Recent achievements earned by the campus community were awarded to Elivira Abrica, Ethann Barnes, Jeff Golus, John Hay, Tiffany Heng-Moss, Nicole Iverson, Jamie Loizzo, Tiffany Luethke, Fabio Mattos, Kate McCain, Lisa Pennisi, Jeffrey Peterson, Santosh Pitla, Aaron Shropshire, Mark Svoboda, Rae Thomas, Stephanie Vendetti, the Intercollegiate Crops Judging Team and the Department of Philosophy.
Faculty/staff
Elvira Abrica, assistant professor in educational administration, was named a faculty fellow of the American Association of Hispanics in Higher Education at its annual conference in Irvine, California, March 8-10. The honor is reserved for non-tenured faculty in their first three years who have demonstrated an ability to contribute to a defined area of scholarship and the enhancement of Latinas and Latinos in higher education. Abrica’s research is focused on race, ethnicity and migrant status across contexts of community colleges; science, technology, engineering and mathematics fields; and institutional research and assessment.
Jeff Golus, research manager at the West Central Research and Extension Center, received the 2018 Carl A. Donaldson Award from the University Association for Administrative Development. The award was created in 1972 to honor Carl A. Donaldson, graduate of the University of Nebraska, and founder of UAAD, and is given to a nominated managerial/professional employee in a non-faculty position for excellence in leadership. Golus was recognized at the UAAD Founders’ Day event Feb. 21.
Tiffany Heng-Moss, associate dean of the College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources, received one of two Chancellor’s Outstanding Contribution to Women Awards. The awards will be presented at the 13th annual Women’s History Month Banquet slated for 6 p.m. March 15 in the Nebraska Champion’s Club.
Mark Svoboda, climatologist and director of the National Drought Mitigation Center, has been named to the Science-Policy Interface of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification. Svoboda, an internationally known expert on drought monitoring and early warning, was one of 10 independent scientists recently appointed to the select group of science-focused policy makers, scientists working globally on environment and climate issues, and representatives of observer organizations such as the World Meteorological Organization.
Stephanie Vendetti, events and outreach specialist for the Center for Science, Mathematics and Computer Education, received the 2018 Floyd S. Oldt Award from the University Association for Administrative Development. The award recognizes employees who demonstrate exceptional service and dedication to the university. She was recognized at the UAAD Founders’ Day event Feb. 21.
The Holling Family Awards for Teaching Excellence were recently awarded to seven faculty members. The annual awards honor outstanding teaching in the Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources. Senior Faculty Teaching Excellence Awards were earned by John Hay, extension educator specializing in biological systems engineering; Fabio Mattos, assistant professor of agricultural economics; and Lisa Pennisi, associate professor of practice in the School of Natural Resources. Junior Faculty Teaching Excellence Awards were awarded to Nicole Iverson, assistant professor of biological systems engineering; Jamie Loizzo, assistant professor of agricultural leadership, education and communication; Jeffrey Peterson, assistant professor of practice in agricultural economics; and Santosh Pitla, assistant professor of biological systems engineering.
Students
The Intercollegiate Crops Judging Team competed in the Regional Crops Judging Contest on Feb. 10 at Oklahoma Panhandle State University and placed third in the four-year division against 15 other Midwest four-year and two-year institutions. This is the third time Nebraska placed in the top three since the contest began in 2013.
Ethann Barnes, doctoral student in agronomy, was recognized by the Weed Science Society of America for an outstanding research-related presentation during the society’s recent annual meeting. He received a third-place award for his oral presentation “Critical Time of Weed Removal in Popcorn (Zea mays everta) as Influenced by Pre-Emergence Herbicides.”
Tiffany Luethke, Kate McCain and Aaron Shropshire earned Holling Family Teaching Assistant Teaching Excellence Awards. The award recognizes students who are currently in graduate degree programs under the supervision of IANR faculty members involved with agricultural sciences and natural resources.
Rae Thomas, graduate student in counseling psychology, earned one of the Chancellor’s Outstanding Contribution to Women Awards. The awards will be presented at the 13th annual Women’s History Month Banquet slated for 6 p.m. March 15 in the Nebraska Champion’s Club.
Departments/Units
- The doctoral program in the Department of Philosophy earned recognition from the Philosophical Gourmet Report 2018. The report ranks doctoral programs in the United States, United Kingdom, Canada and Australia. Nebraska’s doctoral program in philosophy was ranked 20th best in the U.S. for Meta-Ethics and Moral Psychology and 19th best for Philosophy of Social Science in the English-speaking world. The program was also tied for 56th in the overall rankings.
This column is a regular Friday feature of Nebraska Today. Faculty, staff and students can submit achievements to be considered for this column via email to achievements@unl.edu. For more information, call 402-472-8515.
