Recent achievements for the University of Nebraska–Lincoln community were earned by Jisella Brough, Erica DeFrain, Bedross Der Matossian, Dan Duncan, Jack Hoffman, Rebecca Jack, Laura Weakly, Paige Wernick, and the Black Masque chapter of Mortar Board.
Honors
Bedross Der Matossian, professor of history and Hymen Rosenberg Professor in Judaic Studies, was appointed director of genocide research at the Zoryan Institute. The appointment recognizes his internationally recognized scholarship in genocide studies, modern Middle East history, and the study of mass violence and historical memory. Der Matossian has authored and edited numerous works on genocide, denial, and interethnic violence, and continues to advance research and education in the field.
Rebecca Jack and Paige Wernick were selected as 2026-27 graduate scholars by the Buffett Early Childhood Institute. The competitive one-year fellowships support innovative early childhood research. Jack is studying afterschool care and maternal labor force participation. Wernick is researching teaching practices for toddlers.
Laura Weakly, metadata encoding specialist in the Center for Digital Research in the Humanities, is the principal investigator for the seventh grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities in support of the Nebraska Digital Newspaper Project. The award amount for the 2026 cycle is $324,932 and the grant officially begins on Sept. 1. Some of the newspapers under consideration for digitizing include the South Omaha Stockman and Nebraska’s World War II-era Prisoner of War camp newspapers, including Lagerzeitung, Der Scheinwerfer, Springbrunner and others.
The University of Nebraska–Lincoln's Black Masque chapter of Mortar Board received four national honors: the Ruth Weimer Mount Chapter Excellence Award, Gold Torch Award, Inclusive Excellence Award, and Outstanding Achievement Award. The awards recognize the chapter's excellence in leadership, scholarship, service, campus engagement, inclusion, and chapter visibility.
Appointments
Jisella Brough, CEO and founder of One For the Ages, has been elected president of the Nebraska Alumni Association board of directors, succeeding Russ Ripa, whose term ended June 30. A 1998 and 2001 University of Nebraska–Lincoln graduate, Brough is a global leader in aging, caregiving, longevity and business. She was recognized with the United Nations and World Health Organization’s Healthy Ageing 50 Award for her work transforming aging around the globe.
Erica DeFrain, professor and social sciences librarian, has been appointed chair of the teaching partnerships unit within the University Libraries. In the role, DeFrain will lead the Libraries’ curricular and co-curricular teaching and learning efforts, which center on developing students’ information proficiency for academic and professional success. DeFrain will work closely with the chairs of research partnerships and information services and learning spaces, as well as other library areas, stakeholders across campus and the state to forge collaborations that increase the Libraries’ ability to collectively advance student outcomes.
Dan Duncan, executive director emeritus of the Nebraska Innovation Campus Development Corporation, has joined the Nebraska Alumni Association board of directors for a three-year term. A 1980 and 1997 University of Nebraska–Lincoln graduate, Duncan previously served as assistant dean and director of the Agricultural Research Division and director of the Agricultural Research and Development Center. He also is a past board member and president of the Association of University Research Parks.
The Black Masque chapter of Mortar Board posthumously welcomed Jack Hoffman as an honorary member, recognizing his enduring legacy through the Team Jack Foundation and his lasting impact on pediatric brain cancer awareness and research. Members presented the honorary recognition to his mother, Brianna Hoffman, during a Team Jack Foundation meeting.
