Each year, the UT Alumni Association (UTAA) recognizes outstanding faculty and staff for their work in three categories.
The UTAA Distinguished Professorship award is intended to attract and retain outstanding professors. Winners receive a $1,000 cash award for three years and the title of distinguished service professor.
The UTAA Outstanding Teacher awards are presented to faculty members selected by their colleagues and students from all UT campuses. Winners receive a one-time gift of $1,000.
The UTAA Public Service awards recognize faculty and staff who make substantial contributions to the welfare and good of the state or national public. Awardees receive a one-time gift of $1,000.
The UTAA annual awards are made possible by the UTAA Fund for the Future donors.
2026 Outstanding Teacher Award Winners
UT Chattanooga
Associate Lecturer, Department of Chemistry and Physics, College of Arts and Sciences
UT Chattanooga
Assistant Professor and Studio Librarian, UTC Library Studio
UT Health Science Center
Assistant Professor, Department of General Dentistry, College of Dentistry
UT Health Science Center
Instructor, Program Director, Department of Diagnostic and Health Sciences, College of Health Professions
UT Knoxville
Assistant Professor, Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, Tickle College of Engineering
UT Knoxville
Clinical Assistant Professor, Department of Theory and Practice in Teacher Education, College of Education, Health, and Human Sciences
UT Knoxville
Teaching Assistant Professor, Department of Philosophy, College of Arts and Sciences
UT Knoxville
Associate Professor, Department of History, College of Arts and Sciences
UT Martin
Assistant Professor, Department of Educational Studies, College of Education, Health, and Behavioral Sciences
UT Martin
Associate Professor, Department of Engineering, College of Engineering and Natural Sciences
UT Southern
Program Coordinator, Grow Your Own, Adjunct Faculty, Department of Education Grissom School of Education
2026 Distinguished Service Professors
UT Health Science Center
Professor, Department of Audiology and Speech Pathology, College of Health Professions
UT Health Science Center
Professor, Director of Medical Genetics, Department of Pediatrics in Chattanooga, College of Medicine in Chattanooga
UT Knoxville
Professor, Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, College of Arts and Sciences
UT Knoxville
Professor, Department of Anthropology, College of Arts and Sciences
UT Martin
Professor, Bachelor of Science in Social Work Program Director, Behavioral Sciences, College of Education, Health, and Behavioral Sciences
UT Martin
Professor of Park Management and Heritage Interpretation, Agriculture, Geoscience, and Natural Resources, College of Agriculture and Applied Sciences
2026 Alumni Public Service Award Winners
UT Chattanooga
Chief Operating Officer, UTC Research Institute
UT Knoxville
Clinical Assistant Professor, Department of Theory and Practice in Teacher Education, College of Education, Health, and Human Sciences