Martin, Willis Named Outstanding UTM Employees

UTM OUTSTANDING EMPLOYEES - (L) Ryan Martin and Dale Willis (R), both of Martin, received Spring 2022 Outstanding Employee Awards from the University of Tennessee at Martin. They are pictured with UT Martin Chancellor Dr. Keith Carver.

MARTIN (April 6) – Ryan Martin and Dale Willis, both of Martin, received Spring 2022 Outstanding Employee Awards from the University of Tennessee at Martin on April 6.

Martin is the assistant director for residence life and serves on various university committees to review campus policies and advocate for students and their families on campus. Martin also managed the transitions that the residence halls faced during the COVID-19 pandemic and worked to create clear lines of communication between his staff and students.

“Ryan cares about students, and he cares about UTM as a whole,” coworkers wrote in Martin’s nomination package. “He is an inspiring leader, even in the most turbulent times, always true to point out that a leader is only as strong as their team. Investing time and energy in each one, he helps staff and students flourish as individuals.”

Martin is the second employee to be honored twice. He last received the Outstanding Employee Award in 2011.

Willis is the head technician in the Physical Plant’s HVAC refrigeration shop. He maintains some of the largest commercial refrigeration equipment in the UT System and monitors and resolves issues for faculty and students alike.

“If you ask Dale why he works so hard at his job, he’ll say he ‘just doesn’t want the kids to get hot,’” wrote his coworkers in his nomination package. “Although his work is all behind the scenes, often at night and on weekends, and wee hours of the morning, we can all feel him at work in our comfortable working and living environments here on campus every day.”

UT Martin Outstanding Employee awards are given to one exempt and non-exempt employee each semester. Recipients are nominated by their coworkers and chosen by a selection committee.

For more information, contact Judy Sandefer, executive assistant to the chancellor, at jsandefer@utm.edu or 731-881-7500.