UT Institute of Agriculture Presents Top Faculty and Staff Awards for 2021
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 July 30, 2021. The event was conducted in person, a welcome return to normalcy after having an online ceremony because of the pandemic last year. The awards honor the extraordinary performance of UTIA employees during a difficult year of online education and changes to procedures because of the pandemic. Many of the awards are gifts made possible by faculty, alumni and friends of the Institute.
UTIA Senior Vice President Tim Cross hosted the award winners and praised them for their work. “After a challenging and stressful year, it’s a pleasure to recognize excellence as exemplified by these award-winning members of the UTIA faculty and staff,” Cross says. “Their continuing dedication to our land-grant mission of serving Tennessee ensures that we develop and deliver real life solutions to improve health, grow the economy and enhance our environment.”
Justin Rhinehart, professor in the Department of Animal Science and UT Extension beef cattle specialist, is the winner of the Charles and Patricia Goan Excellence in Customer Service Award. The honor is named for former dean emeritus Charles Goan and his wife Pat and recognizes exemplary service to Extension clientele and excellence in the delivery of Extension materials.
“Being recognized with the Charles and Patricia Goan Excellence in Customer Service Award is personally meaningful for several reasons,” Rhinehart says. “One being that I have a great deal of respect for the work Dr. Goan did throughout his career, and his family’s commitment to our service mission. Serving UT Extension agricultural agents and the farmers in their counties is intrinsically rewarding, and I am sincerely grateful for this acknowledgement of it.”
Rhinehart is headquartered at the Middle Tennessee AgResearch and Education Center at Spring Hill and is a leader for heifer development and master beef programs, with a research focus on reproductive herd health. He advises cattle farmers statewide on genetics, herd management and topics such as the length of calving seasons and artificial insemination.
Rhinehart’s promotion from associate professor to the rank of professor was also recognized during the luncheon.
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.