UTIA faculty are known for producing outstanding quality in their research and academic programs, many of which are among the leaders in their fields. We are pleased to highlight the honors that four individuals and a department received during the past year. Bestowed by peers in their profession, the recognitions attest to the world-class science, outreach, and service that drive UTIA’s Real. Life. Solutions. 

David Anderson and Carl Sams 
AAAS Fellows 

The Council of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) has elected David Anderson, professor and associate dean for research and graduate studies at the University of Tennessee College of Veterinary Medicine, to the rank of AAAS Fellow. Also honored with that rank is Carl Sams, UTIA Institute Professor and Austin Distinguished Professor in the Department of Plant Sciences. Fellow status in the society is among the highest honors in science. Their election as fellows was announced January 26, 2021, in advance of the AAAS annual meeting.  

Anderson was cited for his distinguished contributions in resident and student mentoring, as well as advancements in biomedical research and technology, especially in surgical diseases and biomaterial composites for tissue regeneration and drug delivery. He joined UTCVM in 2012 as head of the Department of Large Animal Clinical Sciences before being named associate research dean. During that time, he has reinvigorated research efforts in the department and continues to foster an excitement for discovery in veterinary medicine.  

Sams was recognized for distinguished contributions to horticulture and plant physiology. He also holds the status of Fellow with the American Society of Horticultural Sciences. Sams’s research focuses on disease resistance in plants, hydroponics, and mineral nutrition. His work includes grafting plant varieties, as well as research of environmental factors important to human nutrition, pest resistance, and greenhouse production. Sams’s honors include being named a UTIA Institute Professor, the highest honor presented at UTIA.  

Ann Allgood Berry 
National Excellence in Extension Award 

Recognized for her visionary leadership, the US Department of Agriculture’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture, Cooperative Extension, and the Association of Public and Land-Grant Universities (APLU) honored Ann Allgood Berry with the fifteenth annual Excellence in Extension Award. Berry received the award at the APLU’s annual conference held in November 2021. A professor and specialist with UT Extension Family and Consumer Sciences, Berry was recognized for innovative programming that has increased consumer economic literacy and stability. In her sixteen years at UT, she and her team of agents have conducted 124 teacher workshops and personal finance instruction and have reached more than 1.2 million high school students. The estimated financial impact for all the team’s consumer economics programming, including teacher training, exceeds $297.2 million.  

Christopher Stripling 
On Behalf of the Department of Agricultural Leadership, Education and Communications 
Outstanding Postsecondary Agriculture Program 

In December 2021, Christopher Stripling, professor and head of the Department of Agricultural Leadership, Education and Communications, accepted the 2021 Outstanding Postsecondary Agriculture Program on behalf of the department’s faculty members. The honor came from the National Association of Agricultural Educators during the organization’s convention in New Orleans. The recognition is bestowed upon postsecondary programs that emphasize lasting teaching methods, enhance student motivation, and exemplify great experiential learning. Bayer sponsors the honor. Stripling says ALEC is an evolving, dynamic community composed of individuals dedicated to teaching, learning, leading, and self-reflecting for continuous improvement. The UT Knoxville teacher preparation program focuses on career-focused learning experiences in secondary classrooms, and ALEC emphasizes experiences that prepare candidates to teach the nation’s youth about one of the pillars of the national economy—agriculture. Leadership development is infused into every facet of the experience and is a key component of the department’s academic program.   

Robert Trigiano 
UT Knoxville Chancellor’s Professor  

With the designation of UTIA Institute Professor, Robert Trigiano of the Department of Entomology and Plant Pathology already holds the highest recognition that UTIA bestows.  

In December 2021, another top university designation came, when he became one of four senior faculty members chosen by UT Knoxville Chancellor Donde Plowman as members of the newest class of Chancellor’s Professors. The honor recognizes extraordinary scholarly attainment in a discipline or field and a record of excellence in teaching and service to the University. Trigiano is the first faculty member with UTIA to receive this distinction. His work spans areas of genomics, population genetics, propagation of endangered plants, diseases of ornamentals, and molecular marker systems for various plants and pathogens. Trigiano’s distinguished record of research and teaching includes more than 225 research articles and book chapters, ten edited and authored books, and nine patents. In addition, he serves as chief manager of Creative Agricultural Technologies, an LLC founded in 2005 to market ornamental plants developed at UT.   

Outstanding Honors 

A sampling of the national and international recognitions received by UTIA faculty, staff, and students in 2021 through February 2022. 

Department of Agricultural and Resource Economics  

Andrew Muhammad, elected to the board of directors for the Agricultural and Applied Economics Association 

Aaron Smith, the Council on Food, Agricultural and Resource Economics Early Career Contributions to Public Policy Award 

Department of Animal Science 

Jun Lin, Fellow, the Conference of Research Workers in Animal Diseases   

Jeremy Mobley, Global Network for Academic Advising Outstanding New Advisor  

Sarah Moorey and students, USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture Merit Award 

Casey Read, a PhD student, USDA NIFA AFRI Merit Award; national finalist for Society for the Study of Reproduction Trainee Merit Awards,  

Neil Schrick, Fellow, Food Systems Leadership Institute 

Huiwen Wang, a PhD student, Conference of Research Workers Lynn Joens Memorial Award 

Department of Biomedical and Diagnostic Services 

Stephen Kania, American College of Veterinary Microbiologists Honorary Member of the Year 

Agricola Odoi, American Veterinary Epidemiology Society Honorary Diplomate of the Year 

Barry Rouse, American Association of Veterinary Medical Colleges Excellence in Research Award 

Department of Biosystems Engineering and Soil Science  

Julie Carrier, member of the American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers Board of Trustees  

Robert Burns, technical advisor to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations; recipient of the American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers Henry Giese Structures and Environment Award  

Doug Hayes, Fellow, the American Oil Chemists’ Society  

Rounak Patra, PhD candidate, the Ecological Society of America Graduate Student Policy Award 

Center for Renewable Carbon/Department of Forestry, Wildlife and Fisheries  

Art Ragauskas, Clarivate Highly Cited Researcher  

Adam Taylor, Fulbright-Saastamoinen Foundation Grant in Health and Environmental Sciences 

Department of Forestry, Wildlife and Fisheries  

Don Hodges, Fellow, Society of American Foresters  

Department of Plant Sciences 

Delaney Foster, PhD student, president of the Weed Science Society of America Graduate Student Organization  

Andy Pulte, National Agricultural Alumni and Development Association Above and Beyond Partner Award 

Scott Senseman, Fellow, the Weed Science Society of America  

Derrick Stowell, American Horticultural Society Horticultural Therapy Award 

Annette Wszelaki, American Society for Horticultural Science National Outstanding Extension Educator 

AgResearch Dean’s Office 

David White, member, World Health Organization Advisory Group on Critically important Antimicrobials for Human Medicine  

Hongwei Xin, member, Foundation for Food and Agriculture Research Advanced Animal Systems Advisory Council; Fellow, Food Systems Leadership Institute; Fellow, Association of Overseas Chinese Agricultural, Biological and Food Engineers 

UT Extension 

Epsilon Sigma Phi Extension Professionals Association 
Ronald Barron, Cheatham County, the Diversity and Multicultural Award 
Christopher T. Sneed, UT Extension Family and Consumer Sciences, the 2021 ESP Elevate Speech Winner 

National Association of Extension 4-H Youth Development Professionals  

DISTINGUISHED SERVICE AWARD 
Loren Stanford, Henderson County 
Sharon Davis, Knox County 
Aaron Spurling, Rhea County 
Connie Sharp, Washington County 

MERITORIOUS SERVICE AWARD 
Tonya Bain, Crockett County 

COMMUNICATIONS AWARDS— 
NATIONAL WINNER 
Hunter Isbell, Dickson County, Published Photo  
Hunter Isbell, Dickson County, Periodical Publication 

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