Hixson-Lied Faculty, Staff awards presented

Back row, left to right: Kathe Andersen, Sandra Williams, Jacqueline Mattingly, Meghan Stratman, Dean Chuck O’Connor and Allison Casey. Front row, left to right: Chris Irvin, David von Kampen and Walker Pickering. Not pictured: Colleen Syron and Hans Sturm. Photo by Justin Mohling.
Back row, left to right: Kathe Andersen, Sandra Williams, Jacqueline Mattingly, Meghan Stratman, Dean Chuck O’Connor and Allison Casey. Front row, left to right: Chris Irvin, David von Kampen and Walker Pickering. Not pictured: Colleen Syron and Hans Sturm. Photo by Justin Mohling.

Hixson-Lied Faculty, Staff awards presented

calendar icon15 May 2019    

Lincoln, Neb.--The Hixson-Lied Faculty and Staff Awards were presented at the Hixson-Lied College of Fine and Performing Arts Honors Day celebration on Saturday, April 27, 2019. These awards are made possible by the Hixson-Lied Endowment.

The following awards were presented:

• The College Distinguished Teaching Award was presented to Colleen Syron, assistant professor of design in the School of Art, Art History & Design. Syron was integral to the development of two new degrees, the Bachelor of Fine Arts and Bachelor of Arts in graphic design, that were launched in the fall of 2017.

• The Senior Faculty Research and Creative Activity Award, which recognizes a senior faculty member who has demonstrated exemplary accomplishment in research or creative activity, was presented to Hans Sturm, Hixson-Lied Professor of Double Bass and Jazz Studies, in the Glenn Korff School of Music. In 2017, he released his album, “Rose Fingered Dawn” with vocalist Jackie Allen. He served as producer, performed on all the tracks, and wrote the words and music for all 10 compositions on the recording. Two other live recordings of 2018 performances in Paris, France, are scheduled for release next year. He also maintains an incredibly active performance schedule nationally and internationally.

• The Outreach, Engagement or Service Award, which recognizes a faculty member who has demonstrated exemplary accomplishment in outreach, engagement or service, was presented to Sandra Williams, associate professor of art, in the School of Art, Art History & Design. Williams was the conference organizer for the Mid-America College Art Association Conference, hosted by the School, last October. She also serves on the Board of Directors at the LUX Center for the Arts, where she annually has a silkscreen both at the Dia de Los Muertos.

• The Academic Advising Award, which recognizes a faculty member who has demonstrated exemplary accomplishment in academic advising, and the Curriculum Development Award, which recognizes a faculty member who has demonstrated exemplary accomplishment in curricular or programmatic development, were both awarded to Jacqueline Mattingly, assistant professor of practice in music, in the Glenn Korff School of Music. After more than a year of development, Mattingly’s course, “Arts Alive in Nebraska” was rolled out in the fall of 2018 with full enrollment each semester. In addition, in the area of advising, she has an “official” advising load of approximately 150 music majors and minors. She also makes herself available for New Student Enrollment.

• The Junior Faculty Teaching Award, which recognizes a junior faculty member who has demonstrated exemplary accomplishment in teaching, was presented to Walker Pickering, assistant professor of art, in the School of Art, Art History & Design. Pickering is in his fifth year of teaching photography. The amount of student success in photography is extraordinary and includes several competitive lecture slots at regional and national Society for Photographic Education conferences, the grand prize in the Photo District News student competition, 2nd place Lenscratch Student Prize, publication in Aperture Magazine and an exhibition in their New York Gallery, and selection for The New York Times Portfolio Review, and more.

• The Outstanding Lecturer Award recognizes a lecturer who has demonstrated exemplary accomplishment in teaching. Two awards were presented:  Chris Irvin, lecturer, in the Johnny Carson School of Theatre and Film and School of Art, Art History & Design, and David von Kampen, lecturer, in the Glenn Korff School of Music. Irvin has been a lecturer in the college for three years. His success has been with the Digital Arts Initiative, where his approach is incredibly creative and engaging. Students in his Immersive Experience Design course presented an interactive installation at a TEDXyouth Lincoln event last year. Von Kampen is a lecturer of music theory and literature. He also works with the UNL Vocal Jazz Ensemble, choosing music charts, leading rehearsals and finding performing opportunities He was also commissioned by the university to compose a work for the N150 celebration in February.

• The Outstanding Staff Award, which recognizes a staff member whose overall performance has regularly and consistently exceeded expectations and has reflected a high level of service throughout his/her years of service, was presented to Kathe Andersen, Director of Communications and External Relations, in the Hixson-Lied College of Fine and Performing Arts. Andersen has faithfully served the college for more than 25 years and is responsible for the college’s promotion and public relations, including publications, social media and assisting with recruitment materials.

• The Staff Award for Exemplary Service, which recognizes a staff member who has demonstrated exemplary service to the college or academic unit over the preceding 12-month calendar year, was presented to Allison Casey, Director of Recruitment, in the Hixson-Lied College of Fine and Performing Arts. Since her hiring in 2016 as an administrative technician, Casey took on additional business and finance duties and served as the college’s travel coordinator during the difficult transition to the Concur travel system last fall. In October, she became the Director of Recruitment and has acquired a tremendous amount of information in a short amount of time.

• The M.V.P. Award, which recognizes a staff member who has provided support to the college or academic unit behind the scenes, was presented to Meghan Stratman, advertising associate, in the Mary Riepma Ross Media Arts Center. Stratman is the graphic designer and webmaster for the Ross, where she has served for the past 14 years. Her creative designs publicize movies and events at the Ross, grabbing the attention of Ross patrons and creating buzz and excitement about attending these events.