August 1, 2023
Institute of Agriculture, Natural Resources, and the Environment Established
The College of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics recently established a new entity known as the Institute of Agriculture, Natural Resources, and the Environment to house the Department of Agriculture, the Division of Natural Areas (DNA), and the Center for Environmental Education (CEE) Dr. Stephen Richter, professor of biological sciences and director of DNA serves as the director of the institute.
Consistent with Eastern Kentucky University’s long and successful history of managing agricultural and natural resources for the greater benefit of the campus and local community, the Institute will enhance opportunities for collaborative growth and program support in developing interdisciplinary programs and administering EKU’s farms and natural areas for land stewardship and resource management,” explained Dr. Richter.
Dr. Andrea Sexten, associate professor of animal science, serves as the director of the Department of Agriculture, and Dr. Kelly Watson, professor of geosciences and associate director of DNA, serves as the director of CEE. Thus, this new structure provides increased administrative support with shared leadership from complementary perspectives of agriculture, natural resource management, and environmental education.
The Institute will support a broad range of interdisciplinary activities, programs, and opportunities for students, including (1) applied learning through internships in agriculture, natural resource management, and environmental education at EKU farms and natural areas; (2) courses, educational programming, and public engagement at our six field stations totaling over 3,200 acres: Meadowbrook Farm, Lilley Cornett Woods Appalachian Research Station, Maywoods Environmental and Educational Laboratory, Taylor Fork Ecological Area, Cardinal Lane Outdoor Laboratory, and Gladie Cultural and Environmental Learning Center; (4) job-placement opportunities with state, federal, and nongovernmental organizations; and (5) interdisciplinary university certificates that will enrich their degree programs: Environmental Education, Environmental Science, and a new Natural Resource Management certificate currently in development.
According to Dr. Richter, “EKU is one of only a few universities in the country with a coordinated network of field stations. This new institute allows us to leverage these unique assets and our combined interdisciplinary expertise to manage landscapes and natural resources more effectively in ways that balance human needs and the natural environment. Through coursework, fieldwork, and internships, our students will graduate with tools to solve real-world environmental problems and critical thinking skills for ongoing development of best practices in agriculture and natural resource management. The
combined visions and expertise of our three units allow us to cross-train students and ground them in lateral thinking.”
Regarding the creation of the new institute, “The Department of Agriculture at Eastern Kentucky University has a lengthy and distinguished track record of developing career-ready students to address key issues facing agriculture, such as food production and security, efficient resource management, and environmental stewardship. We work closely with producers and industry to continue to confront these issues and meet the growing demand for a skilled workforce. The creation of the Institute will provide additional opportunities for shared resources and expertise which will only benefit our students and the agriculture community as a whole” said Dr. Sexten.
Dr. Watson commented on additional benefits of the new entity, “The Institute will allow us to better train students in environmentally sustainable land management and increase our region's overall social, economic, and environmental capacity. This is critical given eastern Kentucky’s ongoing transition away from a coal-based economy and the growing need for skilled natural resource managers across the state.”
For more information, contact stephen.richter@eku.edu, andrea.sexten@eku.edu, or kelly.watson@eku.edu
PLACES AND PROGRAMS
Benjamin Wicker Research Laboratory
Room 5133 on the fifth floor of the Science Building is a research laboratory assigned to Dr. Benjamin Wicker, assistant professor in the Department of Chemistry. Affectionately known as the “Wicker Lab,” this space is self-contained in one room approximately 400 square feet in size
Even though the space seems small, there is a copious amount of equipment housed there, including a double hood, a single hood, two double-sided lab benches, an ice maker, chemical refrigerator, a solvent purification system, a Millipore water purification system, a high-pressure gas reaction system, and a hydrogenation system. A new Netzsch simultaneous thermal analysis instrument was recently added to the equipment inventory.
The “Wicker Lab” serves as the main research hub of the Wicker Research Group which consists of between one and four undergraduate students in any semester. The students work independently, under the supervision of Dr. Wicker, on projects that relate to his research interests.
Mr. Anthony Dancer, a senior majoring in forensic science with a concentration in chemistry, from Olmstead, Kentucky commented, “the lab has been a great resource, empowering my work and research with its supportive environment, cutting edge technology, and a great community of passionate minds.”
“I have a superstition that chemical reactions respond to the researcher’s state of mind. Not that there is a metaphysical connection, but that grumpy or bored researchers will be more likely to make small missteps that have a large impact on the reactions,” quipped Dr. Wicker. He continued, “the lab’s location next to one of the Science Building’s many student nooks, makes it an ideal space for students to step out and relax while reactions are running. I also keep speakers in the lab to allow students to play music while they are working; a rocking lab is a productive lab!”
Bachelor of Science in Animal and Veterinary Sciences
Animals provide us with food, clothing, recreation, and companionship and have a significant impact on our economy. The Animal and Veterinary Sciences degree program at Eastern Kentucky University (EKU) was created to meet the growing demand for graduates with a comprehensive understanding of animal sciences and practical skill sets in data management, industry-standard techniques, safe animal handling, and livestock husbandry. In 2020 the B.S. degree in Agriculture Pre-veterinary medicine was renamed Animal and Veterinary Sciences to incorporate an additional concentration in animal science. With this addition, the Department of Agriculture now offers three distinct degree pathways in the area of animal sciences: Pre-veterinary medicine and Animal science concentrations within the B.S. in Animal and Veterinary Sciences and the Livestock Management concentration in the B.S. degree in Agriculture.
The Pre-Veterinary Medicine concentration is tailored for students who aspire to attend veterinary school after completing their undergraduate degree. The academic program meets the prerequisite course requirements for Auburn University College of Veterinary Medicine where admission seats are reserved specifically for Kentucky residents. The program can be customized to meet the course prerequisite requirements of any veterinary school domestic or abroad.
The addition of the Animal Science concentration in the B.S. in of Animal and Veterinary Sciences made a pathway for students interested in a science-heavy curriculum, that do not plan to attend veterinary school. The Animal Science concentration is designed to prepare students for a career in the animal industry or to pursue a master’s or Ph D degree. The animal science industry offers a wide range of career opportunities, including animal nutrition/feed industry, pharmaceuticals, food sciences, sales,
research and development, extension, private consulting, genetics, writing for animal-related publications, USDA, FDA, EPA, public health, and more.
The Animal and Veterinary Sciences program is strategically designed to accommodate students who may wish to switch from one concentration to the other. For instance, a student who initially intended to pursue veterinary school may decide to pursue a career in the industry or attend graduate school. In such cases, transitioning into the animal science concentration provides them with a degree that aligns with their interests and goals. Similarly, some students may develop an interest in veterinary school while pursuing the animal science degree path. They can easily move to the preveterinary concentration to ensure they are meeting all the prerequisite courses for their veterinary school application.
The Livestock Management concentration in the Agriculture B.S. degree serves as an option for students interested in production agriculture and plan to enter the workforce post-graduation. This concentration provides the same solid foundation in animal science as the Pre-veterinary and Animal Science concentrations but pairs those courses with a broader agriculture base.
“Due to the restructuring of the program and the exceptional faculty, the Animal and Veterinary Sciences program has experienced over 100% growth in enrollment over the past three years. These strengths include a wide variety of courses, hands-on learning opportunities at the EKU Meadowbrook Farm, and networking opportunities through industry connections, annual student trips, and research,” said Dr. Andrea Sexten, associate professor and director of the Department of Agriculture.
Students who enroll in the Animal and Veterinary Sciences degree gain a solid foundation in large and small animal husbandry practices. The program offers several options in animal science and animal production courses, allowing students to tailor their education to their career-oriented goals or explore new areas of interest. Animal science courses provide students with an in-depth understanding of topics related to animal nutrition, reproduction, genetics, diseases, anatomy and physiology, and behavior and welfare. Animal production courses focus on dairy cattle, beef cattle, swine, small ruminant, equine, poultry, and companion animal management.
Many of the animal science and production courses include a lab component, which takes place in the animal science lab and/or at EKU Meadowbrook Farm. This provides students with valuable hands-on experience and real-world scenarios that cannot be replicated in a textbook. Meadowbrook Farm spans over 1,000 acres and includes a working dairy equipped with a robotic milking system (Stateland Dairy), beef cattle production ranging from cow-calf to finishing, swine production from farrow to finish, a flock of Katahdin ewes that lamb every spring, and poultry production involving incubation of eggs through pullet production. Most of the animal feed is grown on site, allowing students to learn other skill sets such as operating farm equipment through the different crop production phases and planning feed production needs.
Dr. Jessica Kenealy, assistant professor in the Department of Agriculture, commented on student engagement, “Unlike other institutions, EKU students begin working at the farm during their freshman year. Throughout their academic career, students engage in a variety of industry-standard techniques, such as vaccination, blood draws, ear tagging, castration, assisting with live birth and neonate care, tail docking, hoof trimming, data-driven management decisions, and more.”
The faculty in the Animal and Veterinary Sciences program go above and beyond to produce graduates who are career ready. “Our faculty members have diverse backgrounds in production and research and strong ties to the industry. They are passionate about extending these connections to our students, providing them with valuable networking opportunities. Industry representatives frequently visit the program, offering students the chance to learn from and connect with professionals in the field,” Dr. Sexten said. Classes will often take field trips to see working production operations, feed mills, reproduction and genomic facilities, processing plants, etc. Students are also very engaged in the industry through the annual trip opportunities, such as attendance at the International Producers and Processors Expo, North American Intercollegiate Dairy Challenge Competition, American Society of Animal Science Academic Quadrathlon Competition, American Pre-Veterinary Medicine Symposium, and the Block and Bridle National Convention.
The faculty are engaged in a variety of applied and basic research projects that provide the opportunity for undergraduate research and presentation at regional and national scientific conferences. Students are prepared to be adaptable in any situation, think critically under pressure, and how to ask for help when needed. Additionally, students have full access to animal science faculty for advising on coursework, internships, and career choices every semester. They are given every opportunity to enhance their academic experience.
For more information about the animal and veterinary sciences program, contact andrea.sexten@eku.edu or jessica.kenealy@eku.edu
FACULTY/STAFF AND STUDENT SPOTLIGHTS
Dr. Jessica Lair: Department of Physics, Geosciences, and Astronomy
Dr. Jessica Lair, chair and associate professor in the Department of Physics, Geosciences, and Astronomy, was born and raised in the heart of Appalachia in Fayette County, West Virginia. Growing up with parents who were both educators, (her mom was a math and computer science professor at West Virginia University Institute of Technology (WVUIT) and her dad was an administrator in the public school system) she knew that education was essential.
She fell in love with astronomy when she learned about the phases of the moon in third grade and this love only grew. “I was lucky enough to have an amazing
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science teacher in middle school who recognized my interest and ability in science and highly encouraged me to continue my education in science,” she said.
Dr. Lair was able to arrange her high school schedule by doubling up on classes She finished her math courses early and started taking classes at WVUIT. She also found time to join many activities. “Even though I was what some considered ‘nerdy’ because I was strong in math, I also was a majorette for the marching band, played on the tennis team, and had a black belt in karate! I also consider my high school experience to be somewhat lucky because, even though it was a very small school, I had a good core group of friends that were all ‘nerdy’ but still popular and involved at school,” she commented.
After receiving her high school diploma, she decided to continue her education by enrolling in WVUIT where she double majored in engineering physics and mathematics. The summer after her sophomore year, she worked on an EPSCoR-funded research project in the area of solid-state physics. She was involved in both departments by working as a tutor in the math department and a lab instructor in the physics department. She also participated in outreach activities for both departments. She graduated with a B.S. degree in both engineering physics and mathematics.
Dr. Lair continued her education, receiving her M.S. and Ph.D. degrees in physics, at Clemson University in Clemson, South Carolina. Her graduate research was focused on investigating the late-time light curves of Type Ia supernovae. Her research was observational, so she had the unique opportunity to travel to many observatory sites on multiple occasions throughout her graduate school years.
Dr. Lair began her tenure at Eastern Kentucky University (EKU) in the Department of Physics and Astronomy in August 2006. Since joining the faculty, she has continued her research using ground-based observations, as well as adding some space-based observations from the Hubble Space Telescope and the Swift satellite. She has also been active in supervising undergraduate student research, presenting shows in the EKU Hummel Planetarium, teaching for several summer camps at EKU, and acting as a mentor for the College of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics Junior Faculty Mentoring Program.
When asked what she likes most about EKU, she responded, “I like that EKU is undergraduate student focused and that our students become successful. I enjoy mentoring students, particularly women in physics, and watching them grow academically and socially.”
She has seen many changes since she began working at EKU including the opening of the new Science Building, the growth of the campus, new college organizational structures, and the merger of the Department of Physics and Astronomy with the Department of Geosciences.
Dr. Lair spends most of her free time volunteering as a swim official for the Kentucky High School Athletic Association (KHSAA), the Central Kentucky Swim and Dive Conference (CKSDC), and Kentucky Swimming, and is the officials chair for the Lexington Dolphins swim team.
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“When you are a swim mom (my son, Colin, swims for Model, Arlington, and the Lexington Dolphins), you either sit in the stands or you help. I decided to help by becoming an official. It makes the swim meets go faster when I am involved and I have met a lot of great people in the swim official community,” she said.
Dr. Lair LOVES Disney World. “I would visit Disney every year if I could,” she quipped. She also enjoys reading, watching television, and playing with her three dogs, Brody, Ginger, and Winston.
Mr. Kenneth Mills was born in Barbourville, Kentucky. As a child, he always enjoyed being outdoors and being around animals. Even though his family was not wealthy, they found every way they could to let him explore his love for nature and wildlife. Even as he got older, he spent most of his time outdoors.
He attended Girdler Elementary School in Girdler, Kentucky and this is where he first developed his love for learning about wildlife. Attending educational programs presented by the Kentucky Division of Fish and Wildlife (KDFWR) was a major influence. He attended Knox Central High School where he was a member of the school’s Future Farmers of America (FFA) chapter for 4 years, during which time he gained valuable leadership skills.
In middle school, Mr. Mills took a class trip to Eastern Kentucky University. “When we got there, we broke into groups and each group went to talk to different professors from different departments. We got to choose which department we wanted to go to, so I chose to go tour the biology/wildlife department. There we met a professor by the name of Dr. Charles Elliot who is still a professor in the department today. He told us about the department, showed us some videos, and showed us some of the mammal collections. At that point, my mind was made up. I was going to attend Eastern Kentucky University (EKU),” he remarked.
Mr. Mills has been afforded many opportunities to work with amazing agencies, people, and projects since joining the Department of Biological Sciences. In classes, he has been involved in working with bird banding, the making of museum specimens, helping take tree inventory, small mammal trapping and tagging, electrofishing, and so much more.
Outside of the classroom Mr. Mills has been privileged to work with multiple agencies and a lot of biologists. He worked with KDFWR where he learned to age deer during their check stations on the bluegrass army depot. He has spent a lot of time working with the Division of Natural Areas at EKU where he participated in environmental education workshops, prescribed fires, invasive management, and the reintroduction of native plants.
He also helped KDFWR do some management on some of their Wildlife Management Areas (WMA) and even participated in some trout stocking and prescribed fires with KDFWR. “I gained a position as an emergency wildland firefighter with the Kentucky Division of Forestry through EKU’s fire crew. I’ve also
had the privilege to work with the office of Kentucky Nature Preserves on a prescribed fire which they helped with,” he said.
Mr. Mills is pursuing a Bachelor of Science degree in Wildlife Management with a minor in biology and a certificate in Geographic Information Systems. After he graduates, he hopes to use the skills he has gained to get a job with a state or federal wildlife agency “I want to help make our wild areas effective for our wildlife again and find that middle ground between conserving our wildlife and the needs of people,” he said.
When asked what he has learned most at EKU, Mr. Mills said “Being a first-generation student, I have learned a lot since coming to EKU The main thing I have learned is that hard work, determination, and a love for what you do will make you successful in whichever walk of life you take.”
ALUMNI AND FRIENDS
Dr. Charity G. (Moore) Patterson
“I was beyond well-trained and prepared for graduate school at the University of South Carolina where I received an academic scholarship as well. The education from the EKU mathematics and statistics faculty was amazing. I could not have had a better foundation for my career in biostatistics” - Dr. Charity G. Patterson
Dr. Charity G. (Moore) Patterson, an Eastern Kentucky University (EKU) alumna (1995) is a professor in the Department of Physical Therapy at the University of Pittsburgh. She is the founding director of the School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences Data Center where she runs large clinical trials testing nonpharmacological interventions, such as exercise and rehabilitation, to improve function and quality of life for people with acute and chronic conditions. Her primary area of research methodological expertise is in biostatistics, clinical trials, and data coordination for exercise, rehabilitation, and physical therapy studies. She has more than 180 peer-reviewed publications in journals of high impact.
Dr. Patterson chose EKU for her undergraduate studies because it was the closest university to her home and the most affordable option, having been offered a scholarship for being a Kentucky Governor’s Scholar. This scholarship was vital because it enabled her to graduate from EKU with no student loan debt. Another reason for choosing EKU was because both her parents graduated from EKU.
She started out as a mathematics major because she wanted to be a math teacher. However, her first statistics class with Dr. Mary Fleming turned her on to statistics and she became a dual major. She added a biology minor because both her parents were in the healthcare industry and she wanted to stay in a field related to health. After obtaining her B.S. degree in mathematics and statistics with a minor in
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biology from EKU in 1995, Dr. Patterson proceeded to the University of South Carolina where she obtained her M.S.P.H and Ph.D. degrees in biostatistics in 1997 and 2000, respectively.
Dr. Patterson’s fondest memory of EKU is the support and compassion from professors, as she explained, “Dr. Patricia Costello’s words guided me to become a biostatistician. Learning real analysis from Dr. King felt so abstract, but she said we would ‘need it in graduate school’ and I did! Dr. Frank’s generosity and kindness when I worked too late and didn’t feel ready for a final – he let me take it a few days later and I aced it.”
Dr. Patterson credits her educational experience at EKU with preparing her well for graduate school “I was beyond well-trained and prepared for graduate school at the University of South Carolina where I received an academic scholarship as well. The education from the EKU mathematics and statistics faculty was amazing. I could not have had a better foundation for my career in biostatistics,” she said.
For students aspiring to major in statistics, Dr. Patterson offers the following advice, “The statistics field is wide open for ambitious, young minds. There are so many areas to specialize and the workforce needs more people. The demand is high. Do what you love and along the way learn to communicate well, both written and oral, there are no limits to where this field can take you.”
Dr. Patterson was born in Leslie County (Hyden, Kentucky). She lives in Pittsburgh, PA, with her husband of 19 years, Dr. Daniel Patterson, associate professor of emergency medicine at the University of Pittsburgh. They have two children, Thomas Jay Patterson, and Gracen Fay Patterson.
“My greatest satisfaction at EKU was teaching and mentoring firstgeneration students and watching them graduate and move on to successful lives and careers. It is rewarding to have taught so many students who are now my colleagues in the construction industry.” Dr. Scott Arias
Dr. Scott Arias was born and raised in Albuquerque, New Mexico and one of five children. His father immigrated to the United States from Cuba, during the Bay of Pigs. Dr. Arias joined the Navy shortly after graduating from high school because his father felt it was his son’s obligation to serve his country. Dr. Arias had a highly successful career in the Navy where he was promoted to E-8 as a Builder Senior chief in 11 years. Being part of the United States Navy Seabees, he received a wealth of experience supervising construction projects in the United States and overseas. Dr. Arias also understood the value of education and, while in the Navy, he earned an associate of science in Construction Technology from Mott Community College, an associate of science in Management, a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration, and a Master of Science in Project Management from Thomas Edison State College. He completed his education with a Ph.D. in Construction Management from Indiana State University.
In 2008, Dr. Arias was hired as an instructor for the Construction Management program in the Department of Applied Engineering and Technology. “I was surprised that an individual with such an extensive background would leave the private sector to teach at a university,” said Dr. Tim Ross, the associate dean in the College of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics, who was chair of the department at that time.
Dr. Arias left a very successful career in the construction industry where he was the director of construction to take an instructor position at EKU. “I had been so blessed in my life that I wanted to share my experiences in the construction industry and help young people realize their dreams of a successful personal life and professional career – I wanted to give back,” he said. In just his third year of teaching, Dr. Arias was recognized by the Associated Schools of Construction (ASC) with the Excellence in Teaching Award.
Dr. Arias quickly became a catalyst for the construction management program. During his tenure at EKU, he took on the role of construction management program coordinator. While serving in this position, the construction management program received a six-year reaccreditation from the American Council for Construction Education (ACCE), had the largest enrollment in the history of the program, and a concentration in construction management was added to the Master of Science degree program in Technology. “Dr. Arias was very passionate about providing a high-quality “real-world” education for the students in the construction management program. He always gave 110% to EKU and continues to be a champion for the construction management program,” said Dr. Ross.
During his tenure at EKU, Dr. Arias maintained a small construction company. “As a professor, I wanted to stay on top of current industry practices for my students. The best way to accomplish this was to remain engaged and work with the companies that hire our graduates,” he said. In 2018, Dr. Arias made a difficult decision to leave EKU and focus on his company, ACE Consulting. “My business was growing very quickly and needed my full attention. I did not want to take anything away from my teaching or my students,” he explained
When asked about his fondest memories at EKU, Dr. Arias replied, “The friendships with exceptional colleagues and students I was blessed to work with and teach over the years.” Commenting on his greatest job satisfaction, Dr. Arias said, “My greatest satisfaction at EKU was teaching and mentoring first-generation students and watching them graduate to successful lives and careers. It is rewarding to have taught so many students who are now my colleagues in the construction industry.”
In 2019, Dr. Arias and his wife Marne created the George Blanka Memorial endowed scholarship for construction management majors. “We established the scholarship to honor a great man and to help students who resemble my father-in-law,” said Dr. Arias. “The Blanka scholarship is a tool to help students achieve their dreams of an education which is the basis of success personally and professionally,” he continued. Dr. Arias also supports EKU’s Construction Management program by serving on the industrial advisory board, providing guest speakers for events, and occasionally teaching a course or two. “Dr. Arias’ support of the program is nothing more than spectacular,” said Dr. Bryan Dyer, professor of construction management at EKU. “EKU has been a huge factor in my personal and professional successes. My story at EKU is not done. I plan to participate wherever and however I can. I think of EKU daily, and it is always in my heart,” said Dr. Arias.
Dr. Arias has been very busy since leaving EKU. Along with serving as the CEO of Ace Consulting, he has authored two books; “Pick up Your Mat and Walk: A Story of Success Through Adversity” and “Formula
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for Success.” He shares many life experiences and lessons learned to help others find a path to success and happiness. His company, ACE Consulting has received multiple awards and earned a spot two years in a row on the Inc. 5000, recognizing the fastest growing companies in the world. In addition, ACE has earned the KY Best Bet award, the People Choice award, awarded the American Best in Business, and America’s Best Veteran Owned business. Dr. Arias won the Industry Era Best Entrepreneurs, the Patriot Award and was a finalist for the 2022 and 2023 EY Entrepreneur of the Year award. I attribute this success to my faith in God and the impact EKU has made on my life.
Dr. Arias and his wife Marne have three children and reside in Nicholasville, Kentucky. When he is not working, Dr. Arias enjoys spending time with his family, friends and being very active in his church. He also loves his motorcycles, cars, and volunteering around the community.
UPCOMING EVENTS
Aug 14: Classes begin
Sep 11-16: Celebration of STEM Week
Sep 22-13: Family weekend
Oct 13-14: Homecoming weekend