As part of faculty development efforts, the Kentucky Council on Postsecondary Education (KCPE) has planned a series of workshops to address the personal, interpersonal and organizational issues faced by early career underrepresented faculty of color. Kentucky colleges and universities were asked to nominate faculty members for the Academic Leadership Development Institute.

Several faculty members at the University of Kentucky were nominated. Ultimately, three were chosen to participate in the program.

• Jacqueline Couti, Department of Modern and Classical Languages, Literatures and Cultures, College of Arts and Sciences
• Gabe Dadi, Department of Civil Engineering, College of Engineering
• Julie Plasencia, Department of Dietetics and Human Nutrition, College of Agriculture, Food and Environment

The Academic Leadership Development Institute will conduct two sessions in the spring, two sessions in the fall and will also require participants to choose an administrator outside of their home institution to shadow on a project-based experience. The first session will be held in conjunction with the annual Student Success Summit April 2-4, in Louisville.

Associate Provost for Faculty Advancement and Institutional Effectiveness G.T. Lineberry said UK is honored to have three outstanding representatives in the inaugural Academic Leadership Development Institute.

"I am excited about this professional growth opportunity for Dr. Couti, Dr. Dadi and Dr. Plasencia and for the skills and knowledge they will bring back to the colleges they represent and to the university as a whole," Lineberry said.