Accolades News for Researchers
Posted July 31, 2026 by Tiffany Lee
Accolades are compiled from faculty and staff submissions, the Office of Research and Innovation’s external recognition and awards coordinator, the Achievements column published by University Communication and Marketing, and college, center and departmental websites.
Honors and Recognitions
Jennifer Brhel, Nebraska Extension, received the inaugural Alan Moeller Pillar Award from the Nebraska Soil Health Coalition. The award honors servant leadership in Nebraska’s rural and agricultural communities, engagement and advancement in the coalition, and efforts toward team building and advocacy. Brhel’s work strengthens agricultural resilience by advancing ecologically friendly farming practices and encouraging the voluntary adoption of soil health programs in Nebraska.
Tami Brown-Brandl, biological systems engineering, was named a fellow of the International Academy of Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering. The iAABE is part of the International Commission of Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering, whose goal is to foster understanding and improvement of sustainable biological production systems while protecting nature and the environment through engineering and science. The fellowship recognizes outstanding scientific accomplishments and leadership in the areas of agricultural and biosystems engineering, science and technology. Brown-Brandl’s research is focused on an engineering approach to improved animal well-being and production efficiency.
Edgar Cahoon, biochemistry, and Ozan Ciftci, food engineering, received national honors for outstanding achievement from agInnovation. The organization is the national voice of the State Agricultural Experiment Stations, representing the collective strength of research scientists and institutions at land-grant universities across all 50 states, D.C. and U.S. territories. Cahoon received the 2026 Lifetime Agricultural Research Innovation Award of Excellence, and Ciftci was selected for the 2026 Mid-Career Agricultural Research Innovation Award of Excellence. Both awards honor researchers who have conducted highly impactful research in their discipline, with a sustained record of productivity and mentorship. Both researchers are internationally recognized in their areas of specialty: Cahoon in plant lipid biotechnology and Ciftci for innovation in food engineering and sustainable food systems.
Andrea Cupp, animal science, has earned an Award of Excellence in Multistate Research from the Western Region of agInnovation — a regional land-grant university agricultural experiment station network in 13 Western states. The award recognizes her contributions to the multistate project “Reproductive Performance in Domestic Ruminants.”
Melissa Homestead, English, was selected for the Rodney G. Dennis Fellowship in the Study of Manuscripts, part of Houghton Library’s Visiting Fellowship program at Harvard University. The program enables scholars to pursue projects that require in-depth research using the Houghton Library’s holdings and draw on staff expertise at Harvard. Homestead will pursue the project “Boston Marriage: The Partnership of Annie Adams Fields and Sarah Orne Jewett.”
Joe Louis, agricultural entomology, has earned the C.V. Riley Award from the North Central Branch of the Entomological Society of America. The award honors faculty widely recognized within the society who have made outstanding contributions to entomology. Louis leads the Plant-Insect Interactions Laboratory at UNL and focuses his research on plant resistance to insects, plant signaling mechanisms, induced defenses and insect effectors.
The Department of Textiles, Merchandising and Fashion Design received the Community Partnership Award presented by the Family and Consumer Sciences Teachers of Nebraska. The award recognized the department’s collaborations and annual TMFD student expo and teacher expo events. The student expo was launched in 2024 as a showcase of hands-on activities for high school family and consumer science students from across Nebraska.
Professional Service
Guillermo R. Balboa, agronomy and horticulture, was elected as the 2026 vice leader of the Precision Agriculture Systems Community within the Agronomic Production Systems Section of the American Society of Agronomy. Balboa said he is honored to serve in this leadership role and contribute to advancing collaboration and innovation in precision agriculture nationally and internationally.
Other News
Michael Merten has been named interim dean of the university’s College of Education and Human Sciences, effective Aug. 4. Merten, who has been with UNL since 2020, is the Gwendolyn A. Newkirk Professor of leadership and chair of the Department of Child, Youth and Family Studies. His research examines the social, family and community factors that influence youth and young adult development, health and well-being. His work has received support from the National Institutes of Health, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the U.S. Department of Justice and numerous state and community organizations.
Jon Watts was appointed interim senior associate vice chancellor for business and finance at UNL, announced July 14 by Katherine S. Ankerson, interim chancellor at Nebraska. In this role, Watts will provide day-to-day leadership support for the university’s Office of Business and Finance and serve as a member of the university’s Executive Leadership Team. Since September 2025, he’s served as senior associate vice president and chief operating officer for the University of Nebraska system, a role he will continue while providing interim leadership at UNL. Prior to joining the university, Watts spent 15 years at the University of Nebraska at Kearney, including eight and a half years as vice chancellor for business and finance.
Research News Accolades Submission Form
