2018 Outstanding Service Awards
The UNO Alumni Association on Tuesday, Oct. 23, celebrated achievements by members of the worldwide UNO alumni network, now numbering more than 110,000 living graduates, with its fifth annual UNO Alumni Night of Honor. Among the awards issued were
Established in 1974, Outstanding Service Awards honor faculty, staff, alumni or friends who have shown long, outstanding service to the alumni association and/or university. With this year’s honorees, the list of recipients grows to 114 individuals.
Scott Durbin
A 1985 UNO graduate, Durbin was the third generation of his family to serve as chairman of the UNO Alumni Association, doing so in 2016-17. He joined the board in 2011 and served for seven years. Durbin is a senior vice president with Harry A. Koch, where he’s worked since 1991. He is a licensed property/casualty, life and health agent and a consultant and broker in 30-plus states. He holds the Accredited Advisor in Insurance designation and is a member of the National Association of Surety Bond Producers. Durbin’s extensive community service includes leadership posts with several nonprofit organizations. He also is active in student ministry at his church, has coached several of his children’s sports teams and is a licensed high school soccer referee.
B.J. Reed
B.J. Reed has been on the UNO faculty since 1982, including stints as chairman of the Department of Public Administration (1985-2000), dean of the College of Public Affairs Community Service (2000-2011) and executive associate to the chancellor (2006-2012). Today he is senior vice chancellor for Academic and Student Affairs. Reed has published in numerous journals and authored several books on topics including economic development, strategic planning, budgeting, financial administration and intergovernmental management. He also has served on the executive units of numerous academic and professional organizations and was co-chair of Omaha Mayor Mike Fahey’s Police-Fire Study Commission and chair of the City of Omaha’s Charter Commission. His community service includes posts with the Love Jazz Arts Center, Live Well Omaha, the Dundee Memorial Park Neighborhood Association and others.
Christine Reed
Christine Reed has been a faculty member in UNO’s School of Public Administration since 1982 and currently chairs the chancellor’s Sustainability Committee. She also has served as associate dean of Graduate Studies and as interim associate vice chancellor for research and interim dean of Graduate Studies. She has taught in the doctoral, MPA and Urban Studies programs, and has published extensively in the areas of public and environmental law, policy and ethics. Christine also is a faculty fellow at the NU Daugherty Water for Food Institute and has collaborated with the institute, the NU Public Policy Center and the Nebraska Water Center on water issues of concern to Nebraska. Reed was inducted into Pi Alpha Alpha in 2002 and Omicron Delta Kappa in 2007 and was awarded a Regents Foundation Professorship in 2008.