The Jimmy and Ileen Cheek Graduate Student Medal of Excellence is awarded annually to an outstanding student currently pursuing a PhD who has completed at least four semesters of study.
Brooke Clemmons
Brooke Clemmons is completing a PhD in animal science as a Tennessee Fellow. Her research area involves nutrition, genetics, and the rumen microbiome, with the potential to reduce methane emissions and improve production and sustainability within the beef cattle industry. She has eight peer-reviewed research publications with two more under review, most as first author. A former high school science teacher, Clemmons takes part in elementary and high school science programs, and she works with Tennessee 4-H and other programs to nurture young scientists. She has served as a leader and trainer in the Animal Science Peer Advisor Leadership program and is a past president of the Animal Science Graduate Student Association. She earned two MS degrees during the course of her doctoral studies—one in animal science and one in agricultural leadership, education, and communications.
What does being a Volunteer mean to you?
Being a Volunteer means working hard for my community and standing up for what I believe in. I have been involved in everything from undergraduate education to outreach activities for elementary school youth, and spread my love of animal science to those within and outside the university.