Fall 2021 Kentucky Alumni Magazine by UK Alumni Association

Un iversit y of Kent uck y A lu m n i Associat ion

Alumni

Transforming

Medical Education

Dr. Michael D. Rankin makes a historic gift of $22 million to the University of Kentucky

Fall 2021

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Contents

ON THE COVER Dr. Michael D. Rankin ‘71 EN, ‘80 MED at his farm in Danville. Cover photo by Steve Shaffer, UK Photo

12 16 22

TRANSFORMING MEDICAL EDUCATION By Kristi Willett Dr. Michael D. Rankin ‘71 EN, ‘80 MED is ensuring future generations — especially those from rural areas — have an opportunity to go to medical school with a historic gift of $22 million to the University of Kentucky.

JOIN US FOR 2021 UK HOMECOMING! Check out our schedule of events and return to campus to reconnect with former classmates and see how campus has transformed.

RECOGNIZING AND CELEBRATING OUR MOST DEDICATED ALUMNI The UK Alumni Association held its annual Summer Workshop this June and acknowledged its service award winners, club volunteers, board members and officers.

THE CLASS OF 2025 IS SHAPING UP

FROM TRAGEDY TO TRIUMPH

Photo by Mark Cornelison Incoming students met during K Week to participate in one of UK’s most memorable traditions of forming the state of Kentucky under the lights at Kroger Field.

By Hal Morris Jason Booher ’96 ED, the new superintendent of Mercer County Public Schools in Harrodsburg, is a survivor of the 1988 Carrollton bus crash. While he faced a life-changing tragedy, he did not let it stop him from becoming who he is today.

32 38 40

QUEEN OF CAREER SERVICES By Hal Morris We sit down with Queen-Ayanna Sullivan ‘19 AS, ‘21 ED who spent the past academic year as a graduate assistant with UK Alumni Career Services. She shares how she came to UK, how her experience helped her career and her plans for the future.

COLLEGE BOUND The UK Alumni Association and UK Alumni Clubs hosted Student Send-Offs around the country as alumni shared stories, insights and advice to incoming students heading off to college to become Wildcats.

TOOTH BE TOLD By Ann Jarvis Zindell Richardson ’83 DE, chair of the UK Department of Oral Health Science, sinks his teeth into his new role at his alma mater.

Plus... 5 6 8 11 27

From the President Pride in Blue News Research Alumni News

34 Sports 42 Class Notes 52 In Memoriam 55 Creative Juices 56 Quick Take

www. u kal u mni. net

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BOARD OF DIRECTORS AND LEADERSHIP ADVISORY COUNCIL KENTUCKY ALUMNI MAGAZINE Vol. 92 No. 3 Fall 2021 Kentucky Alumni (ISSN 732-6297) is published quarterly by the University of Kentucky Alumni Association, Lexington, Kentucky, for its members. © 2021 University of Kentucky Alumni Association, except where noted. Views and opinions expressed in Kentucky Alumni do not necessarily represent the opinions of its editors, the UK Alumni Association nor the University of Kentucky.

HOW TO REACH US Kentucky Alumni UK Alumni Association King Alumni House Lexington, KY 40506-0119 Telephone: 859-257-8905 800-269-ALUM Fax: 859-323-1063 Email: ukalumni@uky.edu

UPDATE YOUR RECORD UK Alumni Association King Alumni House Lexington, KY 40506-0119 Telephone: 859-257-8905 Fax: 859-323-1063 Email: ukalumni@uky.edu Web: www.ukalumni.net For duplicate mailings, please send both mailing labels to the address above. Member: Council for Advancement and Support of Education

ASSOCIATION STAFF Executive Director: Jill Holloway Smith ’05 ’11 Editor/Sr. Associate Director: Meredith Weber Marketing/Promotion Specialist: Hal Morris Graphic Designer: Whitney Stamper Graphic Designer: Lauren Tecau Brenda Bain ’15: Records Data Entry Nancy Culp: Administrative Services Assistant Caroline Francis ’88 ’93 ’02: Director, Alumni Career Services Jack Gallt ’84: Sr. Associate Director Leslie Hayes: Membership and Marketing Specialist Marissa Hillman ‘16: Administrative Support Associate I Kelly Hinkel ’11 ’18: Marketing & Communications Coordinator Marci Hicks ’87: Director of Philanthropy Albert Kalim ’03 ’16 ‘20: Technical Support Specialist Jesse McInturf ’10: Principal Accountant Mark Pearson: Computer Support Specialist II William Raney ’14: House Support Kathryn Schaffer ’12: Alumni Engagement Coordinator Amanda Schagane ’09 ’10: Associate Director Samantha Seitz: Program Coordinator Hannah Simms ’14 ’17: Alumni Engagement Coordinator Pam Webb: Administrative Services Assistant

Officers Mary L. Shelman ’81 EN: President Antoine Huffman ’05 CI: President-elect Janie McKenzie-Wells ’83 AS, ’86 LAW: Treasurer Jill Holloway Smith ’05 BE, ’11 AFE: Secretary In-State Representatives Michelle Bishop Allen ’06 ’10 BE Jeffrey L. Ashley ’89 CI Heath F. Bowling ’96 BE Emmett P. “Buzz” Burnam ’74 EDU John S. Cain ’86 BE Kevin L. Collins ’84 EN William “Bill” M. Corum ’64 BE Robert “Rob” L. Crady III ’94 BE Abra Akers Endsley ’98, ’01 CI James F. Gilles III ’10 AFE Emily C. Henderson ’01 PHA Vicki S. Hiestand ’93 BE Mark Hogge ’97 ENG Kelly Sullivan Holland ’93 AS, ’98 ED Dr. H. Fred Howard ’79 AS, ’82 DE Shelia M. Key ’91 PHA Kent T. Mills ‘83 BE Sherry R. Moak ’81 BE Dr. W. Mark Myers ’87 DE Tonya B. Parsons ’91 AS Peggy Barton Queen ’86 BE John D. Ryan ’92 BE, ‘95 R. Michael Stacy ’95 BE Jonell Tobin ’68 ’95 BE Kendra Lorene Wadsworth ’06 ED Out-of-State Representatives Brooke C. Asbell ’86 BE Robert Price Atkinson ‘97 CI Shane T. Carlin ’95 AFE Amanda Mills Cutright ’06 CI Robert M. “Mike” Gray ’80 ’81 BE Dr. Michael L. Hawks ’80 AS, ’85 DE Vincent M. Holloway ’84 EN Susan L. Liszeski ’84 AFE Thomas K. Mathews ’93 AS Ronald “Ronnie” M. Perchik ’82 BE R. Brian Perkins ’97 EN Charles “Chad” D. Polk ’94 DES Robert J. Riddle ’11 AFE Lynn Spadaccini ’80 AFE Mary “Kekee” Szorcsik ’72 BE Nicholas D. Wilson ‘03 AS, ‘06 GS Alumni Trustees Dr. Michael A. Christian ’76 AS, ’80 DE Paula L. Pope ’73 ’75 ED Rachel Watts Webb ’05 CI Living Past Presidents George L. Atkins Jr. ’63 BE Richard A. Bean ’69 BE Michael A. Burleson ’74 PHA Bruce K. Davis ’71 LAW Scott E. Davis ’71 LAW Marianne Smith Edge ’77 AFE Franklin H. Farris Jr. ’72 BE William G. Francis ’68 AS, ’73 LAW W. P. Friedrich ’71 EN Dan Gipson ’69 EN Brenda B. Gosney ’70 HS, ’75 ED Cammie DeShields Grant ’77 LCC, ’79 ED John R. Guthrie ’63 CI Ann B. Haney ’71 AS Diane M. Massie ’79 CI Robert E. Miller Susan V. Mustian ’84 BE Hannah Miner Myers ’93 ED

John C. Nichols II ’53 BE Dr. George A. Ochs IV ’74 DE Sandra Bugie Patterson ’68 AS Taunya Phillips ’87 EN, ’04 BE Robert F. Pickard ’57 ’61 EN Paula L. Pope ’73 ’75 ED David B. Ratterman ’68 EN G. David Ravencraft ’59 BE William Schuetze ’72 LAW David L. Shelton ’66 BE J. Fritz Skeen ’72 ’73 BE J. Tim Skinner ’80 DES James W. Stuckert ’60 EN, ’61 BE Hank B. Thompson Jr. ’71 CI Henry R. Wilhoit Jr. ’60 LAW Elaine A. Wilson ’68 SW Richard M. Womack ’53 AFE Leadership Advisory Council In-State Representatives Lu Ann Holmes ’79 DES Grant T. Mills ’09 AS Ashley S. “Tip” Mixson ’80 BE Glen H. Pearson ’87 AS Dena Stooksbury Stamper ’84 AS Lori E. Wells ’96 BE Blake Broadbent Willoughby ’11 ’12 ’12 BE Out-of-State Representatives Shiela D. Corley ’94 AS, ’95 AFE Ruth Cecelia Day ’85 BE John T. “Jay” Hornback ’04 EN College Representatives Michelle McDonald ’84 AFE, ’92 ED: Agriculture, Food and Environment Winn F. Williams ’71 AS: Arts & Sciences Michael R. Buchanan ’69 ’71 BE: Business & Economics Jeremy L. Jarvi ’02 CI: Communication & Information Dr. J. Clifford Lowdenback ’99 AS, ’03 DE: Dentistry G. Haviland Argo III ‘03 DES: Design Cathy Crum Bell ’76 ED: Education Dominique Renee Wright ’08 EN: Engineering Joel W. Lovan ’77 FA: Fine Arts Benjamin D. Gecewich ‘03 HS: Health Sciences Janis E. Clark ’78 GS, ’85 LAW: Law Dr. Debra J. Sowell ’82 MED: Medicine Laura B. Hieronymus ’81 ‘15 NUR, ’83 ED: Nursing Lynn Harrelson ’73 PHA: Pharmacy Keith R. Knapp ’78 AS, ’05 PH: Public Health Willis K. Bright Jr. ‘66 SW: Social Work Appointed Jo Hern Curris ’63 AS, ’75 LAW: Honorary Katie Eiserman ’01 ED: Athletics Thomas W. Harris ’85 AS: University Relations Stan R. Key ’72 ED: Honorary D. Michael Richey ‘74 ‘79 AFE: Office of Philanthropy Marian Moore Sims ’72 ’76 ED: Honorary Michaela Taylor ‘19 HS: Student Government Association Bobby C. Whitaker ’58 CI: Honorary

www. u kal u mni. net

Yours for the taking We want individuals with energy, enthusiasm, and—above all—a passion for learning. If you communicate well, multitask, and take care of business quickly and responsibly, we want you.

longship.us/careers

TOGETHER WE ARE WILDCAT STRONG

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hrough all we have endured throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, this institution has found new and important ways to honor our mission of advancing Kentucky. We were created to grow its economy, nurture our people’s quality of life and provide life-changing education. This is our North Star — always, and especially when our state and the world need us the most. That commitment to advancing Kentucky was demonstrated time and again this past year. Our people’s response to the pandemic showed the heart of this special place — the fierce determination and unwavering compassion that distinguish our community. We remained nimble to match the uncertain trajectory of a virus that knows no borders, serving our communities through our people and talent; infrastructure and partnerships; health and logistical expertise. We also have recommitted to a new future for this institution, one marked by five key principles that will lay the foundation of our next Strategic Plan: Putting students first. They are why we are here. Whether it is maintaining a modern curriculum that prepares our students for success, providing appropriate support for graduate students or ensuring that doctoral students start and complete their programs successfully, we must put students first. Supporting our people. We will only accomplish our mission of advancing Kentucky when our people and all those we serve are supported and cared for in ways that lead the state, too. Inspiring ingenuity. How do we embed innovation and discovery into every aspect of our institution? The breadth and depth of programming and offerings on our campus makes us distinctive in higher education. How do we incentivize the spark of ingenuity throughout our campus? Ensuring greater trust, transparency and accountability. We are Kentucky’s institution. That mantle holds with it heightened responsibilities around accountability and transparency. But we need to do more to instill a sense of trust in each other in how we perform and what we measure. Bringing together many people, one community. UK is among the most diverse communities in the Commonwealth. Our students will enter a world driven by divisions, but more interdependent than ever before. How do we model unity amidst diversity for our state? While we work toward charting a bold path for ourselves and for our state, there always will be more work to be done. When we were challenged to craft a budget that underscored our commitment to our state

and to our people, we positioned our university to thrive. We invested in our students. In the context of a $5.1 billion operating budget, we held tuition and mandatory fee increases to 1% for the second consecutive year, dropping the four-year rate of increases below the rate of inflation. We increased financial aid and scholarships, which don’t have to be repaid, to record levels and focused particularly on those students with the most financial need. We invested in our people. We outlined plans to increase starting wages for the fourth time in six years, created new paid family leave plans, restored the full employer retirement contribution rate of 10% and budgeted a 2% merit increase, including a one-time $1,000 payment for all regular full-time faculty and staff. And our people invested in us. In June, our Board of Trustees approved a historic $22 million gift commitment to the College of Medicine from Dr. Michael D. Rankin. His gift — now the second largest single gift in university history — will support scholarships in the College of Medicine and the construction of a new health education building. Now, amid the backdrop of a still uncertain future, we remain eager to celebrate what matters most — connection and community. The University of Kentucky Class of 1970 and Class of 1971 will return to campus this fall for our annual Golden Wildcat Society Reunion during Homecoming Weekend. We announced new UK Alumni Association board members and recognized the 2021 recipients of the Distinguished Alumni Awards — an honor paying tribute to those UK alumni who have distinguished themselves and their alma mater through their contributions to the welfare of the Commonwealth and nation. Most importantly, we welcomed a new class of Wildcats to be part of our special community — future alumni who will be challenged in new ways and shown what’s possible with a University of Kentucky education. To be sure, much has changed in the last 18 months. What has not changed is our mission to serve Kentucky, which is how we serve the country and, increasingly, the world.

Photo by Mark Cornelison, UK Photo

From the President

President Capilouto welcomes students to campus during Big Blue Move-In.

Sincerely,

Eli Capilouto President www. u kal u mni. net

Pride in Blue Photo by Meredith Weber

Mary Shelman, this year’s president of the UK Alumni Association, poses with Big Lex, the iconic blue horse at the Keeneland Paddock at Kroger Field.

entucky is a place that makes me want to keep coming home. I was not your conventional college student. I was raised in Elizabethtown (that’s E-town to the locals!) and attended Elizabethtown Community College before transferring to UK in 1979. As an engineering student, I was focused on the rigors of the program, but I managed to slip in a few basketball games during my time on campus. I have lived near Boston for 35 years, but I also own a farm near Elizabethtown. This and family gave me a reason to keep coming home to Kentucky and is why I eventually became involved with the UK Alumni Association. It was wonderful seeing many of our volunteers in person this summer at our Board of Directors Summer Workshop as we welcomed our new board of directors and officers and celebrated our service award winners for their commitment to the association and the university. After more than a year of seeing each other virtually, it was refreshing to enjoy each other’s company in person. My first event as president was the UK Football Kickoff Luncheon at Kroger Field on July 28, a great way to get ready for the upcoming season and cheer on the Wildcats this fall. I also saw campus begin coming to life as students were moving into dorms and bustling about as they prepared for the fall semester. Homecoming and our Golden Wildcat Society reunion honoring the Classes of 1970 and 1971 is Oct. 7-10 and we hope you will join us! Many Wildcats relish this time back at their Old Kentucky Home as they rekindle relationships, make new ones and celebrate what it means to be part of the UK alumni family.

K E N TUCKY A LU MN I MAG A ZIN E Fall 2021

Jason Booher, a fellow Hardin County native and 1996 graduate of the UK College of Education, knows he is lucky to be an alumnus after surviving the Carrollton bus crash in 1988, the deadliest drunk driving accident in U.S. history claiming 27 lives. Jason recently became superintendent of Mercer County Public Schools in Harrodsburg and he credits the support and encouragement of his friends, family and classmates to become the person he is today. Jason is giving back to those that mentored him after tragedy struck and is testament to how relationships and friendships can make everyone stronger, just like our alumni community. Earlier this year, Dr. Michael D. Rankin, who earned his engineering and medical degrees at UK and lives in Danville, showed his love of Kentucky and the university with a $22 million gift to the UK College of Medicine. Rankin’s gift is now the second largest single gift in university history and will support scholarships in the College of Medicine and the construction of a new health education building. There are so many examples of our alumni showing their love of Kentucky and this university. Whether you have been away for years or have never left the Commonwealth, there is always something that keeps you coming home to your University of Kentucky. Go Cats!

Mary L. Shelman ’81 EN UK Alumni Association President

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ROBERT S. DIPAOLA BEGINS TERM AS UK ACTING PROVOST

On July 1, 2021, Robert S. DiPaola marked his first day in his tenure as acting provost. UK President Eli Capilouto announced in May that he selected DiPaola, dean of the UK College of Medicine, to serve in this role. He will serve in this capacity for a one-year appointment

until June 30, 2022, and Capilouto will begin a national search for a permanent provost this fall. “I am looking forward to partnering with our faculty, staff and students to further strengthen our university, support our people and inspire ingenuity to propel us forward,” DiPaola said. “We will collaborate across academic units to ensure our missions of education, research, health care and service lead the Commonwealth into a more prosperous future.” DiPaola came to UK and the College of Medicine in 2016 after previously serving as director of the Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey. Under his leadership, the College of Medicine has significantly accelerated and grown its research agenda, developed innovative education and service programs and strengthened commitments to diversity and inclusion. “His collaborative approach and commitment to shared governance — working alongside outstanding faculty, staff and learners — has led the college to unprecedented growth and progress in recent years in many ways that have led our institution in advancing our mission,” Capilouto said. ■

Shayna Stahl has been named director of Athletic Bands and assistant director of Bands in the School of Music. Stahl is the first woman to serve as the director of the Wildcat Marching Band and will also serve as director of the UK Pep Bands and as the conductor of the UK Concert Band. “I am very pleased that Dr. Stahl will be joining us at the UK School of Music this summer,” said Stan Pelkey, director of the UK School of Music. “Dr. Stahl is an experienced director of athletic bands who has worked with Division I athletic bands for the past 15 years. She will guide the Wildcat Marching Band toward a successful fall season.” Stahl previously served as associate director of Bands and director of Athletic Bands at University of North Carolina at Charlotte. She was also the conductor of the Symphonic Band and taught courses in conducting and marching band techniques. Prior to UNC Charlotte, Stahl served for three years as the director of Athletic Bands at Stony Brook University and seven years as the coordinator of Athletic Bands. While serving as the coordinator of Athletic Bands, she also taught for seven years as a music educator in the Middle Country Central School District where she taught wind ensemble, concert band and jazz band. “It is a tremendous honor to be invited to join the faculty as the assistant director of Bands/director of Athletic Bands,” 8

K E N TUCKY A LU MN I MAG A ZIN E Fall 2021

Photo submitted

UK ANNOUNCES FIRST WOMAN DIRECTOR OF WILDCAT MARCHING BAND

Stahl said. “This position has always been a dream of mine since I started my journey working with college athletic bands. I had always been impressed that you could see and hear the energy that the students brought to each marching and pep band performance. I said to myself, I would love the chance to work with this group, be a part of the traditions and history while creating new traditions together. I am excited about this opportunity and truly look forward to working with the faculty, staff and students at the University of Kentucky.” Stahl holds a bachelor’s degree in music education from Temple University, a master’s degree in liberal studies from Stony Brook University, a master’s degree in music education/ wind band conducting from The Hartt School at the University of Hartford and a doctoral degree in instrumental conducting from the University of Washington. ■

Photo by Matt Barton

JCS PROCESS AND CONTROL SYSTEMS DONATES ULTRABLEND™ SYSTEM TO UK’S JAMES B. BEAM INSTITUTE

The strength of bourbon coming out of the barrel is significantly higher than most products on the shelf. To lower the alcohol content, bourbon is traditionally held in a tank,

weighed, measured for alcohol content and then gradually diluted with water to the desired product strength. JCS Process and Control is donating their UltraBlend™ system to the James B. Beam Institute for Kentucky Spirits at UK to simplify and automate this blending process while meeting demanding regulatory standards. “JCS is thrilled to be able to coordinate the donation of this system with our component partners, for the advancement of research in the bourbon industry,” said David Stoklosa, JCS vice president of sales and marketing. “We look forward to seeing students and manufacturing professionals in the industry take advantage of the productivity and time savings advantages this system provides in comparison to traditional batching.” The UltraBlend™ system is traditionally used to standardize enzymes in milk. The Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau approved the technology for the spirits industry to continuously blend alcohol to a bottling filler without using a bottling tank for proof verification or correction. The UltraBlend™ system will provide tight control in blending highproof spirits to plus or minus .03 alcohol by volume. “This equipment will enhance our ability to immerse our students in the ongoing modernization of the distilled spirits industry,” said Brad Berron, Beam Institute research director. “This gift significantly extends our ability to conduct impactful research aimed at increasing productivity and efficiency industrywide.” ■

UK BUDGET INVESTS HEAVILY IN PEOPLE Members of the University of Kentucky Board of Trustees passed a $5.1 billion budget for fiscal year 2021-2022, the largest in university history. The budget invests heavily in the people who do the work that make advancing Kentucky possible — the university’s faculty, staff and students. “We have a special community, whose mission for more than 156 years has been to serve our state. It’s why we were created, and it’s the mission we seek to honor every day,” said UK President Eli Capilouto. “That vital work is only possible when we make college more affordable for students and families. It’s only possible when we invest in the people who do the teaching and research and provide the lifesaving care, which does so much to make our state stronger and healthier.” Capilouto said that the proposed budget further invests in students and families by continuing historic steps to hold down the cost of a college education and in UK’s faculty and staff, with substantial measures to increase compensation and benefits. Eric Monday, UK’s executive vice president for finance and administration, said the proposed budget is about $700 million more than last year. UK’s overall budget has grown by nearly 90% in the last 10 years, nearly double what it was in 2012. “When you think about your budget, it’s the best evidence of what you value,” Monday said. “It’s the best evidence of what you want to achieve, because it’s where one of the most precious resources — our funds, our students’ money, our state’s money — are invested. And the question is, what do

you want to achieve? For this institution, as President Capilouto has said, we invest in our students and our people because that’s how we do the most to advance our state.” Here’s how the component parts of the budget break down: • The increase in this year’s proposed budget is largely driven by the continued growth of UK HealthCare, which now represents nearly half of UK’s budget. • More than 61% of the budget — the hospital and clinical services, largely — must be used for designated purposes such as patient care. • Another 14% of the university’s budget is designated for specific purposes as well — restricted funds like research grants and contracts and auxiliary services which receive no money from the university’s general fund and generally fund themselves (like UK Athletics). • Finally, fund balances are non-recurring funds invested by the institution, which essentially represent the institution’s rainy-day fund for emergency uses and building projects. That’s nearly 8% of the budget. • What’s left is a little more than $840 million — the so-called undesignated fund or 17% of the budget — that is comprised of tuition dollars and support from the state. Those resources fund the daily operating expenses of the university: teaching and instruction; the salaries of employees on much of the campus; scholarships and financial aid; and utilities, among other things. ■ www. u kal u mni. net

The University of Kentucky J. David Rosenberg College of Law has been recognized by the Society for College and University Planning (SCUP)/AIA-CAE (American Institute of Architects Committee on Architecture for Education) in the category of Excellence in Architecture for Building Additions, Renovation or Adaptive Reuse for their building expansion and redesign. The SCUP Excellence Award honors achievement in strategic, integrated planning that results in exemplary buildings and grounds, institutional success and careers that inspire. The law building underwent a 26% expansion spanning 2017-2019, adding 11 new classrooms and 20 collaborative spaces. The original building opened in 1965 and underwent renovations in the 1970s, reflecting the style of the times. Highlights include a modernized 185-seat moot courtroom, an outdoor upper porch and adjacent spaces that foster collaboration throughout the law school community, and a new third floor including a roof terrace offering spectacular views of campus and additional group study space. All of these collaboration and group study spaces are critical to legal education. “We are very pleased to see the national recognition of our renovated and expanded law building,” said Mary J. Davis, dean of the Rosenberg College of Law. “We are proud of the features but more importantly the programmatic impact

Photo by Pete Comparoni, UK Photo

UK J. DAVID ROSENBERG COLLEGE OF LAW RECOGNIZED FOR BUILDING EXPANSION DESIGN

of the design. The architects worked so hard with the law school community to understand us and design a building that best provides students with a space to learn from faculty, collaborate with them and one another, and prepare to meet the legal needs of our society.” The architects for the building project were Kohn Pedersen Fox Associates of NYC and Sherman Carter Barnhart Architects of Lexington. The construction manager for the project was Congleton-Hacker Company of Lexington. ■

2 KENTUCKY WILDCATS AWARDED FULBRIGHTS The UK Office of Nationally Competitive Awards announced that two recent UK graduates have been offered Fulbright U.S. Student Program scholarships to travel abroad to teach, study or pursue research for the 2021-2022 academic year. Recipients of Fulbright grants are selected based on academic or professional achievement, as well as demonstrated leadership potential in their fields. The program operates in more than 140 countries. The UK alumni awarded Fulbright grants are Schuyler Baas of Louisville, a 2020 management and Lewis Honors College graduate, who will teach in Spain and lead a Model United Nations Program; and Clarissa Grace Somers of Boliva, North Carolina, a 2021 food science and Lewis Honors College graduate, who will pursue graduate studies in Ireland. Baas, a recipient of the Fulbright English Teaching Assistantship, will use her grant to teach English to 12- to 18-year-olds in Madrid, Spain, as well as lead a Model United Nations Program at a local school. After graduating from UK, Baas earned her Teaching English as a Foreign Language degree and has been teaching ninth and 10th grade English through the AmeriCorps Literacy Coalition of Palm Beach 10

K E N TUCKY A LU MN I MAG A ZIN E Fall 2021

County, Florida. Beyond teaching, she has also volunteered at various service projects in the area, including distributing personal protective equipment, leading at vaccine distribution sites, handing out backpacks, and harvesting vegetables for the hungry. Upon completion of her Fulbright ETA, Baas hopes to pursue a career in international relations. Somers will use her Fulbright toward a master’s degree in food microbiology at University College Cork in Ireland. The learning experience at UCC will allow Somers to advance her previous studies on human milk at North Carolina School of Science and Mathematics and UK, while preparing her for future research endeavors in the field. “Human milk is an amazingly complex food designed to fit an infant’s specific needs that adapts with the child as it grows. Its prebiotic and probiotic components and their impact on the infant microbiome particularly interest me.” Upon completion of her Fulbright and her master’s degree, Somers plans to earn her doctoral degree abroad and pursue an international career in human milk research. Her ultimate goal is to make new discoveries, advocate for positive change and teach others what she has learned in the process. ■

Research Researchers from the University of Kentucky Department of Mechanical Engineering hosted collaborators from Virginia Tech and Oklahoma State University for a series of unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) flight experiments June 21-24 at the new Wildcat Agricultural and Atmospheric Research Pavilion (WAARP) flight facility. WAARP is located at North Farm off Ironworks Pike, a 971-hectare agricultural research facility operated by the University of Kentucky. This flight experiment campaign is part of the NASA-sponsored Weather Intelligent Navigation Data and Models for Aviation Planning (WINDMAP) multi-university research collaboration to improve weather awareness for future advanced aerial mobility systems such as drones, air taxis and urban flight management. Rather than traveling to Colorado for similar facility capabilities, Virginia Tech researchers were able to accomplish their goals at UK’s WAARP. Along with campaign participants, visitors to the event included representatives of the UK EduceLab heritage science team, Proposal Development Office and Office of Technology Commercialization, among others. The WAARP flight facility was designed by Michael Sama in the Department of Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering and Sean Bailey in the Department of Mechanical Engineering with the help of Facilities Management and Kentucky Agricultural Experiment Station staff within the College of

Photo by Eric Sanders

UK HOSTS FIRST EVENT AT NEW WAARP FLIGHT FACILITY

Agriculture, Food and Environment. It features a 450-feet by 45-feet geotextile runway to support UAS operations over a large performance envelope. UK’s current fleet consists of various sizes and models of autonomous fixed-wing, multi-rotor and vertical-takeoff-and-landing (VTOL) aircraft. A large open shelter provides ample comfortable workspace, power, storage and visibility for pre- and post-flight efforts, as well as ground station computers, mission control operators and pilots-in-command, which enable efficient and effective research flight operations. In addition, the site has a suite of ground-based atmospheric instrumentation, including a weather tower built to Mesonet standards with wind, temperature, pressure, humidity, rainfall and soil moisture content data. Supplementing this tower is a smaller tower that measures solar radiation, ground heat flux, turbulence and soil temperature. ■

UK, UT-KNOXVILLE, ARMY COLLABORATING ON $50 MILLION PROJECT TO ADVANCE US MANUFACTURING The University of Kentucky, the University of Tennessee, Knoxville and the U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command’s Army Research Laboratory (DEVCOM ARL) have announced a five-year, $50 million collaboration directed toward improving manufacturing capabilities in the United States. Under this three-way partnership, UK’s project, “Next Generation Materials and Processing Technologies” (NextGen MatProTech), will receive approximately $23.8 million from the U.S. Department of Defense (DOD). “We are always more powerful when we come together in uncommon ways to achieve a common good. This partnership will enable us to take our best minds and translate research into practical solutions — accomplishing more and doing more than we would on our own,” UK President Eli Capilouto said. UK researchers’ overarching vision is to develop novel materials processing and manufacturing technologies to produce superior products and components for the DOD, as well as civilian use. In addition to increasing intellectual capital, generating new discoveries and identifying high-potential technological innovations, the project will also strive to meet the country’s strategic research needs in materials and processes as identified by the National Academy of Sciences, the National Academy of Engineering and the National Academy of Medicine. ■ W W W.RESEARCH.UK Y.EDU www. u kal u mni. net

Transforming

Medical Education By Kristi Willett

Dr. Michael D. Rankin is ensuring future generations — especially those from rural areas — have an opportunity to go to medical school with a historic gift of $22 million to the University of Kentucky.

K E N TUCKY A LU MN I MAG A ZIN E Fall 2021

UK College of Medicine students, UK President Dr. Eli Capilouto (fifth from left) and Dr. Wendy Jackson (far right) unveiled a special white coat for Dr. Michael D. Rankin (second from right) at a ceremony on July 13, 2021.

Photo by Mark Cornelison, UK Photo

hen his parents drove from their home in rural Lincoln County to drop Michael Rankin ’71 EN, ’80 MED off at Haggin Hall on the University of Kentucky campus in August 1967, it was one of the biggest places he had ever been. His high school math teacher had encouraged his love for math and science and in 1971 he received an engineering degree. His dream though, was to go to medical school, but he feared achieving this goal was out of reach. Now, he wants to make sure that young men and women from rural areas who aspire to be physicians have the support they need to make their dreams come true. On June 17, the University of Kentucky Board of Trustees approved a historic $22 million gift commitment to the College of Medicine from Dr. Michael D. Rankin and on July 13, a ceremony acknowledging his gift and honoring him for his vision for a healthier Kentucky was held on the front lawn of UK’s Main Building. Rankin says it is hard to believe it has been 54 years since he began classes at UK as an undergraduate. “It was an exciting time but also scary — being at such a large place — even though it was much smaller at the time,” he said. Like many students even today, Rankin was a first-generation college student. His parents and grandparents were small farmers and worked hard to survive the Great Depression. “At that time, being a poor farm kid from Lincoln County, I thought medicine and medical school was just for the rich kids from the city,” said Rankin who adds his family sold a cow to pay for his first year’s tuition. Rankin went on to receive his degree in engineering and then worked in the communications sector following graduation but his desire to be a physician never went away. After working and saving up money, Rankin returned to UK as a College of Medicine student five years after he had received his bachelor’s degree. However, his return to the classroom wasn’t always easy. “I remember that first day in histology class when I sat down in front of a microscope and I had never used one before,” he said. “I panicked and wondered what I had got myself into.” But he says his instructor was very patient with him and told him “if you can graduate in electrical engineering you can do this with ease” and his confidence was restored. Rankin recalls medical school as a transformational time and a place where he grew individually and professionally all the while making lifelong friends. “UK has pretty much become a second home to me,” he said. “And I probably have spent more nights here than many places I’ve lived in my life after you count four years as an undergraduate, being on-call during medical school and spending every third night at the hospital while a resident.” After receiving his medical degree in 1980, he completed his residency in family medicine in 1983 at UK HealthCare and the College of Medicine and then pursued a highly successful practice in primary care and family medicine in Atlanta. He then retired and returned to Boyle County on a farm just 10 miles from where he grew up.

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– DR. MICHAEL D. RANKIN ’71 EN, ’80 MED

destined to serve. It will help us to continue to battle stubborn health disparities that for too long have plagued our state and help us to continue to dramatically help health outcomes throughout Kentucky.” As an alumnus, Rankin has already made a significant impact and devoted himself to the college, its success and the success of its students, said acting provost and dean of the College of Medicine for the past five years, Dr. Bob DiPaola. “Dr. Rankin and has been an invaluable member of the UK Medical Alumni Association, past president of the UK Medical Alumni Association and associated board, chair of the Dean’s Advisory Council, and volunteer faculty in the UK Department of Family and Community Medicine.” In addition, he has served many years on the College of Medicine scholarship and admissions committees. “Rankin’s impact is felt through this gift, his scholarship fund and his all-around support of the university, and especially the College of Medicine,” said DiPaola. “We’re incredibly grateful for his work with the UK College of Medicine and his generous donations to the college, both financially and through his service.”

Rankin spends most of his retirement days on his farm in Boyle County, just 10 miles from where he grew up, while continuously staying involved with the UK College of Medicine.

K E N TUCKY A LU MN I MAG A ZIN E Fall 2021

Photo by Mark Cornelison, UK Photo

“MY VISION IS THAT ANYONE WHO WANTS TO GO TO MEDICAL SCHOOL – ESPECIALLY THOSE FROM RURAL AREAS – SHOULD BE ABLE TO GO AND THAT THEIR DREAMS ARE NOT OUT OF REACH.”

Today, he often can be found on a tractor in one of his fields and seems just as comfortable as in his white coat. But one thing that hasn’t changed is Rankin’s love for the Commonwealth and its passionate, hardworking people. This he says is what led him to make a vow at a young age to take care of the people and places that are so dear to him. His gift to UK is now the second largest single gift in university history and will support scholarships in the College of Medicine and construction of a new health education building and also further elevates the University’s historic fundraising campaign, Kentucky Can: The 21st Century Campaign, moving it past the $1.6 billion mark on the way to UK’s goal of $2.1 billion. “Generations of people Dr. Rankin will never ever meet will feel the positive influence of his compassion and his resolve,” said UK President Eli Capilouto. “That impact is the purest form of philanthropy. “Through this gift, Dr. Rankin has left an indelible mark of healing and hope, not just on this university, but on the state of Kentucky,” said Capilouto. “His influence will be felt by generations of students and the patients that they are

Photos submitted

Rankin in 1982 pursuing his residency in family medicine at UK HealthCare.

Rankin in 1980, the year he received his medical degree from the University of Kentucky.

As part of Rankin’s gift commitment, $12 million will support the current “Michael Rankin MD Community Scholarship Endowment.” This scholarship provides support for medical students from rural Kentucky counties having unmet financial need. “I felt strongly that it was important for me to step up and establish a scholarship so students could concentrate on their studies and not have to worry about food insecurity or where they were going to live,” Rankin said. “My vision is that anyone who wants to go to medical school — especially those from rural areas — should be able to go and that their dreams are not out of reach.” Dr. Wendy Jackson, UK College of Medicine associate dean for admissions said, “anyone that knows Dr. Rankin knows that he is passionate about many things — one is this institution, another is rural Appalachia, and also the great Commonwealth of Kentucky and everything within its borders.” She added that his gift will provide an opportunity to better showcase the greatness of the UK College of Medicine. “People like me who thought becoming a doctor was a dream, you will help make it a reality,” Jackson said. “We thank you for your vision of a better Kentucky.” Rankin’s gift is also a catalyst in the efforts to construct a new health education building. During the May 4 UK Board of Trustees meeting, the design phase for the construction of the building was approved. “When I was a student, we mostly sat in lecture halls but as times have changed, I want to make sure our students have access to world-class and state-of-the-art technology,” he said. The plan for the building includes approximately 380,000 square feet for classrooms, simulation suites, conference rooms, support for newer technologies such as distance learning, immersive video and telemedicine instruction as well as office and support space for the College of Medicine, College of Public Health and other health care colleges. “I think giving should come from the heart,” said Rankin who credits his parents for instilling a deep sense of giving to others and a strong work ethic. “My mentor, Dr. Emery Wilson, got me involved on the scholarship committee when I moved back to Kentucky full time and it was very apparent that many of our students have a significant unmet financial need.”

Even a couple of years ago before COVID-19, it was evident we needed additional support for scholarships, he said. And more importantly, “we needed dollars for a new medical education building,” Rankin said. “Without someone stepping up to the plate, it would be at least 10 years before we would ever get this approved through the normal procedures for funding from the state.” Exasperating the problem is a national physician shortage. According to a report from the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC)’s Workforce Studies team, the United States could see an estimated shortage of between 37,800 and 124,000 physicians in 2034. “Because of this physician shortage, I knew Kentucky couldn’t wait. We need more physicians, and we need them from across the state and we need to start now.” Currently, UK medical campus students take classes primarily in the William R. Willard Medical Education Building built in 1962, as well as the Charles T. Wethington Building and the Clinical Skills Training and Assessment Center (CSTAC). Due to constraints on the facility and enrollment, the College has opened two new regional campuses since 2018 – in Bowling Green, through a partnership with Med Center Health and Western Kentucky University, and a Northern Kentucky Campus in partnership with St. Elizabeth Healthcare and Northern Kentucky University. These two additional campuses, along with the Rural Physician Leadership Program, a partnership with Morehead State University where students complete their third and fourth years at St. Claire Regional Medical Center, have enabled UK to expand its class size to 201 medical students per year with a total enrollment of about 800. A new medical education building will allow the College to add 50 students per class and increase overall enrollment to 1,000 students. “Helping students through scholarships and through this new building is my way of paying it forward for future generations,” Rankin said. “My vision is that this gift will transform the college of medicine and ultimately the ability to provide more health care access for patients across the state.” ■

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Schedule

HOMECOMING

2021

Alumni, friends and family are encouraged to make plans to return to the heart of the Bluegrass for a weekend full of rooting, rallying and reminiscing. Be sure to check www.ukhomecoming.com for additional homecoming events and updates.

TUESDAY

OCT

THURSDAY

OCT

HOMECOMING ROYALTY SHOWCASE TIME: 7 – 9 p.m. LOCATION: Gatton Student Center | 160 Ave of Champions www.uksab.org/homecoming Homecoming candidates will participate in a showcase style event to display their speaking skills, poise and public presentation of talent. Students will be given the opportunity to meet the individuals who have been selected for the Homecoming Court and be able to cast their votes. The Homecoming King and Homecoming Queen will be revealed during the Kentucky vs. LSU football game on Saturday, Oct. 9.

GOLDEN WILDCAT SOCIETY 50TH REUNION REGISTRATION & CHECK-IN TIME: 12 – 5 p.m. LOCATION: The Campbell House | 1375 S Broadway www.ukalumni.net/golden The UK Alumni Association welcomes members of the Class of 1970 and the Class of 1971 for their 50th reunion celebration! Participants are asked to stop by the hotel to pick-up name badges, a reunion itinerary, and all event tickets. Note: If you are unable to stop by during the times listed above, all materials will be transported to future reunion events.

COLLEGE OF ARTS & SCIENCES 2ND ANNUAL LINGUISTICS HOMECOMING TIME: 5 – 7 p.m.

LOCATION: William T. Young Library | 401 Hilltop Ave linguistics.as.uky.edu/2nd-annual-linguistics-homecoming-0 Sarah Tully Marks, MD, MA, FAAFP graduated from UK with a bachelor’s degree in linguistics and English. She received her master’s in linguistics from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and then returned to UK for medical school. Her teaching and clinical interests continue to be informed by her love of language. After recently speaking to family medicine residents about how language affects our colleagues and patients, she has reflected on its role throughout her life and career. She will speak to those reflections and the importance her linguistics training has had at various stages of her life and career.

COLLEGE OF MEDICINE HOMECOMING WELCOME RECEPTION TIME: 5:30 – 7:30 p.m. LOCATION: Embassy Suites Lexington Green | 245 Lexington Green Cir https://mednet.mc.uky.edu/alumniweekend/ Note: For UKCOM guests staying at Embassy Suites.

GOLDEN WILDCAT SOCIETY 50TH REUNION DINNER & PINNING CEREMONY TIME: 7 – 9 p.m. LOCATION: Gatton Student Center | 160 Ave of Champions www.ukalumni.net/golden Members of the Class of 1970 and the Class of 1971 are invited to dinner and to be inducted into the UK Alumni Association’s Golden Wildcat Society. Note: Business attire is recommended.

K E N TUCKY A LU MN I MAG A ZIN E Fall 2021

FRIDAY

OCT

GOLDEN WILDCAT SOCIETY 50TH REUNION CAMPUS BUS TOUR

COLLEGE OF PHARMACY 30TH REUNION CLASS LUNCH (CLASS OF 1991)

TIME: 9 – 11 a.m. LOCATION: The Campbell House | 1375 S Broadway www.ukalumni.net/golden

TIME: 12 p.m. LOCATION: Lee T. Todd Jr. Building | 789 S Limestone

Tour will depart from and return to the hotel. Sit back and relax as you view the recent transformation of campus including visits to the new Gatton Student Center, Wildcat Alumni Plaza, William T. Young Library and many of the newly renovated colleges and buildings across campus.

COLLEGE OF MEDICINE STATE OF THE COLLEGE UPDATE TIME: 9:30 – 10:30 a.m. LOCATION: College of Medicine, Dean’s Suite | 800 Rose St Presented by Acting Provost Dr. Robert S. DiPaola. Zoom option will also be available.

GOLDEN WILDCAT SOCIETY 50TH REUNION DAY AT THE RACES TIME: 12 – 5 p.m.

LOCATION: Keeneland | 4201 Versailles Rd www.ukalumni.net/golden Catch all the racing action at one of America’s most iconic racetracks. A limited number of dining room and reserved grandstand tickets will be available to Golden Wildcat Reunion attendees and their guests. Note: The Phoenix Dining Room has a dress code. Gentlemen must have collared shirts and slacks. Ladies are required to wear skirts, dresses, dress slacks or capris with dressy shoes.

LYMAN T. JOHNSON AWARDS LUNCH TIME: 12 – 1:30 p.m. LOCATION: Gatton Student Center | 160 Ave of Champions www.ukhomecoming.com Celebrate with the UK Lyman T. Johnson African-American Alumni Group as it honors outstanding alumni and students at this special event.

COLLEGE OF MEDICINE AFTERNOON AT KEENELAND TIME: 12 – 5:15 p.m. LOCATION: Keeneland | 4201 Versailles Rd https://mednet.mc.uky.edu/alumniweekend/ Catch all the racing action at one of America’s most iconic racetracks. A limited number of reserved grandstand tickets will be available.

Enjoy lunch with your classmates followed by a building tour.

J. DAVID ROSENBERG COLLEGE OF LAW HOMECOMING CELEBRATION TIME: 4:30 – 9 p.m.

LOCATION: J. David Rosenberg College of Law Building | 620 S Limestone www.ukalumni.net/RosenbergLawHomecoming OPEN HOUSE 4:30 – 6 p.m.

Enjoy a reception and tour the newly renovated law building.

HALL OF FAME AND AWARDS NIGHT 6 – 7 p.m.

Celebrate the 2020 and 2021 Hall of Fame inductees and awards winners. Hosted by the Law Alumni Association.

REUNION 7 – 9 p.m.

Join the reunion featuring BBQ and blues music! Open to UK J. David Rosenberg College of Law alumni from all classes.

COLLEGE OF ARTS & SCIENCES DEPARTMENT OF POLITICAL SCIENCE ALUMNI RECEPTION TIME: 5 p.m. LOCATION: TBD Featuring inaugural Outstanding Alumni Award recipient. Alumni, students and current and former faculty are invited. Contact Eva Hicks at eva.hicks@uky.edu or (859) 257-7029.

COLLEGE OF PHARMACY 50TH REUNION CLASS DINNER (CLASSES OF 1970 AND 1971) TIME: 6 p.m. LOCATION: Lee T. Todd Jr. Building | 789 S Limestone https://ukcop.typeform.com/to/tkt4ucIF COLLEGE OF MEDICINE CLASS DINNERS & RECEPTIONS TIME: 6:30 – 10 p.m. LOCATION: Various Locations https://mednet.mc.uky.edu/alumniweekend/ Recognizing the Classes of 1965, 1970, 1971, 1980, 1981, 1990, 1991, 2001 and 2011.

www. u kal u mni. net

FRIDAY

OCT

GOLDEN WILDCAT SOCIETY 50TH REUNION RECEPTION

NATIONAL PAN-HELLENIC COUNCIL HOMECOMING STEP SHOW

TIME: 7 – 9 p.m. LOCATION: The Campbell House | 1375 S Broadway www.ukalumni.net/golden

TIME: TBD LOCATION: Gatton Student Center | 160 Ave of Champions https://kentuckynphc.com/

Enjoy a relaxing reception with your classmates after a day at the races. Rooms will be available for members of the Classes of 1970 and 1971 to catch up with old friends and reminisce about their days on campus.

The annual Homecoming Step Show is a treasured tradition that allows for friendly competition between the organizations within the National Pan-Hellenic Council.

Note: Casual attire

SATURDAY

OCT

UK ALUMNI ASSOCIATION HOMECOMING BRUNCH

UK ALUMNI ASSOCIATION HOMECOMING TAILGATE TENT PARTY

TIME: 9:30 – 11 a.m. LOCATION: King Alumni House | 400 Rose St www.ukhomecoming.com

TIME: 2 ½ Hours Prior to Kickoff LOCATION: Kentucky Proud Park | 510 Wildcat Ct www.ukhomecoming.com

Begin a full day of Homecoming activities by joining fellow Wildcats for brunch at the King Alumni House. Mix and mingle with fellow UK alumni and friends.

Join fellow UK alumni and friends for a tailgate tent party and pep rally before the Wildcats take on the LSU Tigers at Kroger Field. Enjoy food and drinks along with exciting games, entertainment, giveaways and a special performance by the UK cheerleaders and pep band!

Note: This event is subject to cancellation depending on the kickoff time of the football game.

UK ALUMNI ASSOCIATION CAMPUS BUS TOUR TIME: 11 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. LOCATION: King Alumni House | 400 Rose St Tour will depart from and return to the King Alumni House. Enjoy the sights and sounds of campus including visits to the new Gatton Student Center, Wildcat Alumni Plaza, William T. Young Library and many of the newly renovated colleges and buildings across campus. Note: This activity is subject to cancellation depending on the kickoff time of the football game.

COLLEGE OF PHARMACY TAILGATE BASH – FAMILY EVENT TIME: 3 Hours Prior to Kickoff LOCATION: 1401 University Dr. https://www.eventbrite.com/e/ukcophomecoming-tailgate-party-2021tickets-163692463565

SUNDAY

OCT

10 18

GATTON COLLEGE OF BUSINESS AND ECONOMICS TAILGATE TIME: 2 ½ Hours Prior to Kickoff www.ukhomecoming.com COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING TAILGATE TIME: 2 Hours Prior to Kickoff https://www.engr.uky.edu/TailgateRSVP LOUISIANA STATE UNIVERSITY VS. UNIVERSITY OF KENTUCKY FOOTBALL GAME TIME: Kickoff Time TBA LOCATION: Kroger Field | 1540 University Dr Cheer on the Cats as they battle the Tigers in this important mid-season SEC match-up.

GOLDEN WILDCAT SOCIETY 50TH REUNION FAREWELL BREAKFAST

GOSPEL BRUNCH FEATURING PAMELA WESTBROOK

TIME: 8 – 10 a.m. LOCATION: The Campbell House | 1375 S Broadway

TIME: 10:30 a.m. LOCATION: Gatton Student Center | 160 Ave of Champions

Say farewell to fellow classmates as we wrap-up the 2021 Homecoming weekend. Food and drinks will be available for purchase.

Proceeds benefit the Office of Institutional Diversity and the Lyman T. Johnson Scholarship.

K E N TUCKY A LU MN I MAG A ZIN E Fall 2021

CLASS OF

1970

CLASS OF OF CLASS

1971

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 7 GOLDEN WILDCAT SOCIETY REUNION REGISTRATION

GOLDEN GOLDEN WILDCAT WILDCAT

SOCIETY SOCIETY 50TH 50TH

Reunion Reunion WEEKEND WEEKEND

October7-10 7-10 October

TIME: Noon – 5 p.m. LOCATION: The Campbell House | 1375 S Broadway | Lexington, KY 40504 GOLDEN WILDCAT SOCIETY INDUCTION DINNER TIME: 7 – 9 p.m.

LOCATION: Gatton Student Center | Grand Ballroom | 160 Ave of Champions | Lexington, KY 40508 FRIDAY, OCTOBER 8

CAMPUS BUS TOUR (OPTIONAL)

TIME: 9 – 11 a.m. LOCATION: Tour departs from and returns to The Campbell House. RACING AND LUNCH AT KEENELAND TIME: Noon – 5 p.m. LOCATION: Keeneland | Phoenix Dining Room | 4201 Versailles Road | Lexington, KY 40510 CLASS OF 1970 AND CLASS OF 1971 RECEPTION TIME: 7 – 9 p.m. LOCATION: The Campbell House | 1375 S Broadway | Lexington, KY 40504 SATURDAY, OCTOBER 9 HOMECOMING BRUNCH TIME: 9:30 – 11 a.m. LOCATION: King Alumni House | 400 Rose Street | Lexington, KY 40506 CAMPUS BUS TOUR (OPTIONAL) TIME: 11 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. LOCATION: Tour departs from and returns to the King Alumni House. HOMECOMING TAILGATE TENT PARTY TIME: 2 ½ hours prior to kick off

LOCATION: Kentucky Proud Baseball Park | 510 Wildcat Court | Lexington, KY 40506 LOUISIANA STATE UNIVERSITY VS. UNIVERSITY OF KENTUCKY FOOTBALL GAME

TIME: TBD LOCATION: Kroger Field | 1540 University Drive | Lexington, KY 40506 SUNDAY, OCTOBER 10 FAREWELL BREAKFAST

TIME: 8 – 10 a.m. LOCATION: The Campbell House | The Rackhouse Tavern | 1375 S Broadway | Lexington, KY 40504

w w w. u ka n i . net net www. kall u m mni.

11 19

WHEN THE TIME IS RIGHT, WE’LL GET YOU THERE.

Visit www.ukalumni.net/travel or call (859)257-8905 for more information.

GOING ABOVE & BEYOND

UK ALUMNI ASSOCIATION ANNOUNCES 2021 DISTINGUISHED SERVICE AWARD RECIPIENTS The University of Kentucky Alumni Association Distinguished Service Awards and Joseph T. Burch Young Alumni Award are presented annually to honor and recognize those who have provided extraordinary service to the university and the association. The 2021 recipients were honored at the Alumni Service Awards and Club Awards dinner during the association’s annual Summer Workshop in Lexington.

BEATTY LONDON

CHARLES D. “CHAD” POLK

DISTINGUISHED SERVICE AWARD WINNER

Beatty London resides in Lexington and earned a bachelor’s degree in business management in 2000. While at UK, he was a member of the UK men’s soccer team. During his senior season, the Wildcats qualified for the NCAA Tournament for the first time. London has been a member of the Fayette County UK Alumni Club board for 15 years, currently serving as president. He has planned and contributed to the club’s continued success through golf scrambles, preview nights and Hometown Hero awards. The Wildcat Love partnerships with Barrel House Distilling and Woodford Reserve has raised more than $11,000 for club scholarships. He helped take the club’s game watch parties to a new level by attracting new sponsors and hosting the Wildcat Love TV show featuring UK senior football players. He helped raise more than $18,000 at five game watch parties and raised $15,500 for the club’s scholarships during a Facebook Live raffle. London also served on the UK Alumni Association Board of Directors from 2018-2020. He is married to Rosalind London.

Charles D. “Chad” Polk resides in Nashville and received a bachelor’s degree in architecture in 1994. He owns his own full-service, award winning architecture firm, Creative Design Professionals (CDP) | Architecture LLC, an eight-person residential and commercial firm. He is the first associate member on both the American Institute of Architects (AIA) Tennessee and the AIA Middle Tennessee boards of directors. He has served as president of the AIA Middle Tennessee Young Architects Forum (YAF), the AIA YAF Gulf States regional director, and as the public relations advisor on the National AIA YAF Advisory Committee. He currently serves on the AIA Tennessee Executive Committee as the board secretary. He has been a club board member since 2003 and has served multiple terms as the Greater Nashville UK Alumni Club president. Polk is currently serving his third year of his third, three-year term on the UK Alumni Board of Directors. He and his wife, Sims Polk, have two sons, Bentley and Knox.

K E N TUCKY A LU MN I MAG A ZIN E Fall 2021

MARY L. SHELMAN

AMELIA BROWN WILSON

DISTINGUISHED SERVICE AWARD WINNER

Mary L. Shelman resides in Belmont, Massachusetts, and received a bachelor’s degree in chemical engineering in 1981 and an MBA from Harvard Business School in 1987. She is the 2021-2022 UK Alumni Association president and is an internationally recognized thought leader on the global ag-tech and agri-food system. She has consulted, taught and presented at conferences in 20 countries. She is past president of the International Food and Agribusiness Management Association and past president of English At Large, an adult literacy organization. Shelman is a native of Elizabethtown, where she still owns a farm. She is married to Nathan “Chip” Cohen and they have one son, Alexander “AJ” Shelman-Cohen, and a daughter-in-law, Margaret Shelman.

Amelia Brown Wilson, who passed away on June 25, 2021, was a resident of Grand Rivers and a three-time UK graduate. She earned a bachelor’s degree in family and consumer sciences in 2003, her master’s degree in community and leadership development in 2006, and her doctorate in higher education administration in 2010. As a student she was crowned Homecoming Queen in 2003, served on the Student Government Association, was vice president of Delta Gamma sorority, served two years as the coordinator for the UK Ambassadors and received the Sullivan Medallion. Wilson was the recipient of a liver transplant and was an advocate for organ donation. She started the Gift of Life Challenge between UK and the University of Louisville to promote organ and tissue donation. She was awarded the 2011 Joseph T. Burch Young Alumni Award and served 11 years on the UK Alumni Association Board of Directors. She was a field representative for U.S. Rep. James Comer and was married to fellow UK graduate Allen O. Wilson ’03 AFE ‘06 LAW.

BLAKE WILLOUGHBY YOUNG ALUMNI AWARD RECIPIENT Blake Willoughby of Brandenburg received his bachelor’s degrees in accounting in 2011, in economics in 2012 and an MBA in 2012. He is the chairman and president of First Breckinridge Bancshares Inc., which owns and operates seven community banks in central and western Kentucky. He serves on the boards of directors of Brandenburg Communications Corporation, the Breckinridge Health System Foundation, Volunteers of America Mid-States, and the Louisville Branch of the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis. He also serves on the Golden Matrix Fund Advisory Council and the UK Gatton College of Business and Economics Emerging Leaders Board. As a student at UK, Willoughby was a Singletary Scholar, Gatton Ambassador and member of the University Appeals Board. He served as President of the Lambda Lambda Chapter of the Sigma Chi Fraternity, corporate relations chairman of DanceBlue and as a Supreme Court Justice for the Student Government Association. He is married to UK graduate Leslie Allen Willoughby ’12 and they have two sons, Herbert and Hamilton. The Joseph T. Burch Young Alumni Award recipient honors an alumna or alumnus who is a member of the UK Alumni Association, is 35 years of age or younger and has worked on behalf of young people. Photos by Tim Webb

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LEADING THE WAY

UK ALUMNI ASSOCIATION ANNOUNCES NEW 2021-2022 OFFICERS The University of Kentucky Alumni Association announced its 2021-2022 board of directors’ officers during its annual Summer Workshop. This year’s officers are Mary L. Shelman, president; Antoine Huffman, president-elect; Janie McKenzie-Wells, treasurer; and Jill Smith, secretary. The new slate will serve until June 30, 2022.

MARY L. SHELMAN PRESIDENT Mary L. Shelman resides in Belmont, Massachusetts, and received a bachelor’s degree in chemical engineering in 1981 and an MBA from Harvard Business School in 1987. She is the 2021-2022 UK Alumni Association president and is an internationally recognized thought leader on the global ag-tech and agri-food system. She has consulted, taught and presented at conferences in 20 countries. She is past president of the International Food and Agribusiness Management Association and past president of English At Large, an adult literacy organization. Shelman is a native of Elizabethtown, where she still owns a farm. She is married to Nathan “Chip” Cohen and they have one son, Alexander “AJ” Shelman-Cohen, and a daughter-in-law, Margaret Shelman.

ANTOINE S. HUFFMAN PRESIDENT-ELECT Antoine S. Huffman of Prosper, Texas, received his bachelor’s degree in telecommunications in 2005. While at Kentucky, he was a three-year starter for the Wildcats football team, becoming a UK NCAA record holder. In 2005, Huffman became the first African American to be crowned UK Homecoming king. In 2002 to 2005, the Atlanta, Georgia, native was nationally recognized for his community service, academics and athletic achievement. He is in the medical field as a regional director of sales for the southwest and he and his wife, Jessica Kibbe Huffman, who is a UK College of Education graduate, are Life Members of the UK Alumni Association. They have two sons, Jayden and Adonis.

JANIE C. McKENZIE-WELLS TREASURER Janie C. McKenzie-Wells of Staffordsville earned a bachelor’s degree in political science in 1983 and a law degree in 1986. She was admitted to the practice of law in 1986 and was the first woman elected as 24th Circuit Family Court Judge. She is also a member of the National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges. She received the UK Alumni Association Distinguished Service Award and the UK Law Alumni Association Distinguished Jurist Award. She and her husband, Frank, have a daughter, Katherine, who is a medical student at UK.

JILL H. SMITH SECRETARY Jill H. Smith of Lexington earned a bachelor’s degree in marketing and management in 2005 and a master’s degree in career, technical and leadership education in 2011. She joined the UK Alumni Association in 2006 as a program coordinator and held four other positions at the association before becoming executive director in 2020. She also serves as associate vice president for alumni engagement and secretary of the UK Alumni Association Board of Directors. She and her husband, Ryan Smith, who is a UK College of Agriculture, Food and Environment graduate, have two children, Tanner and Emmy.

Photos by Tim Webb

K E N TUCKY A LU MN I MAG A ZIN E Fall 2021

Please welcome the following individuals who were recently elected to the UK Alumni Association Board of Directors and Leadership Advisory Council for the very first time. They are dedicated to helping the association and the University of Kentucky carry out its mission of being the University of, for and with Kentucky.

FRESH FACES

KENT T. MILLS IN-STATE REPRESENTATIVE, BOARD OF DIRECTORS TERM: JULY 1, 2021 – JUNE 30, 2024 Kent T. Mills Is a lifelong resident of Madisonville with his wife, Christy D. Mills ‘93. He received his bachelor’s degree in business administration from UK in 1983. Mills currently serves on the Board of Directors of the Hopkins County Family YMCA and the Hopkins County Historic Commission Board. He previously served on boards with Baptist Health Madisonville, Hopkins County Regional Chamber of Commerce, Madisonville-Hopkins County Economic Development, United Way and the Boy Scouts of America Council. He has served numerous terms as the Hopkins County Club president and treasurer in the past 25 years. Mills led fundraising for the Hopkins County Club the last several years and helped raise more than $45,000 for the club’s scholarship endowment.

GLEN H. PEARSON IN-STATE REPRESENTATIVE, LEADERSHIP ADVISORY COUNCIL TERM: JULY 1, 2021 – JUNE 30, 2022 Glen H. Pearson resides in Paducah and received his bachelor’s degree in chemistry with a mathematics minor from UK in 1987. He is a quality systems manager and chemist for Estron Chemicals. He is a member of the Paducah Bourbon Society, overseeing the collection of money toward dues, fees and sales for the world’s third-largest bourbon society. Pearson is a non-active member of the U.S. Jaycees Senate, having served as past-president at the region and state levels.

DENA STOOKSBURY STAMPER IN-STATE REPRESENTATIVE, LEADERSHIP ADVISORY COUNCIL TERM: JULY 1, 2021 – JUNE 30, 2022 Dena Stooksbury Stamper resides in Hopkinsville and received her bachelor’s degree in political science from UK in 1984 where she was a member of Kappa Alpha Theta. She also holds a master’s degree in middle school social studies and administration from Murray State University. She is currently a middle school teacher at the flagship Virtual Learning Academy, a gifted and talented cluster leader, and department chairwoman at Hopkinsville Middle School. She is past president of the Christian County UK Alumni Club. Stamper has been a site-based decision-making council member, has served as state finance chairwoman, local corresponding secretary, and guard for the Philanthropic Educational Organization. She is a Leadership Hopkinsville/Christian County Graduate and 2018-2019 delegate to the Kentucky Education Association Assembly. She has been a national presenter to the Southern Region Education Board and a delegate to the National Education Association Assembly in 2019.

BLAKE WILLOUGHBY IN-STATE REPRESENTATIVE, LEADERSHIP ADVISORY COUNCIL TERM: JULY 1, 2021 – JUNE 30, 2022 Blake Willoughby resides in Brandenburg and received his bachelor’s degree in accounting in 2011, his bachelor’s degree in economics in 2012 and his MBA in 2012. He is president of a banking organization made up of seven separate banking institutions operating in approximately 30 locations. He is a member of the Gatton College of Business and Economics Gatton Emerging Leaders Board and a member of Golden Matrix Fund Advisory Board. He is married to Leslie Willoughby ‘12 CI. Photos Submitted

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The mission of the UK Alumni Association is to engage, connect, serve and celebrate alumni and friends of the university. UK Alumni Association clubs serve a critical role in achieving this mission by bringing alumni together in their local communities to demonstrate their love and support for their alma mater through a variety of events and activities throughout the year. Some of these events include game watch parties, group outings, social and professional networking events, service projects, book awards, scholarship fundraising, student send-offs and more. The UK Alumni Association recognized many of its clubs at the Alumni Service Awards and Club Awards dinner during the association’s annual Summer Workshop in Lexington. Awards were given to in-state and out-of-state alumni clubs in the following six categories: alumni engagement, scholarship, service, student recruitment, new and creative programming and most improved. The Past Presidents’ Advisory Council selected the winners and the following clubs were recognized for their outstanding contributions in one or more categories:

IN-STATE AWARDS: CHRISTIAN COUNTY: SCHOLARSHIP CLARK COUNTY: ALUMNI ENGAGEMENT AND SCHOLARSHIP FAYETTE COUNTY: ALUMNI ENGAGEMENT, MOST IMPROVED, NEW & CREATIVE PROGRAMMING, SCHOLARSHIP AND SERVICE FULTON COUNTY: ALUMNI ENGAGEMENT AND SCHOLARSHIP

OUT-OF-STATE AWARDS: GREATER ATLANTA: ALUMNI ENGAGEMENT AND NEW & CREATIVE PROGRAMMING GREATER BIRMINGHAM: SCHOLARSHIP CHARLOTTE: ALUMNI ENGAGEMENT, MOST IMPROVED AND STUDENT RECRUITMENT CHICAGOLAND: NEW & CREATIVE PROGRAMMING, SCHOLARSHIP AND SERVICE DALLAS/FORT WORTH: ALUMNI ENGAGEMENT GREATER HOUSTON: SCHOLARSHIP AND SERVICE JACKSONVILLE: ALUMNI ENGAGEMENT GREATER NASHVILLE: SERVICE NATION’S CAPITAL: ALUMNI ENGAGEMENT, SERVICE AND STUDENT RECRUITMENT NEW YORK CITY: ALUMNI ENGAGEMENT AND STUDENT RECRUITMENT NORTHEAST OHIO: SCHOLARSHIP

HARDIN COUNTY: SERVICE

NORTHERN ALABAMA: ALUMNI ENGAGEMENT

GREATER LOUISVILLE: ALUMNI ENGAGEMENT,

PACIFIC NORTHWEST: ALUMNI ENGAGEMENT AND SCHOLARSHIP

NEW & CREATIVE PROGRAMMING, SCHOLARSHIP AND SERVICE

Photo by Tim Webb

FOR THE LOVE OF UK

SARASOTA/SUNCOAST: ALUMNI ENGAGEMENT

McCRACKEN COUNTY: ALUMNI ENGAGEMENT AND SCHOLARSHIP

ST. LOUIS: ALUMNI ENGAGEMENT AND NEW & CREATIVE PROGRAMMING

NORTHERN KENTUCKY/GREATER CINCINNATI: ALUMNI ENGAGEMENT AND SCHOLARSHIP

TRIANGLE AREA, NC: STUDENT RECRUITMENT

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UPSTATE SC: ALUMNI ENGAGEMENT

Alumni News

1 1. The UK Alumni Association paid tribute to its 2020 and 2021 outgoing board of directors at its annual Summer Workshop in Lexington. Those in attendance to receive their token of appreciation were, from left to right, Mark Hogge, D. Michael Coyle, Bruce E. Danhauer, Keith Knapp, Lori E. Wells, Scott Wittch, Shelia M. Key, Frank Kendrick, Lu Ann Holmes, Shiela D. Corley, Diane M. Massie, Phillip Elder, Elaine A. Wilson, Taunya A. Phillips, Katie Eiserman, Erin Endersby, Tanya Bauer Jones, Shane T. Carlin and Hannah Miner Myers.

2. The Big Sandy UK Alumni Club met for elections for the 2021-2022 and 2022-2023 terms and presented a cake to Janie McKenzie-Wells (center) to celebrate her new role as treasurer for the UK Alumni Association Board of Directors. From left to right is Jennifer Salyer, Jim Keenan, Janie McKenzie-Wells, Tom Smith and Robin Smith. 3. Patricia Wykstra Johnson (right) recently named a boulder “Wildcat Rock” in the Cougar Habitat of Grandfather Mountain in North Carolina to pay homage to her love of the Kentucky Wildcat. Carol Green Rippetoe (left) joined her in selecting the large rock in the habitat. Both are members of the Triangle Area (NC) UK Alumni Club.

4. Members of the Greater Atlanta UK Alumni Club attended “UK Night” at the Atlanta Braves game at SunTrust Park. University of Kentucky students, alumni and fans received a Braves/UK co-branded hat with their ticket purchase and a three-dollar donation was given to the Greater Atlanta UK Alumni Club as part of the ticket purchase. From left to right is Mark Daley, Kristy Daley, Elizabeth Berlin and Matt Reiter.

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THE CLASS OF 2025 IS SHAPING UP The University of Kentucky is excited to welcome its newest Wildcats! Every year, the university host K Week for first-year students to become acclimated to the campus experience, build comradery with other classmates, learn the traditions of what it means to be a Wildcat and just have fun. One of the most exciting traditions is Big Blue U when freshmen and transfers learn UK cheers and songs, hear from UK coaches, and have their class photo taken on Kroger Field. Welcome Class of 2025! We can’t wait for you to discover what’s wildly possible at the University of Kentucky.

K E N TUCKY A LU MN I MAG A ZIN E Fall 2021

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Photo by Mark Cornelison, UK Photo

FROM

TRAGEDY TO TRIUMPH JASON BOOHER ’96 ED

WAS NOT GOING TO LET TRAGEDY DEFINE WHO HE WAS OR WHAT HE BECAME. By Hal Morris

Photo courtesy of Bill Luster, Courier-Journal

The 1988 Carrollton, Kentucky, bus crash, is the deadliest drunk driving accident in U.S. history claiming 27 lives.

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Photo courtesy of Ryan C. Hermens, Lexington Herlad Leader

ooher, the recently-named superintendent of the Mercer County Public Schools in Harrodsburg, Kentucky, is a survivor of the 1988 Carrollton, Kentucky, bus crash, still the deadliest drunk driving accident in U.S. history. He is one of 40 survivors of the crash that claimed 27 lives. Booher, who earned a bachelor’s degree in secondary education from the UK College of Education in 1996, has been a teacher, coach and administrator over the past 25 years. None of it would not have been possible without the support he received back in his hometown of Radcliff and at UK after the fateful night of May 14, 1988. “I was about to go to high school, and we had the best day of our lives up to that point. We went to Kings Island, and it was a beautiful day with all my friends. We had an unbelievable day,” Booher says. “Then, little did I know that it was going to turn into the most tragic thing anyone could ever go through at 13 years old.” The school bus with Booher and 66 others was heading back to Hardin County on I-71 that night when a drunk driver was heading the wrong way on I-71 and hit the bus headon causing an explosion.

“We had just filled up with unleaded gas, which is highly explosive. When he hit our bus head on right on the gas tank, it splashed all down the side and then immediately engulfed in flames. All of us were trying to get out one little door in the back because we didn’t have all the safety features that today’s buses have,” he says. “Only 40 of us made it out, many of them severely burned. That was a fragile time in my life because my best friend Chad (Witt) was sitting next to me in the same seat and didn’t make it out.” An event of that magnitude would understandably have damaging and long-lasting effects, but Booher credits his teachers and North Hardin High School for making sure that he was able to overcome those obstacles. “Over those next four years, teachers and coaches didn’t just take care of me and just feel sorry for me,” he says. “What they did for me was they pushed me. They motivated me and they challenged me. They made sure I didn’t fall through the cracks and become another statistic or an atrisk kid.” Those influences paved the way for Booher to realize what he wanted to do with his life shortly after arriving at the University of Kentucky. “At freshman orientation, they said the average freshman changes their major three or four times, and I really didn’t know what I wanted to do at the time. After that first semester, I was thinking, ‘if teachers and coaches had that big of an impact on my life those four years after the bus crash, then that’s what I want to do with the rest of my life,’” Booher says. “I just knew I wanted to coach and be an educator for my career. I don’t even view it as work; I’m trying to inspire and help young people. Booher credits his self-drive and independence for motivating him in college. “I’ve always had my own goals and dreams. I’ve never needed people to set my goals for me, although that’s what those teachers and coaches did for me during high school. I had goals and dreams for my life, and I know those things don’t just fall in your lap. You have to work extremely hard for them.” That drive and confidence also convinced Booher he had what it took to fulfill every Kentucky kid’s dream and join the UK basketball program with then-coach Rick Pitino. “I grew up like every other basketball player in Kentucky. I wanted to play for UK. I wanted to play for Rick Pitino. We had a really good basketball team and I thought I was really good at the time. I went there to walk on, and I thought I could just walk into Rick Pitino’s office and tell him I was a pretty good high school player and probably need to be on your basketball team,” Booher laughs. While playing for the Wildcats did not work out, he did work with the UK women’s basketball team for a couple of years, helping scout and serving as a scout team player. He also served on the Student Athletic Council and worked with the K Club at UK football and basketball games. “It was a great experience for me at Kentucky,” he says. After graduating from UK, Booher took a position as a math teacher and assistant basketball coach at Corbin High School. He then went to Henry County for a year before returning home to North Hardin to teach and coach under his high school coach, Ron Bevars. Booher had sights on being an administrator, and a Hardin County district policy prohibited administrators from coaching, so he made his way to Shelby Valley.

“My wife (Hilary) is from Pikeville, and we just had our first-born, our son Harrison (the couple also have a daughter, Jewel). We moved there and they hired me as assistant principal, then head coach and the rest is history.” He won the All “A” state tournament and the Kentucky Sweet Sixteen with Shelby Valley High School in 2010 — still the only team in state history to accomplish the feat. Booher called winning a state title at Shelby Valley “Kentucky’s version of Hoosiers” since the Wildcats had to beat powerful Louisville Ballard in the finals. Booher later went to Covington Holmes and led the Bulldogs to the state tournament in 2013. “Winning a state title was always my goal, my dream. Not only did I want to give back to young people, but I also had in the back of my mind that it would be a dream come true if I could ever win a state championship as a coach. Coach Bevars was right there in 2010 when we cut down the nets at Rupp Arena and it felt great he was able to be part of that and share that moment with me.” Booher earned his master’s degree and his Rank I with superintendent, director of pupil personnel and instructional supervisor certifications from Morehead State University. He knew he wanted to become a superintendent one day, but there was one thing that kept getting in the way. “I never could get coaching out of my blood,” he says. “Coaching was just something I always knew I wanted to do.” Booher retired from coaching in 2014 and served as assistant principal and athletic director at Pikeville High School for four years. He then became principal for the past seven years until his current position at Mercer County. Even with coaching out of his blood, Booher still needed something to help his competitive edge, so he became a marathon runner. “I like to run as a stress reliever. I wanted to get coaching out of my blood, but I couldn’t’ get competitiveness out of my blood,” he says. “I had no more games to coach, so I have this. Now I want to try and qualify for the six world major marathons (Tokyo, Boston, London, Berlin, Chicago and New York).” Booher has also taken that competitive spirit to Mercer County. “Everywhere I’ve been, whether it’s for basketball or as an athletics director, principal or as superintendent, I just want to be the best,” he says. “I want Mercer to be a better place and raise the bar. The kids only have a one-shot deal in education – you don’t get to hit the rewind button.” Booher also regularly talks to students and groups about that day in 1988, and he has a consistent message for young people. “Everybody’s life is going to be like a roller coaster. You’re going to have tragedy or adversity in your life, but don’t allow those bad, rough, tough times take your eyes off of your goals and dreams. “One thing I always tell them is, ‘Yes, me and 39 other survivors of this Carrollton bus crash could have sat in Radcliff, Kentucky, and everybody would know us as a Carrollton bus crash survivor. But we wouldn’t have an impact today and be able to inspire thousands of people. Hopefully, through my career and what the Lord allowed me to do, He’s given me opportunities and a platform to be able to share my testimony.’ I want to use that to go out and make an impact on people’s lives.” ■ www. u kal u mni. net

The

Queen of Career Services A Q&A with Queen-Ayanna Sullivan By Hal Morris

ueen-Ayanna Sullivan ’19 AS, ’21 ED spent the past academic year as a graduate assistant with UK Alumni Career Services (ACS). As a counseling psychology student, there is a lot of overlap with helping clients and she credits the experience with building her self-confidence as a clinician and helping shape her as a person. She graduated with a bachelor’s degree in psychology and human communication in 2019 and recently completed her master’s degree from UK’s counseling psychology program. Sullivan will begin working on her doctorate of psychology degree this fall at Radford University in Radford, Virginia. During her undergraduate career, she was a UK 101 peer instructor, peer mentor for the Business and Enterprise Living Learning Program, a resident advisor, and research assistant in the Families, Adoption, and Diversity Research Lab. During her master’s program, Sullivan was a member of the RISE^2 Research Team, an Ally Development Workshop Fellow for the EDP department in the College of Education, and she also worked as a graduate assistant resident director on campus. Sullivan recently shared why she chose her field of study and how her experience with ACS will help with her future plans.

How did you get involved with Alumni Career Services? I was going through the practicum application process for my master’s program when COVID-19 was just hitting our university and everything was shutting down. We were sending out our resumes, emailing people, calling offices, etc. and no one was getting back to us because everyone was transitioning to work at home. Alumni Career Services was the first practicum site that really let it be known, ‘Hey, our application process is live and we want you to apply here.’ This meant so much! Amanda (Schagane) really took the initiative to be a welcome and opening presence. That’s something I really appreciated. I took a course with Amanda during my undergraduate time here at UK, so I knew I wanted to apply to work with her.

How did your experience with ACS carry over into your studies as a psychology student?

What were your responsibilities and duties as a graduate assistant with ACS?

I think there’s a lot of overlap when we think about the clientele we serve and the people we see on a regular basis. When we are holding counseling sessions, a lot of people have issues with mock interviews and just interviewing in general. They get very nervous, sometimes scared, and think, ‘Oh, I might say the wrong thing.’ With that, we question it and think, ‘Okay, what’s causing this reaction? Where is it coming from? How do we potentially work through it?’ And that overlaps with psychology. Helping people work through those issues and think about what kind of internal messages they are receiving from themselves and external messages they are receiving from others is important. We want to brainstorm ways that we can help build up our client’s confidence and get them to where they want to be professionally.

Primarily, I met with clients and did a lot of resume reviews. I would do Clifton Strengths Assessment reviews and walk through the career assessment with them in detail to help them learn about their strengths. I often worked with clients on how to sell themselves in an interview or interact with co-workers. I am comfortable in LinkedIn so I would go through that platform with a client. Additionally, I am good at presentations so I would do a lot of research on a variety of topics. I’ll pull up all the recent data, put it into a document and then create a PowerPoint to present myself or for someone else to present in the future on behalf of ACS.

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How were you involved with Job Club?

What drew you to this field of study?

The previous GA (Melanie Miller ’20 ED) wanted to offer pro bono services to people in our community that did not have the funds to become a Life or Active Member of the UK Alumni Association. The idea of having our Job Club sessions followed by me offering a variety of other sessions arose. I would host sessions on interviewing methods or elevator pitches, for example, because a lot of people needed help in those departments. We would host the mini group sessions after Job Club where they could practice with one another, and then I would let them know that if they wanted to continue, they could click on another link to get one-on-one scheduled time with me. If they wanted the additional assistance, I would meet with them for 30 minutes or an hour to help them in the best way we could.

A lot of trauma within my own family and things I’ve seen with friends of mine. I grew up on military installations my entire life. When we’re looking at what kind of things are spoken about in military households, it’s always super strict. It’s always, ‘Don’t do this. Don’t do that.’ With that, there’s not a lot of conversations about sex happening at all. If they do arise they might sound like ‘We’re not even going to talk about teenage pregnancy because that’s not even up for question. It’s not going to happen.’ When we look at the literature, we see that places like the Netherlands start teaching kids about genitalia and sexual issues at about the age of five. Since that’s not the case within the U.S., people may go out and explore on their own and that’s how they can get hurt. They don’t have adults talking to them, teaching them, and being patient with them. Adults need to understand that this is a normal part of the human process that we all experience. Waiting until someone is in their 20s or 30s to open up about a conversation isn’t going to stop all the negative things from happening – that’s actually what’s causing it.

What are your career goals? I am very passionate about serving military populations. I come from a military background, so my ultimate career goal is to be a sex therapist for the United States military. Specifically, focusing on service members of color and their families. I’m very interested in sex, intimacy, relationships, trauma and life transition within this community. When we look at the literature, the majority is focusing on problems and sex-negativity. There’s not a lot on reclaiming power and having positive conversations to hopefully prevent negative sexual issues. Promoting sexual education that can help instill positive messaging and reframe how we think about it as a culture is important to me. That is where I have a lot of my passion. But I am also very knowledgeable, comfortable and happy doing career counseling as well. I don’t think it’s something I’m ever going to stop.

How did you decide to come to UK? My family moved to Kentucky when I was in high school and because we lived on base, I was required to attend Fort Knox High School. My high school guidance counselor was the biggest UK fan ever. She drove a UK jeep to school every day and her entire office was UKthemed. Since she loved UK, she made every single person in my senior class, which there were around 50 of us, apply to UK. She even got us application fee waivers and made us go on a trip to UK to tour the campus. I remember telling her ‘I’m applying because you’re making me but I’m not coming here.’ It’s funny to think about that moment now, after having spent the last six years of my life at UK!

How have you benefitted from your experience with Alumni Career Services? Working with ACS has benefited me astronomically. When I think about the person that I was in July of 2020, I was someone who hated networking, I barely used my LinkedIn account and I thought I was a decent interviewee. After working with Amanda and Caroline (Francis) for a few months, learning the business skills, and practicing on a regular basis, I can now say that I feel 100% more confident in all of those areas. Being able to present myself as a polished candidate has also helped me gain self-confidence as I transition into this next phase of my career as a career counselor and doctoral student. In addition, my ideas have also been seen and expressed while working with ACS. An example of this includes me being able to highlight ways we could get more diverse perspectives into the room. Most of the time when I’m at Alumni Career Services events, I’m the only person of color in a space, and particularly the only Black woman. That is something I like to recognize and challenge because everyone on our team is in a position of power. We are all highly educated people, and it is important to name that and think about how we can use this to extend our work within the communities that we serve.

What will you take away from this experience? The relationships and connections that I’ve made! Primarily, I would say having Amanda and Caroline as mentors has been extremely beneficial to my growth as a professional. Each week we would meet via Zoom and it has truly become one of my favorite parts about working for ACS. We would be so excited to see one another and within this space we would share well wishes, points of concerns, opportunities for continuing education, and so much more. Additionally, this is by far one of the most organized and accommodating practicum locations available to students within my program. Overall, Alumni Career Services is a welcoming place that has provided me with countless opportunities for growth and I sincerely appreciate being a member of this fantastic team.

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Sports

Photo by Mark Kuhlmann, NCAA Photos

LILLEY NAMED SEC FEMALE ATHLETE OF THE YEAR

Madison Lilley is the first-ever volleyball player to win the Roy F. Kramer SEC Female Athlete of the Year Award.

Kentucky Volleyball setter Madison Lilley ’21 was named the 2020-2021 Roy F. Kramer Southeastern Conference Female Athlete of the Year. She is the first-ever volleyball player to win the award in the history of the SEC. Alabama wide receiver DeVonta Smith, who won the Heisman Trophy at Alabama, was named the male winner of the award. “We are proud to honor DeVonta and Madison, who not only excelled in the SEC but were also recognized as the best in their sport across the country. They are the ultimate examples of what it means to be a student-athlete in the Southeastern Conference,” said SEC Commissioner Greg

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Sankey. “DeVonta and Madison both were members of national championship teams and recipients of their sport’s national player of the year award. Each has competed at the highest level of collegiate athletics, benefitted from the world-class support provided by their universities and, through their hard work, dedication and commitment to excellence, have reached the pinnacle of collegiate athletic success. Congratulations to DeVonta and Madison and thank you for being part of the SEC.” Lilley becomes just the second female student-athlete from Kentucky to win the award, joining Jenny Hansen in 1995. She is the eighth athlete from UK to win the award (AJ Reed, 2014; Anthony Davis, 2012; Tim Couch, 1999; Jenny Hansen, 1995; Jamal Mashburn, 1993; Kyle Macy, 1980; Jack Givens, 1978). Lilley, who was named the SEC Player of the Year this season, in addition to winning AVCA National Player of the Year honors and capturing the 2020-2021 Honda Award for volleyball. She was one of the key pieces to Kentucky’s first NCAA national championship win over Texas, logging 53 assists and a career-high 19 digs in the title match. “Given the number of incredible athletes in our league, to be elected SEC Female Athlete of the Year is an elite honor,” UK Director of Athletics Mitch Barnhart said. “What made Madison so special is that she is worthy of being chosen from both an individual and a team perspective. Individually, her record-setting performance on the court speaks for itself. In addition, the way she led her team — with unyielding commitment to make her teammates their very best and her indomitable will to win — makes her deserving of this distinction.” Lilley was one of four finalists for the 2021 ESPY Award in the category of Female College Athlete of the Year. “I’m proud of what Madison has achieved as an athlete. It’s truly incredible what she’s accomplished,” UK head coach Craig Skinner said. “What I’m even more proud of is her vision that she set forth for herself and the team. She set out a path to win a national championship and she followed through with it like the champion she is.” Exceptional in the classroom, as well, Lilley graduated from Kentucky in the spring with a degree in Integrated Strategic Communications. She was named to the CoSIDA Academic All-District Team and is a First Team CoSIDA Academic All-American. ■

KENTUCKY FOOTBALL: WILDCATS LOOK TO RELOAD By Hal Morris The biggest offensive question mark is at quarterback. Returners Joey Gatewood and Beau Allen, who combined to throw for just 149 yards and no touchdowns in limited action last year, will be battling with Penn State transfer Will Levis for the starting nod. Josh Ali is the top returning receiver with 54 catches for 473 yards and a touchdown. Tight ends Justin Rigg (12 catches, 145 yards, TD) and receiver Demarcus Harris (14 catches, 87 yards) also return. Nebraska transfer Wan’Dale Robinson is also expected to contribute to the passing game. The Wildcats again return a strong defense. Senior safety Yusuf Corker, who has been named to the Lott IMPACT Trophy 2021 Watch List, has 24 straight starts He was second on the team in tackles (77) with 2.5 tackles for loss, two interceptions, two pass breakups and a forced fumble. Linebackers DeAndre Square (60 tackles), defensive back Tyrell Ajian (48 tackles), linebacker Jordan Wright (45 tackles, 3.5 sacks) and defensive end Josh Paschal (32 tackles) also return. Kicker Matt Ruffolo, who went 12 of 14 on field goals and 22 of 23 on extra points in 2020, leads the special teams. “I feel good about where we’re at,” Stoops said. “We have a very good team. We’re constantly learning, we’re constantly growing and we’re getting better.” ■

Photo courtesy of UK Athletics

Kentucky Football is now at a point where coach Mark Stoops isn’t ready to rebuild, he’s ready to reload. With two preseason All-American candidates back on the offensive side of the ball and a defense with plenty of returners, Kentucky has no signs of looking back. Stoops, the first coach in UK history to lead the program to five straight bowl games, leads the Wildcats coming off a 5-6 season playing 10 Southeastern Conference Games. Kentucky capped the season with a 23-21 win over N.C. State in the Belk Bowl, making Stoops just the second coach — along with Rich Brooks — to guide UK to three straight bowl victories. “I’m as excited this year, as excited to get going right now as I was in year one. I feel really good about this team. I love our coaching staff. I feel like we’re in a really good place,” Stoops said. “I was very pleased coming out of spring. I felt like we progressed probably better than I anticipated. The players have worked exceptionally hard this summer to continue to build on that. Defensively, we have a big nucleus of our guys back. We have some guys that have played a lot of football.” Kentucky must replace six NFL Draft picks, but return plenty of talent on both sides of the ball. UK returns 14 starters (6 offense, 5 defense, 3 special teams). Anchoring UK’s offensive line, aka the Big Blue Wall, is 6-5, 338-pound senior offensive tackle Darian Kinnard. He has earned numerous preseason honors, including being named to the Outland Trophy Watch List which goes to the top interior lineman in college football. Kinnard, who has started 26 consecutive games, has been named a first-team All-American by Athlon Sports, Walter Camp, Pro Football Focus and was a second-team pick from Phil Steele. He has also been named first-team All-SEC by numerous publications. He will be helping to open holes for junior running back Chris Rodriguez Jr. The 5-11, 224-pounder ran for 785 yards and 11 touchdowns in nine games last season. He has been named to the preseason watch lists for the Maxwell Award (best player in college football) and Doak Walker Award (top running back). Rodriguez was named a preseason second-team All-Southeastern Conference by Athlon Sports, third-team All-SEC by Phil Steele and a preseason honorable mention All-American by Pro Football Focus. Kentucky also returns senior lineman Luke Fortner and junior Kenneth Horsey, and added LSU transfer Dare Rosenthal. Junior Kavosiey Smoke (229 yards, 1 TD) will back up Rodriguez.

Senior offensive tackle Darian Kinnard, also known as the Big Blue Wall, has started in 26 consecutive games for the Wildcats.

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Sports

Photos courtesy of UK Athletics and Getty Images

BIG BLUE NATION DOMINATES AT TOKYO OLYMPICS

As the eyes of the world turned to Tokyo for the delayed 2020 Olympics, UK fans may have recognized many students, alumni and staff competing in The Games. A school-record 22 athletes with University of Kentucky connections competed in Japan bringing home 12 medals, including eight gold medals. UK alumna Sydney McLaughlin led the way with two gold medals. She broke her own world record winning gold in the 400-meter hurdles. Her time of 51.47 seconds bested her mark of 51.9 set at the U.S. Olympic Team Trials. She also ran the first leg of the U.S.’s winning 4x400-meter relay squad (3:16.85). McLaughlin is now the only Wildcat to win two gold medals in the same Olympics and second to win two medals in the same Olympics. Jasmine Camacho-Quinn ’19 edged fellow alumna Keni Harrison ’15 to win gold in the 100-meter hurdles. She set an Olympic record of 12.26 seconds in the semifinals and posted a winning time of 12.37 seconds in the final, clipping Harrison (12.52). Javianne Oliver ’18 ran the lead leg of the silver-winning 4x100-meter relay team (41.45). UK Rifle team member Will Shaner became the first American to win gold in men’s air rifle 10-meter with an Olympic-record score of 251.6. UK teammate Mary Tucker took home a silver medal as she teamed with Lucas Kozeniesky in the mixed air rifle competition. The duo lost to China in the final 17-13. Devin Booker, Bam Adebayo and Keldon Johnson were part of USA Basketball’s gold-medal winning squad. The U.S. beat France 87-82 in the gold medal game. U.S. fencers Lee Kiefer and Gerek Meinhardt are married

K E N TUCKY A LU MN I MAG A ZIN E Fall 2021

and students in the UK College of Medicine. Kiefer won gold becoming the first American woman to win an Olympic medal in individual foil while Meinhardt won his second bronze medal as part of Team USA in the men’s team foil competition. In addition to the 11 Olympic medalists, 11 other UK students, alumni and staff competed in Japan. The other Wildcats making Big Blue Nation proud in Tokyo were: • Incoming freshman and UK softball player Alexia Lacatena played softball for Italy • UK track and field’s Megan Moss, a human health sciences junior, ran for the Bahamas • Graduate student and UK track and field runner Dwight St. Hillaire ran for Trinidad and Tobago • Devynne Charlton, a volunteer assistant coach for UK’s track and field team, ran hurdles for the Bahamas • Alumnus Daniel Roberts ran hurdles for Team USA • Brittany Cervantes ’12 ’20, who holds a bachelor’s degree in journalism and master’s degree in kinesiology and health promotion, played softball for Mexico • Marketing graduate Ali Galyer ’20 swam for New Zealand • Alumnus Henrik Larsen shot in the men’s 50-meter smallbore for Norway • English graduate Leah Nugent ’15 ran hurdles for Jamaica • Kinesiology graduate Jennifer O’Neill ’15 played basketball for Puerto Rico • Financing and accounting graduate Peter Wetzlar ’20 swam for Zimbabwe ■

A Big Blue Thanks

Thank you to all of our new Life Members! Life Members are among our most loyal alumni and friends. We salute your commitment to strengthening UK’s alumni community and honor your dedication to the university’s past and future.

Haviland Argo Robert Bathalter Michael Belman Brad Billingsley Susan Blum Dean Brothers Stephanie Broughton William Burnett Michael Carlton James Casalino Larry Corea Tamara Cress Marsha Cummins Michelle Curry Benjamin Dawson Dustin Donaldson Gwen Donaldson David Drummond Joshua Duddey Whitney Duddey Kevin Duffy Kathleen Elberson Thomas Embry John Farmer David Fisse Mark Floro Leslie Forsythe Eric Friedman Stephanie Godsea Gabriel Gooch Johanna Gordon

David Griffin Jane Hale Anne Marie Hoopes James Horn David Hovekamp Janet Hovekamp Michael Howard William Hunt Lloyd Jones J. Judy Tracy Koleber Dirschl Lacy Jesse Lanham Melissa Lippert James Littrell Brian Mayfield Laurie McCausland Mark McCaw Melissa McGlothen Michael Mercer Chuck Mullins Dana Muse Nanette Neal Amanda Nierzwicki Anne Noss Charles Noss Holly O’Connor Koji Otani Lindsay Penn Maria Pepitone Donna Pfaff

Ronnie Pfaff Bryce Pierce Jorge Pierce Joshua Profitt Mark Ripato Keely Rock Samuel Rock Elizabeth Romans John Rowlett Thomas Scott Clyde Simmons Nicholas Skerczak Sharon Smith Linda Speed McArthur Stidom Zachery Stillwell Sanna Stone Lauren Sutherland Sandra Thomas Diane Wallace Courtney Weekley Matthew Weekley Kelly Welsh Cecilia Wertheimer Meredith White Anthony Whitley Jacob Williams Pete Williams Ray Wolf Chad Young Karen Young

You can help make Big Blue Nation stronger than ever! Become a Life Member today! www.ukalumni.net/membership or call 800-269-ALUM (2586) www. u kal u mni. net

The Paciﬁc Northwest Tri-Cities, Was hington UK Alumni Club Student Send-Oﬀ at home of Pam Renard ’90 PHA in Kennewick,the Washington.

The Fulton County UK Alumni Club Student Send-Oﬀ at The Keg Bar and Grill in Fulton. Before students packed their bags and headed off to Lexington to begin their ﬁrst year at UK, our alumni clubs held Student Send-Off celebrations across the country to welcome students and their families to the Big Blue Nation. Incoming Wildcats met new classmates and local alumni shared tips and tricks on how to make the transition from high school to college a breeze. The UK Alumni Association hosted 21 sendoffs across 10 states welcoming parents and students into the Big Blue family and engaging alumni across the country. Enjoy the new faces of UK and your future fellow alumni!

The Daviess County UK Alumni Club Student Send-Oﬀ at the UK Daviess County Cooperative Extension Oﬃce in Owensboro. 22 38

K KE E N TUCKY A LU LUMN MN I MAG A ZIN E Fall 2021

The Chicagoland UK Alumni Club Student Send-Off at DuPage River Park in Naperville, Illinois.

The Northeast Ohio UK Alumn at the home of Fran Stewarti Club Student Send-Off ‘87 Cl in Solon, Ohio.

The Greater Dayton UK Alumni Club Student Send-Off at Marion’s Piazza in Dayton, Ohio.

The Greater Ashland UK Alumni Club Student Send-Off at The Winchester in Ashland

The Christian County UK Alumni Club Student SendOff at Planters Bank Latham Building in Hopkinsville.

The Greater Atlanta UK Alumni Club Student Send-Off at Hudson Grille in Sandy Springs, Georgia.

Photos submitted

The Northern Kentucky/Greater Cincinnati UK Alumni Club Student Send-Off at UC Health Stadium, home of the Florence Y’alls baseball team, in Florence.

TOOTH BE TOLD ZINDELL RICHARDSON ’83 DE

sinks his teeth into his new role as chair of the UK Department of Oral Health Science

Photo by Pete Comparoni, UK Photo

By Ann Jarvis

K E N TUCKY A LU MN I MAG A ZIN E Fall 2021

hen asking an individual why they decided to become a dentist, it’s common to hear about an experience they encountered. It may be a sports injury that impacted their smile, having a wonderful experience with a dental provider, or seeing the impact that rampant tooth decay can have on people. But, in Dr. Zindell Richardson’s case, it was an awful dental experience that encouraged his career choice. One horrible toothache and unfortunate tooth extraction encounter in high school was all Richardson needed to help narrow his career options. Interested in doing something in the medical field, he set his sight on becoming a dentist who would focus on providing patients the best experience and care possible. Speaking of his dental extraction, he shared, “I walked out of the dental office that day and decided it doesn’t have to be like this. I’m going to do dentistry. I’m going to come home, set up a practice, and make sure others don’t experience this.” The admissions process for dental school is competitive. Richardson hoped he would be able to remain in Kentucky but chose to apply to five institutions. Deciding he would attend the first college to contact him, he was pleased to hear from the University of Kentucky. Following his UK College of Dentistry graduation in 1983, Richardson practiced general dentistry in Kentucky for nearly 20 years before joining the United States Air Force in 2000. While in the Air Force, he completed various post-doctorate training courses to hone his clinical skills, advanced through assignments to grow in military seniority, and was recognized with several awards and decorations. Originally from Campbellsville, Kentucky, Richardson shares, “The move from private practice to the military was huge. I’m someone who had hardly left Kentucky.” Military life led him to relocate to various states as well as overseas with his family. “The biggest challenge for me overall was finding out I wasn’t in control. I’m not the boss. You got a voice, but you aren’t the final decision. After owning my own practice and making all the shots, this was a huge adjustment,” he shares. As his last military assignment, Richardson served as Commander of the 59th Dental Training Squadron, the largest squadron in the Air Force Dental Service, composed of six dental residencies, two fellowships, an oral hygiene program, multiple locations, and over 500 individuals. Fast forward from 1983 to mid-2020, Richardson found himself returning to UK, but this time to lend a hand in educating future dentists by serving as chair of the Department of Oral Health Science at the College of Dentistry. Crediting the Air Force for helping prepare him for his role as chair, he says, “After being in command and learning what your role is as a leader, it shaped me and changed me. I bring the same methodology and expectations to my division chiefs as I did to my flight commanders. If any of my divisions can’t tell you my three expectations, then I have failed.” “My expectations are very simple. Number one, take care of your family. Number two, take care of your coworkers. Number three, take care of yourself. That’s it,” he adds. “You wouldn’t be in these leadership roles if you weren’t adept and knowledgeable

enough to do it. So, my role is to give the college’s division chiefs the tools they need to do their job, get out of their way, and let them surprise me with their results,” he says. Since Richardson was a dental student at UK, class sizes have mainly remained the same, offering students a personalized learning experience. However, he feels today’s students have much more information to absorb, retain, and demonstrate. “I say this wholeheartedly. I’m glad I’m teaching and observing versus going through it again. The deluge of information our students are given and that they have to turn around and understand, it’s not just taking a test and dumping it. Students of today are much more technologically capable, and we want them to be,” he says. Richardson is reminded of coaching little league when he thinks about dental students. “I’ve had the opportunity to coach teams from every facet and to see how they progress within a summer. I would hit a ball to the outfield and tell them all to hold their position except for two specific people, only for every one of the kids to take off for the ball. At the end of the season, they are turning double plays.” He explains the same is valid with dentals students; it just takes time for them to master the variety of skills, tools, and procedures introduced throughout the college’s curriculum. Speaking about this learning journey, he shares, “I want people to understand my philosophy in teaching and bringing students along. Everybody is going to get there. It may take some a little longer. Not all flowers bloom at the same time. Our role is to nurture them and watch them blossom, seeing the beautiful practitioner that they can become.” Talking about students brings Richardson to mention the class of 2024, the incoming class when he returned to the college as chair. “They are some of the most resilient, fun-loving, respectful group of students I’ve ever had the opportunity to work with. They honored me when they asked me to introduce them at the white coat ceremony.” He has heard them described as the “historic class,” having started dental school during the pandemic. While others believe they have weathered the storm, Richardson sees them more as being the storm as they have “powered right through” the challenges before them. When asked about his remaining goals, Richardson shares that he is pleased working at his alma mater. “If I’m going to work, I going to work here. I truly do want to see us stretch the success that this institution has already achieved. I just want to be a part of the team and contribute. When I feel like I’m not contributing, it’s time for me to leave.” His short-range goal is to make sure he sees “his” class of 2024 complete dental school. Long-term, Richardson plans on relaxing during retirement and enjoying his hobby of fishing in Florida, although his wife doesn’t believe he will enjoy “sitting down.” Known as someone to keep themselves busy, the College of Dentistry will hopefully have Richardson around to help many future classes of dental students bloom into the best clinicians possible. ■

www. u kal u mni. net

Class Notes Whayne C. Priest ’60 AS, ’62 LAW is co-founding partner and of counsel status at English Lucas Priest & Owsley LLP in Bowling Green. He received the Bowling Green-Warren County Bar Association 2021 William H. Natcher Award. Loretta D. Bradley ’63 ’65 ED holds a Paul Whitfield Horn Professorship in Counselor Education and is director of the Counselor Education Program in the Texas Tech University College of Education in Lubbock. She was reappointed to the Texas State Board of Examiners of Professional Counselors by Texas Gov. Greg Abbott.

1970s Robert A. Valentine ’71 AS lives in Paris, Tennessee, and retired as a senior instructor of advertising in the Murray State University Department of Journalism and Mass Communications after a 47-year career at the university. He was also the debate coach at the university and guided its debate team to a national title in 1982. He was an assistant debate coach at UK as a graduate student. Steward T. Pickett ’72 AS is a distinguished senior scientist at the Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies, an independent nonprofit center 42

for environmental research in Millbrook, New York. He was elected to the National Academy of Sciences and received the Ecological Society of America 2021 Eminent Ecologist Award. William S. Simpson ’74 CI lives in Somerset and is a professor of visual communication: multimedia at Somerset Community College. He is also an advisor for The Bridge, the college’s student-produced newspaper. Charles R. Stark ’74 AFE, ’82 ED retired as an agricultural economist and professor in the Division of Agriculture in the University of Arkansas at Monticello College of Forestry, Agriculture and Natural Resources after 24 years at the university. Maurice W. Ebelhar ’75 AFE lives in Stoneville, Mississippi, and is a retired research agronomist at Mississippi State University. He received the 2021 Outstanding Research Award in Cotton Agronomy. Barbara Peterson Glenn ’75 ’80 AFE lives in Highland, Maryland, and announced her retirement as CEO of the National Association of State Departments of Agriculture. John J. Larkin ’76 AS, ’82 MED lives in Crestview Hills and is an orthopaedic surgeon at Beacon Orthopaedics & Sports

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Medicine. He was named a 2021 Cincinnati Magazine Top Doctor and has been included on the list each year since 2002. Carroll D. Stevens ’76 LAW is interim president of Rhodes College in Memphis, Tennessee. He had been president of the Ardeo Education Foundation and was previously vice president for advancement at Claremont McKenna College. Stevens also served as associate dean of the Yale University School of Law and associate dean of the UK J. David Rosenberg College of Law. Mark R. Holloway ’77 BE retired as chief investment officer for Stock Yards Bank in Louisville, where he worked for more than 30 years. He managed the day-to-day efforts of the investment management team and was responsible for equity and fixed income selection, quantitative analysis and overall portfolio strategy. Robert M. Donaldson ’77 ED retired as superintendent of the Lewiston Independent School District No. 1 in Lewiston, Idaho after eight years as superintendent and 40 years overall in education. Ruth A. Irwin ’77 CI lives in Bear, Delaware, and is the U.S. Selective Service System’s Delaware state director. She was nominated by Delaware Gov. John

Carney and serves as liaison between the Selective Service System and the Governor’s office. Arnold R. Simpson ’77 LAW lives in Covington and received a 2020 Pioneer Award, which honors living residents of Kenton County who have a record of outstanding service to the community.

Photo courtesy of ExploreUK

1960s

Dr. Jacqueline “Jackie” A. Noonan (right) was the first pediatric cardiologist at the University of Iowa Stead Family Children’s Hospital. During her time there, she observed a rare heart defect in children. She began publishing papers about this congenital heart condition in 1963, and it was ultimately named Noonan syndrome in recognition of her efforts. In 1961, Dr. Noonan joined the University of Kentucky’s College of Medicine and for nearly five decades, Dr. Noonan was a fixture at UK, practicing pediatric cardiology and critical care.

Photo courtesy of ExploreUK

Michael R. Eaves ’79 LAW is a partner at Eaves Olds Bohannon & Floyd PLLC in Richmond. He was appointed to the Eastern Kentucky University Board of Regents by Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear.

1980s Mark B. Carter ’80 BE lives in Prospect and was appointed commissioner of the Kentucky Department of Aviation, a branch of the Kentucky Department of Transportation, by Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear. He is a multi-engine commercial instrument-rated private pilot. Carter was also appointed to lead Kentucky’s COVID-19 contact tracing program and was a member of the Kentucky COVID-19 vaccination task force in the Office of the Secretary of the Cabinet for Health and Family Services. Ruth A. Dyer ’80 EN is the retired senior vice provost for academic affairs at Kansas State University in Manhattan. She was the chairwoman of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) Instrument & Measurement Society Awards. She also served as senior past president of the IEEE Instrumentation and Measurement Society. Jayne L. Romero ’82 ED is director of the Lincoln County Department of Health and Human Services in Newport, Oregon.

Encova Mutual Insurance Group in Charleston, West Virginia. He was inducted into the 2020-2021 class of the West Virginia University John Chambers College of Business and Economics West Virginia Business Hall of Fame.

Reynolds Large joined the radio staff at WBKY FM (now WUKY) in 1971 and began his popular show, “The Jazz Patio” that played from 7 to 10 a.m. during the week.

Susan R. Arnold ’84 AS is president of Management Advisors Inc. in Hazard. She was previously regional director of operations for five long-term care facilities owned by Management Advisors Inc.

Warren D. Schickli ’82 LAW is a partner at Stites & Harbison PLLC and a member of the Intellectual Property and Technology Service Group in the firm’s Lexington office. He was named to the “IP Stars” list as a Patent Star in Managing Intellectual Property magazine.

Keith E. Martin ’84 ’86 BE is managing director of football operations for USA Football, the sport’s national governing body, and a member of the U.S. Olympic Committee. He was named to the advisory board of Spry, a technology company to help colleges and student athletes to embrace the Name, Image, and Likeness movement.

Luanne Smith ’82 AS lives in Millville, New Jersey, and is an author and retired teacher of creative writing and film at West Chester University. Carson D. Bevil ’83 CI is a reporter covering central Florida’s theme parks and attractions, including Disney World, Universal Orlando and SeaWorld Orlando for the Orlando Sentinel newspaper. Gregory A. Burton ’83 BE is executive chairman of

James W. Nuss ’84 AS is an internal medicine physician at Flaget Memorial Hospital, part of CHI Saint Joseph Health in Bardstown. He received the Flaget Memorial Hospital Foundation 2020 Physician of the Year Award. Karen Chrisman ’85 LAW lives in Frankfort and is chief compliance officer for the Commonwealth Office of Technology. Jonathan D. Hubbard ’85 EN lives in Annapolis,

Maryland, and is chief of Legislative State, Local and Academic Engagement at the National Security Agency, where he is responsible for developing, promoting, and facilitating strategic alliances with state, local and community leaders, as well as all NSA/Central Security Service academic programs and relationships. William G. Smith ’86 ED lives in The Woodlands, Texas, and retired as superintendent of the Port Arthur Independent School District. He received the 2020 Texas Governor’s Criminal Justice Volunteer of the Year Award from the the Texas Department of Criminal Justice. He also received the 2018 Governor’s Criminal Justice Volunteer of the Year Award. Smith serves as volunteer lay chaplain at the Hightower Prison Unit and on the mission committee of the Texas Conference of the United Methodist Church. He is married to Karen L. Smith ‘84 AS, a retired director of foreign languages and ESL. Pamela Whitten ’86 CI is president of Indiana University in Bloomington. She had been president of Kennesaw State University and previously served as a senior vice president for academic affairs and provost at the University of Georgia. Mark A. Lavender ’87 DES is the owner of M. Lavender Interiors in Winnetka, Illinois. He was previously www. u kal u mni. net

Class Notes president of HOK Group Inc. and vice president of VOA Associates Inc. Martin A. Padgett ’87 BE is president and CEO of Clark Memorial Health in Jeffersonville, Indiana. He was named the Indiana University Southeast Board of Advisors. Taunya A. Phillips ’87 EN, ’04 BE lives in Lexington and is director of the UK Office of Technology Commercialization, overseeing a team managing the university’s intellectual property, licensing and startup portfolios. She was previously OTC’s senior associate director of new ventures and alliances. Phillips was president of the UK Alumni Association for the 2019-2020 academic year and is a current member of the UK Alumni Association Board of Directors. Melissa Atchison Crosby ’88 ED lives in Frankfort and is a math teacher at Frankfort High School. She received the Cambridge University Press Dedicated Teacher Award for North and South America. Carol Giltner Gallagher ’89 PHA lives in De Mar, California, and is a venture partner at New Enterprise Associates, a global venture capital firm. She was named to the board of directors for Certara Inc. Michael S. Hargis ’89 EN is an attorney and partner 44

at Stites & Harbison PLLC and a member of the Intellectual Property and Technology Service Group in the firm’s Lexington office. He was recently named a 2021 Patent Star in Managing Intellectual Property magazine.

1990s Elaine Monson Gravette ’90 AS is president and CEO of D.D. Williamson & Co. The Color House, which creates natural food colors for food and beverage manufacturers, is headquartered in Louisville. She had been the company’s president and chief operating officer. Merl Hackbart ’90 EN, ’92 BE is the Provost’s Distinguished Service Professor of Finance and Public Administration in the UK Martin School of Public Policy & Administration in Lexington. He was appointed to the County Employees Retirement System Board of Trustees by Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear, representing the Kentucky Association of Counties. James R. Huggins ’90 AS lives in Frankfort and was appointed director of investigations for the Public Corruption Unit by Kentucky Attorney General Daniel Cameron. Aaron Thompson ’90 ’92 AS lives in Lexington and is president of the Kentucky

K E N TUCKY A LU MN I MAG A ZIN E Fall 2021

Council on Postsecondary Education. He was named chairman of the Baptist Health System Board of Directors. Andrew J. Kasarskis ’92 AS lives in Hastings on Hudson, New York, and is chief data officer for Sema4, a health intelligence company. Joseph L. Allen ’94 AS was named the first Distinguished Professor in the Concord University Department of Physical and Environmental Sciences in Athens, West Virginia. Jamie S. Caudill ’94 BE is a Senior Wealth Advisor for MAI Capital Management LLC and managing director in the company’s Cincinnati office. Jeremy R. Graff ’94 MED is chief scientific officer for IMV Inc., a clinical stage biopharmaceutical company headquartered in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia. Amy M. Pride ’94 SW is the CEO and executive director of Boulware Mission Inc., a shelter that specializes in drug and alcohol addiction treatment located in Owensboro. Melissa Summers Moss ’95 ’00 EN is a South Carolina Honors College Pearce Faculty Fellow, chairwoman of the Department of Chemical Engineering, and a professor of chemical engineering and biomed-

ical engineering at the University of South Carolina College of Engineering and Computing in Columbia. She received a Michael J. Mungo Undergraduate Teaching Award. Dawn Haden Kelley ’96 AS is president and CEO of Barney Butter, a family-owned producer of almond butter located in Fresno, California. Lisa R. Wright ’96 CI lives in Missouri City, Texas, and is president and CEO of Community Health Choice, Inc., a managed care organization. She was named to the board of directors of Vericel Corp. Mandy Wilson Decker ’97 AS ’02 LAW was named to the Kentucky Intellectual Property Alliance’s Executive Advisory Committee. She was also named to the 2021 “IP Stars” list as a Patent Star and the “Top 250 Women in IP” list in Managing Intellectual Property magazine. She is a partner of Stites & Harbison based in Louisville and Lexington, and is a registered patent attorney. David B. Denton ’97 is senior vice president, general counsel and secretary for Cintas Corp. in Cincinnati. Stephen A. Dunlevy ’97 AS is vice president of manufacturing operations for Hytrol Conveyor Company Inc. in Jonesboro, Arkansas.

THE CATNAP IS OVER! W HERE’S YOUR FLAT WILDCAT? Nothing beats a good, long catnap, but just like you, Flat Wildcat is ready to get out and about! Search wherever your Flat Wildcat has been catnapping and get ready to have some adventures. Take him along wherever you go and include him in your selfies, group photos and fun settings. Post your pics on social media and be sure to use #FLATWILDCAT! Let’s show the world our Wildcat spirit and how you make Big Blue Nation a wildly united community! LIFE AND ACTIVE MEMBERS: If you became a Life or

Active member in January 2020 or later and did not receive a Flat Wildcat in your Kentucky Alumni magazine, request

or download yours today at www.ukalumni.net/flatwildcat.

Class Notes Jennifer E. Taylor ’97 AS is vice president for research in the Tennessee Technological University Office of Research and Economic Development in Cookeville. Bill F. Van Pelt ’97 AFE lives in Bowling Green, Kentucky, and is director of external relations and senior advisor to the president and CEO for American Farmland Trust. Patrick M. Torre ’98 LAW is a is a patent attorney and counsel at Stites & Harbison PLLC and a member of the Intellectual Property and Technology Service Group in the firm’s Lexington office. He was named to the 2021 “IP Stars” list in Managing Intellectual Property magazine as a Patent Star. Steven M. Henderson ’99 EN, ’07 LAW lives in Shelbyville and is a member at Stites & Harbison PLLC in the firm’s Louisville office and serves as chairman of the firm’s Construction Service Group. He was named chairman of the Kentuckians for Better Transportation Executive Committee for a one-year term.

Houston State University in Huntsville, Texas. He had been vice provost for academic affairs and strategic initiatives at Texas A&M University. Stefanie L. Watson ’99 AS is chief of diversity and inclusion for the U.S. Census Bureau, focusing on leading the research, development and implementation of strategic approaches to lead diversity and inclusion efforts.

2000s Diana W. Clark ’00 AS lives in Lexington and is director of development for Lexington Christian Academy. Byron E. Darnall ’00 ED is an associate commissioner in the Kentucky Department of Education Office of Educator Licensure and Effectiveness in Frankfort. Marcus L. Vanover ’00 LAW lives in Somerset and is a family court judge and chief judge of the 28th Judicial Circuit, comprised of Pulaski, Lincoln and Rockcastle counties.

Whitney Mardis ’99 AFE is vice president, patient services, for PharmaCord LLC in Louisville.

Cormac C. Breathnach ’01 GS is director of sales operations for Keeneland Association Inc. in Lexington.

Michael T. Stephenson ’99 CI is provost and senior vice president for academic affairs at Sam

Trevor T. Graves ’01 EN, ’04 LAW is a patent attorney and counsel at Stites & Harbison PLLC and a

K E N TUCKY A LU MN I MAG A ZIN E Fall 2021

member of the Intellectual Property and Technology Service Group in the firm’s Lexington office. Joe E. Kingery ’01 AS lives in Pikeville and is dean of the University of Pikeville Kentucky College of Osteopathic Medicine. Tyra L. Redus ’01 CI, ’04 LAW is leading the mid-Atlantic region for Skanska USA Building Inc. as the regional vendor diversity director, which is headquartered in New York. Victoria L. Russell ’01 ’03 BE is chief diversity and inclusion officer for Beam Suntory Inc. in Chicago. She was named vice chairwoman of the Distilled Spirits Council of the United States. Amber P. Lawson ’02 PHA lives in Lexington and is a board-certified oncology pharmacist, an associate professor in the UK College of Pharmacy and program coordinator for Hematology/Oncology Pharmacy Services at UK HealthCare. She was named to the board of the Hematology/Oncology Pharmacy Association for 2021-2022. David M. Blanchett ’03 BE is managing director and head of retirement research for QMA LLC, a division of Prudential Financial, Inc. which is headquartered in Newark, New Jersey.

Stacey Roller Higgins ’03 ED is associate athletics director, sports health and co-department head of the University of Florida Athletic Department Sports Medicine in Gainesville, Florida. Amanda Doty Nokes ’03 AS lives in Coxs Creek and is assistant principal at Bardstown High School. Jason R. Scolf ’03 BE is director of engagement for United Real Estate in Lexington. James P. Cousins ’04 AS, ’10 ED is vice president of academic affairs and dean at Kentucky Wesleyan College in Owensboro. Christopher W. Mathews ’04 FA is a professor of music and dean of the Oklahoma Baptist University Warren M. Angell College of Fine Arts in Shawnee, Oklahoma. Benjamin B. Mattingly ’04 MED is an emergency medicine physician at St. Claire HealthCare in Morehead. William C. Vail ’04 LAW is a shareholder with Polsinelli LLP in the firm’s Atlanta office. Whitney M. Walker ’04 ’05 ED is a government, world cultures and advanced placement human geography teacher at Lafayette High School in Lexington.

Cynthia Pruitt Bruno ’05 ED is principal at Dixie Elementary School in Lexington. Elizabeth A. Wahler ’05 ’12 SW is director of the School of Social Work in the University of North Carolina at Charlotte College of Health and Human Services. Ryan D. Carter ’06 AFE is executive vice president at Scotlynn Group and a founding member of Scotlynn USA Division Inc., a truckload transportation logistics firm in Fort Myers, Florida. Brandy Fisher-Blood ’06 AS is head of diversity and inclusion strategies for Walt Disney Animation Studios in Los Angeles. Adam M. Sichko ’06 CI is a senior reporter at the Nashville Business Journal in Tennessee. Jessie N. Meiser ’06 ’14 NUR is a nurse practitioner for Baptist Health Medical Group Ear, Nose, & Throat in Paducah. Stephanie Isaac Blain ’07 EN is a project manager at Palmer Engineering Co. in the firm’s Winchester office. She received the National Society of Professional Engineers 2021 National Young Engineer of the Year Award. J. Paul Singleton ’07 BE is an attorney and member

at Bass Berry & Sims PLC in the firm’s Nashville, Tennessee, office. Jeramiah J. Smith ’07 AS is a geneticist and associate professor in the Department of Biology in the UK College of Arts and Sciences in Lexington. Rhiannon R. Jenkins ’08 DES lives in Paducah and is a treasury management and payments consultant with U.S. Bank. She was named a 2021 co-chairwoman of the Paducah Young Professionals Steering Committee. Lee D. Johnson ’08 AS is principal of Austin Tracy Elementary School in Lucas. Jason T. Sauer ’08 AS, ’08 LAW is senior vice president of corporate development for Churchill Downs Inc. in Louisville. Eric M. Ward ’08 CI is communications director for the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation in Nashville. Craig J. Beavers ’09 PHA is vice president, overseeing surgery, pharmacy, and cardiology services, for Baptist Health Paducah. He had been acting cardiology services director for the hospital and is an assistant adjunct professor with the UK College of Pharmacy. He was previously the cardiovascular clinical pharmacy coordinator at UK HealthCare and with the UK Gill Heart Institute.

Bradley L. Hart ’09 BE, ’12 LAW is a member at Bass Berry & Sims PLC in the firm’s Nashville, Tennessee, office. Alex F. Howard ’09 ’12 PH is assistant vice chancellor in the Appalachian State University Division of Student Affairs in Boone, North Carolina. He received a Boone Area Chamber of Commerce 4 Under 40 Award.

2010s John M. Bunge ’10 BE is an attorney and partner at Waller Lansden Dortch & Davis LLP in the firm’s Nashville, Tennessee, office. Tiffany Ge ’10 AS, ’10 BE is legislative director of the personal office of U.S. Sen. Republican minority Mitch McConnell in Washington, overseeing all Kentucky-focused legislative matters for the senator and manage the policy staff. Mahendran D. Naidu ’10 BE lives in Lexington and is supply chain manager for U.S. Medical Glove Co. LLC. Josh Rahn ’10 CI is a copy editor for the Lexipol Policy and Learning Team in Frisco, Texas. Christopher L. Whitfield ’10 LAW is president and general counsel for South Central Bank, leading the bank’s six branches in Bowling Green, Kentucky.

Kelsey Hope Brewer ’11 CI was named chief marketing officer of CPA firm McGuire Sponsel. Ming Y. Hong ’11 FA is an assistant professor of drawing in the Department of Art in the Mississippi State University College of Art, Architecture and Design in Starkville. She represented Mississippi in the 2021 Southern Prize and State Fellowships. Maria Roumenova Apostolova-Mihaylova ’11 ’14 BE is an associate professor of economics at Centre College in Danville. Trisha Clement-Montgomery ’11 ’18 ED lives in Lexington and is dean of students in the UK Division of Student and Academic Life. She had been acting dean of students and director of UK Residence Life. Tamiz M. Islam ’12 BE is an assistant professor of economics in the Elon University Martha and Spencer Love School of Business in Elon, North Carolina. William D. Martin ’12 AFE is the head men’s basketball coach at Missouri Western State University in St. Joseph. Chad A. Meers ’12 AS is a singer/songwriter living in Shelbyville. He recently released his debut album, “The Man I Am.”

www. u kal u mni. net

Career Corner

Class Notes

hagane

by Amanda Sc

COMPANIES HOSTING STUDENT INTERNS CONTINUE TO FLEX DUE TO COVID-19 WELL INTO 2021 Arizzona Albright, a recent graduate in Merchandising, Apparel, and Textiles from Vincent, Ohio, was recognized as a nominee for intern of the year with UK’s Stuckert Career Center. In summer 2020, Albright served as a Social Media Marketing Specialist for the Kentucky Interpreter and Translator Association (KITA). KITA and Albright adapted well to remote work as the demands of COVID-19 forced the organization to send employees virtual. Thanks to the use of technology, Albright was able to stay connected to her supervisor and colleagues while completing her assignments. In reflection of her internship experience, Albright shared that she was able to expand her skills in social media content creation, graphic design and email marketing. Even beyond the internship with KITA, in fall 2020, she secured another virtual internship for a nonprofit, Sustainable Business Ventures. Then in spring of this year, she acquired an additional hybrid in person/virtual internship with Tops Marketing Group, LLC. Despite the challenges COVID-19 brought, Albright found success in gaining practical experiences through internships. Albright shared, “the biggest benefit of completing an internship is the connections made with people and learning from them as mentors and employers. It builds professional and personable skills that can be transferred to any other extracurricular or job.” Kelly Mattingly, a senior in Finance and Foreign Language and International Economics-Spanish, son of Joseph H. Mattingly III (’83 and Law School in ’86) and Carol Spalding (’85), joined Brown-Forman in early January of this year as a Treasury Intern when the organization was largely in remote operations. Mattingly met the team via virtual meetings and emails until he met them in person in April. His internship remained remote through the summer months as well. Mattingly said interning remotely was convenient and the team made him feel connected with regular communication on new developments/projects and weekly team meetings. During his remote internship Mattingly supported monthly treasury activities such as bank fee analysis and other comprehensive income reclassification, assisted Risk & Cash Managers with analysis and forecasting, conducted bank setups and update bank details in SAP for vendors around the globe and more. Mattingly shared that he has always loved working with others and practicing soft skills like positivity and navigating new professional environments. The remote internship allowed him plentiful opportunities to practice with virtual meeting software and drafting professional emails. He shared that thanks to this internship, “I now have a solid foundation when it comes to FX markets, cash and risk management, and bank relations. Making connections and getting to meet and work with new people is a huge benefit when completing internships. You also become a more complete person personally and professionally.” When we asked Mattingly what advice he had for other organizations looking to hire interns, he said do not be hesitant to get your interns very involved. College students who are seeking internships are eager to learn and can often provide fresh perspectives that can be a huge benefit to a company. Investing in interns is investing in your company. He said Brown-Forman did a great job organizing his virtual internship and it was very motivating to work for a company that is involved in the community and cares about its employees. Mattingly shared, “I am extremely thankful for this opportunity and the role the University of Kentucky had in getting me here.” UK Alumni Association Active and Life Members are eligible for two complimentary appointments per year with a certified career counselor. Call 859-257-8905 or 800-269 ALUM (2586) to schedule an appointment. Visit www.ukalumni.net/career to learn more about resume critiques, networking events, Central Kentucky Job Club and other Alumni Career Services. To post a job opening, employers may visit www.ukalumni.net/employers and email job leads to ukalumnicareer@uky.edu.

K E N TUCKY A LU MN I MAG A ZIN E Fall 2021

James B. Woodward ’12 ’16 GS is a research analyst for Ohio Southeast Economic Development, headquartered in Nelsonville, Ohio. Michelle M. Worthy ’12 AFE is an internal medicine-pediatrics resident at the Marshall University Joan C. Edwards School of Medicine in Huntington, West Virginia. She received the school’s Resident of the Month Award. Leah C. Alessandroni ’13 AFE is the bloodstock and office manager at Bonne Chance Farm in Versailles. Jonathon D. Hood ’13 AFE, ’14 CI is an assistant men’s basketball coach at Missouri Western State University in Saint Joseph. Morgen Wells Jarus ’13 CI is the community relations and fund development coordinator, and environmental services manager, safety officer and emergency management coordinator for Sutter Lakeside Hospital in Lakeport, California. Braxton A. Kelley ’13 AFE is a teacher and head football coach at Banneker High School in College Park, Georgia. Karen Tran-Harding ’13 MED is a diagnostic radiologist at the University of California, Irvine Medical Center and assistant clinical professor, radiological sciences and abdominal im-

aging fellowship director in the University of California, Irvine School of Medicine. She began a web series, Medical Heroes, which streams daily and features front-line physicians. Michael J. Chung ’14 MED is chief resident of the Wayne State University School of Medicine otolaryngology residency program in Detroit. He received the Gold Foundation Humanism Honor Society Award. Eric S. Gindlesperger ’14 EN is vice president of engineering and design for Portable Solutions Group Inc. in Wurtland. Gabrielle Russum Kramer ’14 AFE is a realtor with Fridrich & Clark Realty LLC in Nashville, Tennessee. Trey E. Lindsey ’14 SW is the co-founder and CEO of Siimee, a Los Angeles-based technology solutions company. Ashley V. Platzer ’14 AFE is a physician assistant at CHI Memorial Family Practice Associates — Soddy-Daisy in Soddy Daisy, Tennessee. Rachel M. Sims ’14 ’16 HS is a speech language pathologist for the Vanderbilt Voice Center in the Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville, Tennessee.

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Class Notes

Photo courtesy of ExploreUK

John M. McCluskey ’16 FA is an assistant professor of music and chairman of the Shorter University Edith Lester Harbin Department of Music in Rome, Georgia. He received the 2021 Vulcan Materials Award for Teaching Excellence and Academic Leadership.

Gloria Singletary (left), wife of eighth UK president Otis A. Singletary, with her daughter Kendall (right) on the staircase at Maxwell Place with their dog, Butch, admiring a kitten held by Kendall.

Owen A. Duross ’15 ’17 DES is a project manager and designer for Oyler Wu Collaborative, an experimental architecture and design firm in Los Angeles. Corinne A. Gressang ’15 ’20 AS is an assistant professor of history at Erskine College in Due West, South Carolina. Jessica A. Williamson ’15 GS is the hay and forage specialist for Agco Corp., a manufacturer and distributor of agricultural equipment in Duluth, Georgia. Cortnie S. Baity ’16 AFE is a marriage and family therapist and owner of Onward and Upward Psychotherapy and Consulting Services LLC in Tallahassee, Florida.

Lin Ao ’17 PHA is a student associate at Finnegan Henderson Farabow Garrett & Dunner LLP, an intellectual property law firm working out of the Boston office. Harrison Evans ’17 ’18 CI is an education specialist for West Virginia Public Broadcasting in Charleston, West Virginia. He is also as an adjunct faculty instructor in public speaking and marketing coursework at Midway University. Amy E. Correll-Hehre ’17 HS lives in Migori, Kenya and is a dually-licensed U.S. physician assistant and Kenyan Clinical Officer. She is the founder and CEO of OVI Healthcare and owner of Conscious Influence Co. She received the Champion in Global Humanitarian Service Award. Lauren S. Hogan ’17 AS lives in Frankfort and is director of advocacy and media for the consulting and advocacy firm Babbage Cofounder. She was elected as the youth chairwoman for the Franklin County Republican Party.

K E N TUCKY A LU MN I MAG A ZIN E Fall 2021

Michael D. Stump ’17 CI is the team and recruiting analyst for the Indiana University men’s basketball program in Bloomington. Meredith L. Woehler ’17 BE is an assistant professor of management in the Portland State University School of Business in Oregon. She was named the school’s Researcher of the Year. Kathryn Summers Lawyer ’18 GS is an assistant professor of practice, management and entrepreneurship in the Equine Industry Program in the University of Louisville College of Business. Wenjing Li ’18 BE is an assistant professor of marketing in the Stephen F. Austin University Nelson Rusche College of Business in Nacogdoches, Texas. Haley M. Zynda ’18 AFE is the educator, agriculture and natural resources,

for Ohio State University Extension, Wayne County in Wooster. Jordan Gilliam ’19 LAW was recognized by National Black Lawyers as a Top 40 Under 40 honoree. He is an attorney at the Stites & Harbison, PLLC in Lexington and is a member of the Real Estate & Banking Service Group.

2020s Arden S. Barnes ’20 CI is a photojournalist for the Herald and News newspaper in Klamath Falls, Oregon. Richard O. Childress ’20 CI is a reporter for the Herald and News newspaper in Klamath Falls, Oregon. Isabel M. Jenkins ’20 AFE is director of communications for the Post-Landfill Action Network.

Information in Class Notes is compiled from previously published items in newspapers and other media outlets, as well as items submitted by individual alumni. Send us your class note by emailing ukalumni@uky.edu or submitting your information in the online community at www.ukalumni.net/class. COLLEGE INDEX Agriculture, Food Fine Arts — FA & Environment — AFE The Graduate School — GS Arts & Sciences — AS Health Sciences — HS Business & Economics — BE Law — LAW Communication & Medicine — MED Information — CI Nursing — NUR Dentistry — DE Pharmacy — PHA Design — DES Public Health — PH Education — ED Social Work — SW Engineering — EN

Alumni Feature: Dr. Welton O’Neal by Caitlyn Romanski

ong ago, while reflecting on his life’s accomplishments, Greek writer Nikos Kazantzakis said, “In order to succeed, we must first believe that we can.” This statement perfectly describes the education and career of pharmacy pioneer Dr. Welton O’Neal. O’Neal (PharmD 1981, R126) was the first Black student at the University of Kentucky College of Pharmacy to graduate with a PharmD. He was also the first Black man to complete the post-PharmD pharmacy residency training at UK HealthCare under the program director, Paul Parker, PharmD and his direct mentor, John Piecoro, PharmD. Having paved the way for Black pharmacy students and achieved tremendous personal success, O’Neal currently works at Supernus Pharmaceuticals, leading the organization as Vice President of Medical Affairs. Originally from Forsyth, Georgia, a small town 60 miles south of Atlanta, O’Neal graduated from Mary Persons High School in 1972 at the top of his class and as class president. He chose to pursue further education at Presbyterian College, where he was one of only seven African Americans in the incoming class. In 1976, O’Neal graduated with a B.S. in Biology, then attended the Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC) from which he graduated in 1979 with a B.S. in Pharmacy. After graduating, he completed a one-year general hospital residency in 1980, and consequently decided to join UKCOP. “One of the main reasons why I came to the University of Kentucky was because of the reputation it had as being ‘the best,’” said O’Neal. “I looked all around the country and the University of Kentucky was rated number one for having the best PharmD program, bar none. I thought to myself, ‘I’m going to go for the best of the best, so why not try it out?’ I was very proud to get acceptances at the top three pharmacy schools, especially the number one university at the time.” O’Neal finished his PharmD a year early and was accepted into UK’s prestigious pharmacy residency program. He became the first African

American faculty member both within UKCOP and the UK College of Medicine. After leaving the University of Kentucky in 1984 to return to MUSC, O’Neal also became the first African American faculty member of MUSC’s Colleges of Pharmacy and Medicine. In 1987, O’Neal decided to leave MUSC to enter the pharmaceutical industry. “Being in industry, I had a lot more resources, including financial resources, at my disposal to help patients,” said O’Neal. “I also had a larger platform to utilize since I had the power and authority of the pharmaceutical industry at my side. My experience in academia taught and benefited me well. I wanted to continue being the best of the best, and by leaving academia for industry, I was able to spread resources and knowledge across the country as well as internationally, and thus was not limited to just one place.” Throughout his time in the pharmaceutical industry (now over 34 years), O’Neal was appointed as the first African American PharmD Vice President at many pharmaceutical organizations, including Bristol Myers Squibb, Pharmacia, Sanofi-Aventis, NitroMed, Alpharma, and currently Supernus Pharmaceuticals. “I’ve had a lot of firsts in my life,” said O’Neal. “However, I look at them as means of determination to accomplish. These are things that have helped to drive me from the inside out and have allowed me to live my life as one of the absolute best of the best.” To Black pharmacy students, especially those struggling to create a personal support system, O’Neal says, “In all honesty, I brought my support system with me ‘from inside.’ I firmly believed that there was nothing that someone was doing that I couldn’t do. It was a matter of me proving to others that I could do anything. My fire from within came from my parents, who taught me to set my goals extraordinarily high and then to exceed them. It made me come up with the saying, ‘When my best is not good enough, I’ll do better, and I’ll prove it.’ And that’s exactly what I’ve done throughout my education and career.”

Dr. O’Neal was the first Black student at the University of Kentucky to graduate with a PharmD. O’Neal also wants Black students to recognize the importance of genuinely believing and understanding that they deserve to be in pharmacy school. “I challenge any students that believe they have only been admitted to pharmacy school [as] another number to meet diversity issues that they are wrong and to say no to that. I challenge students to believe that they are in pharmacy school because they are good enough to be there,” said O’Neal. “Put that honest pride in yourself and believe in yourself. That is number one.” Regarding the current major movement towards inclusion and improving diversity in pharmacy schools as well as other areas, he says, “It is great to know that this movement is happening, so take advantage of it and know that you already deserve to be here! If you trust in yourself, you can accomplish anything.” As O’Neal grows closer to retirement, he hopes to slow down and pursue more patient advocacy work, particularly with regard to issues that deeply affect the African American population, such as cardiovascular disease (i.e. hypertension) and prostate cancer. He is passionate about teaching patients to own their role in health advocacy and how they can better take care of themselves.

In Memoriam Harriett Abraham Rose ’41 Lexington, Ky. Life Member, Fellow Barbara W. Straus ‘45 Lexington, Ky. Foster Ockerman ‘47 Lexington, Ky. Fellow Marjorie D. Holt ‘48 Georgetown, Ky. Salvatore M. Matarazzo ‘48 Murray, Ky. Ridgely Park ‘48 Lexington, Ky. Fellow, Life Member Margaret Fish Smith ‘50 Cynthiana, Ky. Carol Chambers Deen ‘51 Lexington, Ky. Fellow, Life Member Roger F. Field ‘51 Stuart, Fla. Life Member Ronald P. Walker ‘51 Louisville, Ky. William H. Alcoke ‘52 North Chesterfield, Va. Evan C. Sturm ‘52 Knoxville, Tenn. Life Member John L. Truitt ‘52 Villa Hills, Ky. Life Member J. Ward Coleman ‘54 Middletown, N.Y. Life Member

Elmer J. Liebert ‘54 Louisville, Ky.

Harper D. Lohr ‘58 Louisville, Ky.

Milton C. Minor Jr. ‘63 Bloomington, Ind.

George B. Miller Jr. ‘54 Winchester, Ky.

Kenneth L. Dotson ‘59 Frankfort, Ky.

Charles D. Powers ‘63 Nicholasville, Ky.

Barbara F. Tea ‘54 Nokomis, Fla. Fellow, Life Member

Walter L. Helton ‘59 Cookeville, Tenn.

Joseph B. Curry ‘64 Cincinnati, Ohio

James L. Anderson ‘55 Lexington, Ky.

Richard C. Roberts ‘59 Paducah, Ky. Life Member

Troy Hinton ‘64 Knoxville, Tenn.

Carolyn Siler Browning ‘55 Williamsburg, Ky.

Lloyd R. Tackett ‘59 Louisville, Ky.

James W. Lyon Sr. ‘55 Russell, Ky. Fellow, Life Member

Garnett C. Brown, Jr. ‘60 Lexington, Ky.

J. Patrick Sullivan ‘64 Lexington, Ky. Life Member

Phyllis A. Emig ‘60 Evansville, Ind. Life Member

Billy R. Allen ‘65 Hartford, Ky. Life Member

William E. Strode ‘60 Winchester, Ky.

David V. Hawpe ‘65 Louisville, Ky. Fellow

William K. McCarty ‘55 Lexington, Ky. Life Member Patricia Curry Wright ‘55 Lexington, Ky. William L. Chadwell ‘56 Falls Church, Va. J. Thomas Tucker ‘56 Louisville, Ky. Life Member L. Stanley Chauvin Jr. ‘57 Louisville, Ky. Albert Jones ‘57 Paducah, Ky. Pat N. Miller ‘57 Frankfort, Ky. Vivian M. Fortenbery ‘58 Titusville, Fla. Arthur G. Jacob ‘58 Louisville, Ky. Fellow, Life Member

K E N TUCKY A LU MN I MAG A ZIN E Fall 2021

John C. Bailey ‘61 Osprey, Fla. Fellow Charles M. Milward ‘61 Lexington, Ky.

Gary A. Koch ‘64 Lexington, Ky.

Thomas P. Collins ‘66 Wilmore, Ky. David L. Jaquith ‘66 Lexington, Ky. Fellow, Life Member

Edwin C. Thomas ‘61 Paris, Ky. Fellow

Linford L. Tapp ‘66 Cleveland, Ohio

Frank H. Harris ‘62 Fort Myers Beach, Fla. Life Member

Paul G. Barash ‘67 Orange, Conn. Life Member

Vivian S. Jaworski ‘62 Louisville, Ky. Life Member

Ron Christopher ‘67 Frankfort, Ky.

Catherine H. Ikard ‘63 Brentwood, Tenn.

John M. Elias ‘68 Seminole, Fla. Fellow

Linda Johnson Korn ‘63 Saint Augustine, Fla. Life Member

Sarah K. Herzog ‘68 Louisville, Ky. Life Member

Joe Lenney ‘68 Lexington, Ky.

William Maksymowicz ‘73 White House, Tenn.

Rachelle Bolton ‘01 Lexington, Ky.

John D. McCann ‘68 Lexington, Ky. Life Member

William F. McReynolds Jr. ‘73 Madisonville, Ky.

Melissa Missy Hart Marrs ‘01 Lexington, Ky.

David R. Drury ‘74 Tallahassee, Fla.

Amelia B. Wilson ‘03 Lexington, Ky.

Evelyn M. Seymour ‘74 Lexington, Ky.

Tommie D. Conrad ‘06 Irvine, Ky.

Linda S. Waters ‘74 Big Canoe, Ga.

Steven James Yaste ‘08 Bloomfield, Ky.

Marvin Edward Thornton Jr. ‘75 Cornelius, N.C.

Christopher Thomas Crumbaker ‘10 Lexington, Ky.

Harry S. Porenski Jr. ‘68 Corydon, Ind. Robert W. Turney ‘68 Lexington, Ky. John T. Ward Jr. ‘68 Paris, Ky. William H. Justice ‘69 Pikeville, Ky. Life Member Michael Y. Walters ‘69 Manchester, Ky. Robert L. Arnold ‘71 Frankfort, Ky. Life Member Glenda F. Hamilton ‘71 Somerset, Ky.

Christine R. Leverenz ‘76 Georgetown, Ky. Floyd T. Wilkerson ‘77 Jeffersonville, Ind. Jane T. Clay ‘78 Lexington, Ky. Life Member

Ryan James DeNichols ‘13 Naperville, Ill.

FORMER STUDENTS AND FRIENDS Phyllis Bays Louisville, Ky.

Kathy O. Peale ‘78 Frankfort, Ky. Life Member

James L. Boerner Murfreesboro, Tenn.

Eydie Moles Rymer ‘80 Opelousas, La.

Paul P. Bollinger Louisville, Ky.

Patricia P. Schrader ‘71 Lexington, Ky. Fellow, Life Member

Anne C. Doolin ‘82 Lexington, Ky.

Kelley A. Butler Lexington, Ky. Fellow

Nancy S. Tate ‘72 Lexington, Ky.

Laurel B. Hawley ‘83 Lexington, Ky.

Charles L. Bright ‘73 Frankfort, Ky.

Mark C. Durbin ‘84 Lexington, Ky.

Hazel Colosimo-Reid ‘73 Germantown, Md.

William T. Hutchins ‘88 Bardstown, Ky.

Katherine G. House ‘73 Clinton, Ky. Life Member

Richard S. Laird ‘96 Atlanta, Ga. Life Member

John S. Reed II ‘71 Louisville, Ky. Life Member

Donald L. Cutter Nicholasville, Ky. Fellow Martha A. Edling Saint Matthews, Ky. Barbara Gray Escher Louisville, Ky.

Robert L. Farley Georgetown, Ky. Life Member Lenora B. Fraley Owingsville, Ky. Life Member John C. Greene Georgetown, Ky. Life Member Dennis G. Haack Lexington, Ky. Fellow Evelyn K. Honaker Norfolk, Va. Life Member Jerry S. Ikerd Somerset, Ky. Fellow, Life Member Harriet H. Johnson Paintsville, Ky. Fellow Stella S. Kidd Lexington, Ky. Life Member Sammy D. King Columbia, Ky. Life Member Jane A. Kington Madisonville, Ky. Life Member Richard Linton Marshall Paris, Ky. Life Member Donald C. Morton Jeffersonville, Ky. John B. Passerello Georgetown, Ky.

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In Memoriam Helen B. Pen Lexington, Ky. John C. Pramuk Nicholasville, Ky. Ann C. Probus Versailles, Ky. Nancy Hughes Purdon Norfolk, Va. Life Member Alice M. Richardson Stillwater, Okla. Life Member

Owen T. Rudd Austin, Mich. Fellow, Life Member Robert J. Selter Louisville, Ky. Duncan S. Stewart, Jr. Lexington, Ky. Fellow, Life Member

LE AVE A PER SONAL LEGACY and support the University of Kentucky with a Wildcat Alumni Plaza Paver.

Ann D. Tye Winchester, Ky. Life Member

www.wildcatalumniplaza.com 859-257-8905 (ALUM)

John Thomas Tucker ’56 of Louisville passed away on July 13, 2021 at the age of 91. Tom graduated from Manual High School, attended the University of Louisville, served in the U.S. Army, returned to college and graduated from the University of Kentucky in 1956 with a degree in commerce. He was president of the UK Alumni Association in 1987 and recipient of the UK Alumni Association Distinguished Service Award in 1990. He worked at Rock Creek Riding Club for a brief time and was the co-owner of Tee Square Thoroughbred Company. A 34-year career followed in public and external affairs for Bell South where he served as district manager in Danville, Cynthiana, Shelbyville and Winchester. Tom was president of the GED Foundation for Adult Education and Co-Chairman of Lieutenant Governor Steve Beshear’s “Kentucky Tomorrow” project. After retiring, he founded the “Book Buddies” Program at the Public Library in Winchester and delivered books to homebound residents. He is survived by his wife of 29 years, Anne Stanley Hoffman.

Amelia Brown Wilson ’03 ’06 ’11 of Grand Rivers passed away on June 25, 2021, at Vanderbilt University Medical Center after a lengthy illness. Born in Tompkinsville, she was a member of Maple Grove Missionary Baptist Church and a three-time University of Kentucky graduate. She earned her bachelor’s degree in family and consumer sciences in 2003, her master’s degree in community and leadership development in 2006, and her doctorate in higher education administration in 2011. As a student she was crowned Homecoming Queen in 2003, served on the Student Government Association, was vice president of Delta Gamma sorority, served two years as the coordinator for the UK Ambassadors and received the Sullivan Medallion. Wilson was the recipient of a liver transplant and was an advocate for organ donation. She started the Gift of Life Challenge between UK and the University of Louisville to promote organ and tissue donation. She was the 2011 recipient of UK Alumni Association’s Joseph T. Burch Young Alumni Award, a 2021 recipient of UK Alumni Association’s Distinguished Service Award and served 11 years on the UK Alumni Association Board of Directors. Amelia was a field representative for U.S. Congressman James Comer and previously served as director of agritourism at the Kentucky Department of Agriculture. She is survived by her husband and fellow UK graduate Allen O. Wilson ’03 ‘06.

K E N TUCKY A LU MN I MAG A ZIN E Fall 2021

Creative Juices Jason Belcher ’96 AS is the Author of “Versatile Nation: How America’s Knack for Reinventing Itself Will Make Life Better After 2020.” The book provides a history of how the U.S. has overcome crises and survived sweeping transformations in the past. After the tumultuous year of 2020, it forced many Americans to ask fundamental questions about our country: is it collapsing, are things falling apart, and why is there so much chaos? From the coronavirus outbreak which upended millions of lives to a summer filled with violent social unrest, 2020 had the biggest pandemic since 1918, the racial animosities of the 1960s, and the unemployment hardships of an economic depression all rolled into one. There were no shortages of pundits and commentators who assured Americans the end was indeed nigh, but the good news is they were wrong, and history provides proof of America’s versatility as a nation and ability to overcome monumental challenges. The story of the U.S. has reinvented itself several times and is already undergoing another reinvention in the aftermath of 2020. Like all transformations, this one promises to be a difficult journey, but Belcher takes a fresh look at the events that transformed our nation in the past and provides answers that may offer hope while still being grounded in facts. John Craig Hammond ’02 AS has co-edited “A Fire Bell in the Past: The Missouri Crisis at 200, Volume I, Western Slavery, National Impasse” with Jeffrey L. Pasley. When the House of Representatives passed the Tallmadge Amendment banning slavery from the prospective new state on Missouri in February 1819, it set off a two-year political crisis. The Missouri Crisis divided the U.S. into slave and free states for the first time and crystallized many of the arguments and conflicts that would later be settled violently during the Civil War. The episode was, as Thomas Jefferson put it, “a fire bell in the night” that terrified him as the possible “knell of the Union.” This first of two volumes finds myriad new perspectives on the Missouri Crisis through a collection of essays from historians giving the epochal struggle over Missouri statehood its due as a major turning point in American history.

Greg Bourke ’83 BE recounts growing up in Louisville and living as a gay Catholic in his book “Gay, Catholic, and American: My Legal Battle for Marriage Equality and Inclusion.” The book describes Bourke’s early struggles for acceptance as an out gay man living in the South during the 1980s and ’90s, his unplanned transformation into an outspoken gay rights activist after being dismissed as a troop leader from the Boy Scouts of America in 2012, and his historic role as one of the named defendants in the landmark United States Supreme Court decision Obergefell vs. Hodges, which legalized same-sex marriage nationwide in 2015. C.V. Green ’77 HS has written “Reading, Righting, and Alunatic: A Memoir by C.V. Green.” The book details her struggle within a dysfunctional family, a career jeopardized by racism and how she uses her spiritual gifts to help others. Green encompassed eleven years to create her memoir. John H. Huang ’80 AS, ’95 DE has co-authored “Kentucky Passion: Wildcat Wisdom and Inspiration” with Del Duduit. Huang and Duduit help fans reexperience some of the most memorable seasons, shots, players and coaches from the UK men’s basketball teams. Readers will learn how they too can rise to challenges and find success through inspiring stories from Wildcat history. Janet Tamaren ’92 MED has written “Yankee Doctor in the Bible Belt: A Memoir,” a humorous memoir about working as a doctor in rural Kentucky. She worked in Kentucky for decades as a general practice doctor and shares her adventures (and misadventures) of small-town doctoring. Junior Tidal ’03 CI has written “Podcasting: A Practical Guide for Librarians” which details how libraries can digitally record podcasts to highlight library collections, connect with patrons, provide library instruction, and market library services on the internet. UK and the UK Alumni Association do not necessarily endorse books or other original material mentioned in Creative Juices. The University of Kentucky and the UK Alumni Association are not responsible for the content, views and opinions expressed on websites mentioned in Creative Juices or found via links off of those websites.

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CHASING THE SUN The University of Kentucky Solar Car Team won its first national solar car competition in the 2021 Formula Sun Grand Prix! The current car, Gato del Sol VI, was completed in 2018 holds the track record for the fastest lap at the Circuit of the Americas in Austin, Texas, and placed second in its first appearance in the American Solar Challenge this summer. The UK Solar Car team is an independent, student-led organization that has been building and racing solar cars since 1999.

56 KENT UCKY A LUMNI M AG A ZIN E Fall 2021

Photo courtesy of UK Solar Car Team

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K E N TUCKY A LU MN I MAG A ZIN E Fall 2021

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Fall 2021 Kentucky Alumni Magazine

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