Four faculty and staff members from the University of Tennessee at Martin were named to the 2025 President’s Awards, as announced at the UT System Board of Trustees meeting July 1 at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga.
UT Chattanooga received three of the 17 President’s Awards, while the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, the University of Tennessee Institute for Public Service, University of Tennessee Southern and University of Tennessee Health Science Center each received two.
President’s Awards were presented in seven categories, with a faculty member and a staff member each receiving an award in each category (some categories had more than one faculty member or staff member).
Award winners were announced by UT System President Randy Boyd.
Receiving President’s Awards for UT Martin were:
• Kameron Echols, director of student life, Embrace Diversity Award, staff member.
• Gina McClure, assistant vice chancellor for student and residential life, Optimistic and Visionary Award, staff member.
• Judy Sandefer, executive assistant, Office of the Chancellor, Excel in All We Do Award, staff member.
• Tara Tansil-Gentry, lecturer in health and human performance, Embrace Diversity Award, faculty member.
“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.”
The UT President’s Awards program recognizes outstanding contributions of faculty and staff centered around the UT System’s “Be One UT” values. Honorees are selected each year from a systemwide pool of candidates nominated by campus and institute leaders.
Commemorative and monetary awards are presented during an annual ceremony, and faculty and staff winners help select honorees in future years. The awards ceremony luncheon will be held in August.
Others receiving President’s Awards were:
• Bold and Impactful Award: John Sorochan, UT Institute of Agriculture, faculty member; Jennifer Tourville, UT Institute for Public Service, staff member.
• Embrace Diversity Award: Stanton Belford, UT Southern, faculty member.
• Optimistic and Visionary Award: Rick Dierenfeldt, UT Chattanooga, faculty member.
• Nimble and Innovative Award: Tami Wyatt, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, faculty member; Erica Holmes Trujillo, UT Chattanooga, staff member; Judith Nyabando, UT Health Science Center, staff member.
• Excel in All We Do Award: Tracy Brewer, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, faculty member.
• United and Connected Award: M. Mae Decker, UT Southern, faculty member; Karen Lasater, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, faculty member; Chris Shults, UT Institute for Public Service, staff member.
• Transparent and Trusted Award: Dr. Natascha Thompson, UT Health Science Center, faculty member; Frank Lancaster, UT System, staff member.
PHOTO: Announced as recipients of President’s Awards at the UT System Board of Trustees meeting July 1 were (l-r) Kameron Echols, Gina McClure, Judy Sandefer and Tara Tansil-Gentry.
