Accolades News for Researchers
Posted July 2, 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
Shannon Bartelt-Hunt, civil and environmental engineering, received the AEESP Distinguished Service Award from the Association of Environmental Engineering and Science Professors. She was recognized for concluding her role as chair of the AEESP Foundation Board.
Bai Cui, mechanical and materials engineering, was named a fellow of the American Ceramic Society. Fellowship is one of the most prestigious honors in the field of ceramic materials and engineering and is given to individuals who represent the values of the society and have made outstanding contributions to the ceramic arts and/or sciences community. Cui – the first Husker researcher to receive this distinction – is an expert across multiple areas of ceramic materials, including ultra-high-temperature ceramics, additive manufacturing of ceramic materials and the development of advanced ceramics for extreme environments.
Amy Desaulniers, veterinary medicine and biomedical sciences, received the Teaching of Physiology Section Labfront Mid-career Educator Award from the American Physiological Society. The award – made possible by APS sponsor Labfront – honors a mid-career member who demonstrates excellence in physiology education with innovative teaching or mentorship activities. Desaulniers’ teaching approach focuses on evidence-based instruction, hands-on research training and instructional effectiveness for students of all experience levels and backgrounds.
The late Sanford “Sandy” Grossbart, marketing (emeritus), was inducted into the Hall of Fame by the American Marketing Association Lincoln Chapter at the group’s Prism Awards celebration in May. Grossbart – whose research focused on consumer communication networks, interactive communication technologies and consumer behavior – was honored for his enduring commitment to the values and mission of AMA throughout his career. He died in Lincoln on May 15.
Stephen Kachman, statistics (emeritus), received the Pioneer Award from the Beef Improvement Federation. The award recognizes individuals who have made lasting contributions to the improvement of beef cattle and honors those who have had a major role in the acceptance of performance reporting and documentation as the primary means to make genetic change in beef cattle. Across his career, Kachman was recognized for developing practical statistical solutions for beef cattle genetic evaluation. His work helped to lay the foundation for methods used to incorporate genomic information into routine genetic evaluations.
Kara Mitchell Viesca, teaching, learning and teacher education, was named a docent with the University of Turku in Finland. The honorary rank signifies high-level research and teaching qualifications and recognizes Viesca’s collaboration with that university. The designation grants Viesca the ability to independently supervise doctoral students, teach and apply for grants.
Kathie Olsen received a Champion of Research Award from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and an admiralship in the Great Navy of the State of Nebraska, conferred by Gov. Jim Pillen. Olsen, a neuroscientist by training, has worked with Husker researchers for more than 15 years as the Office of Research and Innovation’s primary National Science Foundation consultant. Her guidance has helped Nebraska faculty secure dozens of prestigious federal research awards, especially NSF’s Faculty Early Career Development Program awards. She previously worked in several senior science leadership roles, including as deputy director and chief operating officer of NSF from 2005-2009 and NASA’s chief scientist from 1999-2002.
Jared Shaw, chemistry, received the ASMS Research Award from the American Society for Mass Spectrometry. Shaw was recognized for research emphasizing technological advances in mass spectrometry instrumentation and analytical measurement science. His work in this area has improved analytical sensitivity, throughput and structural characterization capabilities – all of which are critical as researchers seek to analyze larger, more complex biological systems. He was recognized at the society’s annual conference in San Diego.
Dai Shizuka, biological sciences, received the Marion Jenkinson Service Award from the American Ornithological Society. The award recognizes AOS members who have provided continued, exceptional service to ornithology and the society. Shizuka’s research explores the role of social behavior in animal ecology and evolution, often integrating diverse topics like network theory, cognition, life history theory and species interactions. He has been involved in the society in multiple ways, including as AOS Elective Member (2016) and AOS Fellow (2021), and previously served as an AOS Elective Councilor and co-chair of the AOS Diversity and Inclusion Committee.
The Center for Agricultural Profitability at UNL, based in the Department of Agricultural Economics, was selected for the 2026 Western Agricultural Economics Association Outstanding Extension Career and Project Award. The award recognizes extension programs that demonstrate the importance of their subject, overall effectiveness, sound economic analysis, strong communication and clear evidence of positive impact. CAP was selected for its work delivering practical, research-based economic education to farmers, ranchers and agribusiness professionals. Jay Parsons, CAP director and professor of agricultural economics, accepted the award June 23 at the WAEA annual meeting in Flagstaff, Arizona.
Nurture Nebraska, a statewide public awareness campaign promoting children’s social and emotional development from birth to age 5, received three Prism awards from the Lincoln Chapter of the American Marketing Association. The awards recognize excellence in website design, digital advertising and special events. The campaign – created through a partnership between UNL’s student-run Jacht Ad Agency and faculty in the College of Journalism and Mass Communications – grew out of TransformED, a Grand Challenges initiative housed in the Nebraska Center for Research on Children, Youth, Families and Schools.
The University of Nebraska Press was named Forward Reviews’ Indie Publisher of the Year, a designation for presses that exemplify the spirit of indie publishing. The press was selected for its publishing program and commitment to independent and university press publishing. Now in its 85th year, the University of Nebraska Press publishes about 150 titles annually across multiple imprints, including Bison Books and Potomac Books.
The University of Nebraska-Lincoln’s agriculture and natural resource programs rank in the top 9% of nearly 500 institutions worldwide in the new QS World University Rankings. Nebraska improved its ranking from 46th to 40th globally over the past year, which reflects gains in academic reputation, research impact and international collaboration. Quacquarelli Symonds, a global higher education company, analyzed 475 universities.
Publications
Jody Koenig Kellas, communication studies, received the Most Promising New Textbook Award from the Textbook and Academic Authors Association. The award recognizes excellence in first edition textbooks and learning materials. Kellas and co-author Valerie Manusov of the University of Washington were recognized for the textbook “Interpersonal Communication: The Within and The Between,” which introduces a philosophy called “wholeness” in which communication is viewed as a product of both the within and the between.
Laura K. Muñoz, history and Institute of Ethnic Studies, received the Honorable Mention Book Award from the National Association for Chicana and Chicano Studies for her “Desert Dreams: Mexican Arizona and the Politics of Educational Equality.” The award recognizes an outstanding new book in the field of Chicana and Chicano studies. The organization celebrated Muñoz’s accomplishment at its annual meeting in April.
Byrav Ramamurthy, computing, received the Best Paper Award at the IEEE Silicon Valley Cybersecurity Conference. He and his graduate student M A U Shariff were recognized for “Enhancing Anomaly Resilience in Research Networks: A Large-Scale Forecasting Benchmark for Dynamic Security Baselining,” which sets forth a framework to protect U.S. national research and education networks by developing machine learning models to analyze massive traffic datasets and identify anomalous behaviors. The conference was in June in San Jose, California.
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. The community includes 1,600-plus members and serves as a leading professional network for researchers, graduate students and industry leaders advancing precision agriculture. In total, ASA includes more than 5,600 members from across the world.
Nathan Huynh and Jamilla Teixeira, civil and environmental engineering, joined leaders from academia, industry and government on May 19 for The Science of Transportation, a national showcase highlighting ideas and innovations driving the future of America’s transportation infrastructure. The Washington, D.C., event, organized by The Science Coalition, was an opportunity to showcase UNL’s innovations aimed at improving transportation safety and efficiency. Huynh highlighted his work on reducing traffic fatalities and serious injuries, as well as the use of ultra-high-performance concrete in bridge preservation. Teixeira presented research exploring how recycled plastics, reusable asphalt pavement and bio-oils derived from corn and soybeans can be incorporated into roadway materials without compromising long-term durability.
Mark Riley, engineering, was elected to the Board of Trustees of the American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers. The election places Riley among the society’s top decision-makers, who will guide strategic initiatives supporting research, education and professional development across the global agricultural and biological engineering community, Riley, associate dean for research in the College of Engineering, is a longtime academic leader and researcher who has shaped the field through his work in bioprocess engineering, biosensors and biological instrumentation.
Other News
Dr. Keith Cruise has been named director of the university’s Center on Children, Families and the Law. Cruise, who will also hold a faculty position as a professor of psychology, will assume the director role on Aug. 17. He is a juvenile forensic psychologist who comes to Nebraska from New York, where he has spent the past 20 years as a professor of psychology at Fordham University, including four years as an adjunct professor of law. He is also co-director of the Center for Trauma Recovery and Juvenile Justice, a National Child Traumatic Stress Network Category II training and technical assistance center. Cruise earned Bachelor of Arts and Master of Legal Studies degrees from UNL, and a doctorate in clinical psychology from the University of North Texas.
Research News Accolades Submission Form
