The land-grant mission of the University of Tennessee directs us to use our intellectual capital to benefit the citizens of our state. The Academic Outreach Award goes to a faculty member who exemplifies excellence toward this goal.

2009 Academic Outreach Award

Michael Lofaro
Michael Lofaro is a professor of English at the University of Tennessee. He is also a leading scholar
of the works of James Agee and has done much to reconnect the Knoxville community to one of its historical sons.

In 2005, Lofaro chaired the James Agee Celebration Commission. With his leadership, the month long celebration merged cultural offerings with academic workshops and historic tours. It even included a dedication of the nearby James Agee Park. Several of Agee’s family members attended the dedication and later made possible a significant donation his materials to UT’s Special Collections. This donation made UT the largest repository of Agee materials in the nation.

Lofaro is also a Daniel Boone and Davy Crockett scholar and leads colorful presentations and seminars that capture their place in history for K–12 students and teachers. He is currently at work planning a conference on the history of Appalachia as well as a follow-up to the successful Agee celebration.