KEARNEY – Three University of Nebraska at Kearney faculty members were recognized Wednesday for their excellence in teaching, service and scholarship and research.
Melissa Wuellner, Toni Hill and Annette Moser accepted the prestigious Pratt-Heins Faculty Awards during the annual Faculty/Staff Convocation in the Fine Arts Recital Hall on campus. Each honoree received a plaque and $2,000.
The Pratt-Heins Awards were established to memorialize the exemplary life and public service of Warren Pratt and his daughter Ruth E. Heins. Pratt was a businessman, civic leader and attorney in the Pratt, Hamer and Tye law firm in Kearney. Heins graduated from the Nebraska State Normal School at Kearney in 1914 and taught at Kearney Public Schools.
The Pratt-Heins Foundation has sponsored the awards for the past 43 years. They were presented by foundation trustee Tom Tye.
Melissa Wuellner
Pratt-Heins Award for Scholarship and Research
A UNK faculty member since 2017, Wuellner’s area of expertise is wildlife and fisheries sciences, specifically fisheries management, aquatic vegetation and habitat restoration.
Her research helps agencies such as the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission and South Dakota Department of Game, Fish and Parks effectively manage public waters and fisheries. She’s secured approximately $4 million in funding for this work.
Wuellner has mentored numerous undergraduate and graduate students, with their research producing a book, book chapter, several technical reports and two dozen peer-reviewed articles in nationally and internationally recognized journals. Her accomplishments were featured in the 2021 New Frontiers magazine, which highlights research and creative activity at UNK.
The associate professor of biology was also selected as a fellow at the National Strategic Research Institute and Center for Great Plains Studies.
She received a bachelor’s degree in biology from Ball State University, master’s degree in fish and wildlife management from Montana State University and doctorate in wildlife and fisheries sciences from South Dakota State University, where she taught for seven years before joining UNK.
Toni Hill
Pratt-Heins Award for Service
“Service is as natural to me as breathing,” Hill says. “I believe to whom much is given, much is expected.”
She’s demonstrated that throughout her 14-year UNK career.
A professor and chair in the Department of Counseling, School Psychology and Family Science, Hill is known for putting students first and advocating for those who need her. She’s mentored numerous undergraduate researchers from various disciplines and been extremely active in the Thompson Scholars Learning Community.
Hill has also dedicated her time to committees and councils across UNK and the NU System, including the UNK Women’s, Gender and Ethnic Studies Committee, World Affairs Committee, Research Advisory Council, Undergraduate Research Council, Early Childhood Committee, Inclusive Excellence Leadership Council and UNMC College of Nursing Diversity Committee. She was selected to co-lead the Promoting At-Promise Student Success-Professional Learning Community Initiative at UNK in 2021 and appointed as a fellow in the NU DEAL leadership development program in 2022.
Hill has received awards for outstanding mentorship of undergraduate research from the College of Business and Technology and Department of Counseling, School Psychology and Family Science. Other honors include the President’s Excellence Award for her service on UNK’s Equity, Access and Diversity Committee, Faculty Award for Inclusive Excellence and Frank T. Hawkins Distinguished Scholar Award from the Research Association of Minority Professors.
In the community, Hill has been active in Dawn Rotary, particularly the Dictionary Project for third graders, as well as the Community Coalition to Improve Alzheimer’s/Dementia Health and Kearney-area Walk to End Alzheimer’s.
Annette Moser
Pratt-Heins Award for Teaching
A UNK faculty member since 2007, Moser currently serves as a professor and chair in the Department of Chemistry.
She’s known as a teacher who always puts the needs of her students first, often working one-on-one with them outside the classroom to make sure they succeed.
“I think she was one of the best professors I had during my time at UNK. She always makes sure that every student understands the topics and doesn’t leave anyone behind,” one evaluation reads.
“She is hands down the best professor. She always brings in hands-on things so we can connect the ideas to a bigger picture,” another notes.
Moser’s students consistently meet or exceed the national average on American Chemical Society exams, and their evaluations of her courses are regularly above 4.5 on a 5.0 scale.
Simply put, “She is very knowledgeable and passionate about teaching.”
Moser earned a bachelor’s degree in chemistry from UNK and doctorate in chemistry from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.
Chris Exstrom
David Stevenson Faculty Senate Distinguished Service Award
Chemistry professor Chris Exstrom received the David Stevenson Faculty Senate Distinguished Service Award.
Among his accomplishments, Exstrom spearheaded an update of the Faculty Senate bylaws and constitution, led the effort to create a Budget and Finance Committee and testified before the Nebraska Legislature to protect faculty tenure.
Amanda Sladek
Faculty Award for Inclusive Excellence
This award recognizes a UNK faculty member who demonstrates exemplary commitment to fostering a climate of inclusion and belonging for all students, faculty and staff across campus. Chief Diversity Officer Maha Younes presented the honor to Amanda Sladek, an associate professor of English.
Sladek is best described as a teacher-scholar who integrates inclusive excellence into teaching, research and service initiatives. She’s praised for promoting inclusion for students who are economically disadvantaged, multilingual and from rural communities.
This is demonstrated through two awarded grants, one to encourage the retention of first-year and at-promise students and another to foster globalization of curriculum, commitment to open-access resources and innovation in online teaching.
The award winner receives $1,000.
