By Mike Farrell, Blair Hoover

(April 14, 2015) — James C. Duff, director of the Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts and a one-time walk-on for the University of Kentucky freshman basketball team, will deliver the annual State of the First Amendment Address Tuesday, April 14, on UK's campus.

Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr. appointed Duff to a second term as director of the courts effective in January. He also served from 2006 to 2011. Between terms he served as president and CEO of the Freedom Forum and CEO of the Newseum in Washington, D.C. The Freedom Forum, a nonpartisan foundation, champions the First Amendment as a cornerstone of

By Whitney Harder

(April 13, 2015) — How can Kentucky tackle its chronic health disparities — cancer, heart and pulmonary disease, stroke and other preventable illnesses — and create long-lasting solutions?

Targeting adults who deal with these diseases most often is necessary, but so too is engaging teenagers, the next generation of Kentuckians, in the conversation.

One outreach program at the University of Kentucky is doing just that by delivering new STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) education experiences to Kentucky middle and high schools, illuminating the science behind diseases. The "Muscle Health Project" integrates new teaching methods, technology in the classroom, and access to researchers and students at UK in hopes of educating students early on to prevent problems

By Gail Hairston

(April 13, 2015) — On April 3, the University of Kentucky College of Arts and Sciences recognized about 1,400 current students who earned a place on the Dean’s List for their academic achievements. The honor is reserved for the highest achieving students in the college who have obtained a 3.6 or higher grade point average the previous semester.

Many family and friends were on hand to celebrate the hard work of these exceptional students.

Mark Lawrence Kornbluh, dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, spoke about the value of a liberal arts education, and was joined by Connor Appleman, a biology senior and A&S Ambassador co-coordinator. Appleman spoke about his experiences in the

The College of Arts & Sciences is proud to announce the recipients of this year’s College teaching awards, They are Renee Fatemi, physics and astronomy (Outstanding Teaching Award), Moisés Castillo, Hispanic Studies (Outstanding Teaching Award), Charley Carlson, psychology (Outstanding Teaching Award), Anna Voskresensky,

By Kathy Johnson

(April 10, 2015) — WUKY's "UK Perspectives" focuses on the people and programs of the University of Kentucky and is hosted by WUKY General Manager Tom Godell.  On today's program, UK sustainability coordinator Shane Tedder talks about Earth Days in the Bluegrass, a compilation of events during April celebrating sustainability and responsible global citizenship. 

To listen to the podcast interview from which "UK Perspectives" is produced, visit http://wuky.org/post/earth-days-bluegrass-0.

"UK Perspectives" airs at 8:45 a.m. and 5:45 p.m. each Friday on WUKY 91.3, UK's NPR station

By Gail Hairston

University colleges typically only celebrate the writing of their students.

The University of Kentucky College of Arts and Sciences Department of Writing, Rhetoric and Digital Studies (WRD), however, presented its Excellence in Writing Awards to UK undergraduates as well as faculty and community writers.

Two UK faculty members and two writers who are well known to Lexingtonians were honored April 13, in the Colombia Room of the Boone Center (view the full program).   

Typically, faculty are honored only in their disciplines for achievements and contributions and not for their writing. WRD is proud to step out of that box to honor Shannon Bell,

By Gail Hairston

(April 10, 2015) — The University of Kentucky College of Arts and Sciences hosts its annual Alumni Speaker Series to coincide with one of the speaker’s induction into the UK Alumni Association’s Hall of Distinguished Alumni, April 17.

The college’s honored guests will be the U.S. ambassador to the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) in France from 1997-2001, Amy L. Bondurant, and her husband David E. Dunn, an international advisor to the sultan of Oman and a partner at Patton Boggs LLP since 1980.

Addressing a range of topics about their careers, Bondurant and Dunn will speak at 10 a.m. Friday, April 17, in the UK Athletics Association Auditorium in the William T. Young Library. A reception will follow in the gallery, next to the auditorium.

The UK

On March 18, 2015 Mrs. Lina Crocker took several CESL students on a trip to Cincinnati. They were joined by faculty member Ms. Roshan Nikou.

The students took a bus to Cincinnati where singing and dancing were encouraged, giving students the opportunity to socialize and become comfortable around their peers.

This all day trip began with a visit to the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center where students viewed various exhibits detailing the history of the Midwest, and America’s various paths towards freedom and equality for all.

The students enjoyed lunch at the Yard House which provided a great social experience and relaxed atmosphere for the students.

After lunch CESL students visited the Krohn Conservatory, a greenhouse which showcases more than 3,500 plant species from all around the globe.

On February 11, 2015, Mrs. Lina Crocker was joined by several students and faculty on a trip to visit Kentucky’s state capital: Frankfort.

Along with CESL faculty Mr. Keith Gilbertson and Mrs. Susan Ma, the students visited the Kentucky State Capitol building, where they viewed the State Senate chambers, and pretended to be senators. They also had the opportunity to see the Supreme Court Room, This trip gave students the opportunity to learn about the different branches of government, and how each branch operates individually and cohesively with each other.

They also enjoyed Arts Day in Kentucky, an event that showcased the work of local artists. The event had more than 300 people in attendance, and provided a great opportunity for the students to meet and learn

Dear GWS students, faculty, and friends,

On Monday May 4, 2015, from 3:00-4:30, GWS will host a tribute to Dr. Jan Oaks, followed by a reception from 4:30-5:00 at the Commonwealth House (part of the Gaines Center) at 226 East Maxwell Street.  We are hoping that you will join us for this celebration and acknowledgement of Jan’s life and her generous contributions to students, colleagues, and the university. We would also like to invite you to participate in this tribute by sharing your memories, stories, or thoughts about Jan. We would like to post them, with your permission, on our GWS website. We plan to finalize our program for the tribute by Monday April 27, so please send us your remembrances to Michelle Del Toro at michelle.deltoro@uky.edu by then, and let us know if you would like to read them at the tribute or have

By Gail Hairston

(April 8, 2015) ‒ Anna Secor, professor of geography, social theory, and gender and women’s studies at the University of Kentucky College of Arts and Sciences, has been named the university’s first Hajja Razia Sharif Sheikh Islamic Studies Professor.

The endowed professorship was created by Dr. Hamid Hussain Sheikh Sr. (a Lexington obstetrics and gynecology specialist) and his wife Amy Lee Sheikh, in memory of his mother Hajja Razia Sharif Sheikh. A native of Lahore, Pakistan, Hajja Sheikh was active in her community and a leader in her faith. Although she did not receive a formal

By Clark Bellar

(April 8, 2015) — Claudia Roden is said to have revolutionized Western attitudes about Middle Eastern and North African cuisines with "A Book of Middle Eastern Food," published in 1968. Since then, she has written many more internationally acclaimed books on Middle Eastern cooking and the stories behind the global dishes.

Roden will speak at the University of Kentucky at 7 p.m. Thursday, April 16, in the William T. Young Library auditorium as part of the College of Arts and Sciences'

By Rebecca Stratton, Yan Wang

(April 2, 2015) — Education Abroad at the University of Kentucky awarded Program Development Grants to four UK faculty members to support their international travels for the purpose of establishing faculty-directed education abroad programs.

“This grant provides program directors with the opportunity to gain on site familiarity with their program details,” said Miko McFarland, assistant director of Education Abroad.

Program Development Grants are reviewed by the Education Abroad Committee (EAC) of the International Advisory Council, who makes the recommendation to the associate provost of

The 75th Putnam competition took place on 6 December 2014. The University of Kentucky had six students take the Putnam exam. The students are Ryan Anglin, Rex Bray, Robert Cass, Matthew Fahrbach, Malvin Seow, and Sami Sultan. Of these, Cass, Fahrbach, and Sultan scored over 20. The team was coached by Professor Avinash Sathaye. The Department congratulates the team for a fine performance. 

By Whitney Harder

(April 1, 2015) — The Southeast Enzyme Conference, also referred to as the SEC, provides a unique opportunity for scientific exchange among faculty, students and researchers working at the forefront of enzymology. This year, the conference is being led by Anne-Frances Miller, professor in the University of Kentucky Department of Chemistry and director of the Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Facility.

A one-day event, the SEC will be held Saturday, April 11, at Georgia

By Gail Hairston, Guy Spriggs

(March 31, 2015) — The University of Kentucky Department of Modern and Classical Languages, Literatures and Cultures (MCLLC) in the College of Arts and Sciences is changing how we think of language studies. Since the college’s recent merger of separate language units into a single entity, the 44-member department has set its sights on becoming a more cohesive intellectual community with a unified teaching and research mission. A brand new core curriculum, for all students regardless of their specific

By Katy Bennett, Micaha Dean

(March 31, 2015) — The Summer/Fall 2015 priority registration period is now open and continues through Tuesday, April 21.

This year, students may not register for classes until they have completed UK’s two most recent initiatives, the CATS. Survey and Haven training. These initiatives were implemented in early 2015 as support for the university’s ongoing campus safety efforts.

"Campus safety is our top priority at UK," said UK President Eli Capilouto. "But safety means many things. In addition to lights, security cameras, safety officers and technology, we need students, faculty and staff who place safety and inclusion first. All of these things speak to the kind of environment we all want as part of the UK community."

Undergraduate students must have their advisor

By Whitney Harder

(March 30, 2015) — A beautiful campus and a litter-free campus go hand-in-hand, and groups at the University of Kentucky will be able to care for their own piece of Wildcat country during the month of April. A new element of the Pick It Up campaign, the Adopt-a-Spot program encourages registered UK student organizations, UK offices and other groups to participate in weekly clean-ups to eliminate litter at UK.

During the month of April, groups that adopt a spot are responsible for making their defined zone litter-free once a week and documenting their efforts

By Jenny Wells

(March 30, 2015) — Pearl James, associate professor in the University of Kentucky Department of English, will deliver the first lecture of this semester's Chellgren Seminar Series. Her talk, "Hollywood's Great War," will take place at 4 p.m. Tuesday, March 31 in the William T. Young Library Auditorium.

"As the recent success of 'American Sniper' reminds us, the war film genre has been a staple in Hollywood for a long time," James said. "This talk will use the current 100-year anniversary of World War I to discuss Hollywood portrayals of World War I. Hollywood brought