Lincoln, Neb., Nov. 20, 2002--Michael Combs, professor of political science at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, and three co-authors have been honored by the American Political Science Association for the best book published in 2001 in the area of urban politics.
Combs and his co-authors were honored for "Race and Place: Race Relations in an American City," published by Cambridge University Press. In it, the authors examine the striking, but little-recognized change in race relations during the past two decades that has accompanied declining levels of racial segregation in most of America's major metropolitan areas.
The book's co-authors with Combs are Susan Welch of Pennsylvania State University (formerly of UNL), Lee Sigelman of George Washington University and Timothy Bledsoe of Wayne State University of Detroit, who earned his doctorate at UNL. The award was presented at the annual meeting of APSA in Boston.
CONTACT: Michael Combs, Professor, Political Science, (402) 472-3231 (mcombs1@unl.edu)
Lincoln, Neb., Nov. 20, 2002--University of Nebraska-Lincoln sociologist Mary Jo Deegan, alumnus Michael R. Hill and doctoral graduate student Connie Frey each won awards recently from the American Sociological Association, the premiere professional group in the field.
Deegan won the Distinguished Career Award in the History of Sociology Section. She also won the Outstanding Scholarly Book Award for her editorial work as series editor of "Women and Sociological Theory." The volume "Harriet Martineau: Theoretical and Methodological Perspectives" was edited by Michael R. Hill, a UNL alumnus with doctorates in sociology and geography. He received the Outstanding Scholarly Book award from the ASA.
Deegan is widely published in her field. She is the author of two books, editor of 11 books, and has three books in galleys. She has written more than 150 articles and chapters.
Frey, a doctoral student of Deegan's, won the graduate student award for best paper in the War and Peace section of the association. Her paper was "Peace and Bread in Time of War: Implications for 'Operation Enduring Freedom.' "
CONTACT: Mary Jo Deegan, Professor, Sociology, (402) 472-6062 (mdeegan2@unl.edu)
Lincoln, Neb., Nov. 20, 2002--Rumiko Handa, associate professor of architecture at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, is the 2002 recipient of the Educator Honor Award from the American Institute of Architecture Students.
The institute's announcement said Handa "is an educator, researcher and mentor who clearly earns the admiration and respect of her students. The jury was impressed with Dr. Handa's excitement, curiosity, thoughtful approach to teaching, strong concern for students and ability to promote critical thinking.
The announcement also credited Handa's accomplishments in scholarship and research and quoted Wayne Mortensen, a senior architecture major from Arlington and president of the institute's Nebraska chapter: "She stands just over 5 feet tall, but possesses the drive of a small team of oxen. A small whirlwind closely follows her as she enters a room. She doesn't hesitate to stand on chairs or sit on tables and when she is not moving 80 miles an hour, her mind is. Rumiko sends even the most agile minds into a tailspin of complex mental confrontation."
CONTACT: Rumiko Handa, Assoc. Professor, Architecture, (402) 472-0240 (rhanda1@unl.edu)
Lincoln, Neb., Nov. 20, 2002--William Lyons, the Richard Larson professor of tax law at the University of Nebraska College of Law, was elected regent for the Eighth Circuit of the American College of Tax Counsel at the American Bar Association Tax Section meeting in Los Angeles in October.
"I'm excited about this opportunity because the regents are the moving force behind the policy studies produced by ACTC," Lyons said.
A member of the Nebraska law faculty since 1981, Lyons will serve a three-year term as regent.
CONTACT: William Lyons, Larson Professor of Tax Law, (402) 472-1246 (wlyons2@unl.edu)
Lincoln, Neb., Nov. 20, 2002--Jennifer Nelson, academic adviser in the Division of General Studies at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, was honored in October as a 2002 Outstanding Adviser Award winner from the National Academic Advising Association.
"I know from your participation at NACADA conferences that you are a strong proponent of excellence in academic advising and a role model for your colleagues," Jane Jacobson, of Kansas State University and the Region 6 representative for the association, wrote in a letter to Nelson informing her of the award. "Your leadership in organizing two regional conferences has greatly benefited Region 6."
The award was presented at the association's national conference in Salt Lake City in October.
CONTACT: Jennifer Nelson, General Studies, (402) 472-6938 (jnelson9@unl.edu)
Lincoln, Neb., Nov. 20, 2002--Audun Ravnan, George Holmes professor emeritus of piano in the University of Nebraska-Lincoln School of Music, was honored with two awards last month in Kearney at the Nebraska Music Teachers Association's annual conference.
The association recognized Ravnan as its Distinguished Teacher of the Year, an award given annually to one teacher for his or her record of outstanding teaching, and nominated him to become a fellow of the Music Teachers National Association.
During 36 years as a professor of piano at UNL, Ravnan educated hundreds of students, from incoming freshmen to doctoral candidates. Most have become educators themselves, establishing private piano studios or teaching in institutions of higher learning in Nebraska and throughout the nation. His students have participated in MTNA auditions at every level, a number as top award recipients. They have been winners of every major piano competition in Nebraska and have appeared as soloists with every one of the state's symphony orchestras.
CONTACT: Audun Ravnan, Professor (emeritus), Music, (402) 472-2503 (aravnan1@unl.edu)
Lincoln, Neb., Nov. 20, 2002--Alan Steinweis, Rosenberg associate professor of history and Judaic studies at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, has been awarded a Fulbright Scholar grant to work at Germany's University of Heidelberg from May through July next year.
Steinweis will lecture and research in two areas, "The Antisemitism of Reason: Jews and Judaism in Nazi Germany" and "Debating the Holocaust: Politics and Memory in the U.S., Israel, Germany, Poland and Great Britain."
He is one of approximately 800 U.S. faculty and professionals who will travel abroad to some 140 countries during the 2002-03 academic year through the U.S. State Department's Fulbright Scholar Program. Established in 1946 under legislation introduced by the late Sen. J. William Fulbright of Arkansas, the program's purpose is to build mutual understanding between the people of the United States and other countries.
CONTACT: Alan Steinweis, Assoc. Professor, History, (402) 472-3257 (< href="mailto:asteinweis1@unl.edu">asteinweis1@unl.edu)
Lincoln, Neb., Nov. 20, 2002--William Walstad, professor of economics at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, is the 2002 recipient of the National Association for Economic Educators/National Council on Economic Education International Award for extraordinary commitment and dedication to the advancement of international economic education.
The association and council commended Walstad for fulfilling the exceptional standards set for this prestigious award. He has worked cooperatively with those in other countries to assess economic knowledge, and make comparisons about the level of economic literacy internationally.
Walstad was responsible for establishing the National Association for Economic Educator's international committee, and served as its first chair. He organized and chaired two international conferences for the Economics and Business Education Association of the United Kingdom. Walstad is also the director for the NU-based National Center for Research in Economic Education, which serves as the specialized center for research and evaluation for the economic education network of 48 state councils and 275 college and university centers for economic education.
He has edited three books on the topic of international economic education, including the recently published "Reforming Economics and Economics Teaching in the Transition Economies: From Marx to Markets in the Classroom." He has contributed chapters or edited more than 15 books pertaining to the subject of economic education, and made a similar number of presentations at international conferences.
CONTACT: William Walstad, Professor, Economics, (402) 472-2333 (wwalstad1@unl.edu)
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