One way the Smith Center celebrates the international engagement taking place across UTIA is through annual awards recognizing faculty, staff, and students for their involvement in advancing the institute’s global vision. These awards are presented by UTIA leadership at annual recognition events.
The Faculty Global Excellence Award recognizes a UTIA faculty member who has made outstanding contributions to the university’s international mission by expanding UTIA’s global reputation and demonstrating meaningful innovation, influence, or impact through teaching, research, and/or Extension. The Outstanding Staff Global Engagement Award celebrates a UTIA staff member whose exceptional efforts support the globalization of teaching, research, and Extension, by increasing access to international programming for the UT community and beyond.
The Undergraduate Student Global Leader Award and the College of Veterinary Medicine Student Global Leader Award recognize Herbert College of Agriculture undergraduates and veterinary medicine students, respectively, who demonstrate strong leadership in building and sustaining a globally minded community both abroad and on the UTIA Knoxville campus, honoring their contributions to advancing the university’s global vision through their academic studies and engagement.
Cassidy Brunson
“I was fortunate to assist a small animal veterinary practice in the Galapagos Islands and provide veterinary services at the Belize Zoo thanks to the support of the university, and each trip was an invaluable asset to my education. Practicing and witnessing day-to-day life in those locations perfectly exemplified the wide range of benefits veterinary professionals can provide in their communities and revealed how those benefits can cascade into changes that uplift the quality of life for all species, both human and nonhuman.”
College of Veterinary Medicine graduate, 2026 College of Veterinary Medicine Student Global Leader Award
Bruno Pedreira
“Working globally has expanded my perspective, improved how I approach problems, and increased my ability to question and innovate. Being able to use those experiences to help others around the world as well as here in Tennessee is incredibly rewarding.”
UT Extension forage specialist and associate professor in the Department of Plant Sciences, 2026 Faculty Global Excellence Award Winner
Malerie Fancher
“Global engagement is about building connections, sharing knowledge, and learning from people with diverse experiences and perspectives. It is a reminder that the work we do has the potential to extend beyond our immediate communities and contribute to a broader exchange of ideas and solutions. This recognition encourages me to continue seeking opportunities to connect people through education, agriculture, and outreach. It reinforces my belief that meaningful engagement happens when we are willing to listen, learn, and share our experiences with others.”
Research specialist in the UT Beef and Forage Center, 2026 Outstanding Staff Global Engagement Award Winner
Skylnn Pastorello
“I really didn’t understand just how important it was to gain global experience until I went abroad myself. It is important to understand the differences in culture, history, technology (and so much more), that every single country has. Now that I have started to expand my understanding of these differences, I have developed a more open and creative mindset. I now have a better understanding of how different cultures and environments shape the way people approach research, decision-making, and problem-solving around the world.”
Junior wildlife and fisheries science student, 2026 Herbert College of Agriculture Undergraduate Student Global Leader Award
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