Nominate a Colleague for the 2026 UT President’s Awards Today!

Please take a moment to nominate a colleague for the 2026 UT President's Awards today - we need your nominations by May 11, 2026. We've made it quick and easy to SUBMITYOUR NOMINATIONS. You may nominate one faculty member and one staff member per category (i.e., a total of 7 staff and 7 faculty, one in each category). To do that, just re-enter the survey. It takes only 1-2 minutes to provide the name of a nominee and a few sentences as to how the nominee stands out in the category for which you are nominating him/her. As was last year, the categories align with our Be One UT values.

Nomination link: https://forms.cloud.microsoft/r/fawu1mz08m

Specific criteria for each category include:

• Bold and Impactful - Award honors an individual that serves the state by tackling grand challenges. Behaviors include thinking big, making a difference and serving with purpose.
• Embrace Differences - Award honors an individual that respects our individual and organizational uniqueness that makes us stronger. Behaviors include listening with empathy, expecting civility and collegiality, and modeling inclusive behaviors.
• Optimistic and Visionary - Award honors an individual that empowers courageous leadership. Behaviors include finding the positive, inspiring others, and leading by example.
• Nimble and Innovative - Award honors an individual that inspires creative and transformational action. Behaviors include trying new things and keeping what works, embracing change and removing barriers.
• Excel in All We Do - Award honors an individual that commits to continuous improvement and outstanding performance. Behaviors include setting high standards, pursuing learning and growth, and recognizing and celebrating quality.
• United and Connected - Award honors an individual that collaborates internally and externally for greater collective impact. Behaviors include being a team player, seeing yourself as part of the larger purpose, and sharing experience and knowledge.
• Transparent and Trusted - Award honors an individual that fosters integrity through openness, accountability, and stewardship. Behaviors include believing in the good intentions of others, being honest, and proactively communicating.

What is being asked of you? We need you to nominate deserving UT Health Science Center faculty and staff for these awards, which are the highest honor a UT employee can receive.

Who is eligible?

• Regular, full-time faculty or staff
• Located at ANY UT Health Sciences location
• Employed for at least 5 full calendar years prior to date of nomination
• Free from any disciplinary actions for the past 5 years
• Overall performance regularly and consistently exceeds expectations

Who is not eligible?

• Self-nominations are not permitted
• Previous President's Award winners are not eligible for nomination for five years
• UT System Administration vice presidents and campus/institute chancellors and vice chancellors are not eligible for nomination

Because of your excellent nominations in 2025, 2024, 2023, 2022, 2021, 2020, 2019, 2018, and 2017, UT Health Science Center faculty/staff have received 20 of the UT President's Awards!

• Nimble and Innovative Award (Staff): Judith Nyabando (2025), Patricia Page (2023)
• Transparent and Trusted (Faculty): Natascha Thompson (2025), Karen Derefinko (2024)
• Bold and Impactful Award (Staff): Ammar Ammar (2024), Melissa Smith (2023)
• Bold and Impactful Award (Faculty): David Shibata (2024), James Bailey (2023)
• Optimistic and Visionary Award: Orpheus Triplett (2022)
• United and Connected Award (Faculty): Bruce Keisling (2024)
• Diversity Award: Michael Alston (2020)
• Discover Award: Colleen Jonsson (2021), Robert Williams (2020), Karen Johnson (2019), Sam Dagogo-Jack (2018), Guy Reed (2017).
• Connect Award: Altha Stewart (2021), Kathy Gibbs (2019), Steve Butler (2017).
• Educate Award:Trevor Sweatman (2018).

Read more about the UT President's Awards here: https://president.tennessee.edu/awards/

We hope you will take a moment to nominate a deserving colleague today!