The UNL Faculty Senate presented an academic freedom award to Patrick Jones and honored the distinguished career of Lloyd Ambrosius.
Patrick Jones, associate professor of history and ethnic studies, received the James A. Lake Academic Freedom Award. The honor was established in 1980 to recognize an individual who made exceptional contributions defending, supporting and explaining the applications and practice of the principles of academic freedom.
Jones led the effort to raise national and international awareness about the case of Waskar Ari, a Bolivian scholar who was hired by UNL but denied re-entry to the United States for unspecified reasons. Jones is also a campus contact for Scholars at Risk, an international network of academic institutions designed to support and defend the principles of academic freedom and to defend the human rights of scholars around the world. He has also merged his research and civic engagement to promote racial justice.
Lloyd Ambrosius, professor of history, received the Louis Pound-George Howard Distinguished Career Award. Established in 1990, the award recognizes individuals with a distinguished career of service to the university through teaching, research, public service, administration or a combination of factors.
In his 48 years at UNL, Ambrosius helped shape and guide the E.N. Thompson Forum on World Issues; has influenced policy makers, particularly in the context of U.S. foreign policy; has served in many capacities, including vice-chair and chair of the history department; and mentored dozens of graduate and undergraduate students. Ambrosius is also a leading scholar on President Woodrow Wilson.
