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We recognize outstanding achievement for undergraduates, graduate students, faculty, and staff.
Wolfe Award
The Harry K. Wolfe Award is presented annually to the outstanding senior psychology major at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. Nominations are made by Psychology Department faculty and the winner is selected by a committee consisting of three psychology professors. The award is based on a combination of strong classroom performance in UNL coursework; research accomplishments, especially leading to a senior thesis; and other work, such as assisting with teaching, campus extra-curricular engagement, and involvement with off-campus organizations that provide experience related to psychology.
The award commemorates Harry K. Wolfe (1858-1918), a UNL alumnus who was the first professor of psychology at UNL. Wolfe was one of the first Americans to earn a Ph.D. in psychology, from the University of Leipzig, Germany in 1886. He is credited with establishing one of the first laboratory courses for psychology undergraduates in the United States.
Jensen Award
The Donald D. Jensen Award is given annually to the best undergraduate research project conducted by a psychology major.
Don Jensen was born and raised in central Nebraska. He was educated at UNL, receiving his Bachelors and Masters degrees in 1951 and 1955. He then went to Yale, where he received his Ph.D. in 1958. After a period as a post-doc in Holland, he joined the Indiana University faculty in 1960.
Dr. Jensen returned to UNL in 1969 where he served until his death in 2003. Don was extremely well read and loved to explore ideas. He was a great supporter of research and of the evidence-based approach to answering questions.
Levine Research Enhancement Award
The Department of Psychology recognizes the need to develop and promote a psychological knowledge base that elevates work with populations that are often not included from the science of psychology. In line with the core values of the Psychology Department, a research award to acknowledge students’ research contributions concerning minoritized populations or of significance for minoritized populations has been developed. This award is made possible by the family of Dr. David Levine, who was the chair of the department and an early proponent of research on minoritized populations who are often not included in research.
The purpose of the Levine Research Enhancement Award is to encourage and honor those students who make a contribution to the advancement of knowledge concerning issues that face those of minoritized backgrounds. Consequently, this award will be given to an undergraduate and a graduate student whose work best exemplifies a contribution to psychological knowledge about the unique experiences of minoritized people.
Graduate Student Teaching Awards
Research mentorship
Classroom instruction