UT Institute of Agriculture Presents Top Faculty and Staff Awards for 2023
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – The University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture recognized some of its top faculty, staff, researchers and Extension experts at UTIA’s annual awards and promotions luncheon on the UTIA campus in Knoxville on August 15, 2023. 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 celebrated their work. “I’m excited to celebrate the amazing work of our UTIA faculty and staff,” says Carver. “These awards are well-deserved and represent our employees’ steadfast dedication to their work, the Institute and the people of Tennessee. The impact of their accomplishments and passion will be felt for generations to come.”
Darcy Smith, project manager in AgResearch, is one recipient of the J.E. Moss Achievement Award. Established in memory of J.E. and Ann Moss, this award recognizes excellent achievement in teaching, research, and Extension for the Institute of Agriculture. Awards are provided each year for each of the four units of the Institute of Agriculture. They are selected by a committee including the senior vice president and senior vice chancellor and the four deans of the Institute. Charley Martinez from the Department of Agricultural and Resource Economics, Brian Whitlock from the Department of Large Animal Clinical Sciences, and Emma Willcox from the School of Natural Resources also received the award.
“I am humbled and thankful to receive the J.E. Moss Achievement Award,” says Smith. “I greatly enjoy working with talented and committed agricultural colleagues across the state and am blessed to learn from them and grow with them. I deeply appreciate the research and outreach performed at UTIA and look forward to future collaborative work as we expand our research facilities and capabilities, which helps farmers provide food and fiber for our growing population. There is nowhere else I would rather work than UTIA, so I am especially thankful for the honor of receiving the J.E. Moss Achievement Award for AgResearch.”
Smith has worked with UTIA for three and a half years. During that time, she has enjoyed traveling across the state to work with the AgResearch and Education Center Directors to help with improvements to their facilities. She helped facilitate a $50 million American Rescue Plan grant for AgResearch facilities and equipment.
Smith earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration and management from Bryan College.
Through its land-grant mission of research, teaching and extension, the University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture touches lives and provides Real. Life. Solutions. utia.tennessee.edu.