November 15, 1996
Boss of the Year
The University of Nebraska Office Personnel Association (UNOPA) honored
Birdie Holder as their Floyd S. Oldt Boss of the Year at UNOPA's Bosses'
Luncheon Nov. 12. Holder, chair and professor of Vocational and Adult
Education, was praised by her nominators for her strong leadership, her
many professional associations, her open-door policy and flexibility. The
nominating letter stated that Holder "truly believes in the spirit of
teamwork and strives to include every member of the department . . .
rarely do you find someone who gives so much of themselves to so many
people on a daily basis." Pictured is Holder, third from left, with
nominators Nicole Neilan, staff secretary II; Lori Mueller, staff
secretary III, and Peggy Quinn, administrative technician.
(Photo by Tom Slocum)
IANR Professors Win National Awards
Several University of Nebraska agricultural scientists recently were
recognized for their work at the annual meetings of the Crop Science
Society of America, the American Society of Agronomy and the Soil Science
Society of America.
The joint conference was held in Indianapolis from Nov. 3 to 8. All of
the NU scientists honored are faculty members in the Institute of
Agriculture and Natural Resources.
The Crop Science Society of America (CSSA) honored Martin Massengale with
the Dekalb Crop Science Distinguished Career Award. He is president
emeritus of the University of Nebraska, director of UNL's Center for
Grassland Studies and Foundation Distinguished Professor of Agronomy. The
award recognizes a crop scientist's record of service over at least 25
years.
Terrance Riordan, horticulture professor at UNL, received the society's
Fred V. Grau Turfgrass Science Award recognizing career contributions to
turfgrass science. Riordan also was elected a CSSA board representative
for Division C-5.
CSSA's Crop Science Research Award was presented to James Specht, NU
agronomy professor. This award recognizes research excellence and total
impact of contributions to crop science and other fields.
Dermot Coyne, NU's George Holmes Regents Distinguished Professor of
Horticulture, was named a CSSA Fellow. His major research involved
breeding and genetics for multiple disease resistance, yield, seed
quality and adaption in dry edible beans.
Coyne was also named a fellow in the American Society of Agronomy (ASA)
for his research on dry edible beans.
Four other NU faculty members were named ASA Fellows. They are:
- Kenneth Cassman, agronomy department head, was honored for his work
on soil fertility and plant nutrition;
- Gary Hergert, soil specialist at NU's West Central Research and
Extension Center at North Platte, was cited for research on soil
fertility and management;
- Jeffrey Pedersen, a U.S. Department of Agriculture-Agricultural
Research Service research geneticist and adjunct professor at UNL,
honored for his work on genetic improvement of crops;
- Wallace Wilhelm, plant physiologist with the USDA-ARS Soil and Water
Conservation Research Unit and an adjunct professor at UNL, was cited for
work on the quantification of principles relating to plant development
and growth to changes in soil environment that result from
conservation-production practices.
The Soil Science Society of America (SSSA) honored two UNL faculty
members: James Power, who retired as research leader and research soil
scientist for USDA-ARS at UNL in 1995, earned the Soil Science
Distinguished Award for his research on development of sustainable
production practices for the Great Plains; and Darrell Nelson, dean and
director of IANR's Agricultural Research Division and interim associate
vice chancellor for IANR, earned the Soil Science Professional Service
Award.
Lechner Earns Facilitator Certification
Carol Lechner, library specialist for the University Libraries, recently
attended a week long workshop on management skills training offered by
Development Demensions International, Inc., in Chicago. At the training
workshop, Lechner earned her certification as a "Skills for an Empowered
Workforce" facilitator and instructor.
Lechner is the staff development intern for Libraries. In addition to
training managers and staff for Libraries, Lechner will also have
opportunities to work with Human Resources in their management skills
training workshops.
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