By Sarah Mardon

 Kentucky Geological Survey (KGS) Director William Haneberg and University of Kentucky Assistant Professor Lauren Cagle in the Department of Writing, Rhetoric, and Digital Studies in the College of Arts & Sciences ​have received one of two Building Capacity for Science Communication Partnership grants recently awarded by the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine (NASEM). The title of their project is “Engaging Nontraditional Geoscience Information Stakeholders in Appalachian Kentucky.”

The award, supported by funds from the Rita Allen Foundation and the Kavli Foundation, will support growth of an existing UK partnership to engage traditionally underserved KGS stakeholders who desire reliable and understandable

This year, the College of Arts & Sciences celebrated the 20th anniversary of its Hall of Fame induction ceremony. Over the last 20 years, we have recognized 79 alumni and faculty whose
contributions to the College, University, Commonwealth and beyond are far-reaching. Over the next few weeks, I will be highlighting each of this year’s inductees. Today, I am honored to recognize Steve Sullivan.

Steve graduated from the University of Kentucky with a Bachelor of Science in geology in 1978 and a Master of Science in geology in 1983. His professional career began in 1979 in Lexington and focused on environmental and water resources consulting. Partnering with the transportation engineering, planning and construction management firm Schimpler-Corradino in 1989, he founded a Louisville-based environmental consulting firm which merged into The Corradino

By Madison Brown and Jenny Wells-Hosley

Susan Odom, an associate professor of chemistry in the University of Kentucky College of Arts and Sciences, is the recipient of the Women Chemists Committee's (WCC) "Rising Star" award. Odom is one of only 10 scientists to receive this honor.

Rising Star awards are given to women scientists approaching mid-level careers across all areas, including academic, industrial, government and nonprofit, who demonstrate dedication and promise in their prospective fields.

"I am proud to be a part of a lineage of amazing chemists who I admire, including the chemists who nominated me for this award: Jodie Lutkenhaus at Texas A&M University and Jeffrey Moore at the University of Illinois," Odom said. "Both have served as mentors and provided inspiration

By Whitney Hale, Amy Jones-Timoney, and Kody Kiser

The accolades for the Commonwealth’s food scene have been rolling in the last several years, and few leaders are as responsible for growing the state’s culinary landscape as University of Kentucky alumna Ouita Michel.

At UK's home football game Saturday, the celebrated chef and restaurateur was recognized for her work as one of the original champions of Kentucky’s local food movement.

A James Beard Foundation Award nominee as Outstanding Restaurateur and Best Chef Southeast, Michel has built a regional restaurant empire that now includes such popular establishments as Zim’s Cafe, Honeywood, Holly Hill Inn, 

By Whitney Hale

Angela Jones and her fellow Astronaut Scholars were recognized at ASF's Innovators Gala Aug. 24, in Washington, D.C. Photo by Emily Jourdan, courtesy of ASF.

University of Kentucky Office of Nationally Competitive Awards has announced biology and chemistry senior Angela Jones is one of 2019’s 52 recipients to be awarded a $10,000 scholarship from the Astronaut Scholarship Foundation (ASF). The ASF Scholarship is presented annually to outstanding college students majoring in science, technology, engineering or math (STEM).

A nonprofit organization, ASF was established by the Mercury Astronauts in 1984. Its goal

By Madison Dyment

The true art of writing is the many forms through which it can be expressed. The beauty of one of its most obscure forms, poetry, is not lost on UK College of Arts & Sciences' MFA student, Makalani Bandele, who recently won the Autumn House Press Poetry competition for his latest poetry book. 

Bandele, hailing from Louisville, discovered his love of poetry as an undergraduate student at the University of Notre Dame. After taking an introductory poetry class, he found the style resonated with him over other forms of writing and frequently engaged in the craft. 

“I love to hear people tell stories but my mind just can’t handle the huge banquet that a novel provides,” Bandele said. “With poetry, I’m able to give people a succinct idea while still exploring many different themes in that short piece.” 

Noting his skill, a former

This year, the College of Arts & Sciences celebrated the 20th anniversary of its Hall of Fame induction ceremony. Over the last 20 years, we have recognized 79 alumni and faculty whose contributions to the College, University, Commonwealth and beyond are far-reaching. Over the next few weeks, I will be highlighting each of this year’s inductees. This week, I would like to start by recognizing Anne C. Deaton.

Anne graduated from UK in 1967 with Phi Beta Kappa honors and a teaching certificate. She earned an M.A. in Adult Education at the University of Tennessee and an Ed.D. in Adult Education and Aging at Virginia Tech. Her career focused on the socio-economic, health, and public policy issues related to seniors and led to a faculty appointment at the University of Missouri, service as deputy director of Missouri’s Division of Aging and director of the Missouri Division of

By Jenny Wells-Hosley

Next week, the University of Kentucky Appalachian Center will host UK's annual Water Week, a student-led series of events designed to bring awareness to water-related issues in Eastern Kentucky and beyond. The events will showcase issues relating to ecology, infrastructure and bottled water, and highlight organizations working on water-related issues.

Madison Mooney, a graduate student in the UK College of Social Work and intern for the Appalachian Center (based in UK's College of Arts and Sciences), is helping organize this year's event. She has worked firsthand in her hometown in Martin County, Kentucky, where water quality and

Justin Wedeking's recent U.S. Supreme Court research receives NSF grant to continue study of online Supereme Court news stories

By Madison Dyment

Usually when accepting a professor position, you’re faced with the challenge of balancing research and teaching requirements. For some professors, like political science professor Justin Wedeking, you not only rise to the challenge, but also excel in it. 

Wedeking is a full professor in the Department of Political Science while also serving as the Department’s Associate Chair and its Director of Graduate Studies. Coming to UK in 2007, he has been part of the University for 13 years. 

“I’d been studying law and courts and judicial behavior and UK had such a strong reputation in that area of focus, so this job was a great chance to carry on that torch and legacy by working here,” Wedeking said.