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Beth Chalecki Receives the 2026 Maverick Trailblazer Award

The award honors individuals who embody the Maverick spirit through innovation, leadership, and meaningful impact across disciplines and communities.

Beth Chalecki poses for a photograph.

Beth Chalecki, Ph.D.

From NATO briefings to the classroom, Beth Chalecki, Ph.D., is shaping how the world understands climate and security.

➡️ What’s new

The Faculty Senate at the University of Nebraska at Omaha (UNO) has named Beth Chalecki, associate professor of international relations, as the 2026 Maverick Trailblazer Award recipient. The award honors individuals who embody the Maverick spirit through innovation, leadership, and meaningful impact across disciplines and communities.

💡 Why it matters

Chalecki’s work combines climate change, global security, and international environmental policy, areas increasingly central to national defense, diplomacy, and global stability. Her research and teaching reflect UNO’s role as a metropolitan university driving real-world solutions to complex global challenges, while preparing students to lead in an evolving workforce.

🔎 Zoom in

Chalecki is an internationally recognized expert in:

  • Climate change and security
  • International environmental policy
  • Science and technology governance in global affairs

She currently serves as a Technology Governance Fellow at the Balsillie School of International Affairs and has held additional notable roles, including:

  • Research Fellow, Environmental Change and Security Program, Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars
  • Fulbright Canada Research Chair

Her influence extends beyond academia:

  • Serves as a climate security subject matter expert for NATO
  • Named an official “Mad Scientist” for the U.S. Army, contributing to forward-looking strategic initiatives

Chalecki has also authored groundbreaking works on:

  • Ecological realism
  • Climate geoengineering technology and security
  • Environmental terrorism
  • Climate and just war theory

⚡️ What’s next

Chalecki will be formally recognized at the Maverick Trailblazer Award and Keynote event in September 2026 (date to be announced).

Learn more about the Maverick Trailblazer Award.

About the University of Nebraska at Omaha

The University of Nebraska at Omaha (UNO) is Nebraska’s premier metropolitan university, committed to innovating for the public good, advancing social mobility, powering workforce development, and serving as a hub for community engagement. Nearly 15,000 Mavericks choose UNO for its hands-on education experiences, nationally ranked online and graduate programs, military-connected student support, and innovative approaches to supporting lifelong learning. UNO holds the Carnegie Research Activity “R2” designation, securing more than $40 million annually in external research funding and counts its faculty among the world’s most cited scholars. Sixteen Omaha Athletics programs compete in NCAA Division I as members of the Summit League and National Collegiate Hockey Conference (NCHC). 

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