Andrew Graybill, associate professor of history, has been awarded a National Endowment for the Humanities Faculty Fellowship to support completion of a book he is writing. Tentatively titled A Mixture of So Many Bloods: A Family Saga of the American West, the book follows five members of three generations of a Montana family from approximately 1850 to 1950. It will be published in 2012.

Donald Weeks, Maxcy professor of agriculture and natural resources, was elected a fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science. Weeks was named for distinguished contributions in the field of plant biotechnology in developing a novel and innovative approach in engineering herbicide-resistant crops.

Eddy M. Rojas is the new director of the Durham School of Architectural Engineering and Construction. The Durham School, based in Omaha, is part of UNL's College of Engineering. Rojas comes to UNL from the University of Washington, where he was professor of construction management and director of the Pacific Northwest Center for Construction Research and Education.

Helen Moore, Aaron Douglas professor of sociology, received a Fulfilling the Dream award during this year’s Martin Luther King Day observance. She was cited as a scholar who explores issues of fairness, equality and opportunity as she focuses on making others aware of gender, racial and ethnic disadvantages, and how these disadvantages are conceptualized and discussed. Sriyani Tidball, lecturer in advertising, was recognized by the state for her involvement in community initiatives and accomplishments related to promoting the dream of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. She has worked with marginalized women and disadvantaged children in Sri Lanka for the past 30 years.

The Society of Actuaries has recognized UNL's Actuarial Science Program as one of its first Centers of Actuarial Excellence. This year is the first year for the recognition and only 12 schools were selected.

Shripat Kamble, professor of entomology, was named an honorary member of the Entomological Society of America. Honorary membership recognizes those who have been involved in the organization for at least 20 years.

Joan Giesecke, dean of libraries, has been named interim associate vice chancellor for extended education and outreach. Giesecke will lead EEO functions until the university conducts a national search and hires a new administrator for the unit.

Miles Bryant, professor of educational administration, received a Fulbright Scholar grant for the spring semester to the country of Georgia.

Doug Scott, lecturer in anthropology, received the Innovation Award from the PAST Foundation. Scott was a PAST Foundation trustee for 10 years, helping establish the non-profit foundation worldwide in fields of innovative educational programs and research.

UNL’s Midwest Roadside Safety Facility, directed by Dean Sicking, professor of civil engineering, earned a Roadway Safety Award for developing the Midwest Guardrail System, a highway guardrail that improves safety in crash situations. The bi-annual award was presented by the Roadway Safety Foundation and the Federal Highway Administration.

Amanda Gailey, assistant professor of English, won first place in the ProQuest-Research Society for American Periodicals prize for scholarship in American periodicals. The award recognizes the best article on American periodicals by a pre-tenure scholar published in or accepted by a peer-reviewed academic journal in 2008 or 2009. Gailey's winning essay was "Walt Whitman and the King of Bohemia: The Poet in the Saturday Press."