CHATTANOOGA — University of Tennessee System President Randy Boyd announced the 17 winners of the 2025 President’s Awards during the annual UT Board of Trustees meeting in Chattanooga today.
“These awards celebrate the dedication and remarkable work of our faculty and staff throughout the state,” Boyd said. “Their contributions create a better University of Tennessee and also impact the state and far beyond. Each play an important role as we continue building the greatest decade in UT history.”
Faculty and staff members from across the UT System received the awards in recognition of their accomplishments and dedication to the University and its Be One UT values. Award recipients were nominated by campus and institute leaders then selected from a systemwide pool. They will be honored by the president and his Be One UT cabinet during a special luncheon in August.
Established in 2016, the President’s Awards annually recognize the achievements of UT System faculty and staff who contribute to the University’s mission to educate, discover and connect. The awards are the highest honor an employee can receive from the University. Each winner receives a commemorative plaque inspired by the University of Tennessee president’s medallion and a monetary award of $3,000.
This year’s recipients, the largest cohort in the program’s history, represent the UT System, UT Knoxville, UT Chattanooga, UT Southern, UT Martin, UT Health Science Center and the UT Institute for Public Service.
Bold and Impactful Honorees
John Sorochan (Faculty Award)
Distinguished Professor of Plant Sciences, UT Knoxville/UTIA
Jennifer Tourville (Staff Award)
Executive Director, SMART Initiative, UT Institute for Public Service
Embrace Diversity Honorees
Stanton Belford (Faculty Award)
Associate Professor and Chair, School of Mathematics and Sciences, UT Southern
Tara Tansil-Gentry (Faculty Award)
Lecturer, Health and Human Performance, UT Martin
Kameron Echols (Staff Award)
Director, Student Life, UT Martin
Optimistic and Visionary Honorees
Rick Dierenfeldt (Faculty Award)
UC Foundation Associate Professor and Interim Co-Head, Criminal Justice, UT Chattanooga
Gina McClure (Staff Award)
Assistant Vice Chancellor of Student and Residential Life, Student Affairs, UT Martin
Nimble and Innovative Honorees
Tami Wyatt (Faculty Award)
Associate Dean of Research, College of Nursing, UT Knoxville
Erica Holmes Trujillo (Staff Award)
Director, College of Arts and Sciences Student Success Center, UT Chattanooga
Judith Nyabando (Staff Award)
Chief Data Officer and Director, Institutional Research, Institutional Effectiveness and Decision Support, UT Health Science Center
Excel in All We Do Honorees
Tracy Brewer (Faculty Award)
Doctor of Nursing Practice Program Chair and Clinical Professor, College of Nursing, UT Knoxville
Judy Sandefer (Staff Award)
Executive Assistant, Office of the Chancellor, UT Martin
United and Connected Honorees
M. Mae Decker (Faculty Award)
Chair, Travis School of Nursing and Health Sciences, UT Southern
Karen Lasater (Faculty Award)
Clinical Professor, College of Nursing, UT Knoxville
Chris Shults (Staff Award)
Grants and Research Director, Municipal Technical Advisory Service, UT Institute for Public Service
Transparent and Trusted Honorees
Dr. Natascha Thompson (Faculty Award)
Associate Dean, Graduate Medical Education and Associate Professor, Internal Medicine, UT Health Science Center
Frank Lancaster (Staff Award)
Associate General Counsel, Office of General Counsel, UT System
