Campus News

Leadership that Moves Mountains

President Burton J. Webb, Ph.D., was honored with two prestigious awards early this year.

Webb has led UPIKE to better serve its existing students, while also growing the student body and securing several noteworthy gifts. In 2022, along with record enrollment came announcements of a new dental college, an ag-tech center and the acquisition of property to develop Bear Mountain, the future home of UPIKEʼs outdoor athletics. These accomplishments garnered the attention of Credo, a comprehensive higher education consulting firm specializing in working with independent colleges and universities, who awarded Webb the 2023 Courageous Leadership Award. Webb also received the Diamond Award for Excellence in Healthcare Leadership, Philanthropic, Humanitarian and Community Engagement by The Not Alone Foundation, a non profit organization that honors excellence in the entertainment, corporate and creative industries for professional accomplishments and contributions to society, “Awards for leaders speak to the quality of the team with whom they work,” said Webb. “We have a great team at UPIKE and these awards are theirs. My role is to represent them well so that together we can move mountains.”

Can you Bear the 99?

The university held its fourth annual Bear the 99 5K on March 18. This popular race begins in Benefactors Plaza and ends with a climb up the iconic 99 steps toward the finish line. Several UPIKE cross country alumni returned to campus to run or cheer on racers in memory of Julia Pernsteiner, a fellow former athlete who recently passed away. A winged shoe was printed on the T-shirts in her memory.

“Coach John Biery worked with Director of Alumni Relations Lisa Blackburn to make sure we could come together to honor Julia, who continues to impact our lives. This event allowed us to honor what she stood for and always hold her in our memories,” said Jaxon Blaine ’22. “The race was extremely fun! I was able to reconnect with staff and friends who I hadn’t seen in a long time. I absolutely loved running through Pikeville once more.”

With community and sponsor support, the event raised nearly $13,000. All proceeds will benefit the Alumni Endowed Scholarship Fund.

Answering the Call

Each year, student scholarship recipients and alumni call on friends of the university to share stories, catch up on all things UPIKE and ask for contributions to the scholarship fund.

The 2023 phonathon began with a match donation from UPIKE Chairman of the Board Terry L. Dotson ’72. The “Chairman’s Challenge” and generous donors helped raise more than $82,000 for scholarships.

“Speaking with donors reminded me of why I love the UPIKE community,” said student caller Macen Witt. “I had many conversations with alumni, friends and people who just love UPIKE and its mission, and it was a great experience speaking with people who share the pride for our school.”

Thanks to all who answered the call.

Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear came to the university to speak with members of UPIKE’s Academic and Cultural Enrichment (ACE) program about his pillars for leadership: competency and empathy. Students were excited to be able to ask questions and learn from him.

Leadership Kentucky Flame of Excellence

Paul and Judi Patton

Honoring outstanding Kentuckians who bravely light the way for others, Leadership Kentucky presented former Kentucky Governor and UPIKE Chancellor Paul E. Patton and First Lady Judi Patton with the Flame of Excellence Award.

Impactful leadership comes from those who make conscious efforts to support their communities, and Paul and Judi exemplify what it means to be leaders that light the way for others,” said President of Leadership Kentucky and UPIKE Trustee Janice Way.

KYCO’s Class of 2025 Receives White Coat of Compassion

Celebrating the Class of 2025, the Kentucky College of Optometry held its traditional White Coat Ceremony on April 1. Fifty-nine future optometrists committed to patient care and their future by reciting the professional conduct pledge and donning the white coat.

“Today is our opportunity to mark your transition from optometry student to clinical optometry student, and recognize you for reaching this milestone,” said KYCO Dean Michael Bacigalupi, O.D., M.S., FAAO, FNAP. “The Class of 2025 is very special to KYCO because they entered the college at a very uncertain time during the pandemic. This class stayed the course through all the challenges and showed excellent determination to succeed.”

The Elliott School of Nursing held an interprofessional education opportunity for KYCOM, KYCO, Appalachian College of Pharmacy and nursing students. Utilizing the simulation center in the state-of-the-art nursing area, students worked together to increase teamwork between disciplines and improve patient outcomes.

CCOB Founding Dean Retires

Coleman College of Business Founding Dean and Professor Howard Roberts, Ed.D., ’78 announced his retirement this spring after a memorable semester in the classroom. He has always felt a strong connection to UPIKE and demonstrated deep dedication to training the next generation of future business leaders.

Roberts first came to the university in 1984 to serve as an accounting professor, and in 2013 was named the founding dean of the Coleman College of Business. His deanship was a period of great change leading to the launch and expansion of the online MBA program, placing CCOB in a strong upward trajectory.

His success and collaborative community commitment to providing an outstanding business education is a testament to his 39-year legacy left at the university.

Reflecting on these years can be summarized in one word, gratitude. I am grateful to those who believed in me and who mentored me. Furthermore, I am grateful to the students who chose to attend this college and who selected business as a major,” said Roberts. “I look forward to staying connected with UPIKE and supporting the growth and expansion of the institution.

UPIKE hosts first Kentucky Recycling Symposium

The 2023 Kentucky Recycling Symposium was held in Pikeville on April 13 and 14 on UPIKE’s campus. The two-day symposium was the first of its kind in the Commonwealth and hosted thoughtful discussions and speakers focused on improving recycling across Kentucky.

Sponsors like UPIKE, Community Trust Bank, Nucor, O-I, Rotary Club of Pikeville and Solid Waste Coordinators of Kentucky were excited about discussions amongst private industry leaders, individuals involved in recycling regionally and those from other states to enhance recycling efforts.

“Our hope is that this event provides a springboard for future efforts and symposia on recycling,” said UPIKE Professional Development Manager Eric Werth, Ed.D. “Hosting this symposium in Eastern Kentucky was a particularly fitting opportunity to highlight how statewide efforts should account for not only material-specific dynamics but also geographic and population density factors.”

The symposium was planned by an advisory group that included individuals from UPIKE as well as the Southeast Recycling Development Council, Kentucky’s state government and Rubicon. Members of Clean Paws, a student club at the university that works to engage and educate the campus community on sustainability, volunteered for the event and assisted with symposium logistics.

KYCOM Pediatrics Club hosted its annual mini-med school event. Local elementary students visited campus, learned about the systems of the body and participated in fun activities prepared by KYCOM students and faculty.

Minorities in Medicine

Adaku Ikoh, OMS-III, and the first female dean of a U.S. medical school, Dr. Barbara Lee-Ross (on screen).

The Kentucky College of Osteopathic Medicine hosted its second annual Minorities in Medicine conference, open to all individuals in the healthcare field.

Looking for a way to educate and improve the visibility of underrepresented students, KYCOM student Adaku Ikoh, OMSIII, founded the event last year. This year’s conference focused on creating space for social consciousness, activism and diversity in healthcare settings.

“I saw that there was a need to continue supporting underrepresented minority medical students by continuing to educate our students, faculty and peers on the issues that we uniquely have as a group,” said Ikoh. “Social consciousness is a quality that every good leader should have. As future physicians, we will take on leadership roles wherever we go. When we truly begin to educate ourselves on different cultural issues and spend time learning about the intersectionality between history, cultural norms, health policies and disparities in various marginalized communities, we grow to become better advocates and more informed agents of change.”