Established in 1966, the UTAA awards program honors outstanding faculty across the University of Tennessee System. ������� began participating in the program in 2023.

Faculty are nominated by students, with final selection determined by campus leadership. In nominations, students consistently highlighted Young’s dedication, accessibility and impact on their academic and professional development.

Students described Young as “kind, patient, respectful, resourceful” and credited her with providing consistent support throughout their academic careers. Several noted her guidance during Praxis exam preparation and clinical experiences, emphasizing her role in helping them build confidence as future educators.

Young reflected on the recognition and the impact of her work with students.

“I am deeply humbled and honored to receive the ������� Teacher of the Year award,” Young said. “I am grateful to be part of such an incredible community of educators. Most importantly, I am thankful for my students as they are my ‘why.’ They inspire and challenge me every day to grow and do this work with purpose.”

“What truly sets her apart is her accessibility and compassion,” one student wrote. “She is consistently willing to go above and beyond to support her students, ensuring that no one feels overlooked or unsupported.”

Young is a dedicated educator, having spent 29 years in K-12 education before joining ������� full-time in March 2023 as the Grow Your Own Coordinator. During her tenure in K-12, Young taught kindergarten, served in leadership roles in Giles and Fayetteville City Schools and led partnerships with local industry. Young has served as an adjunct faculty member in the Grissom School of Education since 2017.

Young will be recognized at the UTAA Board of Governors meeting in June in Knoxville. As part of the award, she will receive a $1,000 stipend, along with travel and event accommodations. The recognition reflects �������’s continued emphasis on high-quality instruction and student-centered learning.

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Kenneth W. Vickers, Ph.D., professor of history and chair of the School of Social Sciences, opened the ceremony with welcome remarks, followed by greetings from Provost and Executive Vice Chancellor Prentice Chandler. Faculty members from across the school presented awards to students who demonstrated exceptional performance in their respective disciplines:

The William E. Rutherford History Award was presented to Emma Grace Eubank by W. Cochran Pruett, instructor of history.

Richard Schoeberl, Ph.D., program chair and director of graduate studies for criminology and homeland security, presented the Stanley E. Newton Award for Academic Excellence to Kacey Lee Torrence. He also presented the Shelton-Roberts Award for Moral Courage in Criminal Justice to Avery Faith Keenon.

The Dr. James Cooper Award for the Advancement of Social Work was presented to Elijah Reese Mashburn by Alicia Webb, Ph.D., associate professor of behavioral science. Webb also presented the Behavioral Sciences Award in Human Services to Holli Brooke Loveless and the Behavioral Sciences Award in Psychology to Emily Grace Hovis.

The ceremony also included an Alpha Chi presentation led by Jennifer Aust, Ph.D., recognizing academic excellence among top students. The annual event is held each spring to recognize student achievement and celebrate academic excellence. The School of Social Sciences prepares students for careers in fields including criminal justice, social work, behavioral science and related disciplines, with a focus on academic rigor and real-world application.

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The School of Social Sciences hosted its annual Awards Day ceremony April 17 in Gault Auditorium, recognizing students for academic excellence across multiple disciplines.

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PULASKI, Tenn. — The ������� recognized outstanding student achievement on April 6 during its 2026 Awards Day ceremony in the Gault Fine Arts Center Auditorium. Hosted by the D.W. Johnston School of Business, the ceremony brought together students, faculty and staff to celebrate academic excellence, leadership and professional achievement across business disciplines.

Nan Wakefield, chair of the D.W. Johnston School of Business, welcomed attendees and reflected on the impact of student success across the school’s programs. Dr. Prentice Chandler, provost and executive vice chancellor, followed with remarks highlighting the role of academic achievement in preparing students for careers and continued growth.

The ceremony honored students across multiple disciplines, recognizing both academic performance and contributions within their fields of study. In accounting, Stephanie Margaret Hodgson and James Bryce Woodard were each recognized with the D.W. Johnston School of Business Accounting Major Award. Truman Jason Carroll received the Academic Excellence Award for Outstanding Scholarship in Graduate Studies for the MBA program.

“Truman Carroll is exceedingly deserving of the 2026 MBA Academic Excellence Award,” said Dr. Lorie Pettus Jones, associate professor and director of the Master of Business Administration program. “While working full time, he completed his MBA with perfect attendance and a perfect GPA, mentored fellow students and demonstrated a strong commitment to building community within the program.”

Additional honors included the Management Award, presented to Callie G. Garland, and the Sport Management Award, presented to Tyson Lee Ries. The program also featured a presentation from Alpha Chi, the national honor society that recognizes academic excellence across disciplines, led by Dr. Jennifer Aust, program coordinator and associate professor of mathematics.

The ceremony concluded with the induction of new members into Sigma Beta Delta, the international honor society for students in business, management and administration. Membership is reserved for students in the top 20 percent of their class who have completed at least half of their degree program and demonstrated strong academic performance and character. The annual Awards Day serves as an opportunity to recognize student achievement and highlight the impact of academic programs at �������, reinforcing the university’s commitment to preparing graduates for success in their careers and communities.

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������� employees (faculty, staff and instructors) are invited to nominate eligible colleagues. Employees, please check your inbox for more details including the nomination form links. All questions should be directed to utsawards@utsouthern.edu.

Nominations are open now and will close on March 30. 

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