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.”
Kelly Wyatt, administrative support assistant II with the Decatur County Extension Office, is the recipient of the E.J. Chapman Outstanding Service Award. Established by the late E.J. Chapman, who served the university in a wide range of capacities from agronomist to assistant vice president for agriculture, this award recognizes a member of the supporting staff of the teaching, research or Extension units of UTIA.
“I am deeply honored to be selected as this year’s recipient of the E.J. Chapman Award for Outstanding Service,” Wyatt said. “I enjoy helping others and watching our small community grow and evolve. As I’ve often said, ‘We never know what kind of questions our office will get today!’ It’s the unpredictability and opportunity to make a difference that makes this job so rewarding.”
Wyatt has been a part of the UT System for 13 years. She received her associate degree in business administration and management from Jackson State Community College in 2006, then continued to be a certified administrative professional, issued by the International Association of Administrative Professionals, which she earned in April 2022.
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.