure a smooth transition, Brank agreed to stay on until Cruise assumes leadership on Aug. 17.
"This was a tough decision for me, but I could not be more delighted to welcome Dr. Keith Cruise to the UNL-CCFL family," Brank said. "It has been a privilege working with this amazing group of people who tirelessly help the helpers, and I look forward to supporting the center’s ongoing mission and success."
Brank will remain at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln, continuing to serve as the College of Arts and Sciences’ associate dean for research and graduate education and an Aaron Douglas Professor of Psychology.
While it is impossible to capture all of Brank's contributions on behalf of the center over the past decade, several key achievements stand out.
As director, Brank established a new strategic plan, mission, and vision for the Center on Children, Families and the Law. She worked with other center faculty and staff to develop bylaws and organizational structures to support operations and long-term planning; restructured financial systems; improved internal and external communication; introduced onboarding, professional development, and mentoring programs that enhanced workplace culture and employee well-being; and strengthened collaboration with other university departments and outside organizations. Under Brank's leadership, the center has diversified its grant-based projects and exponentially expanded its work helping the helpers locally, regionally, and nationally.
"It is difficult to overstate the profound impact Eve’s leadership has had on CCFL. Her intelligence, compassion, and dedication have elevated the center in countless ways, helping it reach new heights while remaining true to its mission," said Christine Henningsen, associate director of the center. "Her legacy will continue to inspire and shape CCFL for years to come."
With deep gratitude, the center honors and celebrates Brank's years of service and congratulates her on her next chapter at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.
The reception for Brank is open to university faculty and staff by reservation. A light lunch will be served. RSVP here by July 31.
Read the article in Nebraska Today.
