Faculty & Staff Awards

This award recognizes outstanding innovation and impact on preventing disease and promoting health through public health education, research, and practice, with particular attention to the needs of Nebraska and its citizens.

Eligible candidates are public health professionals, University of Nebraska faculty members, or volunteers related to public health who demonstrate excellence, creativity, and/or distinguished collaboration in advancing effective approaches to improving public health. The selection criteria address the degree to which an individual demonstrates excellence, creativity, and/or distinguished collaboration in advancing effective approaches to preventing disease and promotion health through public health education, research, and/or practice.

Past Recipients

The College of Public Health recognizes faculty for their work in research or service. This award is open to full- and part-time faculty (rank of assistant or associate professor) employed by the college for at least one full academic year who have shown promise in research and service with preference given to faculty who have developed partnerships or conducted research impacting tribal communities.

The award will be considered for faculty who show promise in research and service, including:

• Research and service increases public health awareness.
• Research and service impacting under-resourced communities in Nebraska.
• Preference given to faculty who have developed partnerships or conducted research impacting tribal communities.

Past Recipients

The College of Public Health recognizes faculty who exemplify excellence in teaching and education. This award is open to full- and part-time faculty (any rank) who’ve been employed by COPH for at least one full academic year who demonstrate excellence in teaching in College of Public Health courses.

The award will be considered for excellence in teaching, which may include:

• Classroom instruction which engages and inspires students.
• Innovation in teaching methods.
• Mentoring students with attention and care.
• Creating inclusive and supportive classroom environments.
• Other activities which have promoted and expanded students’ learning experiences.

Past Recipients

Governing College of Public Health Faculty members at the rank of Assistant Professor who have an active research program are eligible for nomination. The research award is for an individual and not for a team of researchers. Faculty members that have received this award are not eligible to receive the award again. Faculty members who have received UNMC Distinguished Scientist Award are also excluded.

The award will be considered for staff who meet these criteria:

• Research program has been advanced while a member of the Governing Faculty in the College of Public Health.
• Research contributes to the advancement of public health science and practice.
• Researcher has published research in refereed journals.
• Researcher has received intramural or extramural funding.
• Research has been presented at regional, national, and/or international conferences.

The College of Public Health recognizes staff who exemplify excellence in programmatic support which positively impacts the college or Nebraska communities. This award is open to UNMC College of Public Health staff members (at least 0.5 FTE) who’ve been employed with the college for at least one full year who provide support (administrative, budgetary, programmatic, etc.) to programs, centers, or departments within the college. This award was previously a faculty award, but was revised in 2023 to ensure staff are eligible for an award.

The award will be considered for staff who meet these criteria:

• Consistently provide outstanding customer service with a standard of high quality.
• Contribute to and support the mission of the college while promoting individual accountability for the college's success.
• Strive for excellence in their work and communication.
• Maintain positive and productive working relationships with supervisors, colleagues, and customers.

Past Recipients