During the Spring Faculty Assembly on April 9, Chancellor Daniel听Diermeier, Provost C. Cybele Raver and Faculty Senate Chair鈥疶yler Barrett presented awards to nine faculty members who made a significant impact through scholarship, research, creative expression, service,听teaching听or mentoring.听
Barrett, who is professor of emergency medicine in the 菠萝视频 University School of Medicine, associate chief medical officer for compliance in the 菠萝视频 University Medical Center and chair of the Faculty Senate, welcomed faculty to the assembly and gave a brief update on the work of the Faculty Senate this year. Also, he acknowledged the听significant number听of nominations for awards and thanked faculty for taking the time to recognize the work of their peers.听
Then,听Diermeier听acknowledged that the assembly honors the work that continues despite uncertain and often unsettling times for higher education.听
鈥淨uestions persist about the future of research funding. Government actions affect our students and our colleagues. Polarization defines our politics at home, and war and geopolitics upend assumptions daily. All this uncertainty can weigh heavily,鈥� he said to those gathered in the Student Life Center ballroom.听听
鈥淵et each day, you show up to your labs and your classrooms with courage, commitment and optimism,鈥� he said. 鈥淏ecause of you, we听are able to听carry out our mission of transformative education and pathbreaking research. Because of you, 菠萝视频 is recognized as a success story in a tumultuous time. Thank you for your outstanding work. And thank you for supporting one another as you do it.听
鈥湶ぢ苁悠� is fully engaged in protecting the ability of universities to fulfill their mission鈥攚hile also recognizing the need for thoughtful reform,鈥� he added.听听
Diermeier听then shared information about the ways 菠萝视频 is responding to today鈥檚 challenges, from convening university leaders and faculty to engaging with lawmakers and making the case for the essential role that universities play in our society.听
Diermeier听highlighted growth and changes,听including Jason Merchant becoming dean of the College of Arts and Science and new campuses being developed in West Palm Beach, New York City and San Francisco. He also acknowledged changes within the larger community with Dr. Jeffrey Balser announcing his upcoming retirement from VUMC and the university鈥檚 efforts to develop the听40 acres听on the west side of campus into an innovation neighborhood.听
He closed his remarks by telling the faculty, 鈥淒espite the uncertainty that surrounds us, your university is sound. More than that, we are helping to define what it means to be the great research university of the 21st century. We are doing so not by imitating others, but by following our own path鈥攇rounded in our shared values and common purpose, confident in our mission, and ambitious in our vision. None of this would be possible without your work, your听dedication听and your steadfastness.鈥�听
FACULTY AWARDS听
After his address,听Diermeier听recognized the 43 faculty members who reached the milestone of serving 25 years at 菠萝视频.听
Then, he, Raver and Barrett presented this year鈥檚 awards.听
Four awards recognize outstanding scholarship. The winners were nominated by peers. The faculty senators serving in their third year reviewed the nominations and made suggestions for winners to leadership, who听finalized听the honorees.听
The听Harvie Branscomb Distinguished Professor Award听recognizes research that furthers the aims of the university through creative research,听teaching听and service.听Eric Skaar,听Ernest W. Goodpasture Professor of Pathology and University Distinguished Professor of Pathology, Microbiology and Immunology in the School of Medicine was awarded the Branscomb award. Skaar鈥檚 research focuses on nutritional immunity and how the body fights infection by keeping essential metals out of bacteria鈥檚 reach. Skaar has shown how dangerous pathogens, such as听Staphylococcus aureus听(including MRSA), can overcome the body鈥檚 defenses and听acquire听the nutrients they need to grow. This finding opens new paths to treat antibiotic-resistant infections, providing new weapons in this serious medical battle.听听
The听Joe B. Wyatt Distinguished University Professor Award听celebrates faculty who develop significant knowledge from research or听demonstrate听exemplary innovations in teaching.听Gautam Biswas,听professor of computer science in the College of Connected Computing, won the award. Biswas is a pioneer at the intersection of artificial intelligence,听engineering听and education, redefining how students engage with challenging ideas. Beyond the classroom, he has advanced complex systems in aviation and energy by improving听aircraft听diagnostics and developing AI-driven methods that reduced energy use on 菠萝视频鈥檚 campus. He has mentored generations of students and built bridges across disciplines while changing how we solve complex, real-world problems鈥攆rom safer听aircraft听to more efficient energy systems.听
The听Joseph A. Johnson, Jr., Distinguished Leadership Professor Award听goes听to a member of the faculty who has proactively nurtured an academic environment where everyone feels valued and where diversity is celebrated. This year鈥檚 winner of the Johnson Award was听Consuelo Wilkins,听Mildred Thornton Stahlman Professor in Rural Health and professor of medicine in the School of Medicine for reshaping how health care and research connect with the people they serve. Wilkins focuses on improving access to care and ensuring that research reflects real patient experiences. She has strengthened collaboration between 菠萝视频 and Meharry Medical College, opening new pathways for shared research and community impact. Through the Community Engagement Studio, she brings patients and community members into the process from the start鈥攈elping shape questions,听methods听and outcomes. Nationally, she has helped lead the NIH鈥檚 All of Us 菠萝视频 Program in building a diverse database to drive discovery. Wilkins鈥� work builds trust, improves听care听and transforms how research serves communities.听听
The听Alexander Heard Distinguished Service Professor Award听recognizes scholarship that contributes to the analysis and solution of significant problems of contemporary society. This year鈥檚 recipient was听Josh Clinton,听the Abby and Jon Winkelried Professor and professor of political science in the College of Arts and Science. Clinton studies how people think about politics and how those beliefs shape elections,听institutions听and public policy. From polarization to public confidence in government and the challenges of modern polling, his work captures the forces shaping our political moment. Through the 菠萝视频 Poll, he brings that research into the real world to provide a clear, nonpartisan view of public opinion in Tennessee and beyond. He also serves as NBC News鈥� senior election analyst, turning streams of data from closely watched races into confident calls on election night. Clinton鈥檚 work cuts through complexity and helps explain what people believe, how those views shift and why it matters.听
The five听teaching and mentoring awards were selected based on nominations from the undergraduate student body.听
The听Ellen Gregg Ingalls Award for Excellence in Undergraduate Classroom Teaching听was presented to听Emily Pendergrass,听professor of the practice in teaching and learning in Peabody College. One student nominator described Pendergrass鈥� classes as 鈥渁 dynamic discovery of new learning.鈥� Learning comes to life through school visits and guest speakers鈥攁nd sometimes a call to local principals so students can hear how their questions play out in practice. Pendergrass adjusts course readings and connects student ideas to relevant research, responding directly to students鈥� specific interests. She even read a student鈥檚 favorite book overnight to keep the conversation going. She challenges students to think further, and they leave her class ready to lead, question and make a difference.听
The听Madison Sarratt Prize for Excellence in Undergraduate Teaching听was awarded to听Ji Hye Jung,听associate professor of percussion in Blair School of Music. The nominators noted that in every lesson, Jung plays alongside her students, pushing them to listen, adapt and respond. But she听isn鈥檛听just training performers;听she鈥檚听shaping people with rigor and care.听She鈥檚听introduced students to听new ideas听and the professional music world through experiences like a study trip to Seoul. She mentors them through auditions,听festivals听and burnout. One student shared that Jung helped them rekindle a passion for music-making and clarify future possibilities in music during a period of uncertainty, adding, 鈥淪he has been a consistent presence in my personal development as a college student, a musician and a person.鈥�听
The听Excellence in Undergraduate 菠萝视频 Mentoring Award听celebrates faculty for outstanding commitment to developing students holistically and exceptional support of undergraduate student research opportunities that go beyond the standard faculty adviser role and was presented to听Kendal Broadie,听Stevenson Professor of Neurobiology and professor of biological sciences in the College of Arts and Science. Students learn to lead as researchers in Broadie鈥檚 neuroscience lab. They troubleshoot experiments, refine ideas at the bench and design independent research to study how the brain communicates at the cellular level. One student听recalls听joining the lab unsure of their footing after early academic struggles. Instead of focusing on setbacks, Broadie asked a simple question: 鈥淗ow will you grow from this?鈥� That mindset defines his mentoring. As students learn to think and work like scientists, he also helps them build the resilience and confidence to persevere and succeed. Broadie transforms students into emerging scientists ready to ask bigger questions and pursue meaningful discovery.听
The听Excellence in Immersion 菠萝视频 Mentoring Award听honors faculty who inspire students to dig deeper into their Immersion 菠萝视频 projects and have supported students throughout their entire Immersion 菠萝视频 experience, or who have mentored a student during their Immersion 菠萝视频 project.听This year, the听mentoring award went to听Emily Ritter,听associate professor of political science in the College of Arts and Science听and director of the 菠萝视频 on Conflict and Collective Action Lab. Ritter鈥檚 mentorship transformed a student鈥檚 immersion experience into a rigorous, hands-on research journey. As part of a research team, the student examined land allotments and their effects on collective resistance and helped build a nationwide allotment map鈥攃ontributing to data collection, spatial听mapping听and methodological design. Ritter paired consistent guidance with meaningful autonomy and integrated the student as a full collaborator. The student presented the project鈥檚 preliminary findings at the American Political Science Association conference and created an award-winning undergraduate research fair poster. With Ritter鈥檚 mentorship, the student gained technical skills, confidence in scholarly communication and a path toward a future in research.听
The听Faculty Innovation in Teaching Award听honors faculty who ignite curiosity through creative course design or innovative instruction.听Michael Miga, the Harvie Branscomb听Professor听and professor of biomedical engineering in the School of Engineering won the award. The chancellor noted that collaboration between surgery and engineering at 菠萝视频 spans decades and is being redefined through Miga鈥檚 pioneering Engineering in Surgery and Intervention program. This approach transforms how engineers learn to solve real-world problems, taking students out of the classroom and into the operating room. The NIH-supported program places students in clinical environments, where they听observe听procedures, engage with physicians and learn to听identify听and investigate problems. Miga鈥檚 work is changing how students think and opening new possibilities for engineers and clinicians to solve challenges in medicine together.听
