Honorees will be recognized at the Celebrating Women in STEM Luncheon in October.
Nebraska Women in STEM is proud to announce the recipients of its 2026 Nebraska Women in STEM Awards, recognizing outstanding women whose leadership, innovation, and dedication are advancing science, technology, engineering, and mathematics across Nebraska.
The Nebraska Women in STEM Awards celebrate women who are making a difference in their professions, mentoring the next generation of STEM leaders, and helping strengthen Nebraska’s scientific and technical workforce.
The 2026 award recipients will be recognized during the Celebrating Women in STEM Luncheon on October 29 at The Durham Museum. The luncheon brings together business leaders, educators, researchers, students, and community members from across Nebraska to celebrate the accomplishments of women in STEM while inspiring future generations to pursue careers in these critical fields.
Tickets are now available here. Whether you work in STEM, support STEM education, or simply want to celebrate the remarkable women making an impact across Nebraska, we hope you will join us for this inspiring event. Additional event information is here.
2026 Nebraska Women in STEM Award Honorees
Outstanding Woman in STEM
Jennifer Blackford, PhD
Dr. Jennifer Blackford is the Associate Dean of Research and the Hattie B. Munroe Professor at the Munroe-Meyer Institute (MMI) at the University of Nebraska Medical Center. Dr. Blackford earned her PhD in Developmental Psychology from Vanderbilt University. She completed postdoctoral training in neuroimaging and genetics, supported by a National Institute of Mental Health Mentored Career Development Award.
Dr. Blackford’s research characterizes the neurobiological basis of anxiety across the lifespan, and how anxiety circuitry in the brain contributes to other mental health disorders — including alcohol use disorder, PTSD, and schizophrenia. She has made significant contributions to understanding how individual differences in brain biology create risk for anxiety, and she pioneered the methods to study the bed nucleus of the stria terminalis — a small, hard-to-image brain region linked to anxiety and addiction in animal studies — in living humans. Dr. Blackford has co-authored 130 scientific papers and her research has received $10M in funding from the National Institutes of Health and the US Department of Veterans Affairs.
Dr. Blackford has a passion for training the next generation of scientists. She has provided mentorship for more than 50 trainees, ranging from high school students to junior faculty. At MMI, Dr. Blackford has also built the infrastructure that supports clinical research institute-wide, along with professional development programs for early career researchers.
Outstanding Organization
Girls Inc. of Omaha
Girls Inc. of Omaha inspires all girls to be Strong, Smart, and Bold through research-based programming that equips them to lead healthy, educated, and independent lives. Since 1975, Girls Inc. of Omaha has empowered thousands of girls across the Omaha metro through academic enrichment, STEM exploration, leadership development, sports and wellness, literacy, college and career readiness, and life skills. By creating safe, supportive spaces and connecting girls with caring mentors and transformative opportunities, the organization is building the next generation of confident leaders, innovators, and changemakers.
Educator of the Year
Amanda Woodward
In her own words: I’m the kind of person who, when I think something is cool, everyone around me is going to hear about it. I love figuring out how things work, fixing them, building things, and learning new skills. That curiosity started early, I took a motorcycle apart when I was 16. These days, I get to share that same excitement as a shop teacher at North Star’s Aviation Focus Program. I love helping students discover skilled trades, and watching them realize how much they’re capable of.
Outside the classroom, you’ll find me exploring art museums with my wife, at Benson First Friday arts festival, out on the boat, camping, or convincing friends to join me on another quest to find the best pizza in Omaha. I’m slowly visiting all 50 states (33 down!), and when I’m home I’m usually tending a big vegetable garden, working on our 1926 home, fixing whatever the latest project happens to be, baking something from scratch, or hanging out with our two dogs. It’s safe to say I don’t sit still very well.
Community Impact
Leah Wambui Keinama
Leah Wambui Keinama is a facilitator and systems thinker whose career has centered on using science, data, and collaboration to address complex community challenges. Her work spans software integration, food systems, journalism, and civic engagement, with a consistent focus on building partnerships that translate knowledge into meaningful action.
As Director of Civic Journalism for the Nebraska Journalism Trust, Leah leads initiatives that strengthen civic participation and public trust by connecting communities with reliable information and opportunities for engagement. Previously, she led programs focused on regenerative agriculture, soil health, environmental health, local food systems, and entrepreneurship, helping bridge research, policy, and community priorities.
Leah began her career as a systems integrator in the software industry before transitioning into mission-driven work at the intersection of STEM and public service. She is passionate about making complex ideas accessible, fostering cross-sector collaboration, and creating spaces where diverse perspectives can inform practical solutions to the challenges facing Nebraska communities.
Emerging Leader
Colleen Ocken
Colleen Ocken is a Project Engineer with JEO Consulting Group’s Water Resources Engineering Department in the Lincoln, Nebraska office. She holds a B.S. in Biological Systems Engineering and a minor in Horticulture from the University of Nebraska – Lincoln and is a licensed Professional Engineer in Nebraska. Colleen specializes in stormwater and floodplain planning, modeling, and urban storm sewer design for both rural and urban communities. Recent projects have been focused on identifying current flood risk and potential solutions for communities like Lincoln and Fremont. Starting in 2021, she was part of committee who created the JEO Emerging Professionals Program and served as Chair during the 2025/26 program year. The EP Program builds community, foundational knowledge and interpersonal skills in early career staff. Additionally, Colleen is involved in mentoring water resources interns and Engineering Interns (EI). Depending on the season, Colleen spends her weekends quilting, gardening or spending time with her husband and son.
Innovator
Nicole Buan, PhD
Nicole Buan is a Professor of Biochemistry at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and a Senior Member of the National Academy of Inventors. Her research interests encompass redox biochemistry and synthetic biology of microbes and plants with potential applications for sustainable bioenergy and agriculture. Buan lab research has been awarded several patents, and Dr. Buan is the co-Founder Nebraska startup, Molecular Trait Evolution. Dr. Buan is also a strong advocate for the next generation of scientists. She co-founded the international Archaea Power Hour virtual seminar series to highlight recent advances in archaeal biology and to elevate early-career researchers, she serves as a member of the American Society for Microbiology Program Committee, and as Associate Editor for the journal Applied and Environmental Microbiology. Dr. Buan also has interest in science policy and the bioeconomy as a Council Member of the Engineering Biology Research Consortium and a National Strategic Research Institute Fellow where she advocates for support of microbial sciences, education, and use-inspired research to address challenges in energy, environment, agriculture, and health.ll as educational institutions and service providers.