Earlier this year, University of Tennessee System President Randy Boyd announced the recipients of the 2023 President’s Awards.
Fourteen faculty and staff members from across the UT System received awards to celebrate their accomplishments and dedication to the Be One UT 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. Recipients were honored by the president and his Be One UT cabinet at a special luncheon held in August in Nashville.
“Our ‘Be One UT’ 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.”
The President’s Awards were established in 2016 to annually recognize the accomplishments of faculty and staff, from across the UT 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 UT employee can receive from the University. Winners receive commemorative plaques and a monetary award of $3,000.
Bold and Impactful:
Faculty: Dr. James BaileyProfessor and Robert S. Pearce Endowed Chair in Internal Medicine, Director for the Center for Health Systems Improvement, and Executive Director, Tennessee Population Health Consortium UT Health Science Center
Staff: Melissa Smith
Coordinator of Student Services, College of Pharmacy, UT Health Science Center
Embrace Diversity:
Faculty: Henrietta GilesLecturer, Department of Mass Media and Strategic Communications, UT Martin
Staff: Michelle Rigler
Executive Director, Disability Resource Center, UT Chattanooga
Optimistic and Visionary:
Faculty: Nan Gaylord
Associate Dean of Practice and Global Affairs, Professor, College of Nursing, UT Knoxville
Staff: Destin Tucker Director, Undergraduate Admissions, UT Martin
Nimble and Innovative:
Faculty: Dr. David Rausch
Associate Dean, College of Health, Education, and Professional Studies Program Director, Professor, Learning and Leadership Program, UT Chattanooga
Staff: Patricia Page
Senior Program Manager, Electronic Research Administration, UT Health Science Center
Excel In All We Do:
Faculty: Stephanie Kolitsch
Interim Provost and Senior Vice Chancellor, Academic Affairs Director of Accreditation, Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Liaison, UT Martin
Staff: Abeer Mustafa
Associate Vice Chancellor of Enrollment Management and Student Affairs, UT Chattanooga
United and Connected:
Faculty: Clinton Smith
Professor, Chair, Department of Educational Studies, UT Martin
Staff: Tomi Rogers
Manager, Human Resources and Operations, UT Institute for Public Service
Transparent and Trusted:
Faculty: Dr. Heather Sedges
Associate Professor of Human Development, Department of Family and Consumer Sciences, UT Knoxville, UT Extension
Staff: Charles Primm
Public Records Coordinator, Division of Communications and Marketing, UT System
