Overview
The Named Professorships, including the Cather/Bessey, Douglas/Weaver and Rosowski, are intended to recognize outstanding faculty members for their contributions in research or teaching and promise for future excellence. These professorships are funded by the Office of the Executive Vice Chancellor.
Learn more about each professorship, current holders, and nomination instructions.
Willa Cather / Charles Bessey Professorship In recognition of distinguished scholarship or creative activity


Stipend: $5,000 | Discipline: Open | Position: Full Professor
Willa Cather and Charles Bessey professorships were established in 2001 by the University of Nebraska-Lincoln to recognize faculty members with the rank of full professor who have established exceptional records of distinguished scholarship or creative activity. Individuals awarded the professorship may elect either the Cather or Bessey designation. They are known as Cather or Bessey professors and professor of (field). The professorships, which carry a $5,000 stipend, are awarded for five-year terms. Appointments may be renewed following review for sustained excellence in the fifth year.
Please note that only one nomination per category (Cather/Bessey) may be submitted by each department.
Current Professorships
Year | Recipient | Professorship | Department |
---|---|---|---|
2022 | Ronald Faller | Willa Cather | Civil and Environmental Engineering |
2022 | Leen-Kiat Soh | Charles Bessey | School of Computing |
2021 | Christian Binek | Charles Bessey | Physics and Astronomy |
2021 | Jody Koenig Kellas | Willa Cather | Communication Studies |
More recipients
Year | Recipient | Professorship | Department |
---|---|---|---|
2020 | Marco Abel | Willa Cather | English |
2020 | Brian Harbourne | Willa Cather | Mathematics |
2020 | Eileen Hebets | Charles Bessey | Biological Sciences |
2019 | Julia McQuillan | Willa Cather | Sociology |
2019 | Jay Storz | Willa Cather | Biological Sciences |
2013 | Donald Becker | Charles Bessey Professorship | Biochemistry |
2011 | David Berkowitz | Willa Cather Professorship | Chemistry |
2010 | Paul Blum | Charles Bessey Professorship | School of Biological Sciences |
2007 | Dawn O. Braithwaite | Willa Cather Professorship | Communication Studies |
2018 | Joy Castro | Willa Cather Professorship | English and Ethnic Studies |
2017 | David DiLillo | Willa Cather Professorship | Psychology |
2002 | Peter Dowben | Charles Bessey Professorship | Physics & Astronomy |
2009 | Patrick Dussault | Charles Bessey Professorship | Chemistry |
2017 | Timothy Gay | Willa Cather Professorship | Physics and Astronomy |
2017 | Susan Hermiller | Willa Cather Professorship | Mathematics |
2002 | Carole Levin | Willa Cather Professorship | History |
2016 | Rodney Moxley | Charles Bessey Professorship | Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences |
2010 | Andrzej Rajca | Charles Bessey Professorship | Chemistry |
2014 | Jordan Stump | Willa Cather Professorship | Modern Languages & Literatures |
2014 | Susan Swearer | Willa Cather Professorship | Educational Psychology |
2010 | Elizabeth Theiss-Morse | Willa Cather Professorship | Political Science |
2016 | Kimberly Tyler | Willa Cather Professorship | Sociology |
2014 | Mark Walker | Willa Cather Professorship | Mathematics |
2008 | Richard Wiener | Charles Bessey Professorship | Psychology |
2007 | Yiqi Yang | Charles Bessey Professorship | Textiles, Merchandising & Fashion Design |
2011 | Janos Zempleni | Willa Cather Professorship | Nutrition & Health Sciences |
John E. Weaver / Aaron Douglas Professorship In recognition of a sustained record of teaching excellence and national visibility for instructional activities/practice


Stipend: $5,000 | Discipline: Open | Position: Full Professor
John E. Weaver and Aaron Douglas Professorships for Teaching Excellence were established in 2008 by the University of Nebraska-Lincoln to recognize faculty members with the rank of full professor who demonstrate sustained and extraordinary levels of teaching excellence and national visibility for instructional activities and/or practice. Individuals awarded the professorship may elect either the Douglas or Weaver designation. They are known as Weaver or Douglas professors and professor of (field). The professorships, which carry a $5,000 stipend, are awarded for five-year terms. Appointments may be renewed following review for sustained excellence in the fifth year.
Please note that only one nomination per category (Weaver/Douglas) may be submitted by each department.
Current Professorships
Year | Recipient | Professorship | Department |
---|---|---|---|
2022 | Eve Brank | Aaron Douglas Professorship | Psychology and Center on Children, Families and the Law |
More recipients
Year | Recipient | Professorship | Department |
---|---|---|---|
2018 | Debra Hope | Aaron Douglas Professorship | Psychology |
2018 | Clarence Waters | Aaron Douglas Professorship | Durham School of Architectural Engineering and Construction |
2015 | Robert Brooke | John E. Weaver Professorship | English |
2010 | Stephen Buhler | Aaron Douglas Professorship | English |
2010 | Calvin Garbin | John E. Weaver Professorship | Psychology |
2009 | William Lewis | Aaron Douglas Professorship | Mathematics |
2016 | Martha Mamo | John E. Weaver Professorship | Agronomy & Horticulture |
2012 | Judy Walker | Aaron Douglas Professorship | Mathematics |
2014 | Laura White | John E. Weaver Professorship | English |
Susan J. Rosowski Professorship In recognition of faculty who show exceptional promise for future excellence and distinguished scholarship or creative activity

Stipend: $3,000 | Discipline: Open | Position: Associate Professor
The Susan J. Rosowski Professorship recognizes 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. The five-year, one-time appointment professorship carries a $3,000 annual stipend.
Please note that only one nomination per category may be submitted by each department.
Current Professorships
Year | Recipient | Department |
---|---|---|
2022 | Rebecca Brock | Psychology |
2022 | Rebecca Roston | Biochemistry |
2021 | Jennine Capó Crucet | English/Ethnic Studies |
2021 | Tomas Helikar | Biochemistry |
More recipients
Year | Recipient | Department |
---|---|---|
2020 | Eric Dodds | Chemistry |
2020 | Jeffrey Stevens | Psychology |
2020 | Stacey Waite | English |
2019 | Oleh Khalimonchuk | Biochemistry |
2019 | Kristi Montooth | Biological Sciences |
2017 | Martin Centurion | Physics and Astronomy |
2018 | Carrick Detweiler | Computer Science and Engineering |
2017 | Sarah Gervais | Psychology |
2018 | Katrina Jagodinsky | History |
2017 | Timothy Schaffert | English |
Chancellor's Professorship
Stipend: Varies | Discipline: Varies | Position: Varies
Current Professorships
Year | Recipient | Department |
---|---|---|
2018 | Rick Bevins | Psychology |
2016 | Stephen Cooper | Raikes School of Computer Science & Management |
2016 | Xiao Cheng Zeng | Chemistry |