Congratulations to TPTE’s faculty, staff members and students who received honors and awards this Spring! Read more below about their outstanding recognitions!

TPTE Art Education Post-Doctoral Research Associate, Amanda Galbraith, received the 2026 Chancellor’s Honor University Engagement Award! Amanda’s university engagement comes through her research with the Arts-Based Data Visualization Project, a project funded by the United States Department of Education (USDOE), which explores how educators and students make sense of data through arts-based approaches in math, science, STEAM and arts classes. She has over twenty years of experience as a district lead teacher, K-5 art educator and graduate instructor. She is also TPTE’s artist-in-residence and you can find her fantastic artistic creations throughout the year in Bailey Education Complex, Room 204. Amanda was nominated by Dr. Ivonne Vidal-Pizzaro (Assistant Dean, Postdoctoral Affairs), Dr. Joy Bertling (Clinical Associate Professor in Art Education, TPTE), Dr. David White (Dean of the Herbert College of Agriculture), and Dr. Marla Bruner (Associate Dean and Director of Graduate Student Services).

TPTE Doctoral Student, Corey A. Hodge upon receiving the 2026 Chancellor’s Honors Extraordinary Community Service Award! Corey is the UTK Materials Science and Engineering Center’s coordinator for education, community, outreach, and recruitment where he conducts STEM and material science outreach to high school students. Of course, many of you also know Corey through his extraordinary West African Drum and percussion work in schools and communities, his work with the Clarence Brown Theatre, and his successful writing career.

TPTE STEM / DTDS Assistant Professor, Shalaunda Reeves, upon receiving the 2026 University Academic Honors Professional Promise in Research and Creative Achievement Award! Professor Reeves’ research focuses on how the design, development, and implementation of learning experiences impact STEM learning across various contexts, including extended reality, classrooms, labs/clinical spaces, and other organizations to support workforce development. Professor Reeves is also a co-founder of EMMY nominated and highly popular PBS web-series Chip Kids!

Taylor Weber, upon receiving the 2026 UTK Academic Honors Extraordinary Graduate Student Teaching Award! Taylor is a third-year PhD student in Elementary Education. Her research focuses on culturally responsive teaching and early literacy, with particular attention to how teacher preparation programs can better equip future educators to meet the diverse needs of students.

TPTE Retired Clinical Associate Professor, Theresa (Terri) Hopkins, was selected as one of the University of Tennessee’s inaugural Educators Hall of Honor recipients! The Educators Hall of Honor represents all those who have passed along knowledge, understanding, creativity, and the joy of learning from one generation to the next. By touching the lives of others, educators make the world a better place for generations to come. Professor Hopkins was honored for her work as a teacher of mathematics in Tennessee public schools, her academic contributions to the University of Tennessee, and her service as teacher and Director for the Tennessee Governor’s Academy for Mathematics and Science.

TPTE Clinical Assistant Professor and Director of University-Assisted Community Schools received the UTAA Public Service Award! The purpose of the award is to recognize individuals for outstanding achievement in public service and through this recognition, to stimulate the growth and development of the University’s public service role.

TPTE Clinical Assistant Professor, Interdisciplinary Early Childhood, received the 2026 UTAA Outstanding Teacher Award! This award recognizes excellence in the classroom, which is part of the Alumni Association’s continuing effort to encourage resourceful and creative instruction and to publicly recognize exceptional teaching, especially the teaching of undergraduates. Alumni Outstanding Teacher awards are given to faculty members, selected by their colleagues and students as the outstanding teachers in an academic year. 

TPTE was well represented this year in the College’s Annual Awards Ceremony. David Bowers, STEM Research Assistant Professor, received the  Dean’s Award for Exceptional Faculty Service Award; Emily Holtz, Elementary Education Assistant Professor, received the- Dr. Andrew (Andy) D. Holt Endowed Professorship; Kristin Rearden, STEM Clinical Professor, received the Frank W. Harvey Professorship; Michael Skyer, Deaf Studies Assistant Professor, received the CEHHS Access & Engagement Award; Julie Owens, Special Education Assistant Professor, received the Dean’s Board of Advisors Faculty Support Award; Wendy Williams, Grants & Contracts Coordinator, received the College Senate Staff Award; and Wade McGarity, Senior Business Manager, received the Dean’s Award for Exceptional Exempt Staff Service. 

TPTE Doctoral Student, Bethany Parker, received a CEHHS Top Department Poster Award for her doctoral research! 

TPTE Doctoral Student, Elizabeth Martinez, received a CEHHS Top Department Abstract Award and a Top Department Oral Presenter Award for her doctoral research! 

TPTE Assistant Professor Kai Zhuang Shum, School Psychology, received an American Psychological Association 2026 Outstanding Early Career Service Award! The Outstanding Early Career Service Award is awarded to professional and academic school psychologists, up to 6 years post-graduation, who have demonstrated exceptional contributions to the field of school psychology through programs of service that merits special recognition.