The University of Nebraska–Lincoln’s Office of the Executive Vice Chancellor announced in March its 2024 awards for faculty and staff who advance the missions of the university in teaching, research and service.
Katherine Frels, assistant professor in agronomy and horticulture, received the Harold and Esther Edgerton Junior Faculty Award. The award honors outstanding junior faculty members who demonstrate creative research, extraordinary teaching abilities and academic promise.
Frels joined the faculty at Nebraska in 2021 and is head of the small grains breeding and genetics program. Frels’ research focuses on increasing genetic resistance to wheat stem sawfly while maintaining high yield in Nebraska wheat. She also teaches Applied Plant Breeding and Genetics.
Gregory Dorn, research technologist II in agronomy and horticulture, received the Exceptional Excellence Award. This award recognizes a member of the university staff who has shown exceptional support to a faculty member, exceeding their job expectations and contributing to the success of the faculty member’s teaching and/or research. This award was established in 2019.
Dorn has served the university for over 30 years and is responsible for conducting and supervising the wheat, barley and triticale field research program. His work involves planting, harvesting, maintaining seed stock, collecting and analyzing data for sites from Lincoln to Sidney, and translating plot data to the fields where the crop will be grown.
The two were honored Sept. 17 at The Laurels award reception at the International Quilt Museum.
