IANR Staff Honored with Awards

April 24, 2015

 Lincoln, Neb. —Four University of Nebraska-Lincoln staff members received awards today for their service in the Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources. Ronnie Green, Harlan Vice Chancellor of IANR presented the awards during a luncheon held at the Nebraska East Union.

This year’s recipients are:

Omtvedt Servant Leader Award: Clyde Naber, livestock operation manager, Animal Science Department;   Judy Rastede, administrative coordinator, Northeast Research and Extension Center; Roger Wilson, farm management budget analyst, Department of Agricultural Economics.

Exemplary Service Award: Rosalee Swartz, undergraduate program and recruitment director, Department of Agricultural Economics.

Naber has served the Department of Animal Science for 28 years. His organizational skills are indispensable to meeting the needs of 10-12 faculty members each semester. Naber is known for his “can-do” attitude and willingness to adjust to the unexpected. This was evident during transition periods including renovating the facilities to accommodate the Professional Program in Veterinary Medicine and during the long and arduous replacement of the facilities’ air handling system. In assisting with all activities held in the Animal Science Building, Naber has had high visibility to visitors and is a positive spokesperson for the Department.

Rastede’s career with UNL began in 1984, and has served as the NEREC administrative coordinator since 2005. Her knowledge, willingness to help others, and desire to build strong relationships with her customers is evident in supporting the needs of both internal and external clientele. Under her supervision, the NEREC has successfully reviewed a majority of the 28 county non-tax accounts. Through this review process, Rastede is proactive in providing guidance to county-based office managers. Rastede was the recipient of the IANR Outstanding Employee Award in December 2000.

Wilson has been developing enterprise budgets for the Department of Agricultural Economics since 2008. The budgets he develops have wide distribution and are used by producers, bankers, researchers and academic instructors. Wilson is always willing to use his expertise to contribute to the department mission. He willingly took a major role in team-teaching AECN 401, Advanced Farm Management and Linear Programing. Wilson is also a frequent guest lecturer in several classes.

Swartz is a great recruiter for the Department of Agricultural Economics and has never turned down the opportunity to counsel a visiting student. Swartz advises nearly 70 percent of students in a department with nearly 400 student majors. She advises students on class registration, degree selection and career opportunities. A testament to her expertise as an advisor, and more importantly as a mentor, is she has received the Parents Recognition award 17 times. Swartz is currently working on a PhD in Human Sciences Leadership Studies, is involved in the North American Colleges of Teachers of Agriculture, and has held several leadership positions in the University Association for Administrative Development.

Award recipients received a plaque and cash award during the luncheon.