Philosophy in the News
Nolt Honored at Annual Faculty Awards Banquet
Each year, faculty in the College of Arts and Sciences are recognized for their contributions to the college, the university, and the impact of their teaching and research at the annual faculty awards dinner. One member of the Department of Philosophy received an award at this year’s event, which took place Thursday, December 1, 2016.
The Lorayne W. Lester Award was established by the College’s Board of Visitors, and its faculty, staff, and friends to honor Lorayne Lester, who served as associate dean and then dean of the college from 1991 to 2002. This annual award recognizes a faculty member or an exempt staff member who has demonstrated outstanding service through research, outreach, administration, teaching, or advising services to our College, the local community, the state and beyond. The dean of the college makes the award after consultation with the college staff.
This year’s recipient is John Nolt, professor and co-interim head in the Department of Philosophy. For over 35 years, Professor Nolt has championed environmental ethics at UT, in East Tennessee, and the region. His dedication to helping UT students, faculty, and staff understand the importance of humanity’s respect for and place in the environment demonstrates his outstanding service through research, outreach, and teaching, and this is why tonight we honor him with the Lorayne W. Lester Award. Professor Nolt’s service to the university has ranged from teaching and research to community service. He serves on the Committee on the Campus Environment and in 2006, obtained a U.S. Department of Energy grant to help establish a 25-year energy plan for the university. He was president of the UT Faculty Senate from 2008-09. Nolt has presented his research on environmental ethics at conferences from Georgia to Germany and is the author of over two dozen articles on ethics, several of them focused on climate change and nuclear power. Thank you Professor Nolt for your dedication to helping us understand the importance of a healthy environment, both here on campus and beyond.
Congratulations to Professor Nolt on his achievement.