UT Institute of Agriculture Presents Top Faculty and Staff Awards for 2025
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – The accomplishments of the faculty and staff of the University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture were celebrated at an annual awards luncheon held on the UT Knoxville campus in the new Agriculture and Natural Resources Building on July 30. Many of the awards are gifts made possible by faculty, alumni and friends of the institute.
UTIA Senior Vice Chancellor and Senior Vice President Keith Carver hosted the luncheon and praised the honorees for their work. “The enthusiasm and expertise demonstrated by our UTIA faculty and staff is unparalleled,” he said. “I am always in awe of their dedication to providing real life solutions to the people of Tennessee. These well-deserved awards represent impacts and accomplishments that benefit Tennesseans and society now and for years to come.”
Charley Martinez, assistant professor in the Department of Agricultural and Resource Economics, received the Ann and Bill Hicks Outstanding New Extension Worker Award. Established by UT Extension Dean Emeritus Bill Hicks and his wife, Ann, the award recognizes an outstanding employee with at least three years but not more than five years of service with UT Extension. The award recipient is selected by a committee that includes past winners of the Outstanding New Extension Worker Award and is presented each year to an Extension agent, area specialist, or specialist.
Martinez has worked with UTIA for five years and specializes in farm and financial management, livestock and meat economics, and policy. He enjoys the many opportunities to help producers and students grow. In 2022 he was appointed the first director of the UT Center of Farm Management, along with co-directors Chris Boyer, head and professor of the Department of Agricultural and Resource Economics, and professor Aaron Smith, who was recently asked to serve as the interim assistant dean and state Agriculture and Natural Resources and Community Economic Development program leader for UT Extension.
Of his recognition, Martinez says, “I’m thankful and I appreciate this recognition, but this is only possible because of all the great people we have here at UTIA.” He also thanked his wife, Vanessa, their wonderful kids, Henry and Remington, and the rest of his family and friends for their support.
In 2023 Martinez received another high honor from UTIA. He was named the Extension winner of UTIA’s J.E. Moss Achievement Award.
Martinez earned a doctorate in Agricultural Economics from Texas A&M University, and his bachelors in Agribusiness-Ranch Management from Texas A&M University-Kingsville.
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.