Human Resources and Family Sciences Position Filled

Michigan State's Kostelnik Named Dean

By Tom Simons, Public Relations

Marjorie J. Kostelnik, professor and chair of family and child ecology in the Michigan State University College of Human Ecology, has been named dean of the College of Human Resources and Family Sciences, pending approval by the NU regents.

Kostelnik's appointment was announced by Richard Edwards, senior vice chancellor for academic affairs, and Irvin Omtvedt, vice chancellor for the Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources, who jointly oversee the college. She will begin her duties Nov. 1, replacing Karen Craig, who retired last year after 12 years as dean. Rita Kean, chair and professor of textiles, clothing and design, is the college's interim dean.

A researcher and teacher whose primary interests are child care and development, early childhood education, children's social development and public administration, Kostelnik has taught at Michigan State since finishing her doctorate in human development and family studies at Pennsyvlania State University in 1978. She joined the MSU faculty as assistant professor, was promoted to associate professor in 1983 and professor in 1991. She became department chair in 1994 after a year as acting chair.

Kostelnik said she was attracted to Nebraska by the reputation of NU, the College of Human Resources and Family Sciences and the community.

"The college has a very good reputation nationwide," Kostelnik said. "A lot of the credit for that has to go to Karen Craig, the outgoing dean, who is so highly thought of, and the many faculty in the college who have made their marks nationally and internationally. I have a real appreciation for all the things they have achieved.

"When I learned that I had been nominated as a candidate for dean, I was immediately very interested because every person I talked to about Nebraska, had nothing but great things to say about the quality of the college, the quality of the university and the quality of living in Lincoln."

Kostelnik said she thinks one of the most important qualities she will bring to the college is her enthusiasm for its fields of study and she said one of the things she's most excited about is a chance to help broaden those fields.

"I'm very excited about the possibilities for cross-disciplinary research with other colleges at the university," she said. "It's something I'm very interested in. Nebraska has made a good start in that area and I want to be a part of it."

Kostelnik is co-author of nine books and 14 book chapters, and she has edited four books. She has also written widely for professional journals, created a variety of instructional and training materials and presented more than 200 workshops for professionals and lay audiences. She has had eight international teaching assignments in England, Japan, Hong Kong and the Philippines.

She earned her bachelor's degree in child development at the University of Pittsburgh (1972) and her master's in human development and family studies (1977) at Penn State. Before going to Michigan State, she worked as a head teacher in a child care center, taught in a nursery school program and in a Head Start/Title I classroom. She also worked as a parent-education instructor and as a child-development specialist for a public school system.

While at Michigan State, Kostelnik was the recipient of numerous honors, most-recently the 1998 Public Service Award for Academia from the Michigan chapter of the American Society for Public Administration. She also received the MSU Teacher/Scholar Award in 1983, the Michigan Excellence in Teaching award from the Michigan Legislature in 1991, and the Outstanding Faculty Member of the Year award from the MSU Senior Class Council in 1993.

Basketball Exhibition Game Sets Stage

Ms. Wheelchair Nebraska to be Crowned

Cathy Carver will be officially crowned Ms. Wheelchair Nebraska at halftime of a Madonna Magic exhibition game with UNL students and the Spina Bifida Association. The game begins at 6 p.m. Feb. 25 at the Coliseum and is free and open to the public.

In addition, the Madonna Magic, a wheelchair basketball squad sponsored by Madonna Rehabilitation Hospital, will honor its supporters with Madonna Spirit Awards.

Cathy Carver was born and reared in Lincoln. She injured her spinal cord at age 10 when a stack of plywood fell on her. She earned a bachelor's degree in education from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and currently works for the State of Nebraska as the funding coordinator for the Assistive Technology Partnership. She also teaches keyboarding and word processing part time at Lincoln School of Commerce.

The Ms. Wheelchair program is a competition to select the most accomplished and articulate spokesperson for other persons with disabilities in the United States. The winner of the competition assumes the responsibility for the on-going effort to eliminate the architectural and attitudinal barriers that prevent persons with disabilities for "assuming their rightful place in society."

"Nebraska does not yet have an official Ms. Wheelchair pageant, so Cathy Carver was selected to represent Nebraska until a pageant is established, hopefully sometime this fall," said Elysse Power, state coordinator of the program.

Power is a former Ms. Wheelchair New York who now lives in Omaha.

The Ms. Wheelchair program offers women who have mobility limitations that require them to use a wheelchair, an opportunity to receive recognition for personal and professional accomplishments and to serve as a spokesperson for the many people with disabilities in Nebraska. The program emphasizes the capability, productivity and creativity of individuals with disabilities.

"It is in no way a beauty contest," said Power. "It is a competition to select the most accomplished and articulate spokesperson for more than 45 million Americans with disabilities," she said. "The national competition will be held in Florida in August.

Madonna Rehabilitation Hospital will help sponsor Cathy Carver's entry.

Klaasmeyer Chair Endowed in Engineering

By Robb Crouch, NU Foundation

A $500,000 gift from Linda L. Klaasmeyer to the University of Nebraska Foundation honors her late husband by creating the Keith W. Klaasmeyer Chair in Engineering and Technology in the College of Engineering and Technology.

The gift funds the academic chair, which provides a selected professor with an annual salary stipend as well as research and program support. A fund created in 1998 with the Donald and Mildred Othmer estate gift matched the Klaasmeyer gift, bringing it to the equivalent of a $1 million endowment.

Once Mrs. Klaasmeyer chose to establish a chair, it was not difficult for her to decide which college should benefit. "Keith and two of his brothers are graduates of the College of Engineering," she said. "So as far as I was concerned, this was the best opportunity."

Keith Klaasmeyer, a native of Dunbar, graduated from Dunbar High School and later from the University of Nebraska in 1958. After working two years for a company in Blair, he started Klaasmeyer Brothers Inc., a contracting company for civil engineering in Omaha with his brother, Joy Klaasmeyer. The company focused primarily on bridges and boxed culverts. He died at age 66 on Nov. 3, 1998.

Linda Larsen Klaasmeyer, a native of Omaha, attended Washington Elementary School and Central High School. In 1963 she met and married Keith Klaasmeyer in Omaha. Her career was also devoted to the family business by overseeing the bookkeeping.

"It really started out as a small, mom-and-pop business," she said. "We started in our home, and then the company grew so big we set up an office."

The Klaasmeyer family no longer owns the company.

Craig Klaasmeyer, Linda and Keith Klaasmeyer's son, is pleased with his mother's decision.

"I think it's great and something he would have enjoyed a lot," he said. "It is something that reflects his long-time love of the university and his ticket for being able to achieve what he was able to in life."

University officials also praised the generosity behind the gift.

"I am delighted with this gift from Linda Klaasmeyer in honor of her husband," said James Moeser, chancellor. "This chair will be a tremendous asset to the College of Engineering and Technology, helping it reach new levels of excellence in research and teaching. It also helps us meet our priority of creating 24 new endowed chairs at $1 million with private gifts and matching funds from the Othmer endowment."

Jim Hendrix, dean of the college, acknowledged the long-term importance of the gift. "The college is honored to receive this gift in tribute to Mr. Klaasmeyer and his family. With this fund we will be able to recruit another top faculty member, which will greatly benefit our students for generations to come."

The College of Engineering and Technology plans soon to conduct a search for a qualified professor to receive the chair. The chair is not restricted to a specific department within the college.

The Klaasmeyers have two children: Christopher, a farmer and construction contractor in Hershey, and Craig, senior vice president at Donaldson, Lufkin and Jenrette in London.

In the mid-1980s Linda and Keith Klaasmeyer began spending winter months in Naples, Fla., and purchased a home there in 1990. Linda continues to live in both Omaha and Naples.

Parker, Main Win UAAD's Honors

The University Association for Administrative Development conferred awards on two of its members at its annual awards luncheon Feb. 16. Howard Parker received the Floyd S. Oldt Award for Exceptional Service to the university and James Main received the Carl A. Donaldson Award for Excellence in Management.

The Oldt award is given to a person who devotes significant time and energy in service to the university, shows creativity and innovation, and who unselfishly serves UAAD, his or her department and the community at large.

Parker is campus architect and director of facilities planning and construction. Since 1991 he and his staff have managed the planning, design and construction of a number of university projects.

Other finalists for the award were Brett Dietrich, senior designer and art director for Publications and Photography; Alice Hemsath, curator of the Nebraska College of Technical Agriculture Arboretum; and Ken Holm, director of printing and copy services.

The Donaldson Award recognizes excellence in management. Selection criteria include communication and conflict resolution skills, promotion of teamwork, and skills in planning, delegating and decisionmaking as well as commitment to professional development.

Main is assistant vice chancellor for University Services. He has been with the university for 12 years and is responsible for the areas of purchasing, inventory, mail and distribution services, environmental health and safety, transportation services, Parking and transit services, landscape services, recycling, vending services and shared services.

Other finalists for the Donaldson award were Kim Phelps and Joanna Rogers.

Phelps is acting associate vice chancellor for business and finance. Rogers is the assistant to the dean of the Law College.

Perlman Honored by State Bar Foundation

The Nebraska State Bar Foundation has honored law professor Harvey Perlman with its Foundation Award.

The Foundation Award honors exemplary service to the foundation and is presented to lawyers who have made and continue to make a strong commitment to the foundation's goals.

Perlman has served the foundation's board of directors in a variety of ways. As chair of the fellows selection committee, he was instrumental in developing a systematic approach for the selection of fellows, including amending the bylaws and ensuring that geographic representation is considered. He also serves on the foundation's investment committee.

College Announces Young Artist Winners

The Hixson-Lied College of Fine and Performing Arts has announced the winners of the third annual Nebraska Young Artist Awards.

Eighty-eight students from more than 50 high schools across the state have been selected to participate in the special day of activities April 12 at NU. The Nebraska Young Artist Awards annually recognizes 11th-grade students who are gifted and talented in the areas of visual art, dance, music and theater. These students exemplify the pinnacle of creativity in one of the fine and performing arts.

Teachers across the state nominated 177 students and submitted examples of their work. College faculty chose the 88 students who will be recognized on April 12. Honored students and their parents will tour arts facilities, attend classes, meet faculty and college students for lunch and receive information on careers in the arts and college curriculum. Students will also be asked to nominate the teacher who provided them with the greatest amount of mentoring and support in the development of their special talents.

"We think this will provide a special dimension to the day," said Ron Bowlin, director of Kimball Hall and coordinator of the program. "As we recognize these outstanding students, they in turn have a chance to recognize an outstanding teacher who has made a difference in their artistic career."

The day will conclude with an awards ceremony where students will receive certificates and an original piece of artwork commissioned for the event and made by a ceramics student in art and art history.

Golden Key Recognizes Honorary Members

Golden Key National Honor Society is hosting a tea for honorary members. The event is from 5:30-6:30 p.m. Feb. 28 in the Wick Center. The tea is a chance for Golden Key to recognize their honorary members, who are chosen through a nomination process. Golden Key members hope honorary members will meet more of the officers and members of Golden Key at the event.

This year, honorary members will be receiving coffee mugs.

Honorary members (past and present) of Golden Key are:

Ron Bonnstetter, Ron Brown, James Griesen, Ellen Baird, Patrice Berger, Marlene Beyke, Peter Bleed, Marilyn Bugenhagen, Janet Ehlers, Edgar Clemens, Brenda Council, Karen Craig, Larry Doerr, Bill Doleman, Steven Dunbar, Warren Francke, Elizabeth Grobsmith, Christy Horn, Janis Jacobs, John Janovy, Loretta Johnson, Kenneth Kiewra, David Landis, Peter Levitov, Rudy Lewis, William James Lewis, Stanley Robert Liberty, Larry Lusk, Mimi Mann, Martin Massengale, Patrick McBride, Denise McClain, Bill McLaughling, Tim Moore, Gary Moulton, E. Benjamin Nelson, Thomas Osborne, Wallace Peterson, Susan Rosowski, Linda Kay Schwartzkopf, Virginia Smith, Graham Spanier, Barbara Stevens, George Sturgeon, Norma Sturgeon, Douglas Steven Zatechka, Keith Zimmer.