Six University of Nebraska–Lincoln professors received named and university professorships from the Office of the Executive Vice Chancellor during a celebration on Nov. 13.

The new honorees are:

• Joy Castro, Willa Cather Professor, English and ethnic studies
• Carrick Detweiler, Rosowski Associate Professor, computer science and engineering
• Katrina Jagodinsky, Rosowski Associate Professor, history
• Debra Hope, Aaron Douglas Professor, psychology
• Clarence Waters, Aaron Douglas Professor, architectural engineering and construction
• Rick Bevins, Chancellor’s Professorship, psychology

In addition, medallions were presented to all current holders of professorships listed below. The medallions can be worn with academic regalia to commencement and other events.

“Professorships honor some of our most exceptional faculty. Their leadership on campus is changing lives every day,” said Donde Plowman, executive vice chancellor and chief academic officer. “These new medallions signify their scholarly accomplishments and I hope they will wear them with pride.”

Professorships are some of the highest forms of recognition bestowed upon faculty. They can be awarded by individual colleges and the executive vice chancellor’s office.

The professorships recognize outstanding faculty members for contributions in research or teaching and promise for future excellence. They are one of the highest forms of recognition bestowed upon faculty, and can be awarded by individual colleges and the executive vice chancellor’s office.

EVC Office professorships

The executive vice chancellor awards two types — named and university — based on the review and recommendations of a 15-member professorships committee. Named professorships — Cather/Bessey, Weaver/Douglas and Rosowski — are funded by the EVC office. University professorships are funded by the University of Nebraska Foundation.

Willa Cather and Charles Bessey professorships were established in 2001 to recognize full professors who have established exceptional records of distinguished scholarship or creative activity. Cather, a Nebraska alumna and winner of the 1922 Pulitzer Prize for her novel “One of Ours,” is widely recognized as one of America’s premiere authors. Bessey, a Nebraska professor at the turn of the 20th century, was a pioneering botanist and educator who did much to lay the foundation of American botany. Faculty who receive this professorship may elect either the Cather or Bessey designation. Learn more about the recipients of this professorship.

John E. Weaver and Aaron Douglas professorships were established in 2008 to recognize full professors who demonstrate sustained and extraordinary levels of teaching excellence and national visibility for instructional activities and/or practice. Weaver was a leading expert on grasses during his time at the university and published many works regarding vegetation and prairies, including the first American ecology textbook. Douglas was the first African American to earn a degree in art from Nebraska and is considered a pre-eminent artist of the Harlem Renaissance movement. Faculty who receive this professorship may elect either the Weaver or Douglas designation. Learn more about the recipients of this professorship.

The Susan J. Rosowski professorship was established in 2009 to recognize faculty at the associate professor level for contributions in research and teaching, exceptional promise for future excellence, and distinguished records of scholarship or creative activity. Rosowski was an Adele Hall Distinguished Professor of English at the university. Learn more about the recipients of this professorship.

University professorships recognize professors with an extraordinary level of achievement and clear potential for continuing major accomplishments surrounding the welfare of traditional and non-traditional learners. They go above and beyond normal campus citizenship, both nationally and internationally, in service to the university’s missions and reputation. University professorships include:

• Chancellor’s Professorship
• Charles J. Mach University Professorship
• Eugene W. Price University Professorship
• Foundation Regents University Professorship
• George Holmes University Professorship
• Hillegass University Professorship
• James Hewett University Professorship
• Lewis Lehr/3M University Professorship
• Paula and D.B. Varner University Professorship
• William B. Allington University Professorship
• W.W. Marshall Family University Professorship

Learn more about these professorships and the recipients.

The executive vice chancellor welcomes nominations for vacant professorships each fall. The call for nominations for professorships that commence in 2019-20 recently ended, and will reopen for 2020-21 in September 2019. Learn more about requirements for nomination.