2006.11.20 > For Immediate Release
contact: Jaime Ishii - University Affairs
phone: 402.554.3502 - email: tkaldahl@mail.unomaha.edu

Rodie Receives Teaching Fellow Award

Omaha - Steven N. Rodie, an associate professor in the University of Nebraska-Lincoln (UNL) Department of Agronomy/Horticulture, received a North American Colleges and Teachers of Agriculture (NACTA) Teaching Fellow Award at the organization's annual conference, which was held at the University of British Columbia in Vancouver, Canada, in June. The theme for the conference was "Making Connections Across the Curriculum." 

The purpose of the annual conference is to provide for professional advancement of faculty engaged in classroom teaching.  Participants have the opportunity to share teaching methods, philosophies and styles of instruction.

"The best part of the award was the letters from students submitted for the nomination," Rodie said.  "The award comes from my peers, but the notion of students saying that I am making a difference was the most gratifying part of the whole experience."

In addition to his position at UNL, Rodie has a courtesy appointment in the UNO Department of Biology.  He coordinates the UNL College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources Program at UNO, and also teaches and advises students in horticulture and landscape design. His primary extension program focus is the development of landscape design training for the green industry, as well as design awareness and education for the general public.

"A significant number of the students I work with transfer after their sophomore year, so I don't always see them graduate," he said.  "The (nomination) letters from students I had 10 years ago, who have graduated and moved on, meant as much to me as the award."

Rodie is presently an elected member of the Board of Trustees, American Society of Landscape Architects and is an appointed professional member to the Nebraska State Board of Landscape Architects.  He is a registered Landscape Architect in Nebraska, Kansas and California.

NACTA is a professional society that focuses on promoting, recognizing and rewarding excellence in teaching agriculture and related areas at the post secondary level.  Members of NACTA are from two-year and four-year colleges, public and private, and have a common bond of teaching agriculture and related subjects. Through the use of competitive awards, NACTA annually recognizes outstanding teaching and publication.

For more information, contact Marilyn Parker, NACTA secretary/treasurer, at NACTAsec@pmt.org or (208) 436-0692.

NOTE: This press release was written by a student serving as an intern for UNO University Affairs. The student listed at the top of this release is available to answer questions or call Tim Kaldahl, 402.554.3502.