February 26, 2026 | Anna Zarra Aldrich, College of Agriculture, Health and Natural Resources

CAHNR’s Sarah Reed Recognized for Excellence in Food and Agricultural Education by APLU, USDA

Reed is a core faculty member in UConn’s animal science and equine programs where she teaches courses in comparative exercise physiology, horse breeding farm management, equine rehabilitation, and scientific writing

Sarah Reed with horses in UConn's animal barns

Associate professor of animal science Sarah Reed. (Jason Sheldon/UConn Photo)

Sarah Reed, associate professor of animal science in the College of Agriculture, Health and Natural Resources (CAHNR), has been honored for excellence in teaching by the Association of Public and Land-grant Universities (APLU) and the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture.

Reed is the northeast regional recipient of the 2026 Excellence in College and University Teaching Award in Food and Agricultural Sciences.

The awards celebrate university faculty’s use of innovative teaching methods and service to students. In recognition of their scholarship, exemplary pedagogy, and dedication to instruction, the annual awards include stipends for awardees to be used for improving teaching at their respective universities.

“Dr. Reed’s commitment to innovative, responsive teaching exemplifies UConn’s land-grant mission,” says Interim Dean Kumar Venkitanarayanan. “I am thrilled that the APLU and USDA have recognized her contribution on the national scale.”

The awards were presented as part of the 2026 APLU Annual Meeting.

Reed joined the UConn faculty in 2011. She is the editor in chief of Animal Frontiers, the official journal of the American Society of Animal Science (ASAS), the European Federation of Animal Science (EAAP), the American Meat Science Association (AMSA), and the World Association for Animal Production (WAAP). She earned her master’s in animal science and PhD in animal molecular and cell biology from the University of Florida.

Reed is a core faculty member in UConn’s animal science and equine programs where she teaches courses in comparative exercise physiology, horse breeding farm management, equine rehabilitation, and scientific writing.

Reed’s research program explores maternal nutrition and fetal programming in sheep and horses, focusing on muscle growth and development.

“I’m truly honored to be this year’s award recipient,” says Reed. “I’m grateful for the mentors who have supported me throughout my career and the students who make this work rewarding and fun.”

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