The 2016 Faculty Senate Louise Pound-George Howard Distinguished Career Award has been awarded to Chancellor Harvey Perlman and Frances Kaye, professor of English.
To recognize individuals with a distinguished career service to the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, the Faculty Senate established the Louise Pound-George Howard Distinguished Career Award in 1990. It is given to an individual or individuals who, during his or her career at UNL, has made an exceptional contribution to the university.
Perlman’s service to UNL has spanned nearly five decades. He was a professor of law, dean of the college of law, interim chancellor and 15 years as chancellor. Perlman contributed to the university by the realization of most of the scholarly aspirations put forward in the 20/20 Vision Statement, the entry into the Big Ten, his work with the City of Lincoln, the opening of Innovation Campus, UNL’s increasing academic influence across Nebraska and the world stage, and increase in research expenditures from $136 million in 2000 to $278 million in 2015, an increase in student enrollment and more.
Perlman was presented with the award at the March 1 Faculty Senate meeting in the Nebraska Union Regency Suites.
Kaye began her career at UNL as an assistant professor in 1977 and rose to full professorship in 1993. She is a distinguished scholar and has been engaged in service to the university, as well as to outreach activities promoting social justice.
Kaye’s interdisciplinary focus on the cultural history and the literature and geography of the Great Plains has enhanced the university’s reputation in Plains studies, environmental and ecological criticism and ethnic studies. Her work for 12 years as an editor for the Great Plains Quarterly and the Encyclopedia of the Great Plains elevated the scholarship of these important publications. Some of her most significant work has been in outreach to people incarcerated in the Nebraska state prison system, where she has run reading and creative writing circles for many years.
Kaye will be presented with the award at the Faculty Senate meeting at 2:30 p.m. April 26 in the Nebraska Union auditorium. The meeting is open to the public.