Lincoln, Neb.--The Hixson-Lied College of Fine and Performing Arts has announced the 2025 recipients of the Hixson-Lied Faculty and Staff Awards.
The annual awards program for faculty and staff recognizes outstanding performance and accomplishments in the areas of teaching; research and creative activity; service, outreach and engagement; and staff service.
The following 11 faculty and staff awards will be presented at the college’s Honors Day celebration on May 2:
• College Distinguished Teaching Award:
Sophie Isaak, School of Art, Art History & Design
The College Distinguished Teaching Award recognizes a professor who has demonstrated excellence in teaching and a selfless dedication to students. Isaak is assistant professor of art (printmaking). She has worked to improve the printmaking facilities and improved the curriculum at both the undergraduate and graduate level, and the program is thriving.
• Senior Faculty Research and Creative Activity Award:
Jamie Reimer Seaman, Glenn Korff School of Music
The Senior Faculty Research and Creative Activity Award recognizes a senior faculty member who has demonstrated exemplary accomplishment in research or creative activity. Reimer Seaman is the Richard H. Larson Distinguished Professor of Music and area head for voice. She is known as the foremost authority on African American composer Robert Owens and will be hosting the Robert Owens Centenary Festival at the Glenn Korff School of Music next fall. She also won a Bronze Prize from the BTHVN Wien Competition, an international music competition; and the Gold Prize in the London Virtuoso Competition.
• Junior Faculty Research and Creative Activity Award:
Jesse Reding Fleming, School of Art, Art History & Design
The Junior Faculty Research and Creative Activity Award recognizes a junior faculty member who has demonstrated exemplary accomplishment in research or creative activity. Fleming has built a sustained research record that exceeds expectations. He is the founder and director of the Awareness Based Design Lab for Creative Research, Technology and Well-Being.
• Outreach, Engagement or Service Award:
Stacy Asher, School of Art, Art History & Design
The Outreach, Engagement or Service Award is given to a faculty member who has demonstrated exemplary accomplishment in outreach, engagement or service. Asher is associate professor of graphic design. Among her achievements this year was facilitating microinternships with Mongabay Kids, a nonprofit environmental science and conservations media platform that connects children from all over the world with nature and encourages environmentalism. She also organized and facilitated a Beehive Collective presentation at UNL in 2024.
• Student Success Award:
Margaret Bohls, School of Art, Art History & Design
The Student Success Award recognizes a faculty member who has demonstrated exemplary support of student success through advising, mentorship and/or other activities. Bohls is associate professor of art (ceramics). The graduate ceramics program is one of the top programs in the country. In the last decade, 12 of UNL’s MFA students in ceramics have received emerging artist awards and profiles in Ceramics Monthly. Two alumni have received prestigious Emerging Artist Fellowships from NCECA (National Council on Education for the Ceramic Arts). She has also re-written the entire undergraduate ceramics curriculum, which has resulted in an increase in the number of ceramic students.
• Curriculum Development Award:
Stanley Kleppinger, Glenn Korff School of Music
The Curriculum Development Award recognizes a faculty member who has demonstrated exemplary accomplishment in curricular or programmatic development. Kleppinger is associate professor of music theory and associate director for undergraduate studies in the Glenn Korff School of Music. Since 2023, he has been at the forefront of revising the undergraduate sequence in music theory. He serves on both the school’s Undergraduate Curriculum Committee, as well as the College Curriculum Committee.
• Junior Faculty Teaching Award:
Carlie Antes, School of Art, Art History & Design
The Junior Faculty Teaching Award recognizes a junior faculty member who has demonstrated exemplary accomplishment in teaching. Antes is assistant professor of practice in art and completing her second year as the 3-D Design Foundations Coordinator and Foundations Instructor. She has evaluated and re-designed all previous 3-D assignments, introducing campus resources within the curriculum and prioritizing cross-disciplinary exploration within object making. She also took over sponsorship of the student organization Creative Commons.
• Outstanding Lecturer Award:
Chris Irvin, School of Art, Art History & Design
The Outstanding Lecturer Award recognizes a lecturer who has demonstrated exemplary accomplishment in teaching. Through his innovative curriculum, hands-on mentorship and commitment to preparing students for professional success, Irvin has made a lasting impact on his students.
• Outstanding Staff Award:
Joseph Holmes, School of Art, Art History & Design
The Outstanding Staff Award is given to a staff member whose overall performance has regularly and consistently exceeded expectations and has reflected a high level of service throughout their years of service. Holmes manages and maintains the fabrication space in Richards Hall, which includes environmental, health and safety compliance, demonstrations for classes, student assistance with equipment, and light support of the Eisentrager-Howard Gallery and facilities.
• Staff Award for Exemplary Service:
Jan Deaton, Glenn Korff School of Music
The Staff Award for Exemplary Service is given to a staff member who has demonstrated exemplary service to the college or academic unit over the preceding 12-month calendar year. Deaton is the band office associate. Her duties include a broad range of responsibilities essential to the operations of the band program, including recruiting, administration of camps and festivals, band library management, management of the Cornhusker Marching Band’s uniform inventory, coordination with the university’s motor pool, and administration of the band’s instrument inventory. In addition to these duties, this year Deaton also assisted with the logistical preparations to send a 162-piece pep band to the Badboy Mowers Pinstripe Bowl in New York City and an 18-piece pep band to the NCAA Division I Women’s Volleyball Semifinals in Louisville, Kentucky, both in December.
• M.V.P. Award:
Shannon Russell, Dean’s Office
The M.V.P. Award is given to staff members who have provided support to the college or academic unit behind the scenes. Russell is the operations manager for the Hixson-Lied College of Fine and Performing Arts. She is responsible for providing and administering the business operations and fiscal administration coordination between the college, schools, center and the Big Red Business Center.
