By Erin Wickey 

Michelle Martel

UKNow is highlighting the University of Kentucky’s 2024-25 University Research Professors. Established by the Board of Trustees in 1976, the professorship program recognizes excellence across the full spectrum of research at UK and is sponsored by the Office of the Vice President for Research.  

LEXINGTON, Ky. (June 4, 2024) — Michelle Martel, Ph.D., professor and chair of the Department of Psychology in the UK College of Arts and Sciences, has been named a 2024-25 University Research Professor.

Her research examines hormonal effects on such disorders related to impulse control as ADHD and binge drinking in women. Martel’s research

By Jenny Wells-Hosley 

Edward Lo, left, Eleng Kazangiljan, Shelbie Larmour, Ambassador James K. J. Lee, Venus Evans, Emerald Skye Byrd, Stephanie Van Hoose and Anagali Duncan on stage at the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in New York. Photo provided by Van Hoose.

LEXINGTON, Ky. (June 3, 2024) —  Last month, the University of Kentucky had significant involvement in this year’s Seminar on Indigenous Issues, held April 24 in New York City, as part of the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues.

The seminar, organized by Edward Lo, Ph.D. (羅力明), a

By Susan Cantrell and Camille Harmon 

Christopher Huggins, left, and Troy Cooper presented at the 2024 Pedagogicon on their experiences in TEK. Photo provided by Camille Harmon.

LEXINGTON, Ky. (May 31, 2024) — Faculty fellows in the Transdisciplinary Educational approaches to advance Kentucky participated in the 11th annual Pedagogicon, hosted by Eastern Kentucky University and the Kentucky Council on Postsecondary Education Graduate Profile Academy on May 16. 

This year’s theme of Student Engagement & Experiential Learning

 By Lindsey Piercy and Steve Shaffer

LEXINGTON, Ky. (May 30, 2024) — In March, the University of Kentucky Alumni Association honored six recipients of this year’s Great Teacher Awards.

Launched in 1961, they are the

By Jesi Jones-Bowman 

Elizabeth Elliott, left, and Shasanka Lamichhane

LEXINGTON, Ky. (May 24, 2024) — Two University of Kentucky College of Arts and Sciences students will participate in the Beckman Scholars Program, titled Scholars United by Chemistry: Cultivating Excellence through Science Stewardship. 

The Beckman Scholars are:

They will begin their independent, laboratory research this summer.

The Arnold and Mabel Beckman Foundation’s Beckman Scholars Program is a 15-month mentored research experience for exceptional

By Haven L. Patrick 

LEXINGTON, Ky. (May 23, 2024) — Five students from the University of Kentucky have been selected for the Sustainability Summer Research Fellowship program.

As a learning institution, UK engages in sustainable practices by collaborating with faculty, staff and students across all colleges and departments. The Sustainability Research Fellowship is a collaborative program coordinated by the Office of Undergraduate Research and sponsored by the UK Student Sustainability Council (SSC) and

By Jenny Wells-Hosley 

LEXINGTON, Ky. (May 23, 2024) — In March, the University of Kentucky Alumni Association honored six recipients with this year's Great Teacher Awards. 

Launched in 1961, they are the longest-running UK award recognizing accomplished and passionate educators.

To receive the honor, teachers must be nominated by a student. The UK Alumni Association Great Teacher Award Committee, in cooperation with the student organization Omicron Delta Kappa, then

By Haven L. Patrick 

LEXINGTON, Ky. (May 21, 2024) — The University of Kentucky Office of Undergraduate Research has selected 14 students for the 2024 Commonwealth Undergraduate Research Experience Fellowship program.

Sponsored by OUR and the Office of the Vice President for Research, the CURE Fellowship program provides opportunities to develop knowledge and skills through research within eight of UK’s Research Priority Areas: cancer, cardiovascular health, diabetes and obesity, energy, equity, materials

By Avery Schanbacher 

Last fall, students in UK’s Exploratory Studies program participated in a new course, A&S 141, designed to connect them with a variety of academic fields and on-campus resources while developing study skills to aid them as they navigate their first semester of college. Throughout the class, students heard professors from across campus speak about their fields, research, and career paths.  

The course, taught by Christia Brown, associate dean for inclusive excellence and psychology professor in the College of Arts and Sciences, and two teaching assistants, was divided into two sections: a class and a recitation. Brown cites the small group recitation meeting as a valuable time for students to develop relationships and practice good study habits. As a final assignment, students were asked to choose

 By Lindsey Piercy and Steve Shaffer 

LEXINGTON, Ky. (May 16, 2024) — In March, the University of Kentucky Alumni Association honored six recipients of this year’s Great Teacher Awards.

By Lindsey Piercy 

LEXINGTON, Ky. (May 15, 2024) — The University of Kentucky Office of Nationally Competitive Awards has announced a total of eight students and recent graduates have been selected as award winners of the National Science Foundation’s  Graduate Research Fellowship Program. The fellowship supports outstanding graduate research across the country. 

As part of the five-year program, NSF Fellows receive a three-year annual stipend of $37,000, along with a $16,000 cost of education allowance for tuition and fees, for a research-

By Richard LeComte 

The China delegation.

LEXINGTON, Ky. -- Several University of Kentucky students recently participated in and received awards at the Southern Regional Model United Nations in Charlotte, N.C. UK’s Model United Nations Club represented China, Austria and Burkino Faso at the event.  

The China delegation won best overall delegation for the conference, said Alex Rahbany, the club’s president. Also, Tyler Rossi, a political science major from Lexington, won best delegate. Jaclyn Johnson, lecturer in the Department of Political Science in the College of Arts and Sciences, is the club’s faculty sponsor.  

Rossi said four out of the five resolutions he sponsored passed, including one he spearheaded on the trade of illicit artifacts.  

"There's a general consensus among the body

By Jennifer T. Allen

When Carrie Gilmour graduated high school in 1991, she thought her path was clear: attend Lexington Community College and transfer to the University of Kentucky to earn her degree. But in the spring of 1996, her mother was diagnosed with breast cancer, and Gilmour had to withdraw from UK during her junior year to get a job and help at home.  

“My mom had to have back surgery as well and she was really down and out, so I had to leave UK,” Gilmour said. “I’m happy to say my mom is a breast cancer survivor, but after going home, I continued to work, got married, and raised a family. I just never made it back to school.” 

She eventually did make it back to school and enrolled for the spring 2023 semester through Project Graduate, a statewide initiative to assist adult learners who have accumulated

By Richard LeComte

LEXINGTON, KY – Two professors in the College of Arts and Sciences will represent the University of Kentucky at the Summer Institute on Modern Southeast Asia at the East-West Center in Hawaii from July 29 to Aug. 9.  

Liang Luo, professor of Chinese studies in the Department of Modern and Classical Languages, Literatures and Cultures, and Charlie Yi Zhang, associate professor in the Department of Gender and Women’s Studies, will participate in the institute at the University of Hawaii.  

“Dr. Sue Roberts, associate provost for internationalization, offered immense support crucial securing our spots in the institute,” Lou said. “Dr. Yujia He, assistant professor at the Patterson School of Diplomacy and International Commerce, also played a crucial role in developing the proposal as a member of the applicant team. Additionally

By Dave Melanson

CLIMBS: Climate Resilience through Multidisciplinary Big Data Learning, Prediction and Building Response Systems

LEXINGTON, Ky. (May 9, 2024) — Two University of Kentucky College of Arts and Sciences professors are co-leading a climate research project in the state. 

A five-year Research Infrastructure Improvement (RII Track-1) award from the National Science Foundation’s Established Program to Stimulate Competitive Research has established the “Climate Resilience through Multidisciplinary Big Data Learning, Prediction & Building Response Systems.” The foundation is investing $20 million in advancing Kentucky’s climate resiliency, using a collaborative, statewide approach.

The leadership team includes Mike McGlue and Edward W. Woolery in the College'

By A Fish 

Beth Guiton

LEXINGTON, K.Y. --   Beth Guiton, professor of chemistry, Frank J. Derbyshire Professor of Materials Science and director of undergraduate studies in the University of Kentucky’s Department of Chemistry in the College of Arts and Sciences, has been appointed to join the federal Fusion Energy Sciences Advisory Committee.

The 25-member committee advises the director of the Department of Energy’s Office of Science on complex scientific and technological issues that arise in the federal Fusion Energy Sciences program. 

"Studying nuclear fusion reactor materials is a recent, new direction for my research group,” Guiton said. “It is

By C.E. Huffman 

Jovita Daraezinwa pictured with Morris Grubbs, assistant dean of the UK Graduate School.

LEXINGTON, Ky. (May 3, 2024) — University of Kentuck graduate student Jovita Daraezinwa traveled to Greenville,  S.C., to represent UK at the regional 3-Minute Thesis competition at the Conference of Southern Graduate Schools.

“Intrigued by the opportunity to showcase my research in a new format and build upon my existing public speaking skills, I eagerly embraced the challenge,” said Daraezinwa, who is a doctoral student in the UK Department of Chemistry.

The competition designed for graduate students to condense their research into a concise and engaging

By Daniel Flener 

UK student mentors from a Step-Up reception and awards ceremony on April 26.

LEXINGTON, Ky. (May 8, 2024) — Started in Fall 2023 by Francis Musoni, Ph.D., associate professor of history and director of the International Studies program in the University of Kentucky College of Arts and Sciences, Step-Up is an innovative service-learning program designed to support high school students from immigrant and refugee families to successfully integrate into the U.S.

Supported by UK’s College of Arts and Sciences and College of Education, the program connects UK student mentors to young people across Lexington. These student mentors support Fayette County public high school students with their current coursework

By Camille Harmon 

LEXINGTON, Ky. (May 8, 2024) — The University of Kentucky Office of Transdisciplinary Educational approaches to advance Kentucky has announced the TEK Faculty Fellows for the 2024-25 academic year.

“TEK Faculty Fellows have engaged as transdisciplinary collaborators in the project of designing and implementing innovative curricula and learning experiences that lead students to practice skills that are critical for the workforce and the future of Kentucky,” said Trey Conatser, director of the Center for the Enhancement of Learning and Teaching.

Courses created as part of the TEK Faculty Fellows program involve faculty in team

By Jordan Strickler

Peyton Zelenak

Lexington, Ky. — Since beginning at the University of Kentucky's Martin-Gatton College of Agriculture, Food, and Environment this past year, Peyton Zelenak has worked to integrate sustainability practices into the U.S. military, focusing on reducing pollution. 

Zelenak’s natural resources and environmental science major goes beyond the classroom; it forms the foundation for her future leadership in promoting environmental conservation within the military. She is not just another student navigating the Martin-Gatton CAFE classrooms. She’s also a cadet in the UK Army ROTC.

Her military dreams resonate from her mother, an airborne and air assault soldier, who planted the seeds in her daughter from