High Honors | Land, Life & Science

A sampling of recent faculty, student, and staff recognitions

Herbert College of Agriculture Administration

Professor and Herbert College of Agriculture Interim Dean David White—Voting member, Presidential Advisory Council on Combating Antibiotic-Resistant Bacteria

Department of Agricultural and Resource Economics

Professor and Department Head Chris Boyer and Professor and Director of Graduate Studies Edward Yu—Appointed editors of the Journal of Agricultural and Applied Economics

Professor and Department Head Chris Boyer—Outstanding Early Career Alumni Award, Texas A&M College of Agriculture and Life Sciences

Professor and Blasingame Chair Andrew Muhammad—Appointed to subcommittee of the Board for International Food and Agricultural Development and elected president of the Southern Agricultural Economics Association

Associate Professor Carlos Trejo-Pech—Appointed editor of the Journal of Food Distribution Research

Junior Katie Collins—National 4-H Council Youth in Action Award

Senior Summitt Wright—Finalist for National Truman Scholarship

Senior Haylee Ferguson—Appointed to the American Junior Shorthorn Association Board

Department of Agricultural Leadership, Education and Communications

Professor and Department Head Christopher Stripling—2024 Outstanding Researcher, American Association for Agricultural Education Southern Region

Assistant Professor Shelli Rampold—2024 Outstanding Early Career Member, American Association for Agricultural Education Southern Region

Spring BS graduate Anna Epperson—National Association of Agricultural Educators 2023 Upper Division Scholarship

Department of Animal Science

Associate Professor Jennie Ivey—2023 Outstanding Young Professional Award, Equine Science Society

Professor Jun Lin and Associate Professor Phillip Myer—Stanford University’s list of top 2 percent most cited scientists globally in their fields for single-year impact

Associate Professor Phillip Myer—Outstanding Early Career Animal Scientist Award in Research, American Society of Animal Science

Assistant Professor Daniel Mathew—Outstanding Early Career Animal Scientist Award, American Society of Animal Science Southern Section

Assistant Professor Troy Rowan—New Innovator Award, Foundation for Food and Agriculture Research

Senior Ella McLerran—Winner, 2024 American Farm Bureau Federation Young Farmers & Ranchers Collegiate Discussion Meet

Department of Biosystems Engineering and Soil Science

Professor and Department Head Julie Carrier—2023 Gilley Academic Leadership Award, American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers

Assistant Professor Lori Duncan—2023 Cotton Researcher of the Year, Farm Progress

Professors Shawn Hawkins and Forbes Walker—2023 Governor’s Environmental Stewardship Award for Environmental Education and Outreach

Department of Entomology and Plant Pathology

Professor Emeritus Mark Windham—2023 Klima Medal for Excellence in Rose Education, American Rose Society

PhD student Autumn McLaughlin—2023 Melhus Graduate Student Symposium participant and graduate student scholarship, National Corn Growers Association

PhD students Katy Smith and Elias Zuchelli—Professional development fellowships, Foundation for Food and Agriculture Research

PhD student Dawson Kerns—Martignoni Student Award, the premier award for student research, Society for Invertebrate Pathology

Department of Food Science

Institute Professor Toni Wang—Appointed to the American Oil Chemists’ Society board

Professor Qixin Zhong—Fellow, Institute of Food Technologies

Seniors Naylen Bryce Mckenzie and Peyton Crates—Transforming Through Research Scholars, National Council on Undergraduate Research

MS student Joshua Saad—First place, Institute of Food Technologies InfoFoodrafic Global Infographic Competition

Department of Plant Sciences

Professor Larry Steckel—Fellow, Southern Weed Science Society of America

Professor Tom Mueller—Excellence Regulatory Award, Southern Society of Weed Science

Professor Amy Fulcher—Midwest Region Federal Laboratory Consortium Award, US Department of Agriculture

PhD student Ravi Neelipally—2023 research grant, Southern Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education

School of Natural Resources

Professor Craig Harper—2024 Career Achievement Award, Southeast Deer Study Group

Research Professor Allan Houston—2023 Forest Conservationist of the Year, Tennessee Wildlife Federation

Professor David Harper—2023 Materials Innovation Award, Society of Plastic Engineering

Professor Sharon Jean-Philippe—Fellow, Southeastern Conference Academic Leadership Development Program; appointed to the Forestry Research Advisory Council, US Department of Agriculture

Senior Cole Roberts—Gilman International Scholarship, US Department of State

MS student Kayla Stuart—2023 Diversity Scholar, Society of American Foresters

College of Veterinary Medicine Administration

Professor and Associate Dean for Academic and Student Affairs India Lane—Named Founding Distinguished Expert by the Academy of Veterinary Educators and recipient, 2024 Hooper Award for Distinguished Service, American Association of Veterinary Medical Colleges

Department of Biomedical and Diagnostic Sciences

Assistant Professor of Practice and Curriculum and Assessment Coordinator Misty Bailey—Named Founding Distinguished Expert by the Academy of Veterinary Educators

Institute Professor Barry Rouse—Best scientist ranking and Animal Science and Veterinary Leader Award, Research.com

Clinical Professor Sharon Thompson—Public Health Veterinarian of the Year, American Association of Food Safety and Public Health Veterinarians

Department of Small Animal Clinical Sciences

Institute Professor Karen Tobias—Recognized as outstanding mentor, American College of Veterinary Surgeons Summit

UT AgResearch Administration

Professor and AgResearch Dean Hongwei Xin—2023 LeggACY Maker Award, Egg Industry Center

AgResearch and Education Center at Milan Director Blake Brown—President, Research Center Administrator’s Society

Plateau AgResearch and Education Center Director Walt Hitch—Treasurer, Research Center Administrator’s Society

UT Extension

Professor and Assistant Dean Janet Fox—Appointed to the State Program Leaders Planning Council, National Extension Association of Family and Consumer Sciences/National Institute of Food and Agriculture

Tennessee RiverLine Executive Director Brad Collett—Appalachian Leadership Institute Fellow

Greene County Extension Agent Melody Rose—Treasurer, National Association of County Agricultural Agents

Evaluation and Staff Development Specialist Brandi Berven; Family and Consumer Sciences Extension Assistant Egla Delvo-Lopez; and former Bradley County Extension Agent Kevin Treadway—National Team Diversity Award, Epsilon Sigma Phi

Evaluation and Staff Development Specialist Brandi Berven—National Early Career Service Award, Epsilon Sigma Phi

Madison County Extension Agent and Director Kane Reeves—National Administrative Leadership Award, Epsilon Sigma Phi

Grainger County Extension Agent and Director Anthony Carver—Distinguished Service Award, National Association of County Agricultural Agents

UT Extension Family and Consumer Sciences

Assistant Professor Chris Sneed—2023 Financial Educator of the Year, Association for Financial Counseling and Planning Education

Assistant Professor Kristen Johnson—International Service Award, Epsilon Sigma Phi

Associate Professor Karen Franck; Assistant Professor Chris Sneed; and Specialists Jeanmarie Salie, Cori Sweet, and Jennifer Ward—Priester Innovative Team Award, National Health Outreach and Engagement Conference

Associate Professor Soghra Jarvandi—Food and Nutrition Section Service Award, American Public Health Association

Associate Professor Heather Sedges—Leadership Award, National Health Outreach and Engagement Conference