UNK Professor named 2009 Social Worker of the Year

Dr. Maha Younes, professor and chair of the University of Nebraska at Kearney Department of Social Work, has been named 2009 Social Worker of the Year by the Nebraska Chapter of the National Association of Social Workers (NASW-NE).
In addition to teaching and research, her professional work includes more than 20 years of clinical experience working with survivors of sexual abuse, domestic violence, eating disorders and relationship dysfunctions. Her clinical experience began at Hastings Regional Center where she worked as a psychiatric social worker. She served as a clinical social worker at South Central Behavioral Services from 1986-1991. She also maintained a private practice agency from 1986-2001.
For the past few years, Dr. Younes has led the Nebraska Consortium of Social Work School and worked closely with policy makers and leaders from the Nebraska Department of Health & Human Services (NDHHS) to promote the professionalization of the child welfare workforce in Nebraska. Through her advocacy and leadership, she has stressed that improvements in child welfare services in Nebraska will only emerge through the professional preparation and hiring of graduates with social work degrees.
In 1999, she developed the International Social Work Experiences Program at UNK with the goal of promoting cultural competence and global engagement.
In 2005, she was one of only 14 scholars from universities across the nation selected as a Fulbright Scholar to Thailand and Myanmar (Burma).

Educator at University of Nebraska at Kearney Named U.S. Professor of the Year

A University of Nebraska at Kearney psychology professor is the first Nebraska educator to be named a U.S. Professor of the Year by the Council for the Advancement and Support of Education (CASE) in the nearly 30 years of this prestigious national teaching award.
Dr. Rick Miller, UNK professor and chair of the Department of Psychology, received the award at a luncheon and awards ceremony last week in Washington, D.C.
Dr. Miller earned the award in the Outstanding Master's Universities and Colleges category. The U.S. Professor of the Year award is recognized as one of the most prestigious national awards honoring undergraduate teaching. The national award is also presented to educators in the categories of Outstanding Doctoral and Research Universities, Outstanding Baccalaureate Colleges and Outstanding Community Colleges. The four national winners each receive a $5,000 cash award from The Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching.
Judges select winners based on four criteria: impact on and involvement with undergraduate students; scholarly approach to teaching and learning; contributions to undergraduate education in the institution, community and profession; and support from colleagues, and current and former undergraduate students. The U.S. Professors of the Year awards program, created in 1981, is the only national initiative specifically designed to recognize excellence in undergraduate teaching and mentoring.