UT Institute of Agriculture Presents Top Faculty and Staff Awards for 2024
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – The University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture celebrated the accomplishments of some of its top faculty, staff, researchers and Extension experts at UTIA’s annual awards and promotions luncheon. This year’s ceremony was held in the newly-opened Agriculture and Natural Resources Building on the UTIA campus in Knoxville on August 14, 2024. Many of the awards are gifts made possible by faculty, alumni and friends of the Institute.
UT Institute of Agriculture Senior Vice Chancellor and Senior Vice President Keith Carver hosted the award winners and praised them for their work. “I continue to be amazed by the dedication, enthusiasm and expertise demonstrated by the impressive work of our UTIA faculty and staff,” says Carver. “The awards are well deserved, and the impacts of these accomplishments are seen across the state and will benefit Tennesseans for generations.”
Terry Toney, administrative assistant for UT Extension Trousdale County, received the Charles and Patricia Goan Excellence in Customer Service Award. This award, established by Dean Emeritus Charles Goan and his wife, Pat, recognizes UT Extension employees who complete or aid in completing exemplary work to further Extension priorities and provide or aid in providing Extension customers with excellent service, knowledge, and information as requested. The award recognizes excellence and is open to all faculty and staff.
Toney has worked in the UT Extension Trousdale County office in Hartsville for 42 years. A Trousdale County native, Toney grew up on a tobacco and cattle farm and earned her certification to be an administrative assistant after high school. She was hired with Extension in 1982 and became a Certified Administrative Assistant through the International Association of Administrative Professionals. Since then, she has worked with more than 20 different Extension agents and recently helped move the office to a new location. Toney is the friendly face people see when they walk into the office, and she is praised for helping producers, 4-H’ers and their families, and everyone who visits and needs assistance. She’s known for her meticulous recordkeeping and was named the 1993 UT Extension District IV Secretary of the Year.
“I am humbled by this award,” Toney said. “I just try to treat everyone the way I would want to be treated.”
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.