Announcing the 2025-26 CFANS Collegiate Award recipients

May 14, 2026
Student Life
Campus Affairs
Healthy Planet
Dean Buhr announcing awards

Each year, the College of Food, Agricultural and Natural Resource Sciences (CFANS) honors the exceptional faculty, staff, and students who drive our mission forward. These awards, presented at the Spring All-College Assembly, recognize outstanding contributions in teaching, research, outreach, and inclusive excellence.

Congratulations to our 2025-2026 recipients—we are #CFANSProud of your dedication to the college and the broader community.

View photos from the 2026 Spring All-College Assembly

Distinguished Teaching Awards

These honors recognize faculty and graduate assistants who demonstrate excellence in instruction and a profound commitment to student professional development.

  • Undergraduate Non-Tenured Faculty: Garrett Steede — Department of Agricultural Education, Communication and Marketing

  • Undergraduate Tenured Faculty: Tom Michaels — Department of Horticultural Sciences

  • Graduate Faculty: Metin Çakır — Department of Applied Economics

  • Graduate Assistant Teaching Award: Jeremiah Shrovnal — Department of Fisheries, Wildlife and Conservation Biology

Staff Excellence Awards

Our staff awards highlight the essential technical and administrative work that keeps our departments and research centers thriving.

  • Civil Service/Bargaining Unit (Administrative): Melissa Ilse — Department of Applied Economics

  • Civil Service/Bargaining Unit (Technical): Thor Sellie — Department of Soil, Water and Climate

  • Professional and Academic (Other Professional): Lucas Stolp — Department of Bioproducts and Biosystems Engineering

Impact and Outreach Awards

These awards celebrate individuals and teams who bridge the gap between academic research and community application.

  • Distinguished Extension and Outreach Award: Gary Sands — Department of Bioproducts and Biosystems Engineering

  • Dean E. M. Freeman Award: Noah Erickson — Agricultural Education

Inclusive Excellence Impact Awards

Recognizing those who lead the way in making CFANS a more diverse, equitable, and inclusive environment through innovative and bold leadership.

  • Staff Recipient: Aimee Gillespie — CFANS Communications

  • Team Recipient: Community Plant Breeding Team — Plant Breeding Center

Our college celebrates achievements across food, agriculture, and natural resources by awarding students, faculty, staff, alumni, and friends with accolades each year. Learn more about submitting nominations for CFANS Honors and Awards.