The University of Nebraska-Lincoln’s Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources (IANR) recognized and honored a past administrator, nine faculty members, and a team of faculty and staff on Sept. 25 during its annual Distinguished Faculty Celebration at the Nebraska East Union.
The annual event celebrates faculty members who have received endowed or university professorships, the recipients of the 2025 faculty awards, and the donors who make these awards possible.
Five faculty members were honored with professorships for their achievements and impact on both the University and the state of Nebraska. Three were awarded endowed professorships and two were recognized for university professorships that were previously awarded through the Office of the Executive Vice Chancellor in 2025.
Jinliang Yang was named the Charles O. Gardner Professor of Agronomy. Yang is a plant geneticist in the Department of Agronomy and Horticulture and is internationally recognized for his work in maize genomics and breeding that is strengthening global food security.
Deborah VanOverbeke was named the Marvel K. Baker Professor of Animal Science. VanOverbeke is a national leader in meat science and value-added beef quality, advancing supply-chain collaboration and consumer trust. She has served as the head of the Department of Animal Science since 2023.
Tamra Jackson-Ziems was named the John and Patty Wilson Professor of Plant Pathology. Jackson-Ziems, an extension specialist and professor in the Department of Plant Pathology, leads producer-driven disease management efforts and is a cornerstone of Nebraska row-crop health.
Starting in the fall of 2026, the Ray and Jolene Ward Professorship in Soil Health Science will become the newest endowed professorship in IANR. Ray and the late Jolene Ward started Ward Labs, a full-service agricultural testing laboratory, in 1983. The Kearney-based business helps agricultural producers make informed, sustainable decisions by providing accurate soil health analysis.
John Benson, a wildlife ecologist in the School of Natural Resources, was awarded the Susan Rosowski Professorship. Benson’s work focuses on advancing population modeling and conservation decision-making.
Erin Blankenship was awarded the John E. Weaver Professorship. Blankenship is a leader in applied statistics education and cross-campus collaboration in the Department of Statistics.
“Professorships are among the highest recognitions we bestow,” said IANR interim Vice Chancellor Tiffany Heng-Moss. “Honoring faculty whose achievements and impact elevate Nebraska and bring attention and acclaim to the University.”
IANR also presented four awards to faculty members and one faculty/staff team that have demonstrated excellence in teaching, research, and extension in 2025.
The Dinsdale Family Faculty Award was awarded to Dylan Mangel, Ph.D., from the Department of Plant Pathology. Mangel has established a nationally recognized soybean pathology program since joining Nebraska in 2022, securing more than $5.1 million in competitive grants. His research on soybean diseases has been shared statewide with growers, crop advisors, and commodity partners through presentations, extension publications, and the Crop Protection Network. His mentorship of both graduate and undergraduate students through hands-on experiences in the areas of diagnostics, trials, and data analysis is building a network of expertise to assist Nebraska Producers for years to come. The award is named for Roy Dinsdale, a 1948 graduate of the University of Nebraska College of Business Administration who worked in a family farming and cattle operation.
Amit Jhala, an Extension weed management specialist and professor of agronomy and horticulture, was the recipient of the Omtvedt Innovation Award for Extension. Jhala’s Weed Management Field Days and Weed Science School events have attracted more than 4,750 combined attendees in the last 13 years, aiding in the pest management decisions of a collectively managed 2.5-3 million acres. The results of his statewide surveys guide his research efforts on the most pressing challenges facing farmers and stakeholders. Jhala also coordinates program delivery at Nebraska’s Crop Production Clinics, leading to an estimated economic impact of $10-15 million.
Jessica Petersen, an associate professor in animal science, was the recipient of the Omtvedt Innovation Award for Research. Petersen’s animal genetics work has been transformative for multiple species, including the identification of a previously unknown genetic mutation in U.S. Hereford, Angus, and Red Angus cattle breeds and advancing the understanding of fertility, health, and disease in horses. As an author or co-author on 75 peer-reviewed publications, with data supporting 27 additional papers led by collaborators, her integration of molecular genetics with applied animal science helps interpret research into practical tools for producers and veterinarians. Petersen serves as a mentor in both industry and academia, having reached nearly 1,000 students through her courses. She is also a member of a federally funded, international team investigating the genetic makeup of performance and disease traits in horses and other mammals.
Daniela Manhani Mattos, an assistant professor of practice in agricultural economics, was the recipient of the Omtvedt Innovation Award for Teaching. A collaboration between Mattos and Rural Prosperity Nebraska has connected students in her Rural Community Economics course (AECN 376) with communities throughout Nebraska for a semester-long service-learning experience. The students meet with local leaders to help by delivering actionable plans to address community concerns such as housing, workforce development, and business retention. The course was redesigned by Mattos in 2021, now bridging theory and practice to demonstrate how economics can serve rural vitality. It also helps students develop leadership, communication, and systems-thinking skills that they can share along with portfolio-ready work in job interviews.
The Omtvedt Innovation Team Award was presented to the Center for Ag Profitability (CAP). The team, led by Jay Parsons, developed an Agricultural Budget Calculator (ABC) tool that has created 3,854 customized crop budgets for its 1,758 registered users. A livestock budgeting component, funded by the Nebraska Corn Board and collaborators, is currently in development to support decision-making for whole farms and operations. The team developed a 12-module agricultural economics curriculum for high schools that was piloted by more than 20 teachers in 2025 to help strengthen pathways in ag-related education and careers. The Nebraska Women in Agriculture and Returning to the Farm programs have also supported the improvement of ag operations in the state through business communication and planning tools. CAP reached more than 9,400 participants through more than 240 educational programs in 2024. CAP’s webinars and podcasts have more than 25,300 combined annual views and plays, and its newsletter is delivered to 5,700 inboxes. Since 2021, CAP provided support for 86 projects totaling $22.6 million in funding from various sources, in addition to 24 peer-reviewed journal articles being contributed by CAP-affiliated faculty members. Team members include Jessica Groskopf, Jim Jansen, Glennis McClure, Anastasia Meyer, Shannon Sand, Ryan Benjamin, Randy Saner, J. Dave Aiken, Elliott Dennis, Bradley Lubben, Matthew Stockton, Cory Walters, John Westra, Mary Drewnoski, Joe Luck, Daren Redfearn, Tina Barrett, Ryan Evans, and Jeremy Eide.
Irv Omtvedt, namesake of the Innovation Awards, was also newly recognized at the event as Emeritus Neal and Leone Harlan Vice Chancellor for IANR. Omtvedt previously served as department head of animal science from 1975 to 1982 and IANR vice chancellor from 1988 until his retirement in 2000.
“Omtvedt is a visionary whose leadership shaped IANR’s modern era,” said Heng-Moss. “His legacy continues in these awards bearing his name.”
Tiffany Heng-Moss, interim IANR vice chancellor and vice president for agriculture and natural resources, was also recognized with the Neal and Leone Harlan Vice Chancellor for IANR. Heng-Moss is a tenured professor in the department of entomology. Prior to being appointed interim vice chancellor in June 2025, she had been serving as dean of the College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources.
