University of Tennessee
Materials Science & Engineering Department


MSE Awards Banquet
Knoxville, TN, April 15, 2026


The Materials Science & Engineering Department held their annual awards banquet on April 15, 2026. In attendance were undergraduate students, graduate students, post-doctoral researchers, faculty, staff, alumni, members of the deparmental Board of Advisors, and local high school students who had performed research over the past year with MSE mentors, along with family and friends.



Chasity "Cha-Cha" Shelby accepted a staff award on behalf of the departmental office.


Raven Malliett, our new Outreach and Recruitment Coordinator, was also recognized with an outstanding staff award.


Dr. Bernadette Cladek, our new departmental laboratory manager, was recognized for her tremendous impact on the state of the undergraduate laboratories.


Jocelyn Hess was recognized as the Outstanding Senior. Luke Wathen (not pictured) received the Outstanding Junior award.


Callie Jee was recognized as an oustanding Undergraduate Researcher. Megan Gillespie (not pictured) also was recognized for research. Grace Chrisman and Will Locke (both not pictured) received the outstanding Undergraduate Service awards.


Lia Amalia, PhD student, was recognized for outstanding graduate research. She was joined on stage by one of her two co-advisors, Prof. Peter Liaw.


Prof. Liaw accepted the outstanding graduate service award on behalf of his student, Hugh Shortt.


Dylan Windsor, who recently successfully defended his PhD dissertation, was recognized for outstanding graduate teaching. He was joined on stage by his advisor, Prof. Haixuan Xu.


Assistant Professor Dustin Gilmer received the faculty award for outstanding research.


Professor Haixuan Xu received a well-deserved faculty award for outstanding service.


Professor Gerd Duscher received the faculty award for outstanding teaching.


Dr. Marybeth Parker (UTK MSE BS, 2011), currently serving as a member of the MSE Board of Advisors, received the Outstanding Alumna award.

We all had a good time at the banquet. Thanks to everyone who attended and who make the University of Tennessee Materials Science & Engineering Department a special community to call home.

More photos on the Keffer research group site.