Amy Ellefson Receives 2026 Faculty Peer Mentoring Award
Amy Ellefson, Ph.D.
Communication
College of Communication, Fine Arts and Media
UNO is proud to recognize Amy Ellefson, Ph.D., instructor of communication in the College of Communication, Fine Arts and Media, as the recipient of the inaugural Faculty Peer Mentoring Award. This award honors her outstanding commitment to her faculty colleagues.
Why this recipient
Ellefson was selected for her sustained commitment to helping faculty thrive as educators, leaders, and members of the UNO community.
Her contributions include:
- Mentoring more than 80 faculty members through the MavEd Course (Re)Design initiative and general education curriculum revision efforts.
- Serving as a TANDEM peer mentor, helping new faculty navigate teaching, leadership responsibilities, and university systems.
- Mentoring graduate teaching assistants in pedagogy, classroom management, assessment, and professional development.
- Supporting public speaking instructors through curriculum development, assessment, and onboarding of new faculty members.
- Guiding colleagues through shared governance, contract processes, workplace concerns, and professional development opportunities.
- Creating opportunities for faculty connection, collaboration, and community-building across campus.
- Mentoring new faculty teaching in the Omaha Correctional Center facility as we facilitate Voices in Three, a public speaking workshop program developed and implemented in cooperation with the School of Communication and the School of Criminology and Criminal Justice.
Making an impact
Ellefson's mentoring philosophy centers on helping colleagues gain clarity, confidence, and connection within the university community. Whether she is supporting a new instructor, helping a faculty member redesign a course, mentoring graduate teaching assistants, or answering a colleague's "Do you have a minute?" question, she approaches mentorship as an opportunity to strengthen both individuals and the institution.
Her impact extends far beyond formal mentoring assignments. Faculty colleagues describe Ellefson as a trusted guide who helps others navigate complex challenges, develop leadership skills, and find meaningful ways to contribute to campus life. Through programs such as TANDEM, MavEd Course (Re)Design, and the School of Communication's graduate teaching assistant mentoring program, she has helped colleagues strengthen teaching practices, improve student learning experiences, and build confidence in their professional roles.
She also mentors faculty new to teaching in the Omaha Correctional Center through the Voices in Three public speaking program, helping them navigate the unique opportunities and challenges of correctional education.
The big picture
Ellefson’s mentoring reflects UNO’s commitment to fostering a supportive learning and working environment where faculty can grow, collaborate, and succeed. is generous, strategic, equity-minded, and consistently impactful. By helping colleagues strengthen teaching, navigate institutional systems, develop leadership skills, and build meaningful professional relationships, she contributes directly to student success and the university's mission of transforming lives through education.
New Campus-wide Faculty Award: Faculty Peer Mentor Award
The Faculty Peer Mentor Award recognizes a faculty member who has made outstanding contributions to colleagues’ professional growth, success, and sense of connection through exemplary mentoring.
Recipients of this award demonstrate UNO’s Core Values of excellence, engagement, discovery, integrity, and Maverick spirit by:
- Empowering faculty peers to achieve their teaching, research, community engagement, and service goals.
- Building a culture of mutual support, shared learning, and connection among faculty members.
- Strengthening the overall academic and community impact of UNO faculty through collaboration, access, and innovation.
The awardee will be honored at UNO’s annual Faculty Honors Convocation and will receive a commemorative plaque and a stipend.
Nomination Information
Open to full-time UNO faculty members (tenure-line or non-tenure-line) who have served at least five full academic years.
Faculty Peer Mentor Award nomination form