By Katy Bennett

(May 1, 2015) — Two prominent Kentuckians and University of Kentucky alumni will be featured as part of NBC's coverage of the 141st running of the Kentucky Derby.

Tom Hammond, a 1967 graduate of the College of Agriculture, Food and Environment, is the co-host of NBC's coverage of the Kentucky Derby, a position he's held since 2001.

Hammond is synonymous with Thoroughbred racing in the Bluegrass and across the globe. In his 30-year history with NBC, Hammond has covered figure skating, college and professional football and basketball, track and field, swimming and diving and gymnastics in addition to horse racing.

"I never thought I would go into broadcasting," Hammond said in a recent interview with

By Clark Bellar

(April 29, 2015) — The 2015 University of Kentucky Libraries Spring Gala will recognize this year's recipient of the UK Libraries Medallion for Intellectual Achievement, George C. Wright, Lexington native and president of Prairie View A&M University. The gala will begin 6 p.m. Tuesday, May 12, in the William T. Young Library on UK's campus.

The author of three books and many scholarly publications on race relations, Wright received his bachelor's and master's degree in history from UK and his doctoral degree

By Whitney Hale

(April 30, 2015) — The University of Kentucky School of Art and Visual Studies is currently presenting the B.A. (Bachelor of Arts) Senior Show, "alexithymia," showcasing the artworks of 14 graduating art studio seniors. The show, on display now, will conclude with a reception from 6-8 p.m. Friday, May 1, at Barnhart Gallery, in Reynolds Building #1. Both the exhibit and reception are free and open to the public.

The exhibition "alexithymia" will feature art of various media, including ceramics, fiber, graphic design, mixed media, painting, photography and sculpture. The word alexithymia is

By Whitney Hale

(April 30, 2015) — The University of Kentucky Office of Nationally Competitive Awards has announced that three of the university's students have been selected to receive government-funded National Science Foundation (NSF) Graduate Research Fellowships. The fellowships award more than $100,000 to use toward research-based master's or doctoral degrees. In addition, four other UK students received honorable mention recognition from the NSF.

The NSF Graduate Research Fellowship Program helps ensure the vitality of the human resource base of science and engineering in the U.S. and reinforces its diversity. The program recognizes and supports outstanding graduate students in NSF-

By Whitney Harder

(April 30, 2015) — Jason DeRouchey, assistant professor of chemistry at the University of Kentucky, has received a prestigious five-year, $691,000 National Science Foundation (NSF) Faculty Early Career Development (CAREER) Award for his project, “Linking Structure, Stability and Protection in Protamine Packaged DNA.” 

The CAREER Award is given in support of junior faculty who exemplify the role of teacher-scholars through outstanding research, excellent education and the integration of education and research within the context of the mission of their organizations.

Funds from the award will allow DeRouchey to study the ways in which protamines (a class of proteins) package, protect and store DNA in sperm cells. The mechanisms underlying the tight

by Sarah Schuetze

“I’m an old school advisor,” A&S Academic Advisor Joe Lewis said as he explained why his office door is always open. For Lewis “old school” means being a helpful resource for students, being familiar with their academic history, and helping them meet their graduation goals. The A&S Office of Advising has made being “old school” much more effective by introducing “new school” technology.

The office handles more than 7,000 student appointments in the academic year. During priority registration, they can have more than 100 students a day with up to 30 students at one time waiting to see one of the College’s ten advisors.

Communication between the front desk and advisors “became the classic Abbot and Costello ‘Who’s on first, what’s on second?’ situation,” as Travis McKenzie,

By Jenny Wells

(April 28, 2015) — Tomorrow, research projects exploring topics from molecular biology to hip hop music lyrics will be on display for the campus community and public at the ninth annual Showcase of Undergraduate Scholars.

"There really is something for everyone there," said Loretta Stafford, an integrated strategic communication (ISC) sophomore who will be presenting a poster. "I think a lot of people view research as just a resume builder, but it's so much more than that. What you're doing matters — you're coming up with answers to problems. It's just amazing that all of these young people, some of them even still in high school, are accomplishing so much and will go on to get their work published

By Whitney Hale

(April 28, 2015) — Just in time for graduation, the University of Kentucky James W. Stuckert Career Center aims to give soon-to-be graduates the knowledge to succeed in their chosen workplace. 

"Career success isn’t about out-witting or just surviving the job market, but about thriving within it," said Reba Carroll, senior assistant director at the UK Stuckert Career Center.

The Stuckert Center will host an event titled “How to impress your boss in the first 90 days” beginning 4 p.m. Tuesday, April 28.

During the event, a panel of employers will advise students on navigating work climate, anticipating organizational needs, confronting workplace challenges and more. The employer panel will include representatives from

By Gail Hairston

(April 27, 2015) — At seeblue. U orientations this summer, new and transferring University of Kentucky students will receive a copy of the 2015 Common Reading Experience (CRE) book, “Picking Cotton” by Jennifer Thompson-Cannino, Ronald Cotton with Erin Torneo.

CRE is a collaborative effort, shared by New Student and Family Programs, Student Affairs, Undergraduate Education and other campus

By Gail Hairston

(April 24, 2015) — In a masterful reconceptualization of the functioning of empire, Erik Lars Myrup’s “Power and Corruption in the Early Modern Portuguese World,” to be published in July 2015 by Louisiana State University Press, reveals the intricate web of interpersonal relationships that bound together the vast Portuguese empire, which spanned four continents and depended upon a vast and complex bureaucracy.

Myrup is assistant professor of history at the University of Kentucky College of Arts and Sciences. His articles and reviews have appeared in The Americas, Portuguese Studies, Itinerario and the Hispanic American Historical Review.

Myrup draws on archival research in Portugal, Spain, Brazil and China to

By Kathy Johnson

(April 24, 2015) — WUKY's "UK Perspectives" focuses on the people and programs of the University of Kentucky and is hosted by WUKY General Manager Tom Godell.  On today's program, UK English Professor Frank X Walker reflects on his two years as Kentucky’s poet laureate and offers some advice to newest laureate, George Ella Lyon. 

To listen to the podcast interview from which "UK Perspectives" is produced, visit http://wuky.org/post/welcoming-new-poet-laureate.

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

By Tony Neely

(April 24, 2015) — Sixty-five University of Kentucky Wildcats earned a place on the 2015 Winter Sports Southeastern Conference Academic Honor Roll announced by SEC Commissioner Mike Slive.

UK's total of 65 honorees is the fourth-most among the 14 league teams. UK has eight representatives from the men’s basketball team,  six from women’s basketball, 12 from gymnastics, 10 from rifle, 10 from men’s swimming and diving and 19 from women’s swimming and diving. 

The 2015 Winter SEC Academic Honor Roll is based on the grades from the 2014 spring, summer and fall terms. Among other qualifications, a student-athlete must have a grade-point average of 3.00 or above for the preceding academic year or have a cumulative GPA of 3.00 or above in order to make the honor roll, in addition to being a sophomore or higher in

Four students of Japan Studies at the University of Kentucky participated in the annual Kentucky Japanese speech contest that took place in Norsworthy Auditorium, located next to the Fayette County board of education building, on Saturday, April 18, 2015.



Henry Udaru won first place for the Level 4 competition (for college students who have studied Japanese up to four semesters). Udaru, a biology major and a student from Nigeria, is currently enrolled in JPN 202. In the speech, he talked about his desire to help people, particularly children, as well as his goal of becoming a medical doctor.



James Nick Howard won third place, Zhenning Wang second place, and Ranta Widayanti first place for the Level 5 competition (for college students who have studied Japanese up to six

By Clark Bellar

(April 23, 2015) — University of Kentucky doctoral student Nate Millington recently received the U.S. Department of Education's Fulbright-Hays Doctoral Dissertation Research Abroad Fellowship and will travel to São Paulo, Brazil, this June  to study flooding and its effects on the city's urban design and its people. Millington will study at the University of São Paulo (USP) and will return March 2016.

"USP is one of the biggest institutions in the country with around 80,000 students and is one of the best universities in Latin America. I'm especially excited to be working with

By Clark Bellar

(April 23, 2015) — University of Kentucky's Department of Psychology is hosting the Fifth Annual Interdisciplinary Graduate Student Conference for Research on Children at Risk 3:30-5 p.m. today, in Kastle Hall Room 213 and 9:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m. Friday, April 24, in the King Alumni House Ballroom. All members of the UK and Lexington community are encouraged to attend.

The theme of the conference is risk and resilience during adolescence and childhood. Research presented will address

By Gail Hairston

(April 23, 2015) — As April gradually slides into May, trees are growing their cloaks of green, flowers are daubing the landscape with bright colors, and Lexington’s imagination turns poetic as the city and the University of Kentucky celebrate National Poetry Month.

“Why not a festival of poetry?”thought Julia Johnson, poet and associate professor and director of the new Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing in the College of Arts and Sciences Department of English.

“I thought it would be fantastic to have a week dedicated to poetry in Lexington as part of National Poetry Month. I also like

By Whitney Harder

(April 23, 2015) — The realm of science in the United States — education, research and career opportunities — is always a hot topic, but especially so in the last several years. Technology has transformed students' learning experiences and the National Science Board (NSB) called on education and policy to foster "the next generation of STEM innovators."

In 2010, the University of Kentucky Department of Biology responded with a curriculum reform, changing the way undergraduate biology is taught at UK, and perhaps leading to more UK students pursuing scientific careers.

The curriculum reform, led by Vincent Cassone, department chair and professor, implemented new laboratory

By Whitney Hale

(April 23, 2015) — The Kentucky Women Writers Conference is trying something new for the 10th anniversary of its Wild Women of Poetry Slam. This nationally renowned all-women slam will open up its first round of competition to poets residing anywhere in the United States, who may submit a video of their spoken-word performance via the Internet through May 10.  

“Live performance is the defining feature of a poetry slam, but we know we’re missing out on so much talent," said Julie Wrinn, conference director. "By moving round one online, we open up possibilities for poets throughout the United States to participate.”

Poets are invited to submit their performances by emailing a video of an original, three-minute slam poem via Youtube or Vimeo link to

All over the world victims and perpetrators of homicide are mostly men, but when women are intentionally killed it is likely to be at the hands of men, particularly ones they know. The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime estimates that almost half of all female homicide victims worldwide, but only six percent of male victims, were killed by intimate partners or family members.

Interestingly, while the total homicide rate in the United States is higher than most European countries, the percentage of homicide victims who are female is more than twice as large in Europe (28%) compared to the Americas (12%). Understanding why countries differ in the amount and types of crime is the primary focus of Assistant Professor of Sociology Janet Stamatel’s research.

In order to end violence against women, we need a better understanding of the extent, circumstances, and causes