Hongwei Xin Honored for Contributions to Land-grant Research and Mission
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – The University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture dean of AgResearch, Hongwei Xin, has been awarded the Excellence in Leadership Award from agInnovation South, the coalition of directors of state agricultural experiment stations in Southern states. The group is a regional coalition of the national Association for Public and Land-grant Universities (APLU).
At the UT Institute of Agriculture, Xin is responsible for the research programs of approximately 530 agricultural and natural resource faculty and professional scientists that study disciplines spanning seven academic departments and one School of Natural Resources from agricultural and resource economics to plant sciences, animal sciences, and biosystems engineering and soil sciences. Xin also oversees the management of ten research and education centers that conduct field research, demonstrations and education programs in strategic locations across Tennessee.
Scott Senseman, chair of agInnovation South, congratulated Xin on the recognition of his service. “Your outstanding service and achievements exemplify the leadership goals of agInnovation. Through your leadership, you have personified the highest level of excellence by enhancing the cause and performance of our professional organizations in achieving their missions and the land-grant ideal.”
The award was presented at the Southern Mini Land-Grant Conference held in Fayetteville, Arkansas, on June 10.
Among his many honors and awards, Xin was selected for the Outstanding Achievements in Research Award and the ISU David R. Boylan Eminent Faculty Research Award while on the faculty of Iowa State University. Xin is also a recipient of the several prominent awards from the American Society of Agricultural and Biosystems Engineers (ASABE), including the Cyrus Hall McCormick-Jerome Increase Case Gold Medal, the Henry Giese Structures and Environment Award and the Lalit and Aruna Verma Award for Excellence in Global Engagement.
In 2018, his alma mater, the University of Nebraska, inducted him into the Biological Systems Engineering Hall of Fame.
Keith Carver, senior vice chancellor and senior vice president of the UT Institute of Agriculture, says Xin’s leadership and respect for the land-grant mission make UTIA proud every day.
“This is a humbling honor,” says Xin. “I have been blessed to be surrounded by talented and dedicated colleagues and leaders here at UTIA and beyond! I realize that there are many other deserving colleagues,” he said.
UT AgResearch is the name of the agricultural experiment station in Tennessee, which is a part of the University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture. The federal Hatch Act of 1887 established funding for research to be conducted at the stations, which are overseen by land-grant universities in the 50 states, District of Columbia and U.S. territories. Certain states have more than one land-grant institution as a result of additional legislation in 1890, and some western and plains states have several land grant institutions because of the 1994 federal land-grant legislation for tribal colleges.
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.