The Hixson-Lied Faculty and Staff awards were presented at the Hixson-Lied College of Fine and Performing Arts Honors Day celebration on April 22. These awards are made possible by the Hixson-Lied Endowment.
The following awards were presented:
• The College Distinguished Teaching Award was presented to Dave Hall, assistant professor of percussion from the Glenn Korff School of Music. This award recognizes a professor who has demonstrated excellence in teaching and a selfless dedication to students. Hall has transformed the percussion studio in the four years he has taught at Nebraska. He uses a contemporary and innovative system of instruction in his studio titled Core Percussion Curriculum. This method requires a rigorous depth and breadth of study of individual percussion instruments and percussion accessories, while also adding the requirement of specialization with comprehensive study in an area selected by the student.
• The Outreach, Engagement or Service Award, which recognizes a faculty member who has demonstrated exemplary accomplishment in outreach, engagement or service, was presented to Rhonda Fuelberth, who is associate professor of music education, choral music education chair and co-area head of graduate music education in the Glenn Korff School of Music. In 2016, Fuelberth received the Outstanding Choral Director of the Year from the Nebraska Choral Directors Association. The best example of her outreach to the community is her continuing work with the i2Choir Project. The i2Choir is an inclusive and intergenerational choral ensembled that has partnered with the Korff School and International Quilt Study Center and Museum to provide music-making opportunities for individuals of all abilities.
• The Academic Advising Award, which recognizes a faculty member who has demonstrated exemplary accomplishment in academic advising, was presented to Brian Moore, professor of music education and music technology in the Glenn Korff School of Music. Moore does considerable advising for the bachelor of music education and is the faculty advisor for the music technology minor, which includes more than 90 students.
• The Curriculum Development Award, which recognizes a faculty member who has demonstrated exemplary accomplishment in curricular or programmatic development, was presented to Richard Endacott, associate professor of film in the Johnny Carson School of Theatre and Film. Endacott was a major contributor in developing the new Bachelor of Fine Arts in Emerging Media Arts and the courses that will be offered as part of that program.
• The Junior Faculty Teaching Award, which recognizes a junior faculty member who has demonstrated exemplary accomplishment in teaching, was presented to Hye-Won Hwang, assistant professor of practice in dance, in the Glenn Korff School of Music. Hwang is a transnational dance scholar and artist. Her choreography is very sophisticated and has been presented in the U.S. and in Korea. She also assists with dance advising and recruiting.
• The Junior Faculty Research and Creative Activity Award, which recognizes a junior faculty member who has demonstrated exemplary accomplishment in research or creative activity, was presented to Colleen Syron, assistant professor of design in the School of Art, Art History & Design. Her design work is an important component of both National Institutes of Health and National Science Foundation grants, for which she serves as a faculty collaborator. She has a sustained record of creative excellence through her company, Syron Design. Syron is also the educational director on the board of directors of the National American Institute for the Graphic Arts.
• 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 Brenda Wristen, associate professor of piano and piano pedagogy and founder and director of the Community Piano Experience, in the Glenn Korff School of Music. During her tenure in the Korff School, Wristen has built an impressive research agenda focused on musician occupational health issues, with particular interests in university music student health states and behaviors, the biomechanics of piano technique, and addressing the challenges of small-handed pianists. This research culminated in 2017 with the publication of a ground-breaking, co-authored book titled “Adaptive Strategies for Small-Handed Pianists,” published by Oxford Press.
• The Outstanding Lecturer Award, which recognizes a lecturer who has demonstrated exemplary accomplishment in teaching, was presented to Tony Falcone, senior lecturer and associate director of bands in the Glenn Korff School of Music. Falcone directs the Cornhusker Marching Band, conducts the University Symphonic Band, teaches instrumental arranging, works with the UNL Percussion Ensemble and teaches supplemental percussion lessons. He also works as a clinician, conductor, performer, arranger and adjudicator.
• 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 Todd Cuddy, the staff assistant and admissions associate in the Johnny Carson School of Theatre and Film. He has been with the Carson School since 1996 and is described as the “go-to person” for everyone within the School.
• 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 Jan Deaton, the band office associate in the Glenn Korff School of Music. Her duties include a broad range of responsibilities essential to the operations of the band program. She received special recognition for her work as the point person for the Cornhusker Marching Band’s iPad initiative.
• 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 Drew Davis, the digital instructional specialist in the School of Art, Art History & Design. His duties include overseeing operations of the Digital Lab, website management for the School and managing the Woods Art Building basement photography-only printing lab.