Omaha, Neb. — The Buffett Early Childhood Institute at the University of Nebraska has appointed Kimberly Harper as associate executive director for operations.

Harper will take on a new role at the Institute with responsibility for internal operations, administrative and financial management, and staffing.  Among other duties, she will partner with the leadership team in strategic planning, oversee project management, and be responsible for all human resources and hiring processes, including diversity initiatives, staff training, and development.

Harper comes to the Buffett Institute from the University of Nebraska's Information Technology Services department, where she was the assistant vice president for IT strategy and planning. Over the past 13 years she provided strategic planning and direction of ITS's budget and financial management, project and portfolio management, and human resource management functions. Before coming to ITS, Harper worked for the Office of the Provost, where she served as an institutional research analyst. She earlier worked in the market research industry as a data analyst and consultant.

“We are delighted that Kimberly is joining the Buffett Institute,” said Samuel J. Meisels, founding executive director. “She brings a wealth of administrative experience that will help ensure our ability to achieve our research and programmatic aims and will be a critical partner as the Institute continues to grow.”

“I am looking forward to becoming a part of the Buffett Institute team and helping to support their incredibly important work of transforming the lives of children through their learning and development,” Harper said.

Harper holds a master’s degree in social psychology from Kansas State University and a bachelor’s degree in psychology from the University of Nebraska ̶ Lincoln. She started work on Sept. 24.