Huskey Honored for Extraordinary Service to UT
Befitting the immense value that she brings to the University of Tennessee and the Tickle College of Engineering, Jada Huskey received the Extraordinary Service to the University award at the Chancellor’s Honors Banquet on April 29.
The award is given to an outstanding individual who goes above and beyond the call of duty to make lasting contributions to the university. Huskey, the director of the Engineering Research Office (ERO) in TCE, joined UT in 1995 and has spent nearly her entire professional career as a Volunteer.
“It is truly an honor to be recognized,” Huskey said. “I’ve been plugging away doing what I do for 30 years with no expectation of being recognized. But it means so much to be nominated by colleagues for an award like this. That’s pretty amazing in and of itself.”
Two others from TCE were honored at the banquet as well. Catherine Schuman, an assistant professor in the Min H. Kao Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, received the Angie Warren Perkins Award. Named for the first dean of women at UT, the award honors outstanding leadership in campus governance or administration at the level of department head, director, or below. Ryan Hulsey, a senior in the Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering, received the Extraordinary Community Service award.
Huskey, a Knoxville native, served as the research administrator in the UT Office of Research and the College of Veterinary Medicine before becoming one of the first two employees to initiate the ERO. The office was the first of its kind at the college level at UT with the express purpose of providing research proposal support to faculty members submitting to external funding sources.
Through Huskey’s strong leadership, the ERO has grown from two staff members to seven research coordinators, including an associate director, and greatly enhanced the success rates for faculty receiving external funding.
Huskey fosters a collaborative work environment within ERO that inspires colleagues to produce their best work. She encourages professional development and wants staff members to feel valued as more than just employees. Huskey is always willing to help other research offices across campus and has become a go-to resource for any changes in federal requirements and compliance expectations.
“Having the good fortune to work beside Jada for many years while coming to recognize her commitment to service for others and to the professional development of her colleagues, the Outstanding Service Award is a great recognition by university,” said Huskey’s supervisor Bill Dunne, the associate dean for research and facilities. “Jada is one of the very best employees at the university with an incredible halo of positive benefit to others.”
Contact
Rhiannon Potkey (865-974-0683, [email protected])