KNOXVILLE – The University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture celebrated the accomplishments of 34 outstanding faculty and staff members at its recent annual awards and promotions luncheon. The honorees hailed from all regions of the state and were recognized with 21 different awards, either individually or as members of an outstanding research, teaching or outreach team.

Michael Davidson, professor of food microbiology and former head of the Department of Food Science and Technology, was granted the first-ever Chancellor’s Institute Professor Award. Davidson has served as a professor with distinction in a number of leadership roles across the Institute since 1991, and among his many accolades are numerous leadership positions at national and international professional societies.

Among the other East Tennessee faculty and staff honored at the luncheon are:

James Brosnan of Knoxville, associate professor in the UT Department of Plant Sciences. Brosnan received the T.J. Whatley Distinguished Young Scientist Award, the highest honor bestowed on a scientist who has less than 12 years of professional experience and a minimum of five years of service on the Institute’s agricultural faculty.

David Buckley of Knoxville, professor in the UT Department of Forestry, Wildlife and Fisheries, and Brien Ostby of Knoxville, research associate in the department. Buckley and Ostby, along with other co-authors, were recognized with the Cavender Outstanding Award for Best Publications for an Extension publication about identifying hickory and walnut trees native to Tennessee using brief recognizable features (BRFs).

Lee Ellis of Knoxville, research associate at the UT East Tennessee AgResearch and Education Center; Janet Jones of Knoxville, clinical director of the UT Department of Small Animal Clinical Sciences; Jennifer Richards of Knoxville, research associate professor in the UT Department of Food Science and Technology; and Annette Wszelaki of Knoxville, associate professor of the UT Department of Plant Sciences. Each received J. E. Moss Achievement Awards recognizing excellent accomplishments in teaching, research and Extension for the UT Institute of Agriculture.

Rebecca Greene of Knoxville, accounting specialist with the UT Department of Small Animal Clinical Sciences. Greene received the E.J. Chapman Outstanding Service Award recognizing excellence by a member of the supporting staff.

Patrick Keyser of Knoxville, professor in the UT Department of Forestry, Wildlife and Fisheries. Keyser received the AgResearch Impact Award, the highest honor presented by the unit, recognizing efforts that have had a profound effect on improving the efficiency, sustainability and/or economic viability of the food and fiber industry of rural areas of Tennessee.

J. Missy Kitts of Knoxville, financial specialist with UT Extension Administration. Kitts received the Professional/Academic Award for Outstanding Service, recognizing her as the employee who has contributed most to the attainment of the UT Institute of Agriculture’s objectives.

Bonnie Ownley of Knoxville, professor in the UT Department of Entomology and Plant Pathology. Ownley received the William T. Miles, M.D., Memorial Award for Community Service. The award recognizes significant contributions and service to the Knoxville community.

Ty Petty, UT Extension agent and director for Unicoi County. Petty was recognized with the Charles and Julie Wharton Award for Outstanding Extension Achievements. Petty was also promoted to Extension Agent III at the luncheon.

Lena Beth Reynolds of McMinn County, who serves as an UT Extension area specialist for McMinn, Monroe, Loudon and Polk counties. Reynolds was recognized with a Tennessee Association of Agricultural Agents and Specialists (TAAA&S) – Hicks Award of Excellence for her Extension work. Reynolds was also promoted to Extension Area Specialist III.

Michael O. Smith of Knoxville, professor in the UT Department of Animal Science. Smith received the Webster Pendergrass Outstanding Service Award recognizing a teaching and research faculty member who has contributed most to the fulfillment of the UT Institute of Agriculture’s goals and objectives.

Alvin Womac of Knoxville, professor in the UT Department of Biosystems Engineering and Soil Science. Womac received the B. Ray Thompson Sr. Outstanding Faculty Performance Award, which recognizes exceptional performance by an Institute faculty member.

Svetlana Zivanovic of Knoxville, professor in the UT Department of Food Science and Technology. Zivanovic received the Williams – E.R. “Prof” Lidvall Outstanding Teaching Award which recognizes a commitment to excellence in the classroom and commitment to the needs and interests of the students.

Also recognized were members of the UT Department of Animal Science Tennessee Milk Quality Laboratory team, all from Knoxville: professor Steve Oliver, assistant dean and assistant director, AgResearch; Raul Almeida, research associate professor; Oudessa Dego, post-doctoral researcher; and Barbara Gillespie and Susan Headrick, research associates. This team received the Gamma Sigma Delta Institute of Agriculture Team Award for their work in providing testing and services that assist the state’s dairy producers.

The UT Institute of Agriculture provides instruction, research and public service through the UT College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources, the UT College of Veterinary Medicine, UT AgResearch, including its system of 10 research and education centers, and UT Extension offices in every county in the state.

Published September 16, 2014