Accolades, December 2018

Accolades News for Researchers

Posted January 4, 2019 by Ashley Washburn

Awards, Honors and Recognitions 

Deb Cosgrove, accountancy, was recognized as a Beta Alpha Psi Outstanding Faculty Advisor for 2018. She has received this honor from the international accounting, finance and information systems organization for multiple years.

Sherilyn Fritz, earth and atmospheric sciences and biological sciences, received the Israel C. Russell Award from the Limnogeology Division of the Geological Society of America for her work in lake research. The award recognizes major achievements in limnogeology, the study of lake systems and their deposits, through contributions in research, teaching and service.

Ron Hanson, agricultural economics (emeritus), received the Silver Eagle Award from the Nebraska Farm Bureau at the group’s annual convention, Dec. 4 in Kearney. The award, the bureau’s highest honor, recognizes an individual or entity for outstanding contributions to Nebraska agriculture. Hanson was honored for teaching and advising excellence, and contributions in the area of farm and ranch family ownership succession, during his 43-year career at the university.

Sang M. Lee, management (emeritus), received the inaugural Lifetime Distinguished Educator Award from the Decision Sciences Institute, a global society dedicated to developing and fostering knowledge to improve management decisions and decision-making involving systems and people. The award honors exceptional contributions to teaching and learning in the decision sciences. Lee, selected for his pioneering work in innovation and global strategy, was honored at the organization’s 49th annual conference, Nov. 18 in Chicago.

Robert “Bob” Wilhelm, vice chancellor for research and economic development, and Lyle Middendorf, senior vice president of advanced research and development, and chief technology officer, at LI-COR Biosciences, were named fellows of the National Academy of Inventors. This is the highest professional distinction for academic inventors who have demonstrated a prolific spirit of innovation in creating or facilitating inventions with tangible social impacts. Wilhelm, who is also Kate Foster Professor of mechanical and materials engineering, was selected for his expertise as an engineer, inventor and administrator. Middendorf, a 1973 Nebraska graduate, was honored for his work at LI-COR, a global manufacturer of scientific instrumentation, and his collaborations with university faculty focused on innovations in DNA sequencing and fluorescent-labeled DNA, which resulted in eight university patents. Wilhelm and Middendorf will be inducted April 11 during the NAI annual meeting in Houston.

Charles Wortmann, agronomy and horticulture, received the International Agronomy Award from the American Society of Agronomy. The award recognizes outstanding contributions in research, teaching, extension or administration made outside the U.S. Wortmann was honored for excellence in improving nutrient management, soil conservation and the environmental integrity of crop production systems in sub-Saharan Africa, Latin America and the Caribbean. He was recognized at the annual international meeting of the ASA, Crop Science Society of America and the Canadian Society of Agronomy, Nov. 3-6 in Baltimore.

The Department of Computer Science and Engineering received the Prosper Lincoln Step Up award for its leadership in planning and hosting the Reverse Pitch and State of the Practice events, which connected students to tech industry opportunities in Lincoln. Prosper Lincoln is an organization dedicated to improving the city through initiatives in early childhood education, employment, and innovation and entrepreneurship.

Professional Involvement

Richard Bischoff, associate vice chancellor for faculty and academic leader success, and Amy Goodburn, senior associate vice chancellor and dean of undergraduate education, were selected as fellows in the Academy for Innovative Higher Education Leadership. The eight-month program, now in its sixth year, focuses on preparing fellows to lead organizational change at colleges and universities. It is hosted by Arizona State and Georgetown universities.

Ken Bloom, physics and astronomy, was selected to serve on the advisory board of the National Science Foundation-funded Extreme Science and Engineering Discovery Environment. The initiative is the world’s most advanced and robust collection of integrated digital resources and services, offering a single virtual computing system through which scientists interactively share resources, data and expertise. The advisory board will help the project provide maximum impact across diverse scientific disciplines and communities.

Kristen Olson, sociology, was appointed to the Board of Scientific Counselors of the National Center for Health Statistics, part of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The board provides advice and makes recommendations to the secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the director of the CDC, and the director of the NCHS regarding the center’s scientific and technical program goals and objectives, strategies and priorities.

Publishing Honors

Iker González-Allende, modern languages and literatures, published “Hombres en Movimiento: Masculinidades Españolas en los Exilios y Emigraciones, 1939–1999” (“Men in Motion: Spanish Masculinities in Exiles and Migrations, 1939-1999”) with Purdue University Press. The publication offers the first sustained study of how the Spanish masculine identity of both homosexual and heterosexual men is affected when men are compelled to leave their country.

Amelia Montes, English and ethnic studies, is author of an upcoming memoir, “Defining La Rumorosa and Borderlands,” an excerpt of which was nominated for a Pushcart Prize. The prize honors the best poetry, short fiction and essays published by small presses each year.

Pat Tetreault, director of the LGBTQA+ Resource Center, is among the authors of “Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Americans at Risk,” which was named best book in the LGBTQ nonfiction category at the American Book Fest. The book explores the LGBTQ+ experience in three volumes organized by phases of life – youth, middle age and old age. Tetreault co-wrote the chapter “Religious Freedom Restoration Acts: Balancing Religious Freedom and Equality Under the Law.”

Other News

Tiffany Heng-Moss was named permanent dean of the College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources. She will begin the appointment, which is pending Board of Regents approval, early this year. Heng-Moss has served as interim dean of the college since July 2017, working to strengthen graduate education and develop a smart enrollment growth framework. Prior to her administrative role, she developed and taught graduate and undergraduate courses in the Department of Entomology, and conducted research focused primarily on insect science and pest management strategies. Heng-Moss holds a bachelor’s degree in horticulture, and master’s and doctoral degrees in entomology, from Nebraska.

Jim Lewis joined the Office of Research and Economic Development as the university’s first director of science, technology, engineering and mathematics education research initiatives on Jan. 1. Lewis, Aaron Douglas Professor of mathematics, will use his extensive experience in leading teaching and learning initiatives to increase extramural funding from federal agencies; boost recognition of top faculty through national honors and awards; and bolster STEM education projects and resources. In addition to being a veteran faculty member, Lewis served from 2015-18 as deputy assistant director – and then acting assistant director – of NSF’s Directorate for Education and Human Resources. He will continue to serve as director of the university’s Center for Science, Mathematics and Computer Education.

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Accolades are compiled from faculty and staff nominations, weekly Achievement columns published by University Communication, and college, center and departmental websites. To submit yours or a colleague's, complete the form below.

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