Three UNL Faculty Receive National Awards for STEM Equity Leadership

Three faculty researchers at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln received top national honors from the Association for Women in Science for expanding equity in STEM fields, Nebraska Today reported.

Amy Desaulniers, Kristi Montooth, and Julia McQuillan collected the awards, which mark the University of Nebraska–Lincoln’s first-ever Spark and Zenith honors from the national organization. The recognitions show institutional efforts to foster inclusive environments across scientific disciplines on campus.

“We’re thrilled that Drs. Desaulniers, Montooth and McQuillan have been selected for some of the nation’s top awards for championing women in science,” said Jen Nelson, vice chancellor for research and innovation.

Desaulniers, associate professor of reproductive physiology, received the Spark Award for visible and vocal advocacy of diversity and inclusive scientific practices among students or early-career STEM leaders. Her research uses swine to study how early-life environmental exposures affect testicular development and fertility, with implications for livestock and human reproductive health.

Inspired by an undergraduate mentor who shaped her own academic trajectory, Desaulniers established “Pig Pros.” The undergraduate research and extension initiative provides paid, hands-on experience at UNL and the U.S. Meat Animal Research Center for students from institutions with limited research access.

She has supervised 23 students and trainees, 83% of whom were women. Together, this group secured 28 grants, fellowships, and awards totaling more than $28,000.

“I know firsthand how much of a difference one mentor and one opportunity can make in someone’s life,” Desaulniers said. “I want to provide the same opportunities and encouragement that made such a difference in my own career, particularly for students who might not otherwise have them.”

Montooth, professor of biological sciences, received the Meridian Award for mid-career leadership in workplace equity. Over nearly two decades of integrative biology research, she partnered with assistant professor of practice in biological sciences Marianna Burks to launch the STEM-POWER Research Program.

Funded by the National Science Foundation, the program connects incoming students with research mentors during the summer before matriculation to the University of Nebraska–Lincoln. The initiative has supported more than 70 students, maintaining retention rates exceeding 90%.

Montooth also serves as assistant director for community in the School of Biological Sciences. In that role, she leads committees organizing “Meet a Mentor” events and writing retreats at Cedar Point Biological Station.

“UNL is an inspiring space for women in science and in all domains of creative research activity,” Montooth said.

McQuillan, Willa Cather Professor of sociology, received the Zenith Award honoring senior-career professionals with a lifetime of innovative achievements in STEM and a commitment to workplace diversity. Her equity work spans decades, utilizing empirical data to address structural disparities.

As a graduate student at the University of Connecticut, her research on gender pay disparities prompted an across-the-board salary increase. After joining Nebraska in 1998, she applied similar data-driven strategies to advocate for a campus childcare center and transparent tenure and promotion guidelines in the Department of Sociology.

She directed the Bureau of Sociological Research from 2005 to 2012, chaired the Department of Sociology from 2012 to 2020, and served as co-principal investigator on an NSF ADVANCE-Institutional Transformation grant designed to advance women in STEM at Nebraska.

“I’m honored by this recognition and cannot emphasize enough how collective the efforts were and how grateful I am for all the people who worked on gender equity efforts for decades before I came to UNL,” McQuillan said.

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