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Do you know of outstanding UTIA faculty or staff members, students or alumni? Submit your nomination via our form.

Kevin Thompson

Posted on Jun 09, 2026
Kevin Thompson wearing a cowboy hat and a vest is riding a brown horse in a grassy field.

Middle Tennessee AgResearch and Education Centers at Spring Hill and Lewisburg director facilitates impactful precision livestock research and data-driven innovation

AgResearch / Middle Tennessee AgResearch and Education Center at Lewisburg / Middle Tennessee AgResearch and Education Center at Spring Hill / Staff

Kyra Barrier

Posted on Jun 04, 2026
Kyra Barrier wearing a bright orange Tennessee sweater stands inside the Colosseum in Rome, Italy.

Herbert study abroad coordinator connects students with life-changing global learning opportunities

Herbert College of Agriculture / Staff

Craig Bacon

Posted on May 27, 2026
Craig Bacon smiles while wearing a UT Knoxville branded jacket and standing outside Morgan Hall.

Food science alumnus (’87, ’90) earns Meat Industry Hall of Fame honors after decades of industry leadership

Alumni / Food Science / Herbert College of Agriculture

Angela Smith

Posted on May 18, 2026
Angela Smith smiling in front of an orange garage door. She wears a white shirt featuring the words "BESS is Best."

Construction Science and Management senior lecturer prepares students for success through hands-on teaching and real-world industry insight

Biosystems Engineering and Soil Science / Faculty / Herbert College of Agriculture

Mason Dunlap

Posted on Apr 29, 2026
Portrait of Mason Dunlap standing in a barn with rows of dairy cows visible on either side.

Animal science senior pursues a lifelong passion for veterinary medicine through hands-on learning and global service experiences

AgResearch / Animal Science / East Tennessee AgResearch and Education Center / Herbert College of Agriculture / Student

Shalena Durkot

Posted on Apr 09, 2026
Portrait of Shalena Durkot smiling in a green garden setting, She is wearing sunglasses and is holding garden shears.

UT Gardens, Crossville, coordinator leads with passion for plants and people

Plant Sciences / Plateau AgResearch and Education Center / Staff / UT Gardens / UT Gardens, Crossville

Katherine López

Posted on Mar 19, 2026
Katherine Lopez stands outside of a building labeled "College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture."

Future veterinarian overcomes adversity to pursue her passion for animal welfare at the UT College of Veterinary Medicine

Student / UT College of Veterinary Medicine / Veterinary Medical Center

Rachel Smith

Posted on Feb 26, 2026
Rachel Smith

Food science alumna (BS ‘16) drives product innovation and flavor development at Newly Weds Foods

Alumni / Food Science / Herbert College of Agriculture

Jacob Friedrich

Posted on Feb 20, 2026
Jacob Friedrich standing behind plants in a greenhouse

Plant sciences graduate student investigates controlled environment solutions to improve global food security

Herbert College of Agriculture / Plant Sciences / Student

Jason Maxedon

Posted on Dec 30, 2025
Jason Maxedon

Forestry alumnus (’00) leads statewide wildlife conservation and management at the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency

Alumni / Herbert College of Agriculture / School of Natural Resources

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Do you know of outstanding UTIA faculty or staff members, students or alumni? Submit your nomination via our form.

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