Gaylene Armstrong Awarded the 2023 Academy of Criminal Justice Sciences Outstanding Mentor Award

Gaylene Armstrong, Ph.D. won the 2023 Academy of Criminal Justice Sciences (ACJS) Outstanding Mentor Award for her exceptional work willingness and commitment to foster the professional growth and achievement of students and faculty. Dr. Armstrong is currently Distinguished Professor and the Director of the School of Criminal Justice and Criminology (SCCJ) at University of Nebraska at Omaha and Lincoln campus. She is also co-director of the Nebraska Collaborative for Violence Intervention and Prevention.

The ACJS Outstanding Mentor Award is a testament to the dedication and hard work of Dr. Armstrong, who has been an outstanding role model in teaching, research, and service. She continually encourages graduate student involvement in professional opportunities, supports graduate students and junior faculty membership in professional organizations, and provides exemplary academic and professional service to graduate students and junior faculty members.

Despite being an extremely busy woman, juggling her own research, teaching and administrative duties, Dr. Armstrong finds a way to connect with people in deep and meaningful ways. She regularly links individuals to networks and opportunities and empowers them to grow their own careers. "I have seen her connect in the same ways with students (undergraduate and graduate), educational and administrative staff members, practitioners, and full and part-time faculty," said Samantha Clinkinbeard, Assistant Dean of the College of Public Affairs and Community Service. Clinkinbeard continued by quoting Sadaf Hashimi, Ph.D., Assistant Professor in the School of Criminology and Criminal Justice. “Professor Armstrong has a way of elevating students, collaborators, and colleagues (regardless of their rank) in ways that they feel heard, appreciated, and, most importantly, proud of their positionality. It is a rare skill, with very few individuals having this ability (and passion) to motivate and root for others in this way.”

Clinkinbeard continued by quoting Sadaf Hashimi, Ph.D., Assistant Professor in the School of Criminology and Criminal Justice. “Professor Armstrong has a way of elevating students, collaborators, and colleagues (regardless of their rank) in ways that they feel heard, appreciated, and, most importantly, proud of their positionality. It is a rare skill, with very few individuals having this ability (and passion) to motivate and root for others in this way.”

Justin Nix, Ph.D., Associate Professor in SCCJ praises Dr. Armstrong's commenting on how she has been a positive mentor in his career at UNO. "Gaylene has been an incredible mentor to me since I started at UNO in 2017. Her door has always been open, and she has always picked up the phone when I’ve needed advice about publishing, writing grant proposals, teaching, fielding media inquiries, mentoring students, parenting, shoulder injuries…the list goes on and on.