Staff Advisory Committee

The Staff Advisory Committee (SAC) was formed in 2012 to provide staff members a voice in the actions and direction of the Department of Agronomy and Horticulture. The committee meets four times each year to discuss matters which impact staff members, and find solutions to these issues. Members are elected to two- or three-year terms by peers in their respective areas, and service is voluntary. If you are interested in getting involved in SAC or have questions, please contact a member of the committee for more information.

2026 SAC Meetings 

9 a.m. in 375 Plant Sciences Hall

March 3, 2026
June 2, 2026

2025–26 All Staff Meetings

KEIM HALL, ROOM 150 and via Zoom

Quarterly Meetings:
Dec. 10, 10:00 am
March 11, 2026  10:00 am

Engagement Meetings:
February 25, 2026
June 2026

Staff: Please attend if your schedule permits.
Faculty & Supervisors: Please allow staff to attend, if possible.

Staff Advisory Committee Members

  1. Avatar for Fran Benne
    Fran Benne
    Communications Specialist I Agronomy & Horticulture University of Nebraska-Lincoln
    Work
    Address
    PLSH 362E
    Lincoln NE 68583-0915
    Phone
    Work 402-472-1524 On-campus 2-1524
    Email
    fbenne2@unl.edu
    Website
  2. Avatar for Aldi Airori
    Aldi Airori
    Research Technologist I Agronomy & Horticulture University of Nebraska-Lincoln
    Work
    Address
    PLSH 198
    Lincoln NE 68583-0915
    Phone
    Work 402-472-2811 On-campus 2-2811
    Email
    aairori2@unl.edu
    Website
  3. Avatar for Elizabeth Bardot
    Elizabeth Bardot
    Research Technologist I Agronomy & Horticulture University of Nebraska-Lincoln
    Work
    Address
    AHG4 409A
    Lincoln NE 68583-0915
    Phone
    Work 402-472-2811 On-campus 2-2811
    Email
    ebardot2@unl.edu
    Website
  4. Avatar for Lisa Hilfiker
    Lisa Hilfiker
    Graduate Program Coordinator Agronomy & Horticulture University of Nebraska-Lincoln
    Work
    Address
    Keim 202A
    Lincoln NE 68583-0915
    Phone
    Work 402-472-8393 On-campus 2-8393
    Email
    lisa.hilfiker@unl.edu
    Website
  5. Avatar for Elizabeth Jeske
    Elizabeth Jeske
    Research Technologist I & Lecturer Agronomy & Horticulture University of Nebraska-Lincoln
    Work
    Address
    KEIM 371
    Lincoln NE 68583-0915
    Phone
    Work 402-472-1574 On-campus 2-1574
    Email
    ejeske1@unl.edu
    Website
  6. Avatar for Christopher Misar
    Christopher Misar
    Research Technologist II Agronomy & Horticulture University of Nebraska-Lincoln
    Work
    Address
    Keim 360
    Lincoln NE 68583-0915
    Phone
    Work 402-472-2811 On-campus 2-2811
    Email
    cmisar2@unl.edu
    Website
  7. Avatar for Tracy Pickering
    Tracy Pickering
    Office Supervisor Agronomy & Horticulture University of Nebraska-Lincoln
    Work
    Address
    PLSH 279
    Lincoln NE 68583-0915
    Phone
    Work 402-472-8488 On-campus 2-8488
    Email
    tracy.pickering@unl.edu
    Website
  8. Avatar for Gautam Takoo
    Gautam Takoo
    Research Technologist II Agronomy & Horticulture University of Nebraska-Lincoln
    Work
    Address
    KEIM 369
    Lincoln NE 68583-0915
    Phone
    Work 402-472-6349 On-campus 2-6349
    Email
    gtakoo2@unl.edu
    Website
  9. Avatar for Martha Mamo
    Martha Mamo
    Department Head, John E. Weaver Professor of Agronomy and Horticulture, Robert B. Daugherty Global Water for Food Fellow. African Scientific Institute Fellow Agronomy & Horticulture University of Nebraska-Lincoln
    Work
    Address
    KEIM 202H
    Lincoln NE 68583-0915
    Phone
    Work 402-472-1555 On-campus 2-1555
    Email
    mmamo3@unl.edu
    Website
    Website
    Website

SAC Award Winners

2025

Collin Eaton: SAC Special Contribution Award
Lan Xu: SAC Professional Development Award
Lana Johnson: SAC Special Contribution Award
Lan Xu: SAC Professional Development Award

2024

Frank Bright: SAC Pesticide Safety Education Program Team Special Contribution Award
Vicki Schroeder: SAC Pesticide Safety Education Program Team Special Contribution Award
Greg Puckett: SAC Pesticide Safety Education Program Team Special Contribution Award
Julie Jacobs: SAC Pesticide Safety Education Program Team Special Contribution Award
Stephanie Shulze: SAC Pesticide Safety Education Program Team Special Contribution Award
Lisa Hilfiker: SAC Professional Development Award
T.J. McAndrew: SAC Special Contribution Award
Lan Xu: SAC Professional Development Award

2023

Andrew Loseke: SAC Special Contribution Award
Cheryl Dunn: SAC Special Contribution Award

2022

Kaye Wolfe: SAC Special Contribution Award
Svetlana Chistopolskaya: SAC Special Contribution Award

2021

Casey Lundberg: SAC Special Contribution Award
Mitch Montgomery: SAC Special Contribution Award

2020

Fran Benne: SAC Special Contribution Award
Tomie Galusha: SAC Special Contribution Award

 

2019

Cheryl Bogenrief: SAC Special Contribution Team Award
Michelle Green-Ihde: SAC Special Contribution Team Award
Tatyana “Tanya” Gulchuk: SAC Special Contribution Team Award
Sarah Johnson: SAC Special Contributions Team Award
Casey Lundberg: SAC Special Contribution Team Award
Kay McClure-Kelly: SAC Special Contribution Team Award
Christine Weitzel: SAC Special Contribution Team Award
Mike Livingston: SAC Special Contribution Award

2018

Josh Reznicek: SAC Special Contribution Awards
Heather Steffens: SAC Special Contribution Awards

2017

Marlene Busse: SAC Special Contribution Awards
Joanne “Annie” Vance: SAC Special Contribution Awards

2016

Connie Hansen: SAC Special Contribution Award
Lana Johnson: SAC Special Contribution Award
Lana Johnson: SAC Professional Development Award

2015

Cheryl Bogenrief: SAC Special Contribution Award
Judy Fredrick: SAC Special Contribution Award

2014

Tomie Galusha: SAC Special Contribution Award
Ben Loseke: SAC Professional Development Award
Matt Sousek: SAC Professional Development Award
Ronnie Janssen: SAC Special Contribution Award

2013

Cheryl Dunn: SAC Professional Development Award
John Dillingham: SAC Professional Development Award
Mary Jo Havercamp: SAC Special Contribution Award
Irvin Schleufer: SAC Special Contribution Award