The University of Wisconsin-Platteville will recognize Justin Daugherty, animal care manager at Pioneer Farm, with the 2024 Academic Staff Award for Excellence.
“Receiving the Academic Staff Award is such an honor,” said Daugherty. “To be nominated by your peers for doing a job you love is amazing.”
The award recognizes staff members who provide essential services to the university while demonstrating excellence of performance, personal interaction, initiative and creativity.
“Justin’s commitment and dedication to the university and Pioneer Farm is evident in many ways,” said Dr. Charles Steiner, director of Pioneer Farm and assistant dean of the College of Business, Industry, Life Science and Agriculture and one of Daugherty’s nominators. “He is dedicated to continuous improvement and has introduced many new ideas and process improvements that have increased efficiency, productivity and educational opportunities at Pioneer Farm.”
Steiner said that Daugherty’s ability to work with industry partners, faculty, staff and students is a real strength. It is working with students, trying to help them think outside the box, that Daugherty said he enjoys most about working at UW-Platteville.
“I hope to continue providing students with the newest technology pertaining to their degree and facilities at UW-Platteville,” said Daugherty, who enjoys going to trade shows, continuing to learn leading-edge technology and collaborating within the industry.
“Justin’s ability as a self-starter and willingness to learn has saved Pioneer Farm thousands of dollars annually,” said Alicia Prill-Adams, assistant director of Pioneer Farm and one of Daugherty’s nominators. “He takes the time to learn new skills and then passes those skills on to others so we can work towards self-sufficiency. He spends countless hours in service to the farm. UW-Platteville is a better place because of him.”
Daugherty will be recognized at the university’s annual faculty and staff convocation.
The Academic Staff Award of Excellence is presented to an instructional or non-instructional academic staff member with a minimum of 12 consecutive months of employment at UW-Platteville who has provided essential services to the university while demonstrating excellence of performance, personal interaction, initiative and creativity.