MEMPHIS—University of Tennessee System President Randy Boyd announced the recipients of the 2023 President’s Awards. The announcement was made during the annual À¶Ý®ÊÓƵ Board of Trustees meeting held in Memphis.
Fourteen faculty and staff members from across the À¶Ý®ÊÓƵ System received awards to celebrate their accomplishments and dedication to the Be One À¶Ý®ÊÓƵ values. These values are intended to shape culture across the system, build purpose, improve team cohesion and create a shared sense of commitment in the workplace. Recipients were nominated by campus and institute leaders and are selected annually from a system-wide pool. They will be honored by the president and his Be One À¶Ý®ÊÓƵ cabinet at a special luncheon on Aug. 3 in Nashville.
“Our ‘Be One À¶Ý®ÊÓƵ’ values are not just a philosophy, but a concrete way we define our culture and way of doing business,†Boyd said. “These award recipients exemplify who we are, as well as who we continually aspire to be in serving the people of Tennessee.â€
The President’s Awards were established in 2016 to annually recognize the accomplishments of faculty and staff, from across the À¶Ý®ÊÓƵ System with the mission to educate, discover and connect. Additionally, the awards celebrate and acknowledge outstanding contributions in the areas of support and diversity.
The President’s Awards are the highest honor a À¶Ý®ÊÓƵ employee can receive from the University. Winners receive commemorative plaques and a monetary award of $3,000.
Award recipients represent À¶Ý®ÊÓƵ Knoxville, À¶Ý®ÊÓƵ Health Science Center, À¶Ý®ÊÓƵ Martin, À¶Ý®ÊÓƵ Chattanooga, À¶Ý®ÊÓƵ Institute of Agriculture, À¶Ý®ÊÓƵ Institute for Public Service and À¶Ý®ÊÓƵ System Administration. about the winners and their contributions to the state of Tennessee and their University.
Bold and Impactful Honorees:
Faculty: Dr. James Bailey
Professor and Robert S. Pearce Endowed Chair in Internal Medicine, Director for the Center for Health Systems Improvement, and Executive Director, Tennessee Population Health Consortium
À¶Ý®ÊÓƵ Health Science Center
Staff: Melissa Smith
Coordinator of Student Services, College of Pharmacy
À¶Ý®ÊÓƵ Health Science Center
Nominees:
- Terri Clark – Senior Director of Prospect Development, Advancement Services, À¶Ý®ÊÓƵ Foundation, Inc.
- Jimmy Delaney – Associate Athletics Director of Marketing and Fan Experience, À¶Ý®ÊÓƵ Knoxville
- Virginia Grimes – Assistant Director of WestStar, À¶Ý®ÊÓƵ Martin
- Shewanee Howard-Baptiste – Vice Provost and Professor of Academic Affairs/Health and Human Performance, À¶Ý®ÊÓƵ Chattanooga
- John Lacey – System Strategist, À¶Ý®ÊÓƵ System Division of Communications and Marketing
- Bruce LaMattina – Senior Director for Aerospace and Defense, À¶Ý®ÊÓƵ Space Institute at À¶Ý®ÊÓƵ Knoxville
- Paul Middlebrooks – APEX Director, Center for Industrial Services, Institute for Public Service
- Debra Miller – Professor and Director, À¶Ý®ÊÓƵIA Center for Wildlife Health and Director, À¶Ý®ÊÓƵ One Health Initiative, À¶Ý®ÊÓƵ Knoxville
Embrace Diversity Honorees:
Faculty: Henrietta Giles
Lecturer, Department of Mass Media and Strategic Communications
À¶Ý®ÊÓƵ Martin
Staff: Michelle Rigler
Executive Director, Disability Resource Center
À¶Ý®ÊÓƵ Chattanooga
Nominees:
- Michelle Deardorff – Adolph S. Ochs Professor of Government and Department Head of Political Science and Public Service, À¶Ý®ÊÓƵ Chattanooga
- Elisha Hodge – Legal Consultant, Municipal Technical Advisory Service, À¶Ý®ÊÓƵ Institute for Public Service
- Nury Magana – Associate Professor and Executive Director of Clinical Trials Unit, Bilingual Community Health Navigator for Office of Community Health Engagement, À¶Ý®ÊÓƵ Health Science Center
- David Shibata – Professor and Harwell Wilson Alumni Endowed Chair in Surgery, Department of Surgery, College of Medicine, À¶Ý®ÊÓƵ Health Science Center
Optimistic and Visionary Honorees:
Faculty: Nan Gaylord
Associate Dean of Practice and Global Affairs, Professor, College of Nursing
À¶Ý®ÊÓƵ Knoxville
Staff: Destin Tucker
Director, Undergraduate Admissions
À¶Ý®ÊÓƵ Martin
Nominees:
- Bradley Boucher – Professor and Interim Dean, Department of Clinical Pharmacy and Translational Science, College of Pharmacy, À¶Ý®ÊÓƵ Health Science Center
- Trent Clagg – Training Specialist, Naifeh Center for Effective Leadership, À¶Ý®ÊÓƵ Institute for Public Service
- Charlotte Henley – Administrative Associate, Office of the Executive Director, À¶Ý®ÊÓƵ Space Institute at À¶Ý®ÊÓƵ Knoxville
- Charles Hicks, Jr. – Operations Manager, Department of Physiology, College of Medicine, À¶Ý®ÊÓƵ Health Science Center
- Hunter Holzhauer – Associate Professor, Robert L. Maclellan & UC Foundation Associate Professor of Finance, Rollins College of Business, À¶Ý®ÊÓƵ Chattanooga
- Valerie Parks – Associate Director of Facility Branding and Design, Athletics/Media Relations, À¶Ý®ÊÓƵ Knoxville
Nimble and Innovative Honorees:
Faculty: Dr. David Rausch
Associate Dean, College of Health, Education, and Professional Studies
Program Director, Professor, Learning and Leadership Program
À¶Ý®ÊÓƵ Chattanooga
Staff: Patricia Page
Senior Program Manager, Electronic Research Administration
À¶Ý®ÊÓƵ Health Science Center
Nominees:
- Angie Carrier – Program Manager, Municipal Technical Advisory Service, À¶Ý®ÊÓƵ Institute for Public Service
- Natalie Crippen – Academic Process Specialist, College of Social Work, À¶Ý®ÊÓƵ Knoxville
- Melissa Laseter – Director of Student Support Services, À¶Ý®ÊÓƵ Chattanooga
- Joseph Ostenson – Associate Professor, Department of Psychology, À¶Ý®ÊÓƵ Martin
- Dr. Gabor Tigyi – Harriet Van Vleet Endowed Professor in Basic Oncology, Associate Vice Chancellor for Research-Industry Relations and Global Cooperation, Department of Physiology, College of Medicine, À¶Ý®ÊÓƵ Health Science Center
Excel In All We Do Honorees:
Faculty: Stephanie Kolitsch
Interim Provost and Senior Vice Chancellor, Academic Affairs
Director of Accreditation, Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Liaison
À¶Ý®ÊÓƵ Martin
Staff: Abeer Mustafa
Associate Vice Chancellor of Enrollment Management and Student Affairs
À¶Ý®ÊÓƵ Chattanooga
Nominees:
- Dr. Neil Hayes – Professor, Division Chief, Scientific Director, À¶Ý®ÊÓƵ-West Institute of Cancer Research, College of Medicine, À¶Ý®ÊÓƵ Health Science Center
- Ron Loewen – Associate Vice President, Budget, Analysis and Planning, Finance and Administration, À¶Ý®ÊÓƵ System
- Jason McVeigh – Senior Associate Athletics Director of Sports Medicine and Sports Performance, Athletics, À¶Ý®ÊÓƵ Knoxville
- Gretchen Potts – Professor and Department Head, Biology, Geology and Environmental Science, À¶Ý®ÊÓƵ Chattanooga
- Kenny Smith – Solutions Consultant, Center for Industrial Services, À¶Ý®ÊÓƵ Institute for Public Service
- Sherry Warford – Supervisor of Laboratory Animal Care Unit, À¶Ý®ÊÓƵ Health Science Center
- Leslie Wereszcak – Director, Small Animal Clinical Sciences, À¶Ý®ÊÓƵ Institute of Agriculture
United and Connected Honorees:
Faculty: Clinton Smith
Professor, Chair, Department of Educational Studies
À¶Ý®ÊÓƵ Martin
Staff: Tomi Rogers
Manager, Human Resources and Operations
À¶Ý®ÊÓƵ Institute for Public Service
Nominees:
- Laurie Allen – Executive Director, Professor of Practice, Lyndhurst Chair of Excellence in Arts Education, Arts-Based Collaborative, Southeast Center for Education in the Arts, À¶Ý®ÊÓƵ Chattanooga
- Kaycee Edwards – Financial Professional I/Business Manager, Finance Department, À¶Ý®ÊÓƵ Space Institute at À¶Ý®ÊÓƵ Knoxville
- Denise Jilka – Director of Academic Services, Thornton Athletics Student Life Center, À¶Ý®ÊÓƵ Knoxville
- Karen Lasater – Clinical Professor, College of Nursing, À¶Ý®ÊÓƵ Knoxville
- Bonnie Ownley – Professor, Entomology and Plant Pathology, À¶Ý®ÊÓƵ Institute of Agriculture
- Theresa Liedtdka – Dean, À¶Ý®ÊÓƵC Library, À¶Ý®ÊÓƵ Chattanooga
- Cindy Williamson –Director of Assessment and SAC/SCOC Liaison, Planning, Evaluation, and Institutional Research, À¶Ý®ÊÓƵ Chattanooga
Transparent and Trusted Honorees:
Faculty: Dr. Heather Sedges
Associate Professor of Human Development, Department of Family and Consumer Sciences
À¶Ý®ÊÓƵ Knoxville, À¶Ý®ÊÓƵ Extension
Staff: Charles Primm
Public Records Coordinator, Division of Communications and Marketing
À¶Ý®ÊÓƵ System
Nominees:
- Tara Brooks – Associate Athletics Director of Administration, Athletics, À¶Ý®ÊÓƵ Knoxville
- Ashley Bynum – Assistant Athletic Director, Compliance, Athletics, À¶Ý®ÊÓƵ Martin
- Ronald Davis – Manager of Teaching and Learning Center, À¶Ý®ÊÓƵ Health Science Center
- Tom Ellis – Assistant Vice Chancellor for Operations, Facilities, Planning & Management, À¶Ý®ÊÓƵ Chattanooga
- Melisa Kelton – County Government Consultant, County Technical Assistance Service, À¶Ý®ÊÓƵ Institute for Public Service
- Missy Miller – Administrative Associate, College of Nursing, À¶Ý®ÊÓƵ Knoxville
- Dr. Natascha Thompson – Associate Professor, Associate Dean for Graduate Medical Education, College of Medicine, À¶Ý®ÊÓƵ Health Science Center