By Ryan Girves 

LEXINGTON, Ky. (March 27, 2026) — Twelve University of Kentucky students have been selected as the newest Gaines Fellows, representing nine colleges across campus and marking a record number of applications for the highly competitive program.

The Gaines Fellowship in the Humanities is a distinctive two-year program designed to enrich undergraduate education through interdisciplinary coursework, independent research and community engagement. Fellows are selected for their academic achievement, research potential, interest in public issues and commitment to exploring the human condition through the humanities.

This year’s cohort reflects the interdisciplinary nature of the program, bringing together students from the College of Arts and Sciences; College of Fine Arts; Gatton College of Business and Economics; College of Design; Stanley and Karen Pigman College of Engineering; College of Health Sciences; College of Pharmacy; College of Public Health and Lewis Honors College.

Administered by the Gaines Center for the Humanities, the fellowship fosters a community of students from diverse academic and personal backgrounds who share a passion for intellectual curiosity and meaningful engagement with the world around them.

Fellows commit to a two-year experience that includes specialized humanities seminars, co-curricular programming and either a community engagement project or an independent research project. Students receive stipends during both years of the program and may be eligible for additional travel funding to support international learning experiences.

The 2026-27 Gaines Fellows are:

• Liz Udoh — neuroscience and psychology (College of Arts and Sciences), Lewis Honors College.
• Bella Skibba — public health (College of Public Health), Certificate in Undergraduate Research (College of Human Health Sciences), Lewis Honors College.
• Katie Neglia — human health sciences (College of Health Sciences), pharmacology (College of Pharmacy), Lewis Honors College.
• Adarsh Khullar — neuroscience, statistics and data science (College of Arts and Sciences), Lewis Honors College.
• Catalina Hicks — statistics and data science, law and justice (College of Arts and Sciences).
• Samuel Mekoh — political science, public policy, law and justice (College of Arts and Sciences).
• Keira Schinaman — psychology and neuroscience (College of Arts and Sciences).
• Anya Sharma — psychology and neuroscience, minor in biology and cognitive science (College of Arts and Sciences), Lewis Honors College .
• Enzo Fressola — architecture (College of Design), Gatton College of Business and Economics (Certificate in Business), minor in environmental and sustainability studies (College of Arts and Sciences), Lewis Honors College.
• Sam Toney — English (College of Arts and Sciences), digital media and design (College of Fine Arts). 
• Ella Clark — vocal performance and music education (College of Fine Arts).
• Norah Masri — biosystems engineering (College of Engineering), Lewis Honors College.

Founded in 1984 through the generosity of John and Joan Gaines, the Gaines Center for the Humanities serves as a beacon of innovative education at UK. As a laboratory for creativity and interdisciplinary scholarship, the center continues to advance the university’s mission of developing thoughtful, engaged leaders poised to shape the future of Kentucky and beyond.

For more information, call the Gaines Center at 859-257-1537 or email Associate Director Chelsea Brislin, Ph.D., at clbris4@uky.edu.