University Kudos Awards for May and June were awarded to Sandra Sterkel and Sharon Rorie (May) and Jim Ballard (June).
Sandra Sterkel,
staff secretary II at the South Central Research &
Extension Center, is a person who interacts well with the public. Her
creative
abilities in manipulating various computer programs is respected by all
the staff and she is constantly called upon for tricks to get programs
and
hardware to do what's needed. Sterkel's nominator says, "One of the
qualities which makes Sandy a model employee is her ability to do
outstanding
work on her projects while being available to help others when they need
it."
Sharon Rorie,
office supervisor for the Center for Curriculum &
Instruction in Teachers College, is "always pleasant, cheerful and
professional when interacting with students, faculty and staff,"
states
her nominator. "Because of the way she interacts with others, Sharon
plays a major role in the job satisfaction of others." Rorie is an
exemplary employee, going the extra mile on numerous occasions, assuming
responsibility for activities that have been added to her regular job
duties.
Jim Ballard, manager, News & Video Services, Public Relations, has been described as a "terminally optimistic," outstanding employee and ambassador for UNL. His positive attitude, in the face of equipment breakdowns, impossible deadlines and shoestring budgets, is well known. One of his staff members states, "Jim's work is creative and professional ... and he's a master at juggling without dropping a single ball. As a supervisor and a colleague, he knows when to step in and when to stay out of the way. He's also a friend a great person to work for and with." - Allison DeLunger
Fred Luthans, George Holmes distinguished professor of management, received the Distinguished Management Educator Award for 1997 from the Academy of Management Aug. 12 at a meeting of the academy at Boston. The award is presented annually to one outstanding educator by the academy, the professional association of management professors with more than 10,000 members worldwide.
"I've been very fortunate to be at a place like Nebraska because of the excellent support I've received from my department chairs, Henry Albers and Sang Lee," said Luthans, who has been a member of the Nebraska faculty since 1967. "They created a climate that has allowed me to do the kind of research and teaching that have led to this kind of award.
"It (the award) is a statement not only for me, personally, but it's a statement for all the great students I've had, the support I've had from my department administration and faculty colleagues and from the business community in Nebraska over the years."
Lee, who has chaired the management department in the College of Business Administration since 1976, said in a letter of nomination that Luthans deserved the award for his contributions in four areas - his involvement in teaching at all levels, his contributions as a editor of scholarly journals, his research and his activity as a leader in the Academy of Management, including a term as the organization's president in 1985-86.
A search committee for dean of the College of Business Administration has been appointed. Committee members are: Melvin Jones, vice chancellor for business and finance, chair; John Anderson, professor of economics and director of graduate studies; Mary Beck, associate professor of animal science; D'vee Buss, director of advising in CBA; Lester Digman, First Bank professor of management; Kathleen Farrell, assistant professor of finance; Viet Hoang, undergraduate student in CBA; Joann Martin, vice president, Ameritas Insurance; Robert Mittelstaedt, Nathan Gold professor of marketing; and Alisa Mosely, graduate student in management.
UNL's two ACE fellows for the 1997-98 academic year have finalized their plans for the fellowships, which were awarded earlier this year by the American Council on Education.
Rita Kean, professor and chair of the department of textiles, clothing and design, will work in the office of Chancellor Robert Hemenway of the University of Kansas system beginning Aug. 18. The areas she will study at KU include strategic planning and gender issues. Kean will be in Lawrence through June 15, 1998. During that time, Joan Laughlin, associate dean of the College of Human Resources and Family Sciences, will serve as interim chair of the textiles, clothing and design department.
Suzanne Ortega, professor of sociology and associate dean of graduate studies, will remain on the UNL campus working on a variety of projects in three administrative offices. She will work with Chancellor James Moeser; Rick Edwards, senior vice chancellor for academic affairs; and Priscilla Grew, vice chancellor for research.
Kean and Ortega are among 32 faculty members who were selected in a national competition. The ACE fellows program was established in 1965 and is designed to strengthen leadership in American higher education by identifying and preparing promising faculty and staff members for responsible positions in college and university administration.
Ellen Paparozzi, professor of horticulture, was recognized as a Teacher Fellow by the National Association of Colleges and Teachers of Agriculture at the organization's annual conference in Ames, Iowa. This national recognition is awarded each year to a select group of outstanding teachers of agriculture, natural and environmental sciences.
The award winners were selected by a committee of agricultural professors, who evaluated the applications of teachers who were nominated by faculty and institutions across the United States and Canada. Criteria for the Teacher Fellow award include teaching philosophy, student evaluations, peer evaluations, administrator evaluations and a self-evaluation of teaching.
Gary Hall, University of Nebraska Cooperative Extension educator and unit leader for Phelps and Gosper counties, has been elected president-elect of the National Association of County Agricultural Agents .
"This is the first time any Nebraskan has served in this position," Hall said. "This is a professional improvement opportunity of a lifetime."
Hall was nominated at the group's annual meeting and professional improvement conference in Burlington, Vt., July 13-17. He was elected by 176 delegates from across the United States. More than 1,900 people attended the event.
Hall's primary responsibilities as president-elect will be taking leadership to determine sponsorship of current sponsors and donors, as well as pursuing new ones for the association.
Hall will serve as president-elect for one year and move into his term as president in 1998, when the annual meeting will be in San Antonio, Texas. His term as president will conclude in 1999 when the annual association meets in Omaha.
Three University of Nebraska Cooperative Extension faculty were recently honored at the 82nd annual National Association of County Agricultural Agents meeting.
Larry Schulze of Lincoln, NU extension pesticide coordinator, and Gary Hall of Holdrege, Phelps/Gosper County extension educator, received Distinguished Service Awards for their contributions to extension programs. John Fech of Omaha, Douglas County extension educator, earned an Agricultural Achievement Award for his horticulture and environmental stewardship efforts.
Darryll Pederson has been elected to chair the Hydrogeology Division of the Geological Society of America, the Hydrogeology Division's highest office. The GSA is the premier scientific geological organization in the nation.
Pederson, research hydrogeologist with the UNL Conservation and Survey Division, Geology, has been twice elected secretary-treasurer of the Hydrogeology Division, has served on the historical committee, has chaired the division's distinguished service award committee and was vice chair of the division last year.
Pederson, also a professor in UNL's Department of Geology, is a Fellow in the GSA and was given the Hydrogeology Division's distinguished service award in 1994.
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