Yiwei Zhang Receives 2026 Faculty Service Learning Award
Yiwei Zhang, Ph.D.
Social Work
College of Public Affairs and Community Service
UNO is proud to recognize Yiwei Zhang, Ph.D., associate professor of social work in the College of Public Affairs and Community Service, as the recipient of the 2026 Faculty Service Learning Award.
Why this recipient
Zhang was selected for her sustained commitment to service learning and community-engaged scholarship. Over the past five years, she has:
- Developed and delivered service-learning courses that connect academic learning with community impact.
- Established partnerships with 27 distinct service learning partners to support student learning and community needs.
- Produced a strong record of scholarship, including grants, publications, and presentations at local, national, and international levels.
- Integrated emerging technologies, including artificial intelligence, into service-learning experiences while emphasizing ethical and effective practice.
- Advanced UNO's culture of community-engaged scholarship through mentorship, collaboration, and support for students and faculty.
Making an impact
Zhang’s service-learning approach connects classroom knowledge with real-world community challenges. Through partnerships with nonprofit organizations, human service agencies, and community leaders, she creates opportunities for students to engage directly with issues affecting Omaha and beyond.
Her work emphasizes cultural humility, community responsiveness, and practical problem-solving, helping students gain firsthand experience while contributing to projects that address community needs. By combining rigorous academic instruction with community impact, Zhang helps students understand how their professional skills can create positive change while preparing them to become ethical and engaged practitioners.
The big picture
Zhang's work exemplifies UNO's commitment to community engagement, development, and partnerships by building reciprocal relationships that strengthen both student learning and community outcomes. Through innovative teaching, engaged scholarship, and collaborative partnerships, she advances the university's mission of transforming lives while preparing students to make meaningful contributions to their professions and communities.
Past Award Recipients
| Year | Recipient | Department/School |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Becky Brusky | Mathematical and Statistical Sciences |
| 2024 | Deanna House | Department of Information Systems and Quantitative Analysis |
| 2023 | Shannon Cummins | Marketing and Entrepreneurship |
| 2022 | Ramazan Kilinc | Political Science |
| 2021 | Jodi Benenson | Public Administration |
| 2020 | Sachin Pawaskar | Information Systems and Quantitative Analysis |
| 2019 | Cecilia Tocaimaza-Hatch | Foreign Languages |
| 2018 | Steven Rodie | Biology/Center for Urban Sustainability |
| 2017 | Mitzi Ritzman | Special Education and Communication Disorders |
View the full list of award recipients
Nomination Information
The Faculty Service Learning Award recognizes faculty members for their extraordinary efforts in service learning programs. This Award is presented to a faculty member who has been supportive of service learning at UNO through faculty-student presentations, teaching circles, mentoring faculty-students, etc. The faculty member must also have a thorough understanding and appreciation of community issues such as professionalism and cultural competency.
Faculty Service Learning Award Nomination Form
Important Dates
- March 1: Nomination Deadline
- April 1: Nominee documentation due