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UTIA Faculty & Staff Global Engagement Awards

The Smith Center for International Sustainable Agriculture works to empower faculty, staff and students across UTIA to be global change agents, who partner with others to develop and deploy sustainable solutions to the world’s complex, agriculture-related challenges. The UTIA Faculty and Staff Global Engagement Awards are one way the Smith Center celebrates the international engagement taking place across the Institute. The Senior Vice Chancellor/Senior Vice President will present the awards at the Institute of Agriculture Promotion and Recognition Luncheon held annually each summer.

We encourage you to nominate a deserving colleague for one of three awards:

The Lifetime Achievement 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 

Eligibility: All tenure-track and non-tenure track faculty with a minimum of ten years of service at the Institute and at least a 75% UTIA appointment are eligible for this award. Adjunct and visiting/exchange faculty and Smith Center employees are ineligible. 

The Faculty Global Excellence Award will be presented annually to a faculty member who makes extraordinary contributions to the advancement of the international mission of the Institute. Preference will be given to faculty whose contributions enhance UTIA’s global reputation and visibility; demonstrate impact, influence or innovation; and develop significant interdisciplinary or multidisciplinary teaching, research and/or extension programs. 

Eligibility: All full-time tenure-track and non-tenure track faculty with at least a 75% UTIA appointment are eligible for this award. Adjunct and visiting/exchange and Smith Center employees are ineligible. 

The Outstanding Staff Global Engagement Award recognize individual staff members for their outstanding engagement in support of globalizing the university’s missions of teaching, research, and/or extension. This award recognizes the contributions of individuals who make international programming more available to faculty, staff, and students and/or who raise the visibility of international programming across the Institute. 

Eligibility: Full time exempt and nonexempt staff are eligible for this award. Staff members of the Smith Center are ineligible for this award. 

Nominations are due by April 18, 2025 (third Friday of April each year), and awards will be presented at the UTIA Awards and Promotions Luncheon. Questions should be directed to Carrera Romanini at carrera@utk.edu or 865-974-7340. 

Nominations can be submitted at the link below:

UTIA Global Awards Form

  • Smith Center for International Sustainable Agriculture
  • 213 Agriculture and Natural Resources Building 2431 Joe Johnson Drive
  • Knoxville, TN 37996
  • P: 865-974-7747
  • utsmithcenter@utk.edu