Three faculty received the College Outstanding Research and Creative Activity Award:
- Liangcheng Du, Chemistry
- Mario Scalora, Psychology
- Ken Price, English
Six faculty received the College Distinguished Teaching Award:
- Jordan Soliz, Communication Studies
- Jody Koenig Kellas, Communication Studies
- Jeffrey Stevens, Psychology
- Chad Brassil, School of Biological Sciences
- Nora Peterson, Modern Languages and Literatures
- Jeannette Jones, History and Institute for Ethnic Studies
Eight faculty received awards and professorships.
Maureen Honey, professor of English, received the Annis Chaikin Sorensen Award, which recognizes an individual for outstanding teaching in the humanities. Honey joined UNL in 1979 and is a leading scholar of American modernism. She has made important pedagogical contributions both in and outside the classroom. Through literature, her students come to understand the cultural history of America.
Michael Dodd, associate professor of psychology, is the inaugural recipient of the Outstanding Undergraduate Research Mentor Award. The honor recognizes an individual who has demonstrated excellence in mentoring and supporting undergraduate researchers.
Dodd has a significant impact on undergraduate research and goes above and beyond to find projects that match his students’ interests. He works diligently to foster those interests.
An undergraduate research assistant said Dodd's "optimism gave me a drive to constantly attempt to better myself, conduct the best possible and most sound research, and with the right attitude, anything is possible.”
Jason Kautz, associate professor of practice in chemistry, is the 2016 recipient of the Hazel R. McClymont Award. The award is chosen by the faculty instructional development committee and honors exemplary teaching. Kautz has taught at UNL since 2004. He will be recognized April 22 during the college’s Celebration of Excellence.
The other award recipients are:
- Yvonne Lai, Mathematics, received the Harold and Esther Edgerton Junior Faculty Award.
- Frances Kaye, English, received the Louis Pound-George Howard Distinguished Career Award
Willa Cather/Charles Bessey Professorships were established in 2001 to recognize faculty members with the rank of full professor who have established exceptional records of distinguished scholarship or creative activity. Individuals awarded the professorship may elect either the Cather or Bessey designation. They are known as Cather or Bessey professors and professor of (field). Learn more about these professorships here.
The recipients are:
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Gwendolyn Foster, professor of English, was hired as an assistant professor in 1996, promoted to associate professor in 2001 and to full professor in 2005. Foster is an important voice in film studies. Her scholarly work includes 13 authored or edited books, many refereed and invited articles and keynote lectures in such places as Columbia University and the Museum of Modern Art. She serves as an editor for journals and two book series and is an innovative and tireless teacher.
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Kimberly Tyler, professor of sociology, joined UNL in 2004 as an associate professor and was promoted to full professor in 2010. She has published 64 peer-reviewed articles, primarily in specialized journals in sociology. She has obtained more than $1.4 million in National Institutes of Health grants, including a K01 award and several smaller grants. Tyler works extensively with both graduate and undergraduate students and received the College’s Excellence in Graduate Education award in 2013.
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Melanie Simpson, professor of biochemistry, joined UNL in 2002. Simpson leads campus research focused on molecular mechanisms that contribute to advanced prostate cancer. Her laboratory contributions are recognized in publications across a wide range of high-impact journals and books. She has recently taken on new leadership roles in graduate education at UNL as co-leader through a successful National Institutes of Health T32 grant proposal. Simpson was awarded the Susan J. Rosowski professorship in 2011.
Mehmet Can Vuran was named Susan J. Rosowski Associate Professor of Computer Science and Engineering. The professorship recognizes faculty at the associate professor level who have achieved distinguished records of scholarship or creative activity and who show exceptional promise for future excellence.
Can Vuran joined UNL as an assistant professor in 2007 and was promoted to associate professor in 2013. During his time at UNL, he has established himself as a highly-regarded researcher in wireless communication networks and has engaged in a large number of successful interdisciplinary collaborations. He received a National Science Foundation Career grant and has been the principle investigator on seven external grants, totaling more than $1.7 million. Can Vuran has a strong record of engaging and mentoring undergraduate students in research.
