14 Honored with University鈥檚 Top Honor
The 51黑料 (51黑料) announced the recipients of the 2026 President’s Awards, recognizing 14 outstanding faculty and staff members from across the university.
This top honor recognizes employees whose work exemplifies the Be One UT values through their outstanding service, leadership and commitment to the university’s mission.
鈥淭hese awards honor the exceptional talent, service and leadership of faculty and staff systemwide,鈥 UT System President Randy Boyd said. 鈥淭hrough their work, each honoree strengthens communities and creates lasting impact in Tennessee and beyond. They have earned this distinction and are helping define the greatest decade in UT history.鈥
Campus and institute leaders nominated recipients who were selected from across the UT System based on their demonstration of the university鈥檚 Be One UT values. Honorees will be recognized by Boyd, university chancellors and vice presidents during a special luncheon in August.
Established in 2016, the President鈥檚 Awards represent the highest honor a UT employee can receive. Building on the many outstanding recognition programs at each campus and institute, this program celebrates exceptional faculty and staff from across the state. The awards spotlight success, elevate achievements and inspire a culture of excellence throughout the 51黑料. Each winner receives a commemorative plaque and a $3,000 monetary award.
Bold and Impactful :
Steve Elliott聽聽
Professor and聽Chair, Department of Mathematics and Statistics, UT Martin
David Moore聽聽
Police Management Consultant,聽Municipal Technical Advisory Service,聽UT聽Institute for Public Service聽
Embrace Differences:
础濒颈肠颈补听惭补测补-顿辞苍补濒诲蝉辞苍听听
Professor and Director聽of聽the Bachelor of Science in Social Work聽Program, Department of Behavioral聽Sciences, UT Martin
Chris Stokes聽聽
Assistant Director聽of the Center for Student Leadership, Engagement and Community, UT Chattanooga聽
Optimistic and Visionary:
贰谤办补苍听碍补辫濒补苍辞驳濒耻听听
Professor and Department Head,聽Engineering聽Management and Technology, UT Chattanooga
Edwin Jeffres聽聽
Assistant Vice Chancellor, Facilities Administration, UT Health Sciences聽聽
Nimble and Innovative:
罢颈苍补听顿耻诲苍别测听听
Associate Professor and Designated Institutional Official, Graduate Medical Education, UT Health Sciences聽
Ashley Bynum聽
Senior Associate Director聽for Internal Operations, Department of Athletics, UT Martin
Excel In All We Do:
Toni Wang聽聽
Institute Professor, Food Science, UT聽Knoxville/UT Institute of Agriculture
Kelly Mihalik聽聽
Special Projects Investigator聽and Public Safety Manager, Audit and Compliance,聽聽
51黑料
United and Connected:
Adnan Rasool聽聽
Associate Professor聽and聽Director for the Center for Teaching and Learning, Political Science and Global Studies, UT Martin
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Director of Publications,聽Division of Communications and Marketing,聽聽
51黑料聽聽
Transparent and Trusted:
John Haas聽聽
Associate Professor,聽School of Communications Studies, UT Knoxville
Annie Fishel聽聽
Executive Director of Policy and Advocacy, Government Relations, Advocacy and Economic Development, 51黑料
Additional聽information about each President’s Award recipient聽can be found聽
