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.”
Marcy Souza, professor of veterinary public health and associate dean of Outreach and Global Engagement at the UT College of Veterinary Medicine, is the recipient of the inaugural UT Smith Center for International Sustainable Agriculture UTIA Faculty Lifetime Achievement Award. The award recognizes a faculty member who has made significant and sustained contributions in teaching, research, and/or extension across their UT career in support of the UT’s global vision of a world enriched by the power of ideas, made better through action, and inspired by the Volunteer spirit of service and leadership through commitments to:
- Producing innovative global research and teaching
- Engaging meaningfully with existing partners and developing new long-term partners
- Fostering lifelong engaged learning among UT students, UT alumni, and Tennesseans
In addition to leading the veterinary college’s continuing education program for veterinary professionals, Souza provides global engagement opportunities for college faculty, staff, and students and has done much to promote and encourage global engagement activities within the university. She champions producing innovative global research and teaching and fosters lifelong engaged learning among UT students, alumni, and Tennesseans.
Souza earned her bachelor’s degree at the University of Maryland and then worked in research before attending veterinary school at North Carolina State University. Upon graduation, she worked in a small animal and exotic pet private practice for a year before coming to the University of Tennessee to complete a residency in avian and zoological medicine and her Master of Public Health. Over the course of her career, Souza’s responsibilities have shifted to a public health focus, and she serves on numerous public health-related committees. Her research seeks to answer questions and then apply those answers toward policy action to address One Health-related issues.
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.