David Golden Recognized For Outstanding Leadership
A professor in the Herbert College of Agriculture has been recognized by the University of Tennessee Provost and the Director of Athletics as among the six campus academic leaders to receive the Athletics Professor of Excellence Award for 2025-2026. David Golden, who holds tenure in the Department of Food Science, has been recognized for his professional excellence and outstanding university citizenship at the departmental, college, and university levels.
This is the second year for the award and the second time a member of the faculty of the UT Institute of Agriculture has been recognized. Last year Karen DeLong, professor in the Department of Agricultural and Resource Economics, received the award in its inaugural year.
Golden has been with UT for more than 31 years, serving at the department and college level as well as with UT Knoxville and System administration. Among his many roles, he has served as president of the UT Knoxville Faculty Senate (2012-1013), the faculty member of the UT System Board of Trustees (2014-2016), and as Executive Assistant to UT System President Joe DiPietro. He was also a Faculty Fellow for the Haslam Scholars Program.
His first appointment at UTIA reflected a research emphasis, but in recent years that expectation has flipped. Golden focuses the majority of his time on teaching, particularly in sparking the curiosity of undergraduate students. “Teaching is much more to me than simply sharing knowledge. It’s about promoting a desire to be a life-long learner,” he says. “I want my students to be students well beyond my classroom, well after they’ve left the university, and to realize that learning never stops.”
Golden has also co-led two study abroad programs for Haslam Scholars. The first was to China in 2011, and the second was to Japan in 2013, and he has developed a new study abroad program in partnership with Perrotis College/The American Farm School in Thessaloniki, Greece. This program will explore Greece’s rich food culture, agricultural practices, and sustainability efforts. Students will engage in hands-on experiences such as cooking lessons, food tastings, and visits to agricultural cooperatives, wineries, and dairies. Additionally, students will learn about Greece’s historical and cultural landmarks, from ancient ruins to modern sustainability initiatives. The program is open to all UT Knoxville students, with preference given to students in the Herbert College of Agriculture.
As an Athletics Professor of Excellence, Golden and the other awardees each receive a $15,000 honorarium funded by UT Athletics. Six recipients will be selected annually by a committee of faculty and administrators. Honorees hold the title for one academic year.
The other award winners for 2025-2026 are:
- Elizabeth Cooper, teaching professor, College of Arts and Sciences
- Lisa Davenport, clinical associate professor, College of Nursing
- Elizabeth Derryberry, professor, College of Arts and Sciences
- Nick Geidner, professor, College of Communication and Information
- Amber Roessner, professor, College of Communication and Information
Athletics and academics are both vital parts of a robust campus community. The Athletics Professor of Excellence awards provide further evidence that UT is the “Everything School,” pursuing excellence in every sport and in every academic discipline. These faculty members represent the spirit of collaboration, service, and drive shared across our campus.
The University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture is comprised of the Herbert College of Agriculture, UT College of Veterinary Medicine, UT AgResearch and UT Extension. Through its land-grant mission of teaching, research and outreach, the Institute touches lives and provides Real. Life. Solutions. to Tennesseans and beyond. utia.tennessee.edu.