The Munroe-Meyer Institute’s annual Celebration of Excellence was held Feb. 16.
The event, held at the Scott Conference Center on the University of Nebraska at Omaha campus, honors outstanding achievement during the past year at the institute.
“It is one of the highlights of the year as we celebrate our amazing staff and their achievements. The caring, hard work and dedication of our staff must be appreciated,” said MMI Director Karoly Mirnics, MD, PhD. “We not only celebrate individuals who receive the awards but also show our deep gratitude to all outstanding employees who create the wonderful tapestry of our amazing organization.”
See a photo slideshow of award winners.
Awardees recognized for their 2023 contributions included:
Staff Clinical Services Phoenix Award: Erin Brandenburg, Department of Recreational Therapy
Brandenburg has been instrumental in the recreational therapy department’s growth from a niche program to the bustling unit it is today, nominators wrote. She assists participants while providing exemplary mentorship to 80 technicians and more than 350 volunteers. Brandenburg also helped to spark a partnership that created the first Augmentative and Alternative Communication camp embedded into Camp Munroe.
“Her leadership, engagement and drive to continually find efficiencies and improved operations are key reasons why our programs run smoothly,” one nominator wrote. “Erin is one of the most motivated, dedicated, reliable and highly regarded employees at MMI.”
Faculty Clinical Services Phoenix Award: Brenda Bassingthwaite, PhD, MMI Department of Psychology
Dr. Bassingthwaite has given students a chance at success in the classroom through her work directing the Applied Behavior Analysis Services contract with Omaha Public Schools, nominators wrote. She’s challenged schools to build teacher capacity and broaden services provided to students. With a focus on staff training, more students can receive necessary services.
“Brenda is student-centered, compassionate and nonjudgmental,” a nominator wrote. “These characteristics, along with her skill, experience and creativity, have caused students and teachers to demonstrate success in the school environment.”
Support Staff Phoenix Award: Kathlene Egbers, MMI Department of Psychology
Egbers’ role has shifted several times during her 15 years at MMI. Nominators recognized her willingness to tackle those new endeavors and challenges. In her current role, Egbers has reduced administrative burden for many faculty and trainees by sending telehealth links, reaching out to new patients and assisting patients over the phone.
“Kathlene’s strength is her ability to be flexible, try and learn new tasks, ask questions and do it all with patience and grace for herself and others,” one nominator wrote.
Community Engagement Phoenix Award: Sherri Kallon
Nominators called Kallon a “respected community partner” who excels at breaking down barriers to employment and improving the quality of training programs for individuals with disabilities. Kallon has been instrumental in a number of partnerships, including with Metropolitan Community College, Omaha Public Schools and the AIM Institute.
“She is always responsive, ready to help, and ensures that our participants and programs have what we need to be successful on campus,” one nominator wrote. “We truly appreciate Sherri and the work she does for our program as well as the many other programs she assists with.”
Diversity and Inclusion Phoenix Award: Laura Fritz, MMI Department of Education and Child Development
Nominators applauded Fritz’s dedication to leading and serving with equity. Fritz excels at researching, finding strategies and being a team player. She’s worked on the statewide Preschool Development Grant and taken part in statewide conferences. Through her experiences, Fritz has brought back ideas and resources for the department to consider.
“Laura exemplifies the qualities of a champion for diversity and inclusion,” one nominator wrote. “She is humble, consistently gathers best practices, advocates for those who are underserved and seeks to understand those with different lived experience.”
Research Phoenix Award: Regina Carroll, PhD, integrated Center for Autism Spectrum Disorders
Nominators recognized Dr. Carroll’s impressive number of peer-reviewed articles, many of which have been published in the flagship journal in her field of applied behavior analysis. More recent publications include her students as authors, demonstrating her commitment to developing the research acumen of her trainees. She’s also headed several state and regional conferences and was selected as an associate editor for the Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis.
“These accomplishments demonstrate her research productivity, innovation, and impact, as well as her dedication to mentoring others in their research endeavors,” a nominator wrote.
Spirit Phoenix Award: Garrett Nathan, MMI Department of Speech-Language Pathology
Nathan is a leader in planning activities that connect the institute, nominators wrote. He is an ambassador of MMI in the community and he’s a regular at MMI and UNMC events. Nathan also encourages his colleagues to get involved. In the last year, he and a colleague in the MMI Department of Recreational Therapy created a group social skills program.
“Garrett fully embodies the term ‘spirit’ when it comes to MMI,” a nominator wrote. “He always has a smile on his face, along with a cheerful demeanor when interacting with others. When it comes to his patients, his ‘Come on, let’s go’ attitude always lifts them.”
Education Phoenix Award — Faculty: Kerry Miller, PhD, MMI Department of Education and Child Development
Dr. Miller has made outstanding contributions to teaching and education, particularly in developing an innovative rubric for all third-year UNMC students, a nominator wrote. Her efforts have enhanced the educational experience for students, and her commitment to fostering interdisciplinary appreciation is evident. She often presents to statewide and national organizations.
“Dr. Miller’s positive attitude and passion for teaching are consistently reflected in her interactions with students and colleagues,” one nominator said. “Her dedication to educational excellence is further underscored by her invitations to present on her teaching methods and the programs she has developed.”
Education Phoenix Award — Staff: Jeena Kouris, MMI Department of Speech-Language Pathology
Nominators commended Kouris for providing top-tier clinical supervision for graduate students and clinical fellows. She’s advocated for updates to the RiteCare Preschool Group syllabus and routinely adapts her methods to meet the needs of individuals she teaches. Kouris makes things student-centered, often asking what she can do to make it a better experience or how she can best help in the future.
“Jeena is an incredibly organized, thorough and dedicated supervisor,” a nominator wrote. “She teaches by modeling, explaining, providing empirical evidence and giving specific, timely feedback.”