Faculty Awards & Honors

George Holmes University Professorships

One of the most prestigious of the awards that the university bestows upon faculty, George W. Holmes University Professorships are supported by the University of Nebraska Foundation from the estate of George W. Holmes, a prominent Lincoln businessman, civic leader and philanthropist in the 1920s. These professorships are awarded in recognition of an extraordinary level of excellence in various aspects of teaching, outreach, scholarly and/or creative achievement, and extensive involvement and service in the advancement of the university's mission.

Kwame Dawes (2021)
Stephen Behrendt (1993)

John E. Weaver and Aaron Douglas Professorships for Teaching Excellence

Established in 2008, John E. Weaver and Aaron Douglas Professorships are awarded to faculty holding the full professor rank who demonstrate sustained and extraordinary levels of teaching excellence and national visibility for instructional activities and/or practice.

Grace Bauer (2019)
Robert Brooke (2015)
Laura White (2014)
Stephen Buhler (2010)

Willa Cather Professorships

Willa Cather Professorships are awarded to faculty who have demonstrated an exceptional record of distinguished scholarship and creative activity. Their work reflects the highest levels of achievement, quality and importance.

Marco Abel (2020)
Joy Castro (2018)
Gwendolyn Audrey Foster (2016)
Gerald Shapiro (2007)

Susan J. Rosowski Associate Professorships

Susan J. Rosowski Professorships recognize faculty at the associate professor level for their contributions in research and teaching, who show exceptional promise for future excellence, and who have achieved distinguished records of scholarship or creative activity.

Jennine Capó Crucet (2021)
Stacey Waite (2020)
Timothy Schaffert (2017)
Matthew Jockers (2015)
Roland Végső (2015)
Joy Castro (2013)
Stephen Ramsay (2013)
Melissa Homestead (2009)

Hillegass University Professorship

The Hillegass University Professorship was established by the Cliffs Charitable Foundation for the English department in the College of Arts & Sciences.

Kenneth M. Price (2000)

James E. Ryan Associate Professorship

Chigozie Obioma (2020)

Adele Hall Chair of English

Jonis Agee (2000)

Louise Pound-George Howard Distinguished Career Award

This award was approved by the Faculty Senate in 1989 to recognize an individual whose career at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln has made an exceptional contribution to the university community through teaching, research, administrative service, or a combination of those activities.

Fran Kaye (2016)
Barbara DiBernard (2011)
James A. McShane (2004)
Paul A. Olson (1999)
Fred Link (1995)

Nebraska Faculty Senate James A. Lake Academic Freedom Award

Julia Schleck and Marco Abel

Recognizes “an individual whose efforts have helped to preserve the most basic freedom of all, the freedom to seek and communicate the truth.”

Dr. Charles Riedesel Outstanding Academic Advising Award

This award recognizes exceptional faculty or staff members who go beyond basic advising duties to provide support, empowerment, coaching, counseling, and guidance to enable students to succeed.

Kelly Payne (2016)

James V. Griesen Exemplary Service to Students Award

This award recognizes individuals who go beyond the performance of their assigned work, devoting extra time and effort in serving the needs of students. The award acknowledges extraordinary and sustained performance on behalf of students.

Kelly Payne (2017)
Robert Bergstrom (1998)

Outstanding Contributions to the Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender Community

The awards recognize efforts to create an inclusive, respectful and safe climate for members of the gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender community.

Stacey Waite (2017)
Joy Ritchie (2005)
Department of English (2004)
Louis Crompton (2003)
George E. Wolf (2003)
Barbara DiBernard (2002)

EGSA Star Professor Award

Rachael W. Shah (2020)
Timothy Schaffert (2019)
Shari Stenberg (2018)
Amelia Montes (2017)

Outstanding Contributions to the Status of Women

The award recognizes outstanding faculty, staff and student efforts to create a climate that encourages women to succeed at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and demonstrates a sustained and tangible impact on the campus community.

Barbara DiBernard (1995)

College of Arts & Sciences Engagement Award

The CAS Engagement Award honors people or units involved in examplary engagement activities that have an impact beyond the university—within a community, the state of Nebraska, the nation, or the world.

Nebraska Writing Project (2018)
Robert Brooke, Director

Parents’ Recognition Awards

These awards, presented annually by the Parents Association, honor faculty and staff who have made a significant difference in students' lives.

Wheeler Winston Dixon (2016 & 2019)
Eder Jaramillo (2019)
Yulia Levchenko (2016 & 2019)
Robert Lipscomb (2019)
Beverley Rilett (2016, 2017, 2018 & 2019)
Amanda Gailey (2016 & 2018)
Fran Kaye (2018)
Guy Reynolds (2018)
Stephen Behrendt (2017)
Stephen Buhler (2017)
Jennine Capó Crucet (2017)
Brie Owen (2017)
Gregory Rutledge (2017)
Kelly Stage (2016 & 2017)
Shari Stenberg (2017)
Jack Vespa (2017)
Robert Fuglei (2016)
Brenda Ingraham (2016)
Michael Page (2016)
Kelly Payne (2016)
Pascha Sotolongo Stevenson (2016)