UNL Professors Honored with Prestigious University of Nebraska Awards

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Carrick Detweiler and Kristen Olson from the University of Nebraska–Lincoln have received the University of Nebraska system's highest faculty honors, the President’s Excellence Awards. These awards, announced on May 23, recognize faculty members who significantly impact students, the university, and the state. Detweiler, a Computer Science and Engineering professor, won the Faculty Intellectual Property Innovation and Commercialization Award. Olson, a Sociology professor, received the Outstanding Research and Creative Activity award.

Detweiler has developed unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) for use with water, fire, and crops. As the Susan J. Rosowski Professor and NIMBUS Lab co-director, his work has practical applications. He co-founded Drone Amplified, which sells IGNIS, a drone system that helps firefighters perform controlled burns safely. This technology helps manage wildfire risks and demonstrates the benefits of university research for public safety and environmental conservation.

Kristen Olson, who holds the Leland J. and Dorothy H. Olson Professorship, has advanced survey methodology. Her research improves survey data quality, impacting public health, marketing, and policy making. Olson's contributions are recognized both nationally and internationally, earning her fellowships in prestigious societies and shaping global data collection standards.