Entomologist Juan Luis Jurat-Fuentes named the 2026 Institute Professor
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – The University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture celebrated the accomplishments of some of its top faculty, staff, researchers and Extension experts at UTIA’s annual awards luncheon. The 2026 ceremony was held on the UTIA campus in Knoxville on August 4. 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 celebration and praised the honorees for their devotion to the land-grant mission. “Our UTIA staff and faculty continue to overwhelm me with their enthusiasm and unparalleled expertise,” he said. “I am always in awe of their dedication to providing Real. Life. Solutions. to the people of Tennessee. These award winners represent the efforts and accomplishments this past year that will most benefit all Tennesseans and society – impacts that will have lasting benefits through teaching, research and Extension for years to come.”
The highest honor awarded annually by UTIA is the Charles E. Wharton Institute Professor Award, and this year the title goes to Juan Luis Jurat-Fuentes, professor in Entomology and Plant Pathology. This award is granted to a faculty member who has served at the rank of professor for a period of at least seven years and is a recognition of consistent outstanding performance over this period. The award recognizes excellence in teaching, research, Extension or clinical practice. Leadership and reputation through service at the national or international levels is also expected.
Jurat-Fuentes leads the Insect Molecular Pathology and Resistance (IMPaR) Laboratory – where his research focuses on insecticidal proteins from bacteria and gene silencing biotechnologies designed to control destructive pests in the USA and globally, such as plant borers and armyworms. He collaborates globally with scientists across academia, industry and government in advancing innovative and environmentally responsible pest management technologies to help protect crops, improve yields and support safer food and fiber production.
The Wharton Institute Professor award adds to a growing list of distinctions recognizing Jurat-Fuentes’ leadership and impact. In 2025, he received the UT AgResearch Dean’s Professor Award, which recognizes highly productive and impactful faculty members who demonstrate well-documented, consistent and outstanding research products and key program impacts. Over the course of his career, Jurat-Fuentes has built an internationally recognized research program through numerous publications, awards and professional achievements. He currently serves as elected president of the Society for Invertebrate Pathology, reflecting his leadership in the global scientific community.
The other 2026 UTIA award winners are:
William T Miles M.D. Memorial Award for Community Service:
Members of the UT Flood Recovery Team
Also awarded: Joe Smith, Large Animal Clinical Sciences
E.J. Chapman Outstanding Service Award: Emily Messer, College of Veterinary Medicine Administration
Faculty Global Excellence Award: Bruno C. Pedreira, Plant Sciences
Outstanding Staff Global Engagement Award: Malerie Fancher, Plant Sciences
The Charles and Patricia Goan Excellence in Customer Service Award: Cindy Lay, Extension Evaluation and Staff Development
The Charles and Julie Wharton Award for Outstanding Extension Achievements:
John Gunter, UT Extension Fentress County
Amanda Mathenia, UT Extension Perry County
Heath Nokes, UT Extension Warren County
Ann and Bill Hicks Outstanding New Extension Worker Award: Allyson Harmon, UT Extension Dickson County
Tennessee Association of Agricultural Agents and Specialists – Hicks Awards of Excellence:
Kaushalya Amarasekare, Tennessee State University associate professor, TSU Cooperative Extension
Jonathan Johns, Extension Agent III, UT Extension Marshall County
James Wayne Key, Jr., Extension Agent III, UT Extension Putnam County
Vernon and Ida Darter Award: Lacy Yeley, UT Extension Carroll County
The Lloyd and Nettie Downen Endowment Fund Leadership Enhancement Award: Terrell Davis, UT-TSU Extension Dyer County
G.L. Carter Jr. Outstanding 4-H Youth Development Agent Award: Becky Willis, UT-TSU Extension Dyer County
Professional/Academic Award for Outstanding Service: Rita Rowe Jackson, Family and Consumer Sciences
William D. Bishop Outstanding Service Award: Tonya G. Bain, Western Region Office
Mildred Pendergrass Outstanding Service Award: Sarah Boggess, Entomology and Plant Pathology
Cavender Outstanding Awards for Best Publications:
Branding Essentials for Value-added Agriculture Enterprises, PB 1930
Megan Bruch Leffew, Center for Profitable Agriculture
Michelle Childs, Retail Hospitality and Tourism Management
Sarah Cornelisse, Pennsylvania State Extension
Heejin (Jeanie) Lim, Retail Hospitality and Tourism Management
Christopher T. Sneed, Family and Consumer Science
Urban Food Production Series (W 1288A, 1288B, 1288C)
Natalie Bumgarner, Plant Sciences
Amy Dunlap, UT Extension
Madison O’Ferrall, UT-TSU Extension
Haley Treadway, UT Extension
B. Ray Thompson, Sr. Outstanding Faculty Performance Award: Daniel Yoder, Biosystems Engineering and Soil Science
Williams – E.R. “Prof” Lidvall Outstanding Teaching Award: Vermont P. Dia, Food Science
J.E. Moss Achievement Awards:
Carrie Stephens, Agricultural Leadership, Education, and Communications
Jacquline Risalvato, Biomedical and Diagnostic Sciences
Jie (Joe) Zhuang, Biosystems Engineering and Soil Science
Karen Franck, Family and Consumer Sciences
T.J. Whatley Distinguished Young Scientist Award: Mi Li, School of Natural Resources
AgResearch Impact Award: T. Edward Yu, Agricultural and Resource Economics
Webster Pendergrass Outstanding Service Award: Phillip Myer, Animal Science
AgResearch Mid-Career Faculty Research Excellence Award: Phillip Myer, Animal Science
AgResearch Dean’s Award for Outstanding Support Staff: David W. McIntosh, Plant Sciences
AgResearch Dean’s Award for Outstanding Professional Staff:
Heba Abdelgaffar, Entomology and Plant Pathology
Sarah Parker Armstrong, Plant Sciences
AgResearch Dean’s Grantsmanship Awards:
Amy Fulcher, Plant Sciences
Hao Gan, Biosystems Engineering and Soil Science
Le Chen, Agricultural and Resource Economics
AgResearch Dean’s Professor Award: Tarek Hewezi, Plant Sciences
Powell Family Endowed Chair in Genomics: Troy Rowan, Animal Science
In addition to the winners of the sponsored awards, 63 faculty members received promotions, earned tenure, or both. They are listed on the UTIA Awards and Promotions website.
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.