The awards coordinated by Office of the Executive Vice Chancellor and Chief Academic Officer recognize faculty and staff who advance the missions of the university in teaching, research and service.
We invite you to learn more about each award, past awardees, and nomination instructions. Nomination materials are due on February 3, 2025.
For more information on the Faculty Excellence Awards coordinated by System Administration (FIPICA, IDEA, ISSA, ORCA, OTICA, UDTA). President's Excellence Awards website.
For more information on the James V. Griesen Exemplary Service to Students Award and the University of Nebraska Foundation/Builders Award for Outstanding Academic Advising, visit the Student Affairs website.
For more information about national research awards, visit the Research Awards page.
FACULTY
ADVISING & MENTORING
LEADERSHIP & SERVICE
STAFF
Faculty Awards
Annis Chaikin Sorensen Award
IN RECOGNITION OF OUTSTANDING TEACHING IN THE HUMANITIES
Annis Chaikin Sorensen, 1918
Award: $3000
Eligibility: Full-time faculty in the Humanities
The Annis Chaikin Sorensen Award recognizes an individual for his/her outstanding teaching in the humanities. The humanities disciplines include art, classics, communication studies, English, history, modern languages and literatures, journalism, libraries, music, philosophy, theatre arts, ROTC, museum, architecture, interior design, landscape architecture, community and regional planning and all athletic department faculty. Awardees are recognized at The Laurels annual award reception.
More Information
College Distinguished Teaching Award
IN RECOGNITION OF CONSISTENT EXCELLENCE IN TEACHING
Award: $1000
Eligibility: All faculty
College Distinguished Teaching Awards are $1,000 awards in recognition of excellence in teaching. Awardees are recognized at The Laurels annual award reception. For 2022 the available awards are as follows:
- Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources: 1
- Arts and Sciences: 6
- Business: 1
- Engineering: 2
- Education and Human Sciences: 3
- Fine and Performing Arts: 1
- Law: 1
More Information
Harold & Esther Edgerton Junior Faculty Award
IN RECOGNITION OF ACADEMIC PROMISE
Harold Edgerton, 1959
Award: $5000 ($3000 professional development fund and $2000 salary supplement, distributed over two years)
Eligibility: Full-time pre-tenure faculty, 2028 tenure notification date
The Harold & Esther Edgerton Junior Faculty Award is presented each year to honor an outstanding junior faculty member who has demonstrated creative research, extraordinary teaching abilities, and academic promise. Awardees are recognized at The Laurels annual award reception.
More Information
Advising & Mentoring Awards
Dr. Charles Riedesel Outstanding Academic Advising Award
IN RECOGNITION OF OUTSTANDING ADVISING OF UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS
Award: $1000
Eligibility: Full-time faculty or staff members with job descriptions that include undergraduate advising (defined as having an official role in MyRED as an undergraduate academic advisor)
The Dr. Charles Riedesel Outstanding Academic Advising Award recognizes an exceptional faculty or staff member who directly delivers advising services to undergraduates. The award is named for Dr. Charles Riedesel, former advisor in Computer Science and Engineering. The award was established in 2014 and endowed by the Riedesel family beginning in 2015. Awardees are recognized at The Laurels annual award reception.
More Information
Outstanding Undergraduate Research Mentor Award
IN RECOGNITION OF EXCELLENCE IN MENTORING AND SUPPORTING UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCHERS
Award: $1000
Eligibility: Full-time faculty
The Outstanding Undergraduate Research Mentor Award recognizes an individual who has demonstrated excellence in mentoring and supporting undergraduate researchers. Excellent undergraduate mentors support students through their availability, attentiveness, encouragement, and understanding. Awardees are recognized at The Laurels annual award reception.
More Information
Leadership & Service Awards
James O’Hanlon Academic Leader Award
HONORS AN ACADEMIC LEADER WITH ABILITIES TO LEAD, SERVE, INSPIRE, AND COLLABORATE
Award: $1000
Eligibility: Full-time faculty or staff
The James O’Hanlon Award honors an academic leader who has demonstrated exceptional abilities to lead, serve, inspire, and collaborate on the academic goals of the university. The award is named for Dr. James O’Hanlon, who served the university in academic leadership positions for over 30 years. Awardees are recognized at The Laurels annual award reception.
More Information
Nancy Kenny Academic Business Leader Award
HONORS A LEADER WITH INTEGRITY IN ACADEMIC BUSINESS MATTERS
Award: $1000
Eligibility: Full-time faculty and staff
The Nancy Kenny Award honors an individual of integrity who has demonstrated exceptional collaborative leadership in academic business matters at the university. The award is named for Nancy Kenny, who served the university in business leadership positions across the campus. The award was established in 2013. Awardees are recognized at The Laurels annual award reception.
More Information
Dennis Molfese, Sue Venteicher, and David Hansen Hero Award
IN RECOGNITION OF HEROISM
Award: $4000
Eligibility: Faculty, staff, and students.
The Dennis Molfese, Sue Venteicher, and David Hansen Hero Award is an annual award, recognizing a faculty member, staff member, or student whose courageous and unselfish act saved the life of another person.
More Information
Staff Awards
University of Nebraska Staff Kudos Award
IN RECOGNITION OF STAFF WHO GO “ABOVE AND BEYOND”
Award: $150 awarded by Board of Regents supplemented with $850 from the Executive Vice Chancellor
Eligibility: Full-time managerial/professional and office/service staff
The Board of Regents recognizes full-time employees for their outstanding service to the University of Nebraska. Annually, System Administration allows the UNL Chancellor and six Vice Chancellors to each select one recipient for the Kudos Award. The Office of the Executive Vice Chancellor and Chief Academic Officer is able to select one recipient from nominations received from the Academic Affairs colleges and reporting units. The recipient receives a monetary stipend and recognition at a Board of Regents meeting.
Exceptional Excellence Award
IN RECOGNITION OF STAFF WHO HAVE SHOWN EXCEPTIONAL SUPPORT TO A FACULTY MEMBER
Award: $1000
Eligibility: full time staff who support faculty
The Exceptional Excellence Award recognizes a member of university staff who has shown exceptional support to a faculty member, exceeding their job expectations and contributing to the success of the faculty member's teaching and/or research. This award was established in 2019. Awardees are recognized at The Laurels annual award reception.