2022-2023 CI Connect Magazine

CI CONNECT 2022–2023

ANNUAL MAGAZINE PUBLISHED BY THE COLLEGE OF COMMUNICATION AND INFORMATION

The

CAREER EDITION

FROM

THE DEAN

2023: CI’S FUTURE IS BRIGHT

Dean (Acting Vice Provost) Jennifer Greer (top) and Acting Dean Brandi Frisby (bottom) with their friend Wildcat.

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The contents of this issue fill me with Wildcat pride as I reflect on how far the College of Communication and Information has come since I arrived in 2019.

We’ve weathered a global pandemic and uncertain times, but together we’ve built on the legacy of those who came before us (pages 54–56) to launch new programs, initiatives and spaces, all guided by CI’s 2020–2025 Strategic Plan.

We’re eagerly anticipating our college’s new “front door” in a renovated Pence Hall (pages 32–33), which will allow most college operations to be in a three-building CI neighborhood in the center of campus (page 34).

This issue focuses on our enhancements to curriculum, support services and experiential offerings to ensure that CI students are career ready upon graduation (pages 4–11). We’ve hired a new college-wide career coordinator, started new courses, expanded networking with employers and alumni and turned our CI Career and Internship Fair into a whole week of activities each semester to prepare students for the workplace.

On Oct. 1, 2023, Brandi Frisby (page 39) was named acting dean, as I’ve moved temporarily into the Office of the Provost to serve as acting vice provost. Frisby has been with the college since 2010 and has served as associate dean for student success and senior associate dean before being tapped to lead CI.

As we’ve grown, we’ve also hired new faces (page 40) and welcomed the largest incoming first-year class in the history of the College (pages 12–13).

Our students, faculty, staff and alumni continue to be recognized for excellence in teaching (page 35), research (pages 29–30), service (page 39), academic work (pages 20–21) and professional achievement (pages 52–53).

2022–2023

As we move toward 2024, CI will be in capable hands, but not mine.

Under Frisby’s capable leadership, and with the support of all of you, CI is headed toward a bright future.

Jennifer Greer, Dean cidean@uky.edu

WHAT’S INSIDE 4 CAREER READY

CI prepares students for their next step from day one.

32 COLLEGE NEWS

The College is making news.

Read about it here.

BOLD DENOTES CI ALUMNUS ITALIC DENOTES CURRENT CI STUDENT

DEAN: JENNIFER GREER EDITOR-IN-CHIEF: CATHERINE HAYDEN EDITOR: HALEY SIMPKINS DESIGNER: JACKIE POWELL

CONTRIBUTORS

12 STUDENTS

Students shine with awards, accolades and innovations.

44 UK DEBATE

The Kentucky Debate Team and their alumni carry on their storied tradition of excellence.

46 ALUMNI

From stickers to space, our alumni are making headlines.

24 GRADUATE STUDENTS

Graduate students excel in and out of the classroom as they work toward advanced degrees.

RILEY FORT RYAN GIRVES JENNIFER GREER WHITNEY HALE CATHERINE HAYDEN JENNY WELLS-HOSLEY MARIAH KENDELL ANTHONY LIMPEROS MATTIE PRICE MEG MILLS SHORT HALEY SIMPKINS

PHOTOGRAPHERS MARK CORNELISON NATHAN DARCE DOWNTOWN LEXINGTON PARTNERSHIP TYLER GERTH GETTY IMAGES CATHERINE HAYDEN YUNG SOO KIM SYDNEY MCLAUGHLIN-LEVRONE ROB METZGER ERIC SANDERS HALEY SIMPKINS DAVID STEPHENSON SYDNEY TURNER UK PHOTO BREVEN WALKER JACK WEAVER TIM WEBB

COVER PHOTO MARK CORNELISON, UK PHOTO

28 RESEARCH

Faculty and graduate student research makes industry impact.

57 THE IMPACT OF GIVING

Your gifts help in countless ways.

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WHO WE ARE. WHAT WE DO. When the College of Communication and Information embarked on its 2020–2025 strategic plan, the subcommittee tasked with penning the mission and vision of the College was struggling to encapsulate, in a few short words, who we are.

Bailey Vandiver, a then senior and now a 2020 CI journalism alum, shared with the subcommittee why she decided on CI. “When I was little, I always loved to write stories,” Vandiver said. “It never occurred to me I could do that for a living until I discovered the journalism major.

My life changed.”

A lightbulb switched on and everyone started brainstorming around her revelation, pitching slogans: “There’s a job for what you love!”, “CI is your path to careers!”, “Yes, you can make a living with our degrees!”

Someone offered: “We shape passions into professions.”

Silence. That was it.

It’s who we are and what we do.

On the next eight pages, read how CI helps students find their passion and matches them with faculty, alumni, peers, staff and mentors who help them land their dream job post graduation.

HIGH PROFILE HIGH PROFILE INTERNSHIPS & JOBS STUDENTS

For nearly a century, students studying in the College of Communication and Information’s core disciplines have honed their skills outside the classroom, working alongside professionals through internships, practicums and other opportunities to learn in a real-world setting. Four of the five undergraduate majors require internships for graduation, and many students in the College’s professional graduate programs also opt for these invaluable experiences.

Meet two CI students who recently completed internships.

Nyah Leveretter, a senior journalism major, completed a 10-week branding internship with Nike. Leveretter was one of four interns assigned to Nike’s New York office. She also spent time at Nike’s world headquarters in Beaverton, Oregon, connecting with all 200 Nike interns across the country.

Leveretter worked on ways to elevate girls in basketball through Nike’s “New York versus New York,” a tournament for elite players from the five boroughs.

She brainstormed new opportunities for the tournament to empower girls and assisted with social media coverage.

Leveretter made valuable connections that she hopes will pave the way for her sports journalism career.

“There’s just so many different people that you meet, and they aren’t going to be at Nike forever,” she said. “I want to keep those connections, because when

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I’m done with school, who knows where they are going to be, and I can reach out to them.”

Leveretter said the most valuable part of the internship was a strengthened sense of confidence for her senior year, her career path and her role as starting forward for the University of Kentucky’s Women’s Basketball team.

“This past season my coach pushed me to be a more vocal leader on the court,” Leveretter said. “It’s the same thing at Nike. They encouraged me to speak up and give my opinion. That’s good advice that applies to a lot of things, both professionally and personally.”

Ana Sampaio, a senior information communication technology, political science and economics triple major, spent her summer working as a data science intern with World Data Lab, an international data enterprise that produces estimates for spending and demography. The lab provides businesses with insight on the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals and other key indicators.

Sampaio used her knowledge of programming languages to analyze data for insights to share with clients including L’Oréal and Colgate. The internship helped open her eyes to the power of data and the human meaning behind statistics.

“You can do so much with data that is insightful and will actually change something in the world,” Sampaio

said. “For example, World Data Lab has a poverty clock on its website. It’s important to remember that when you’re working with those numbers, that they are real people in poverty.”

“I do a lot of creative concept conception and creative ideation for our clients,” Alcala said. “I’ve worked on everything from social media and digital campaigns to sweepstakes and swag items.”

Sampaio completed most of the internship remotely from her home in Brazil. The Wildcat Internship Scholarship gave her the chance to visit World Data Lab headquarters in Vienna, Austria, for 10 days, where she got to network with other interns, professional data scientists and the company’s CEO.

Before joining Luquire in January 2023, Alcala earned a master’s degree in strategic global communication at Florida International University and completed an art direction portfolio program at Miami Ad School.

“Before adding the ICT major in spring 2023, I would’ve never imagined myself doing a data science internship, but now that I’ve been doing this for a few months, I am actually enjoying data science a lot,” Sampaio said. “Data science is like two little magic words to me now, and I’m thinking of pursuing that as my specific career field.”

Sampaio’s internship ended in July, but she was invited to continue working with the company throughout the school year.

RECENT GRADUATES

The years CI students spend in courses, working in internships and being mentored prepare them to take on fulfilling roles they love.

Meet two recent CI alumni who are living proof of how CI shapes passions into professions.

In his work for Luquire, one of the Southeast’s leading marketing agencies, Justin Alcala, a 2020 integrated strategic communication graduate, assists with digital and traditional advertising for clients such as North Carolina Tourism, Harris Teeter grocery stores and Bojangles restaurant.

During his portfolio program, Alcala and several of his classmates earned a National Student Gold ADDY award for “Toilet Chronicles (Case Study),” a mock campaign video that promotes a collaboration between Charmin toilet paper and Penguin Random House publishing, where books are printed on toilet paper to encourage people to read more in “print.” Alcala also earned a Gold Clio in student print for his Time Magazine cover, which illustrated the Supreme Court overturning Roe v. Wade.

This bold, unique art direction is characteristic of much of Alcala’s work, which he said the ISC program and its professors fostered.

“I took the ISC intro course, and I just knew that’s where I wanted to be,” Alcala said. “It combined my love for graphic design with something that’s really mentally stimulating, which is the advertising side of it.”

His role on the UK National Student Advertising Competition team and the guidance of Associate Professor Adriane Grumbein prepared him for the success he’s seen thus far.

“I will say that out of almost all of the students in my master’s program, I felt the most prepared for that program thanks to ISC and CI,” Alcala said.

Lindsay O’Hara, a 2020 communication and equine science and management graduate, operates all aspects of the Breeders’ Cup’s nominations department including recruitment, marketing, finances, client relations and data analysis.

O’Hara has loved horses her entire life but found that opportunities in the horse industry were scarce in her home state of New Hampshire. At UK, O’Hara found more opportunities in the horse industry than she could’ve ever imagined.

O’Hara has combined her love for horses with her communication skills in several professional roles. She worked as a communication and public relations intern for UK Equine Programs while in school, and worked as a marketing, events and sponsorship manager at Hagyard Equine Medical Institute after graduation.

“My career path has been the perfect blend of my passion for horses and the skills I learned through my communication degree,” O’Hara said.

O’Hara now works with breeders, consignors, sales companies and owners to recruit into the Breeders’ Cup domestic and international nomination program. This role includes traveling to horse auctions from Florida to New York to California and traveling to each year’s Breeders’ Cup location.

“My CI degree helped me with every role I’ve had out of college,” O’Hara said. “The organizational communication classes really opened my eyes on how workplaces operate and helped me navigate my own career journey. I use the skills I learned to network, build relationships and recruit into our program.”

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The College holds Career and Internship Fairs in the fall and spring semesters as part of CI Career Week, bringing potential employers right to CI students.

PREPARING STUDENTS FOR NEXT STEPS CAREER WEEK

BY THE NUMBERS

360+ students served

49

alumni volunteers

7

panels

3

site visits

The College of Communication and Information works to shape passions into professions in everything it does. Nowhere is that mission more on display than during CI Career Week, held each fall and spring to help students succeed in finding internships while in school and jobs upon graduation.

In the 2022–2023 academic year, CI connected students with 42 unique employers and 49 alumni through seven panels and three site visits. More than 360 students participated in at least one Career Week event, with many attending multiple sessions. Students also worked with professional recruiters to hone resumes and job searches.

The Student Success team, guided by the College’s strategic plan, developed innovative career events, using suggestions from employers, alumni, faculty, staff and, of course, students.

A few Spring 2023 events included:

USING COMMUNICATION CAREERS FOR SOCIAL CHANGE

This panel was moderated by sophomore journalism major Abbey Cutrer and featured five professionals sharing how they turned their passion for social change into careers. Panelists discussed causes ranging from women in journalism to diversity in the agriculture community, explaining how they incorporate their causes into their work,

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even as they work to overcome difficulties and biases. Although the panelists were working toward different social changes, they all advised students to seize opportunities and adapt as they pursue their goals. The panelists were: • Sarah Ladd, health reporter, Kentucky Lantern • Becky Brooks, president, Alliance for Women in Media • Chaquenta Neal, executive director, Food Chain • Rufus Friday, executive director, Hope Center • Will Wright, digital strategist, Great Stories LLC

DIVERSITY, EQUITY AND INCLUSION IN THE WORKPLACE

This career panel was moderated by Nigel Taylor, a communication doctoral student and CI’s 2022–2023 Outstanding Contributions to DEI Award winner. Panelists shared their definitions of diversity, equity and inclusion and how they found ways to make their unique perspectives heard in a workplace. CI alumni featured were: • Camille Wright, associate community manager, Honda • Jacob Lewis, public relations associate, National CineMedia • Fadyia Lowe, associate director of student wellness, University of Kentucky • Neha Yousuf, news producer, WDTN-TV

WHAT I WISH I’D KNOWN FOR MY FIRST JOB

Recent CI graduates shared what they wish they had known before entering the workforce, from understanding your first job is not your forever job to always responding promptly and professionally to rejection emails, because you never know when you will have to contact that company again. Panelists encouraged students to know their own brand and prepare to succinctly pitch themselves to any prospective employer. Alumni featured were: • Katelyn Dougherty, associate regional sales leader, Hershey • Michaela Haswell, media strategy manager, Spark Foundry • Ryan Cullinane, sports communication assistant, University of Georgia • Camron Brown, entrepreneur, business owner, sales associate • Kayla Ruth, vice president, marketing, Free Spirit Marketing

RESUMANIA

Alumni, professionals and UK Stuckert Career Center staff met with students to review and edit

resumes and cover letters, honing ways students can spotlight their experience and skills to stand out in a crowded field.

CI CAREER AND INTERNSHIP FAIR

The highlight of CI Career Week each fall and spring is a college-specific Career and Internship Fair at the Gatton Student Center, allowing employers to connect with CI students.

Company representatives highlight their employment opportunities, offer advice about the hiring process and help students apply for positions.

Students also have access to pre- and post-fair resources such as a confidence-building table, a station to help them sharpen their elevator pitch and an opportunity to get a professional headshot taken.

One innovation this year was a table for students to write a hand-written personal thank you note on the spot to any of the potential employers they met with at the CI Career and Internship Fair. Companies also could send students who stood out a personalized note, building connections and boosting the confidence of student attendees.

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CI alumnus and collegiate sports marketing pioneer Jim Host mentored students at an “Eat with Experience” dinner and networking event.

THE POWER OF

Mentorship

Everyone can visualize a typical commencement photo—a graduate in a cap and gown, striding solo across the stage, hard-earned diploma in hand, toward a successful career. What’s not visible in that photo are the numerous mentors—both inside and outside the classroom—who helped the graduate reach that point.

pioneering the future of the news industry,” Kendell said. “I’ve always known that I wanted to work at the intersection of media and government, and the internship gave me a fresh perspective on both.”

Students in the College of Communication and Information have a vast network of mentors—from staff and faculty to peers to alumni to industry experts—invested in their success.

Interning alongside CI alumni is just one way students connect with industry leaders. More than 20 students were mentored by former University of Kentucky baseball player, CI alumnus and collegiate sports marketing pioneer Jim Host, who hosted an “Eat with Experience” dinner networking event in Spring 2023.

ALUMNI MENTORSHIP

Mariah Kendell, a 2023 journalism graduate, took a path that led her to be mentored by CI Communications Manager Catherine Hayden, faculty advisor Kakie Urch, undergraduate research mentor Dean Jennifer Greer and numerous others in the College. And that was just the beginning. In Kendell’s final semester, she was mentored by three CI alumni during her internship at the Kentucky Lantern, a free, nonpartisan news service based in Frankfort. Covering state government and politics with these award-winning reporters solidified Kendell’s career aspirations.

“It was such a privilege to be able to learn from the most outstanding journalists in the state, who are

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For more about the Kentucky Lantern, turn to page 47.

Host described his experiences in communication, sports marketing and broadcasting, sharing challenges he faced. From his early start at Proctor & Gamble to working in Kentucky government under two governors to founding Host Communications, Host’s career took many turns. He told students that he risked everything early in his career to achieve his goals.

During the evening, Host asked students to introduce themselves and share their career aspirations, coaching them and giving personalized tips on self-presentation.

Professor Kimberly Parker (right) with undergraduate researchers Sylvia Scheuer (left) and Madison Guay at the Undergraduate Research Fair.

Shelby Malburg, a 2023 communication graduate, said she appreciated the opportunity to receive personalized advice from an industry legend. “He challenged us and asked us tough questions,” she said. “He showed us the value of first impressions. He clearly wants us to succeed.”

Host shared autographed copies of his book, “Changing the Game: My Career in Collegiate Sports Marketing,” a 2020 memoir published by University Press of Kentucky.

FACULTY MENTORSHIP

Kimberly Parker, professor in the Department of Integrated Strategic Communication, embodies what faculty mentorship can mean in research. Parker was nominated for Research Faculty Mentor of the Year and recognized at the Undergraduate Research Student Showcase for her support and guidance of CI’s undergraduate researchers.

Sylvia Scheuer, a 2023 ISC graduate, worked with Parker’s graduate class to study Gen Z and their relationship with giving to and volunteering at non-profits.

“It’s hard to describe the magnitude of the impact that Dr. Parker left on my life,” Scheuer said. “From the day that I met her, I could tell that she wanted to see me succeed just as much as I did. I was faced with several challenges throughout my time as her assistant, but she always showed me unconditional support. There is truly no other professor like her, and I can confidently say that I wouldn’t be where I am today without Dr. Parker. I am forever grateful for her and the opportunities that the College has given me.”

For more about Parker’s research and mentorship, turn to page 25.

PEER MENTORSHIP

Proving that anyone can be a mentor, college-aged students—still learning themselves—have eagerly signed up for the CI peer mentor program, launched last year. Current CI students volunteer to welcome incoming majors, mentoring them through their transition to college.

Gabby Parson, a sophomore ISC major, served as a CI peer mentor to Lauren Salladino, a first-year communication student.

“I believe this experience is helpful to the mentees because it provides them with a comfortable alternative place for them to get answers to questions they have surrounding college,” Parson said.

“It’s easier to connect with someone similar in age, and the program gives the mentees a friend that they otherwise may not have had when starting college.”

Gabby Parson (left) served as a peer mentor for firstyear student Lauren Salladino (right).

Salladino called the CI peer mentor experience “extremely positive.”

“I would definitely recommend the program,” she said. “I was able to get close with my mentor, and she became a welcoming face and friend to see on campus. She made the adjustment period of being a freshman a lot more enjoyable.”

Mentors have the power to change lives, as these examples show.

If you’re interested in mentoring a CI student through an internship or our alumni network, email hireci@uky.edu.

If you would like to mentor a student as part of our student success initiatives, email cidean@uky.edu.

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COMMITTING TO CAREER SUCCESS College of Communication and Information students have long been supported by the University of Kentucky’s Stuckert Career Center, faculty and academic advisors in finding jobs and internships. While those support systems are still going strong, the ever-increasing number of professional opportunities and students seeking advice specific to communication and information jobs and internships called for additional and nuanced support.

The College answered the need, creating a dedicated college-wide career coordinator position. Brooke Nowicki joined the College this spring. Nowicki is a two-time CI graduate, earning her bachelor’s degree in integrated strategic communication in 2018 and her master’s degree in communication in 2019.

CI’s new collegewide career coordinator, Brooke Nowicki.

Her education and career have taken her around the world, from studying event management in Florence, Italy, to teaching English as a second language to children in Poland and business professionals in Latin America.

Nowicki returned to the United States, working in community relations, small and large nonprofits, social media, fundraising, marketing and event management.

“When you get a degree from our college, the sky’s the limit on what you can do,” she said.

In her role as career coordinator, Nowicki provides one-onone and personalized career coaching to CI students.

She coordinates with faculty supervising internships in each CI major and works with the Stuckert Career Center to amplify the university’s central services. In coordination with partners across campus and in the College, she plans CI Career Week panels, industry site visits and the CI Career and Internship Fair held each fall and spring. This concerted effort in CI and across campus helps support students as they successfully enter their chosen career paths.

“I’m honored to carry on the long tradition of professional development in CI by providing central support and coordination for students, faculty internship coordinators across majors and our many employers,” Nowicki said. “I see my job as supporting our students, our faculty and the industries.”

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Hire CI

Email

ci.uky.edu/hire-ci

hireci@uky.edu

Q&A WITH CI’S CAREER COORDINATOR Q: As an alum, what kind of impact do you think having a CI-specific career advisor will have on students’ entrance into the professional world?

A: I am so excited for students to have a career coordinator that is dedicated to their college, and as a CI alum, I also can relate with them. I know what it’s like to be searching for that internship for credit, to be compiling my final portfolio and to be on the hunt for that first career job. Faculty are central to this process, and now they have someone else to be with them for every step. I’m so excited to play this role!

Q: What kind of professional skills will your services help students learn and develop?

A: I give students the tools they need to create great portfolios, resumes, social media profiles, cover letters and conduct amazing job interviews.

Q: What does a successful career advising session with a student look like to you?

A: My main goal is to make sure that by the time a student leaves my office they feel more confident and prepared in their career path and decisions. Hopefully, this ultimately leads them to be confident in all aspects of their career search and first job.

Left: ICT students dismantle a projector in order to gain firsthand experience in writing a repair guide for the equipment on iFixit.

Below: ISC students helped the Downtown Lexington Partnership plan, promote and execute the Downtown Lexington Christmas Parade.

CLASSES PRODUCE WORLD-READY GRADS In the College of Communication and Information, four of the five undergraduate majors require for-credit internships, where students, under the guidance of faculty, work with industry supervisors in Lexington or at companies or organizations around the nation. Most students also take capstone courses, where they produce

professional projects that enhance their portfolios and their job searches.

Curriculum across all programs teaches CI students how to be world ready at, or even before, graduation. Faculty infuse career readiness into their teaching, bring in industry experts to classes and have

students solve real-world problems to prepare students to enter the workforce, well before they walk across the stage at Rupp Arena.

Below are six examples of how CI courses help students strengthen their career skills in the classroom:

CI’S WORLD-READY COURSES CIS 220: Career Readiness and Professionalism in Communication and Information Industries helps students develop a written, spoken and digital professional persona, communication strategies and professional skills. Students learn more about careers from guest speakers representing a wide array of communication and information industries.

and strategies (second year), all while connecting with other CI majors living on their floor in Jewell Hall.

CIS 191 and CIS 391: Living Learning Program courses allow students in the residential CI Connect Living Learning Program to work with their faculty mentor to adjust to UK’s academic, social and cultural life (first year) and explore leadership concepts

ICT 305: Data Detectives pairs students with technology from iFixit, a how-to website and online community, and professionals from iFixit to implement, write and publish repair guides about their assigned technology.

COM 326: Communication Strategies for Professional Excellence teaches the fundamentals of good business communication as well as tactics for running a business meeting and dealing with organizational conflict.

ISC 471: Event Planning introduces students to planning processes and strategies while partnering with clients on live, public events that take place during the semester.

Past events include the Downtown Lexington Christmas Parade, the Lexington Philharmonic Orchestra and a shop local fair.

JAM 202: Portfolio and Profession equips students with journalistic and professional fundamentals early in their college career by helping them start their portfolio, resume, reel and website. Students add to these materials throughout their time at UK to be job ready upon graduation.

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HIGHLIGHTS

Philanthropy: Thank you from students

Welcome

CLASS OF

2027

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In August, 425 first-year students and 69 transfer students joined the College of Communication and Information—the largest incoming class ever!

Pence philanthropy

Drone photo by David Stephenson, assistant professor in the School of Journalism and Media.

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HIGHLIGHTS

Deaton attends her first day at Royal Holloway, University of London.

FULBRIGHT SENDS FORMER KERNEL EDITOR TO ENGLAND Rayleigh Deaton, a May 2023 communication and political science graduate, has been awarded a prestigious Fulbright grant to continue her studies in England.

This September, Deaton began her master’s degree in media, power and public affairs at Royal Holloway, University of London. The Fulbright grant provided her with a comprehensive financial package, including full coverage of tuition, living expenses and travel costs for the duration of the one-year program.

For Deaton, the award is a culmination of her extensive undergraduate career.

She served two terms as editor-in-chief of the Kentucky Kernel, the University of Kentucky’s independent, award-winning, student-run newspaper. She also interned at the Lexington Herald-Leader, putting her journalism minor to good use.

As an aspiring international politics reporter, Deaton hopes that her Fulbright-funded studies will provide her with a more holistic view of journalism.

The media, power and public affairs curriculum focuses on the relationship

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between the individuals that make news, the journalists who produce news stories and the audience that is affected.

“It is important to understand the inner workings of how news is made, especially when you’re reporting it,” Deaton said. “It’s reductive to not understand [that intersectionality] from an international perspective.”

Deaton has had a lifelong interest in living and working in England—a passion that was confirmed by her study abroad experience at Oxford University in summer of 2022. Deaton received the English-Speaking Union scholarship from the English-Speaking Union Kentucky Branch to fund the trip.

“I approached that as a trial basis to see what England would be like,” Deaton said. “And I loved it a lot. I think the culture there is really fun, and it’s a very global environment.”

She credits her success to her friends at the Kentucky Kernel, faculty and staff members at the UK School of Journalism and Media and advisors at the UK

Office of Competitive Awards. She also expresses gratitude for the unwavering support of her parents, Tim and Becky Deaton. In addition, Deaton received recommendation letters from College of Communication and Information Dean Jennifer Greer, Student Media Advisor Ryan Craig and Peter Baniak, then editor of the Lexington Herald-Leader, which she says played a crucial role in her achievement.

“It’s been a really neat journey,” Deaton said. “I am just very thankful for this opportunity, and I’m excited to see where it goes.”

Sponsored by the Department of State, the Fulbright U.S. Student Program is one of the most widely recognized and prestigious scholarship programs in the world, operating in over 160 countries worldwide. Participants, known as “Fulbrighters,” go through a rigorous application process. Finalists are selected for individualized grants based on their academic and professional achievements and leadership capabilities.

STUDENT

HIGHLIGHTS

FATHER-DAUGHTER DUO GRADUATE TOGETHER After years of hard work and determination, father and daughter, Jeff and Shelby Lynn, walked across the commencement stage in May to receive their bachelor’s degrees from the University of Kentucky College of Communication and Information. The journey to that moment was not an easy one, as both faced their own unique challenges along the way.

But together, they supported each other through the ups and downs, and can now celebrate their achievements—side by side.

“I’m so excited that I get to graduate with my dad,” said Shelby Lynn, who also works as a fellowship and faculty coordinator for UK HealthCare’s Advanced Eye Care. “He has always been a major pillar in my life, and I’m lucky that I get to walk with one of my biggest supporters.”

For Shelby Lynn, receiving her degree is a culmination of a dream that was put on hold after leaving the university in 2011, during her freshman year, when she became pregnant with her oldest daughter.

Over a decade later, with the help of UK’s Employee Education Program, which waives tuition for regular employees, she returned to finish her degree in communication.

“I knew I wanted to finish college to give my daughter the life she deserved,” she said. “While she was learning her ABCs, I was learning right alongside her—just a little more than the ABCs. I wanted to show her she could do anything she set her mind to.”

Inspired by his daughter’s perseverance, Jeff Lynn, who also works for UK HealthCare as an infrastructure services manager, decided to return to college after leaving Murray State University in 1987. After 22 years in the Navy, and with his children now grown, he felt it was also time to finalize that chapter.

amazing,” he said. “With the inspiration of my family and their encouragement, I was able to complete this goal.”

When reflecting on their untraditional undergraduate experiences, both father and daughter felt an extreme sense of pride and accomplishment.

Also utilizing UK’s EEP program, Jeff Lynn received his bachelor’s degree in information communication technology.

“It feels surreal,” Shelby Lynn said. “For 12 years I have been in school and to be at the finish line with my dad, getting our degrees, I couldn’t be happier.”

“It has been a long-standing goal to complete my degree, and to be able to walk with my daughter is

In the future, both are exploring the idea of graduate school.

CI CONNECT

May 2023 father and daughter CI graduates Jeff and Shelby Lynn pose for a graduation photo.

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Lordina Mensah is UK’s first student to be accepted into the Patti Grace Smith Fellowship program.

ICT STUDENT AWARDED NATIONAL AEROSPACE FELLOWSHIP University of Kentucky first-year student Lordina Mensah became the university’s first student to be accepted into the Patti Grace Smith Fellowship program, a nationally competitive aerospace fellowship program.

can turn amino acid sequences into music as a teaching tool for introductory STEM students. She was introduced to Bradley’s lab through the STEM Through Authentic Research Training (START) program in her junior year of high school.

Mensah is a double major in information communication technology and aerospace engineering. She is also a member of the Lewis Honors College.

The START program seeks to support middle and high schoolers in underrepresented populations by helping them gain experience through mentorship, research and professional development activities in STEM. Throughout her time in the lab, Bradley has served as a mentor to Mensah, and he encouraged her to apply for the Patti Grace Smith Fellowship.

The Patti Grace Smith Fellowship is a competitive program that partners prospective Black undergraduate students with an aerospace laboratory across the country. This year the fellowship was awarded to 31 undergraduate students from 22 colleges and universities across the country. As a part of the program, fellows completed a summer internship, received a scholarship and were paired with a mentor.

Mensah interned with the software team at Venturi Astrolab in Hawthorne, California. The company focuses on building rovers that can be sent to the moon or Mars to further knowledge of these interstellar landscapes. Mensah said the company is small, and that this intimate environment where “people know people” helped her get the most out of her experience.

Mensah does undergraduate research with Luke Bradley, professor in the College of Medicine. In his lab, Mensah studies how data sonification

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“I wouldn’t have this fellowship if it wasn’t for my team, especially Dr. Bradley, who helped me so much,” Mensah said. “He is a big part of my team, and he inspires me every day.”

Mensah aspires to become a STEM educator, with plans to pursue a graduate program in STEM education and hopes to lean on her ICT degree and this fellowship experience to better help her future education.

Mensah also hopes to use her ICT degree to help her be more efficiently equipped to take on the task of educating and encouraging students that are interested in STEM. “I want to start kids young in STEM education by being an advocate for them and stepping behind them,” Mensah said.

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NATIONAL SCHOLARSHIP ALLOWS SOPHOMORE TO NETWORK IN TECH FIELD Skilar Brooks, sophomore information communication technology and marketing double major, is one of two national 2023 recipients of the Carl C. Williams Scholarship from the Information Technology Senior Management Forum.

ITSMF is a national, nonprofit organization focused on the professional and personal development of Black technology professionals, especially those in leadership positions. ITSMF awarded Brooks a $5,000 scholarship.

According to the ITSMF website, scholarship recipients will also receive “a coveted opportunity for Black students to reach their highest potential through career development, mentoring and networking” through “access to ITSMF Symposia to network with industry leaders from Fortune 500 companies and successful entrepreneurs in STEM-related fields, mentoring from industry leaders… increased exposure to internship opportunities… [and] attendance at other professional conferences and leadership development programs.”

For example, ITSMF also fully funded Brooks’ trip to New York City to attend ITSMF’s Technology Leaders Awards in May. During this trip, Brooks attended a cocktail hour, dinner and awards ceremony alongside some of the technology industry’s top leaders in the corporate, academic and nonprofit sectors.

“It was really cool getting to see people from minority and different types of backgrounds not only working in the technology field but excelling in this space by having their own companies or being CEOs and CFOs,” Brooks said.

Beyond the inspiration she felt while at the gala, Brooks said this award also set her up with connections that could lead to career-readiness opportunities.

“My goal is to be a cybersecurity lawyer, and I feel like ITSMF provides me with the network to feel comfortable enough to reach out to a member and see if I could shadow them to narrow down my special interests in the field,” Brooks said.

Brooks encourages other eligible students to apply for the scholarship.

Skilar Brooks (left) was recognized at the ITSMF Technology Leaders Awards.

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HIGHLIGHTS

The last weekly edition of the Kentucky Kernel, shown right, was published on April 27, 2023.

A NEW ERA:

KENTUCKY KERNEL ENDS WEEKLY PRINTING, FOCUSES ON DIGITAL April 2023 marked the end of an era for the Kentucky Kernel, the independent, student-run newspaper for the University of Kentucky, as it published its last weekly edition. The award-winning student media outlet will move to printing only special sections with a focus on primarily online publication.

Student Media Advisor Ryan Craig, 2022–2023 Editor-in-Chief Rayleigh Deaton and 2023–2024 Editor-in-Chief Hannah Stanley all played a role in making this decision.

Deaton said the group’s decision to move away from weekly printing was not made from necessity or cost, but rather because of the media industry’s shift toward digital-first publication and consumption.

“The ways that people are consuming news are changing, and it’s our responsibility to adapt how we disseminate information to best serve the needs of the public,” Deaton said.

Deaton said this decision was not made lightly, but she and the Kernel team know it was the right move for the future of the outlet.

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“I know all of us at the Kernel have a special place in our hearts for printed media, and there is truly nothing like holding a physical manifestation of your hard work in your hands and seeing it shared across campus,” Deaton said. “But we know it was the right decision, as it will allow the staff to focus its energy on better serving the campus community.”

Stanley said she is looking forward to what this change will mean for her time as editor.

“With the shift of becoming a special edition paper, there comes a much larger responsibility on timeliness online and our social media,” Stanley said. “My staff and I have come up with a set plan in hopes we can produce the best and fastest stories for our readers. I am beyond excited to be the foot behind such a drastic change to our paper, and I believe it’s going to make us stronger as a paper and to other news outlets.”

With the idea of better serving the campus community in mind, Craig expressed that this change also allowed the Kernel to serve UK beyond the restrictions of a printed product.

KRNL L+F NAMED BEST STUDENT MAGAZINE IN THE REGION

“We are no longer just a student newspaper; we are a media company,” Craig said. “Nothing is out of bounds for us with this new model, whether that be video, interactive elements or some other new feature that the digital space allows us to explore.”

KRNL Lifestyle + Fashion magazine will continue publishing a print magazine once a semester, while maintaining and building its online presence as usual.

Visit ukci.me/kernelprint to view the last weekly, printed edition of the Kernel.

Follow the Kentucky Kernel’s digital coverage at kentuckykernel.com and krnlmagazine.com for KRNL’s digital coverage. Follow both the Kernel and KRNL on Facebook, X (formerly known as Twitter), Instagram and TikTok to stay up to date on the latest campus news and happenings.

KRNL Lifestyle + Fashion magazine, the once-a-semester, studentproduced lifestyle magazine for the University of Kentucky and the Lexington community, made waves this year as the Society of Professional Journalists’ Region 5 Mark of Excellence award winner for Best Student Magazine.

“We published two incredible issues this past year, both of which pushed boundaries I don’t believe KRNL has ever done before, and I’m beyond proud of all our staff’s work,” said Rana Alsoufi, 2022–2023 KRNL editor-in-chief. “It means the world to be acknowledged and supported as student journalists by others from across the nation. It was an honor to get the opportunity to lead such a fantastic and talented staff as KRNL’s.”

Emma Reilly, senior integrated strategic communication major, will lead KRNL as the 2023–2024 editor-in-chief and the Fall 2023 magazine published in November.

STUDENT MEDIA AWARDS 2021–2022 College Media Association Pinnacle Awards • Kernel, six national awards, earning one first-place finish and six honorable mentions • KRNL, one national award and one honorable mention 2021-2022 Associated Collegiate Press Best of Show • Kernel, four national top-10 finishes • KRNL, national second-place finish for four-year campus feature magazine and one top-five finish Spring 2023 College Media Association Apple Awards Kernel, two first-place finishes, one second-place finish and two thirdplace finishes 2021–2022 Associated Collegiate Press Pacemaker Awards

• Both the Kernel and KRNL magazine were national finalists, meaning they were in the top 10% of student media outlets.

• Kernel, seven national awards, including two first-place finishes for breaking news and editorial as well as three second-place finishes, two top-five finishes and an honorable mention • KRNL, two national awards, both top-three finishes 2022–2023 Hearst Journalism Awards School of Journalism and Media students took home a top-10 finish in the Multimedia Innovative Storytelling and Audience Engagement Competition, a top-15 finish in the Photojournalism Picture Story/Series Competition and a top-20 finish in the Multimedia Digital News/Enterprise Competition.

2021–2022 Kentucky Press Association Awards • Kernel, General Excellence for the fifth year in a row • Kernel, 38 awards, sweeping three categories and earning 13 firstplace finishes 2021–2022 Society of Professional Journalists National Mark of Excellence Awards Kernel, two national awards for Breaking News Reporting and Editorial Writing 2022–2023 Society of Professional Journalists Region 5 Mark of Excellence Awards • Kernel, eight regional awards, as well as being named a finalist for the Corbin Gwaltney Award for Best All-Around Student Newspaper • KRNL, named Best Student Magazine in the region

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HIGHLIGHTS

UNIVERSITY OF KENTUCKY FILM FESTIVAL

Eight College of Communication and Information students and one alumnus were selected to compete in the 2023 UKY Film Festival sponsored by the UK Office of Student Organizations and Activities, Courage Media, Media Collaboratory and the Media Depot. Alumnus Jackson Dunavant (MAS, MKT, 2022) won the award for best fiction/best performance. Grant Grubbs took home the award for best documentary and Jonah Hildreth took home the audience choice award. Zach Brangers, Maria Folio, Rachel Graves-Dobson, Victoria Hagan, Sam Tucker and Jordan Williams all had their films featured.

NATIONAL STUDENT ADVERTISING COMPETITION

The 2022–2023 National Student Advertising Competition team won the District 5 competition for the 12th time in team history. The team consisted of CI students Kennedi Beam, Cailey Bingham, Madeline Davis, Megan Fezza, Ashley Fisher, Ben Johnson, Francesca Louise, Maya Malawi, Jenna Rampenthal, Madison Rennie, Emme Schumacher, Lauren Shaffer and Anjana Vedapuri and was led by integrated strategic communication Associate Professors Adriane Grumbein and Alyssa Eckman. At regionals, the team placed ninth (tie) out of 97 teams, putting them in the top 10 teams in the nation.

Pictured above: NSAC team after District 5 win.

Pictured right: Mallory Brownell’s awardwinning design.

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LEXINGTON ADDY AWARDS

CI students captured nine of 10 categories in Ad Club Lexington’s annual ADDY awards. Gold ADDYs went to Victoria Smith, Emme Schumacher, Cat Kidman, Mallory Brownell (design pictured at left) and Allie Diggs; while Kennedi Beam, Savannah Chapman, Patti Doud, Ben Johnson, Cat Kidman, Lauren Munley, Sydney Turner, Nicole Weinzimmer, Riley Hostutler and Sam Tucker took home Silver ADDYs.

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HIGHLIGHTS

LAMBDA PI ETA RETURNS TO UK CI inducted 27 majors into the College of Communication and Information’s honor society, Lambda Pi Eta, for the 2022–2023 academic year. After being inactive for several years, student leaders recently revived the chapter.

The College’s Alpha Chi chapter is open to all majors in the College and is advised by Schyler Simpson, CI’s director of retention and engagement. Inductees were selected based on outstanding academic performance as well as character and involvement.

Lambda Pi Eta serves as the National Communication Association’s official honor society at four-year colleges and universities.

The University of Kentucky’s chapter is one of 600 chapters across the nation. Its purpose is to recognize, encourage and reward outstanding scholarly achievement in the field of communication. Members are encouraged to establish and maintain close relationships with their communication faculty and to seek professional development opportunities in the field of communication.

INAUGURAL OFFICERS FOR 2022–2023 President: Ashley Fisher Vice President: Nikki Tudor Treasurer: Anjana Vedapuri Secretary: Cait Hill Social Media and Communications: Lexi Fionda

UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH

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Several College of Communication and Information students presented their research at the Spring 2023 Undergraduate Research Showcase.

Each of these students received research fellowship funding from the College in the 2021–2022 or 2022–2023 academic year.

Presentations included research on: • Photo 1: Using photo voice to understand the effects of caring for someone with Alzheimer’s or dementia by Ashley Fisher and Kennedi Beam (ISC) • Photo 2: Investigating local businesses’ communication of sustainability efforts and inclusion of people with disabilities by Riley Fort and Cailey Bingham (ISC) • Photo 3: The effects of returning to the classroom during COVID-19 on

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students’ academic performance and mental health by Natalie Hutchinson (ICT) UK’s mental health/campus resources for the Latino community by Daniela Rodriguez (ISC) Making academic research approachable through design by Madison Guay, Emme Schumacher and Sylvia Scheuer (ISC) Data collected surrounding Gen Z’s perceptions of charitable giving by Madison Guay, Emme Schumacher and Sylvia Scheuer (ISC) A documentary produced to highlight Lexington Police Department’s Neighborhood Resource Officer Ryan Holland and the Project Hope organization he founded by Jackson Huston (JOU)

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CI GAMERS CLUB STUDENTS CREATE, PLAY, LEARN

CIS STUDENTS BRING HANDS-ON STEM LEARNING TO LEXINGTON Kody Frey, assistant professor in the School of Information Science, and his CIS 112 class collaborated with the Lexington Public Library to bring experiential learning opportunities into the Lexington community.

CIS 112 Accelerated Composition and Communication is part of the University of Kentucky Core Curriculum and serves students of all majors across campus.

Students were challenged to create a book that makes a complex STEM topic accessible to children. During an event titled “Hands-On Science with University of Kentucky STEM Students,” students read their books, led participants through an engaging activity and answered questions.

Tharanie Subramaniam, a computer engineering major, used her project to explain how the internet works. She employed various communication strategies she learned in class, like using metaphors to frame complex ideas, to teach the children that approached her table.

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A new student organization—the CI Gamers Club—hopes to build on the popularity of video-gaming careers by spreading awareness about the enticing world of video game development through student engagement and participation.

CI Gamers Club was created by Alysa Lozano, an information communication technology and computer science major. She said the club strives to be an inclusive organization for students to create, play and learn about video games.

“The internet is like a puzzle,” she explained to participants as they colored maps of computer networks. “And IP (Internet Protocol) is like a postal system, kind of like how you have a home address.”

Although the club is early in its development, Lozano and her peers have big plans; they hope to create and launch a game for students to demo in the near future.

Christi Gresham, an employee of the Lexington Public Library, attended the event with her son Zachary.

“It’s been really fun just coming up with ideas and seeing people who are as excited and motivated as I am,” Lozano said. The large scale and reach of the University of Kentucky’s student organizations inspired her to register a club where students could collaborate and create something that makes them proud.

“I think this is huge,” Gresham said. “He can’t experience this at school, and UK has been so good with little kids. And I learned things too! It’s not just for kids.”

Given the success of the event, Frey hopes to continue the CIS and Lexington Public Library partnership in the future.

“We were so happy to partner with Dr. Frey and his class,” said Amanda Wheeler, the experiential learning supervisor at the Lexington Public Library. “It’s so important for young students to see young professionals in STEM fields, because it increases their engagement and allows them to visualize themselves in those types of careers.”

Students do not need prior game development experience to join the club. All majors, including those outside of the College, are welcome.

“Anyone is welcome to join,” Lozano said. “Artists, writers, designers, programmers, marketers and more.”

Visit ukci.me/gamers for more on the CI Gamers Club.

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STUDENT SHORTS

CI undergraduate research fellow Kayden Teffeteller (COM, left) along with research mentor Assistant Professor Aurora Occa (COM, middle) and CI doctoral student and co-author Huai-yu Chen (right) presented their research titled “Using Memes to Communicate about Health: A Systematic Review” at the National Communication Association annual convention in New Orleans.

Helena Arjona (MAS, JOU, WRD) was named a 2022–2023 Chellgren Center Fellow. The Chellgren Student Fellows Program is open to all majors and takes place during the student’s second year at UK. During this time, students receive help understanding the process of research within their discipline, a research mentor to oversee a spring research project and assistance in preparing for the next phase of their career.

Carlee Hogsten (JOU) was awarded the prestigious David J. Clarke Memorial Scholarship from the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences Ohio Valley Emmy Board. The award goes to one university student from the Ohio Valley (KY, OH, WV, IN) who plans to pursue a career in television.

Senior Mallory Hudson (COM) was crowned 2023 Miss Kentucky in July.

She will serve as a spokesperson for the Kentucky Department of Agriculture’s KY Proud campaign during her year of service to the Commonwealth and compete for Miss America in January.

Ben Johnson (ISC) designed a logo featuring iconic Kentucky symbols for the upcoming 49th annual Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication Southeast Colloquium, scheduled to take place from March 7–9, 2024, on the University of Kentucky’s campus.

Grace Taylor Bandy (ISC) placed first in the annual AEJMC logo competition.

Her work will be featured at the 2024 national conference in Philadelphia.

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GRAD STUDENT HIGHLIGHTS

DOCTORAL STUDENT, ALUMS PUBLISH CHILDREN’S BOOK Nigel Taylor (COM, 2016) wrote a children’s book in 2017. He held the first copy of this book, “The Endless Possibilities with Nora & Vincent,” in 2022. Although the five years between those two moments posed challenges, Taylor remained determined to bring his book to life.

Now a doctoral student in the Graduate Program in Communication, Taylor started the writing process while brainstorming ideas for a creative project in his master’s program in Boston. It was then that Taylor came across a study that shocked him.

Nigel Taylor holds the first copy of his book “The Endless Possibilities with Nora & Vincent.”

A study by the University of Wisconsin-Madison’s Cooperative Children’s Book Center found that children’s books feature animal characters more frequently than they feature children of color.

“I remember reading that and thinking that’s insane,” Taylor said. “I thought about my favorite children’s books—there were no books with characters that looked like me.”

Taylor began contemplating the experiences of Black and brown children, noting they are often told they can only work in the sports and entertainment industries.

Inspired to represent more children of color and encourage them to pursue their passions, Taylor wrote the story that eventually became “The Endless Possibilities with Nora & Vincent”—a children’s book that follows two Black children and their exploration of different careers.

After searching for an illustrator for years, Taylor met Bryant Billue, a College of Education alum, in 2020 and discovered by accident that Billue was an artist. He proposed they collaborate on the book, and Billue accepted.

Chanel Friday (ISC, 2016) met Taylor during their first year. Friday became the editor for Taylor’s book and showed a PDF version of the book to children to gain their perspective. They all loved it.

Once Taylor and Billue finalized the writing and illustrations, they tried publishing the book, but because of their busy schedules and some bumps in the road, they put their efforts on pause.

One day, months later, Billue texted Taylor a picture that changed everything. In the picture, Billue held a physical copy of “The Endless Possibilities with Nora & Vincent” that he paid to have printed. Billue mailed Taylor a copy, and when Taylor held the book in his hands, he knew that his dream was not far from reality.

“I held it. I opened it. I saw it,” Taylor said. “And I knew it was possible at this point.”

“The Endless Possibilities with Nora & Vincent” is now available on Amazon.

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GRAD STUDENT HIGHLIGHTS

CI 764 students present their research to executives with Mission Health Lexington.

GRAD STUDENTS HELP LOCAL NONPROFIT ENGAGE GEN Z DONORS United States nonprofits rely largely on individual donors. As the average donor age continues to increase, nonprofits face the possibility of losing a large portion of funding unless they find a way to engage young donors.

Graduate students in CI 764 Advanced Topics in Qualitative Research Methods partnered with Mission Health Lexington, a local nonprofit focused on providing free healthcare services to those without health insurance, to complete a research study on how the nonprofit can engage Gen Z donors.

The researchers conducted focus groups to investigate Gen Z’s motivations and barriers around financial giving. Based on their findings, the researchers proposed three low- or no-cost recommendations for Mission Health Lexington to build trust with potential Gen Z donors: partnering with the University of Kentucky for on-campus events or internships, crafting communication strategies using patient testimonials and data-driven narrative content and using social media as their main channel for communication with Gen Z. Abby Pliszka (ISC, 2010), executive director of Mission Health Lexington, said the nonprofit planned to utilize the

recommendations to better connect with non-healthcare focused students at UK, and to focus on better storytelling and data-infused narratives in their communications so all donors, current and new, can see the meaningful difference a gift of any amount can make.

Madison Adams, a doctoral student and project researcher, said she hopes these findings can have an impact on the broader nonprofit field.

“I hope this research can show nonprofits that Gen Z wants to help,” Adams said. “They just need to know that their small donations actually make a tangible difference in the lives of real people in their communities.”

Kimberly Parker, professor in the Department of Integrated Strategic Communication and instructor for the class, said this project has not only

benefited Mission Health Lexington but also helped the students grow as academics and professionals.

“Community-engaged research allows the students an opportunity to both provide expertise to the community and engage in academic research,” Parker said. “This allows us to both serve the community and develop academic manuscripts for a publication submission in which all of the students will be co-authors.”

Pliszka hopes to continue working with Parker’s classes in the future.

“As a small nonprofit with a limited budget for marketing and communications, the opportunity to work with undergraduateand graduate-level students under Dr. Parker’s guidance has been such a gift,” Pliszka said.

TWO APPROACHES. SAME CLIENT. Parker’s Fall 2022 ISC 497 Social Change Campaigns class also partnered with Mission Health Lexington. The undergraduates spent over three months developing a social marketing campaign for the nonprofit, which included a purpose and focus, an analysis of their strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats, target audience analysis, creative content, budget, evaluation plan and implementation plan.

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LIBRARY STUDENTS MAKE HISTORIC MEDICAL DISSERTATIONS ACCESSIBLE Library science master’s students are working to make nineteenth century medical dissertations from the University of Maryland, Baltimore more searchable and accessible as a part of the School of Information Science’s Alternative Spring Break program.

The ASB program pairs participating MSLS students with a partnering institution or organization in the field where they will complete an experiential project during the University of Kentucky’s Spring Break.

Hannah Anderson (MSLS, 2023) and Kaylee McMunn (MSLS, 2023) worked with Tara Wink, archivist at UMB’s Health Sciences and Human Services Library, to help make the historical medical dissertation collection more accessible for those looking to use the collection as a research resource.

The dissertations are handwritten by medical students between 1814 and 1870. While the 167-volume collection has been scanned and digitized, it is not searchable by keyword or topic.

McMunn attempted to fully transcribe one of these volumes, rather than inputting the typical data other ASB participants have, allowing Wink and

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her team to get an idea of the time and effort that would be required for full transcription.

“It was a bit like working a puzzle; there were times I would have to skip a word or phrase that I just couldn’t figure out, then later I would encounter it again and the context helped make sense of it,” McMunn said.

Anderson also shared the impact the typical data input side of the project can have on participants.

“I gained experience using medical subject headings and Library of Congress authority files, like I studied in several classes,” Anderson said. “I also got to see the creation of a searchable database that so many of us regularly use without even realizing the work that goes into its creation.”

Wink, McMunn and Anderson all expressed the impact they hope this project will have on other students and future researchers.

“I hope that researchers will use the content now that it is findable,” McMunn said. “I also hope that others will see the project’s value and continue the project—not only for the work itself, but also for the practice of preserving history and making archival materials openly accessible to anyone.”

MSLS STUDENT EARNS DREXEL FELLOWSHIP Averi Cole (MSLS, 2023), new School of Information Science lecturer, has been accepted into Drexel University’s virtual LIS Education and Data Science Integrated Network Group or LEADING fellowship program. The Metadata Research Center at the university enlists 50 students and librarians each year to assist in furthering data science research and development.

The MRC matches LEADING fellows with a partnering institution or notable organization across the country. During the six-month program, Cole will be working with the University of California San Diego Library focusing on strengthening the LEADING program itself through data collection and event curation for the fellows.

“I am most excited to further my knowledge of data science to continue my education from the MSLS program at UK,” Cole said. “I recommend anyone interested in this fellowship to make connections with advisors and professors; it can be extremely valuable when you need letters of recommendation.”

GRAD STUDENT HIGHLIGHTS

TANNER PLACES SECOND IN ‘GRADTEACH LIVE!’ Ray Celeste Tanner, communication doctoral student, took home second place in the annual GradTeach Live! finals competition for her presentation titled “A Question a Day.” Sponsored by the Office of Graduate Student Professional Enhancement and funded by Graduate Student Congress, GradTeach Live! is a live speaking competition where contestants are allowed one static slide and three minutes or less to showcase their teaching philosophy and instructional skills.

The event featured 10 finalists from five different colleges and seven graduate programs across campus, and a multidisciplinary panel of judges from across campus rated the finalists’ presentation based on the clarity, value, engagement, audience interest and stage presence.

JACKSON EARNS SPOT IN CLINICAL TRAINING PROGRAM Yolanda Jackson, communication doctoral student, has been accepted into the TL1 Predoctoral Training Program in the Center for Clinical and Translational Science at the University of Kentucky.

The program is designed to further research training and experience for pre-doctoral students in health-related fields. Jackson, whose focus is health communication, has been granted a stipend to support her throughout the program. During the program, Jackson will participate in seminars, attend workshops and ethics lectures and complete all Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award requirements.

She will also have the opportunity to attend the annual Association for Clinical and Translational Sciences meeting in Las Vegas in April 2024.

Fellowships LIBRARY SCIENCE FELLOWSHIPS

GRADUATE PROGRAM IN COMMUNICATION FELLOWSHIPS

• Hallie Day Blackburn Scholarship: Sylina Adkins, Ashton Paige Conley, Caitlyn Jones • Williena Burdine Broyles Memorial Endowed Scholarship: Megan Harmon, Sierra Rose Herald • Vivian Johnson MacQuown and Melissa MacQuown Scholarship: April Robertson • Library Science Graduate Fellowship Research Challenge Trust Fund Scholarship: Elainé Katherine Gollihue, Elizabeth Massie, Anne L. Smith • Library Science Alumni Endowed Fund: Averi Cole, Andrea Ellington, Julia Samone Manning, Kimberly Ann Swiszcz, James Brady Thompson

The annual awards presentation took place at the CI Student Awards in April.

• Carozza Graduate Fund for Excellence in Health Communication: Yolanda Jackson • Martha and Howard Sypher Memorial Graduate Scholarship: Madison Adams • Bruce H. Westley Scholarship: Chris Clements • R. Lewis Donohew Graduate Fellowship: Ivy Brashear • Palmgreen Fellowship: Anita Silwal • Dorothy M. Carozza Memorial Fellowship: Ellie Hudd • Graduate Program in Communication Dissertation Year Fellowship: Lisa Huddleston (2022–2023) and Zane Dayton (2023–2024)

Pictured front row (L-R): Dean Jennifer Greer, Anita Silwal, Yolanda Jackson and Madison Adams. Back row: Zane Dayton, Lisa Huddleston, Chris Clements and Ivy Brashear.

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STUDENT PHOTOS SHOW PERSPECTIVES ON ALZHEIMER’S The College of Communication and Information held a Spring 2023 “Alzheimer’s and Dementia Photo Voice Showcase,” a photo exhibition and reception featuring student images and captions. The work represents their perceptions and feelings about Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias, people living with dementia-related illnesses and their caregivers and family members.

Liz Spencer (left) speaks to reception attendees alongside undergraduate research fellows Kennedi Beam (middle) and Ashley Fisher (right).

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The photos featured were part of a multi-phase research study by Liz Spencer, assistant professor in the Department of Integrated Strategic Communication.

During the study, Spencer, along with undergraduate research fellows and ISC students Kennedi Beam and Ashley Fisher, used a survey to gather the photos and captions.

Participants were asked to take three or more photographs that represent their perceptions and feelings about the experience of Alzheimer’s and related dementias and write a short caption for each image. Some students also took photos that represent their thoughts about the experience of caregiving for someone living with dementia.

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Spencer and her team received more than 1,600 images during the study. Of those, 32 were displayed at the exhibition.

Spencer, whose mother died of early onset Alzheimer’s, says she conceived the project to highlight the perspectives and insights of individuals and families who have been impacted by this disease.

“As scholars, we aim for objectivity in our research,” Spencer said. “But, beyond pure data we can quantify, there are stories—the experiences of people who can no longer positively assert their own identities and the courage of families who become memory-bearers. These stories, the ‘photo voices’ of our students and community, are a testament to learning through subjective feeling— pain, as well as hope.”

The exhibition was on display in the CI Student Success Center on the third floor of the Lucille Little Library until mid-May before moving to Pittsburg State University for display through late June.

Spencer said she hopes to have several more exhibitions based on data analysis from the project and emotional themes shown in the student photos, and she continues to look for community partners and exhibit opportunities in order to showcase the images in local, regional and national exhibitions.

RESEARCH HIGHLIGHTS

GORDON NAMED UNIVERSITY RESEARCH PROFESSOR Allison Gordon, professor in the Department of Communication, is one of 16 University Research Professors for 2023–2024. These professorships honor faculty members who have demonstrated excellence that addresses scientific, social, cultural and economic challenges in our region and around the world.

Gordon’s research focuses on how the quality of people’s interpersonal communication affects their health decisions. Her work has appeared in academic journals, such as Communication Monographs, Communication Yearbook, Health Communication, Journal of Communication, Journal of Health Communication, Journal of Social and Personal Relationships and Qualitative Health Research. Her research has also been covered in the popular press, including The New York Times, The Washington Post, Forbes, Psychology Today and Everyday Health.

CI’S PREVIOUS RESEARCH PROFESSORS Bobi Ivanov (2022–2023) Maria Cahill (2021–2022) H. Dan O’Hair (2020–2021) Nancy Harrington (2018–2019) J. David Johnson (2017–2018) Sherali Zeadally (2016–2017)

DIGIACOMO WORKS TO PRESERVE DEMOCRACY THROUGH K–12 MEDIA LITERACY As the United States grows more politically and socially polarized, fingers point in every direction in speculation of who or what is to blame.

For Daniela DiGiacomo, assistant professor in the School of Information Science, many factors got the country here. Perhaps the most relevant is the decline of civil discourse, what she refers to as the bedrock of democracy.

DiGiacomo views information and media literacy curriculum in K–12 schools as one of the key solutions to this issue.

Information and media literacy, she says, is the ability to use critical thinking and reasoning skills in online spaces, like discerning fact from fiction and identifying trustworthy sources.

In partnership with scholars at the Civic Engagement Research Group at the University of California, Riverside, DiGiacomo’s work analyzes the current state of information media literacy education policy and engages

in partnership with school districts around the country to study and improve local efforts.

Currently, all-encompassing information and/or media literacy curricula and policy are few and far between. In a recent study, DiGiacomo and her colleagues found that 92 bills referencing some sort of information and/or media literacy education were introduced by state legislators nationwide in 2021. Of those, only 23% were signed into law.

However, what’s most important to DiGiacomo is creating new opportunities for young people to civically connect with and learn from each other, despite growing up in an ever-polarized nation.

“If everyone has routine and ongoing opportunities to learn and practice information and media literacy, especially at the K-12 level, we can all work toward a better, problem-solving democracy,” she said.

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PROFESSORSHIPS & FELLOWSHIPS Congratulations to CI faculty who have been awarded professorships and fellowships in the College of Communication and Information, the University of Kentucky or a professional industry organization in recognition of their excellence in instruction, research and other creative activity, or service in their discipline. See also Allison Gordon Research Professorship announcement on previous page.

UK ALUMNI ASSOCIATION ENDOWED PROFESSORSHIP Sherali Zeadally (professor, SIS) 2023–2028 Dating back to 1985, the University of Kentucky Alumni Association Endowed Professorship honors a select group of UK faculty members who made outstanding contributions in research and scholarship that are recognized nationally for their quality and influence; have established a reputation for being an excellent teacher and mentor and have been recognized for outstanding contributions to professional and/or community service.

Zeadally also has been named a Highly Cited Researcher in Computer Science by Clarivate – Web of Science, for the third consecutive year.

O’HAIR EARLY FACULTY AWARD Daniela DiGiacomo (assistant professor, SIS) 2023–2024 This award was established by the late H. Dan O’Hair, professor and former CI dean, who had a distinguished career as a university faculty member, researcher and administrator. This award recognizes a tenure-track faculty member who has been in CI for at least two years and who has demonstrated exceptional progress in research/creative activity, teaching and service in the College.

See page 54 for more about O’Hair and how to support this fund.

INSTITUTE FOR DIVERSE LEADERSHIP FELLOWSHIP Deborah Chung (professor, JAM) 2023–2024 The Institute for Diverse Leadership Fellowship program within the Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication is dedicated to increasing the number of women and people of color who serve as chairs, directors, deans, endowed chairs and administrators in journalism and mass communication education as well as on professional boards within the field.

During the fellowship year, Chung, along with the other seven 2023–2024 IDL Fellows, will work through the IDL curriculum at their home campus and attend group sessions, workshops and conferences to further the program. Fellows are also matched with an administrative mentor and will then spend a week shadowing their mentor’s work and activities at the end of the program.

INTERNATIONAL COMMUNICATION ASSOCIATION FELLOWSHIP Nancy Harrington (professor, COM) inducted 2023 The International Communication Association aims to advance the scholarly study of human communication by encouraging and facilitating excellence in academic research worldwide.

The primary consideration for nomination to ICA Fellow status is a documented record of scholarly achievement.

Harrington is one of 30 scholars chosen from across the globe this year to join the list. She is UK’s first ICA Fellow.

As a fellow, Harrington will have opportunities to attend special meetings, make an invited presentation at next year’s convention and work with colleagues around the globe to advance the mission of ICA.

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RESEARCH HIGHLIGHTS

KIDS & ONLINE GAMING:

Sarah Barriage

HOW MUCH IS TOO MUCH? Anthony Limperos, chair and associate professor, Department of Communication, and associate dean for Graduate Programs, was asked to write an installment of the University of Kentucky’s weekly health column on his research surrounding kids and online gaming. His column is as follows: Technology is engrained in our daily lives. We use it to learn and to work, and many use it for play. Today’s children use the internet for almost everything, so why shouldn’t they safely enjoy it? Being informed about your child’s game play will help in understanding how much is too much versus just the right amount.

Online gaming is a form of video game play that allows the user to play the same game as others regardless of their locations. Online video games are attractive for three reasons: There’s a social component to it. Playing online allows users to play with friends they know, or meet new people who also play the games they enjoy.

Playing with other people also brings in competitiveness. Competing against people you can communicate with is much more enjoyable than playing with a computer player.

Finally, the general idea is that we experience greater immersion and engagement when we’re playing with others on a network.

Most kids that play online are not just learning about things in the game environment, they’re also learning how to regulate their game play. If you’re worried about video game addiction side effects like anxiety or stress, it’s important to focus on their relationships.

If kids are having trouble engaging with friends or family outside of the gaming environment, it might be time to slightly limit their game play.

The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends no screen time for kids under the age of two. They recommend up to about an hour of screen time for kids ages two to five. After the age of five to approximately adulthood, they recommend no more than two to three hours per day.

I have a seven-year-old son myself, and we often let him game for about an hour a day. Sometimes he plays only for 20 minutes at a time. It’s up to us as his parents to set those limits and impose them. Parents might be shocked to hear the AAP recommendations, because they could have children that are playing much longer than that. Setting your own limits for your kids and sticking to them is your best course of action.

Shannon Oltmann

BARRIAGE, OLTMANN WIN SHERA AWARD Sarah Barriage (assistant professor, SIS), Shannon Oltmann (associate professor, SIS) and their co-authors have been named the 2023 recipients of the Jesse H. Shera Award for Distinguished Published Research by the Library Research Round Table of the American Library Association.

The Shera Award is given to the author(s) of a research article published in English during the calendar year and nominated by any member of LRRT or by editors of research journals in the field of library and information studies.

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A NEW FRONT DOOR FOR CI:

Pence Hall

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Pence Hall’s historic front entrance (shown below) will be preserved while the back of the building will be modernized.

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CI IS ON THE MOVE The College of Communication and Information is in the midst of two major capital projects to help transform our spaces into a modern, welcoming environment with state-of-the-art classrooms and learning laboratories where students can learn side-byside with industry professionals and award-winning faculty.

PENCE PROJECT

PENCE FACTS • $32 million project • 24,000+ net square footage • Historic asset preservation • Outdoor classroom space • Five classrooms, two labs, one seminar room, one multi-use auditorium • Whitebox and podcast studios

Most CI alumni, especially those from the days when the College mostly fit in one building, have fond memories of the Grehan Journalism Building. CI grew over the years, merged with our colleagues from the library and information program and ended up in several buildings spread across campus. CI vacated Grehan in 2018 when that building was repurposed, and multiple CI units moved into Blazer Dining, scattering CI faculty, staff and students across both north and central campus.

Last year, the University of Kentucky launched a plan to reunite CI by building a cohesive College of Communication and Information neighborhood in the heart of campus. At the center of the neighborhood is Pence Hall, a building well known to anyone who ever spent time on the historic Grehan steps. This neighborhood concept came to fruition when the College of Design finalized its plan to move to the newly renovated Gray Design Building (formerly the Reynolds Building).

Pence is the ideal location to complement CI’s existing operations in neighboring McVey Hall, which houses the Department of Integrated Strategic Communication, Graduate Program in Communication and Business Center, and in nearby Lucille Caudill Little Library, home to the School of Information Science and future home to UK Debate.

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Pence renovations are scheduled to start in Spring 2024. When completed in 2025, Pence will house the Office of the Dean, CI Student Success, Student Media, the Department of Communication, the School of Journalism and Media, as well as modern classrooms and production spaces.

Pence’s historic front entryway and wrought iron staircase are a distinct part of the building’s identity, and these key elements will be retained when transforming Pence into the new front door of CI. The back of the building (shown in the rendering on pages 32 and 33), however, will be transformed into a new, modern entryway featuring a balcony, outdoor learning/gathering space and improved accessibility for all. Pence will also have a zoned layout (shown left) with each floor having a distinct purpose.

The project is part of the University’s Asset Preservation initiative, a multiphase effort to preserve existing campus buildings supported by funds approved by the Kentucky legislature. The Pence project offers ample space naming opportunities for friends and alumni who would like to support CI’s bright future in this new facility (see page 59).

Visit ukci.me/Pence for more information.

RUPP PROJECT

In addition to the renovation of Pence Hall, CI is continuing the project featured in this magazine last year, the new state-ofthe-art production and broadcast facility in Central Bank Center outside Rupp Arena. That project is still on track for completion in 2024 and will offer students unique opportunities to train alongside professionals working for UK Athletics and JMI, UK’s media rights partner.

See ukci.me/Rupp for more on that project.

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Derek Lane was recognized at the Great Teacher awards dinner.

COM PROFESSOR WINS GREAT TEACHER AWARD FOR SECOND TIME Derek Lane, professor in the Department of Communication, is one of six University of Kentucky Alumni Association 2023 Great Teacher Award recipients.

“For me, teaching is about four basic rules, no matter what I teach,” Lane said. “We start with trust, cooperation, support and mutual respect. From there you can figure out what you need to add so students can apply content in a skill.”

This is not his first Great Teacher Award. He first received the UK Alumni Association Great Teacher Award as an assistant professor in 2000. He is one of 11 to win the award more than once.

Lane teaches in team-based learning, which requires active student participation and emphasizes learning concepts.

“It’s not about the grade, it’s about the learning,” he said. “I think there needs to be some skin in the game for the students where they say, ‘oh I can understand how this helps me.’”

Being a professor to more than 30 different graduate and undergraduate courses, Lane places an emphasis on being accessible. “The key for me is accessibility, to let the students know that I really mean it when I say for them to stop by,” he said.

“Being accessible for the students means that I’m giving them a safety net. So, even though I set the bar high, I can help them succeed.”

Lane has been a faculty member at UK since 1996.

He held administrative positions as associate dean for the Graduate Program in Communication in the College from 2005 to 2009, senior associate dean from 2013 to 2020 and interim dean from 2018 to 2019. He also served as an endowed professor in the UK College of Engineering from 2004 to 2015.

“Being accessible for the students means that I’m giving them a safety net. So, even though I set the bar high, I can help them succeed.”

His instructional and organizational risk and crisis communication research explains how humans understand, organize and use the information contained in face-to-face and mediated messages to improve behavior change in applied contexts. He has worked on several collaborative research teams that have secured more than $8.5 million in funding.

—Derek Lane

“I’ve been excited to win a lot of research awards, but nothing carries the same weight as this Great Teacher Award,” he said.

To receive a Great Teacher Award, educators must first be nominated by a student. The UK Alumni Association Great Teacher Award Committee, in cooperation with the student organization Omicron Delta Kappa, then makes the final selection.

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Al Cross (left) and Benjy Hamm (right) speak to attendees of the 2023 National Summit on Journalism in Rural America.

INSTITUTE FOR RURAL JOURNALISM:

MOVING FORWARD, LOOKING BACK The Institute for Rural Journalism, an effort housed in the School of Journalism and Media and dedicated to the sustainability of rural journalism, has undergone major change this year. Al Cross, founding director of the Institute and extension professor for the School, began semi-retirement in August, handing over the torch to the Institute’s new Director and Associate Extension Professor Benjy Hamm.

When he joined the new Institute in 2004, Cross launched The Rural Blog, a daily online publication with events, trends, issues, ideas and journalism from and about rural America. In 2011, he and the Institute’s team launched Kentucky Health News to spotlight the unique health and health care issues facing the state.

Pictured top to bottom: Benjy Hamm and Al Cross

“Kentucky Health News is one of the Institute’s success stories, because it has improved coverage of health care and health in the state, both directly and indirectly,” Cross wrote in a reflective article for the Kentucky Press Association about the transition.

Cross also organized three National Summits on Journalism in Rural America in 2007, 2022 and 2023, a gathering of rural journalists, nonprofits and researchers aimed at sustaining rural journalism.

Hamm, who became director in mid-August, has a 30-year history of leadership positions with

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Landmark Media Enterprises, the New York Times Co. and The Associated Press. He came to the Institute after four years of teaching journalism at Campbellsville University.

“Benjy is the person I wanted to succeed me, because he has the background and skills to make the Institute all the more valuable to rural journalists and rural news outlets, at perhaps the most challenging time for them in our nation’s history,” Cross wrote.

“It’s not accurate to say I’m replacing Al Cross,” Hamm wrote for KPA. “There’s no way to replace Al and his unique combination of expertise, skills, passion, commitment and work ethic. Instead, my role will be to build on the foundation established by Al and others and help the Institute meet the rapidly changing needs of journalists, journalism students and news organizations, as well as the communities they serve.”

Hamm plans to prioritize the Institute’s outreach through community visits and to work with Cross and the Institute’s team to continue exploring how they can expand and evolve to meet the everchanging needs of today’s rural Americans.

For more on this year’s Summit, turn to page 43.

Visit ci.uky.edu/IRJ to learn more about the Institute.

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SCHOOL OF INFORMATION SCIENCE NAMES NEW DIRECTOR Youngok Choi was appointed director of the School of Information Science, following former Director Jeffrey Huber’s return to faculty after serving 15 years in the role.

“It is both a great honor and a great responsibility to be named the School of Information Science director at the University of Kentucky,” said Choi, who started in July 2023. “There are enormous shoes to fill as Dr. Jeff Huber has done so much for the School, and I humbly hope to help lead SIS in its next chapter, listening and working with everyone at SIS, including alumni and of course, our students.”

Prior to joining the School, Choi served as a professor and chair of the Department of Library and Information Science at The Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C. She also served as associate dean for academic programs of the then School of Library and Information Science.

Previously, she was on faculty in the Department of Computer Science at the State University of New York, Oswego, and worked professionally as a librarian at Chosun Daily Newspaper in South Korea.

Choi holds a Ph.D. in library and information science from the University of Pittsburgh and master’s and bachelor’s degrees in library science from Ewha Womans University in Seoul, South Korea. Her research focuses on digital humanities, information seeking and retrieval, relevance judgment, social tagging, library and information science education and professional practice. Her teaching expertise

includes the organization of information, metadata, information systems and technology, digital libraries and interface design and usability studies.

“We are fortunate to have someone with Dr. Choi’s background to lead our nationally ranked programs in the School of Information Science,” said Jennifer Greer, dean of the College of Communication and Information. “Dr. Choi had strong support from the faculty, staff, alumni and professional communities served by this large and diverse School, and we are excited to welcome her to Kentucky.”

Huber led the School through significant changes in his tenure as director since 2008. Under his leadership, the School grew from only offering a master’s in library science degree to serving both undergraduate and graduate students with a bachelor’s and master’s in information communication technology as well as an undergraduate minor in information studies, all while continuing to grow the library science master’s program. The School also expanded to support students outside of the College through multiple undergraduate UK Core Curriculum courses.

Pictured top to bottom: Youngok Choi and Jeffrey Huber

“I believe that the School is well-positioned to transition into the future under new leadership and look forward to following its progress,” Huber said in a message to the School’s alumni in May 2023.

Huber returned to faculty for the Fall 2023 semester and will retire in January 2024.

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College EXCELLENCE AWARDS The 2022–2023 College of Communication and Information College Excellence Awards were presented at a college-wide luncheon on Friday, March 31, in the Gatton Student Center. This was CI’s 24th year hosting the celebration in recognition of the outstanding faculty and staff in the College.

The 2022–2023 CI College Excellence Awards winners are:

2022–2023 CI College Excellence Awards winners (L-R front): Dean Jennifer Greer, Jen Smith, Liz Spencer, Kimberly Parker, Ansley George (L-R back): Sam Schweinsberg, Sydney Shields, Kenny Blair, Matt Johnson, Nigel Taylor.

Nancy Wiser, the 2022–2023 Outstanding Alumnus Award recipient speaks to students and families at the annual CI Student Awards.

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Faculty Teaching Excellence: Jen Smith (JAM) Faculty Research Excellence: Kimberly Parker (ISC) Faculty Community Service: Liz Spencer (ISC) Outstanding Staff: Sam Schweinsberg (SIS) and Kenny Blair (CITS) Outstanding CI Advisor: Sydney Shields Graduate Teaching Excellence: Ansley George (Grad COM) Outstanding Contributions to Diversity, Equity and Inclusion: Nigel Taylor (Grad COM) The Friend of the College Award was awarded to Matt Johnson for his assistance in redesigning and building CI’s new website. Learn more about CI’s new website on page 40.

The Outstanding Alumnus Award was presented at the 2022–2023 CI Student Awards to Nancy Wiser (M.A. COM, 1996).

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FACULTY & STAFF NEWS

Brandi Frisby (professor, SIS and senior associate dean) was included in a review of scholarly productivity in communication studies by Communication Education Journal and named one of the top 25 researchers (top 1%) who have published in a sample of 24 communication journals.

Elizabeth “Scoobie” Ryan (associate professor, JAM) was awarded the 2022 James Madison Award for service to the First Amendment. After teaching parttime in the School since 1988 and joining the faculty as an assistant professor in 1996, Ryan retired in August.

Lisa Enright (lecturer, SIS) was chosen to participate in Bluegrass Tomorrow’s Academic Leadership Academy, a project of the Kentucky Council on Postsecondary Education and the Bluegrass Higher Education Consortium, a partnership of 12 colleges and universities in the Central Kentucky region.

Courtney Spradling (left, academic advisor) and Suanne Early (right, director of student affairs) presented “Drinks on Us,” a paper they authored detailing an innovate program they developed to help encourage students to chat with advisors outside of advising appointments at the 2023 NACADA Region 3 conference.

ADVISING ACCOLADES

Jordan Hoehler (center, senior academic advisor) was recognized with a Region 3 Certificate of Merit for Excellence in Advising: Primary Role Advisor from NACADA, the Global Community for Academic Advising, an organization that promotes and supports quality academic advising in institutions of higher education.

Liz Spencer (assistant professor, ISC) was presented with the 2023 Ken Freedman Outstanding Faculty Advisor Award by the UK Advising Network.

The awards are given each year to acknowledge advising professionals’ dedication to the students they serve.

Other CI professional or faculty advisors nominated for this year’s Outstanding Advisor Awards were Hasan Adbel-Jaber (academic advisor), Suanne Early (director of student affairs), Kimberly Parker (professor, ISC), Sydney Shields (academic advisor), Schyler Simpson (director of retention and engagement), Jen Smith (assistant professor, JAM) and Kakie Urch (associate professor, JAM).

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CI UPGRADES ITS ONLINE PRESENCE In line with the College of Communication and Information’s 2020–2025 strategic plan goal to create a cohesive brand strategy, image and voice, the CI website saw a major overhaul in 2023. As the virtual front door to the College, the new site’s modernized look, streamlined navigation and expanded features, such as a detailed event calendar and collegelevel news publication system, allow for

students, faculty, staff, alumni and other users to better familiarize themselves with everything CI has to offer.

The launch of the College website in March marked the completion of phase one of the two-year website redesign project. Phase two entails transitioning all CI academic unit websites to the same branding, structure and web server as

the new college-level site. Phase three includes transitioning sites for other programs including Intercollegiate Debate, the Institute for Rural Journalism and a variety of other sites to the new format and platform. Stay tuned in the coming months for more new and improved sites as the team continues to work on this project.

Visit ci.uky.edu to explore the new site.

NEW FACULTY AND STAFF • Ross Allen, IS technical support specialist, CITS

• David Ermold, lecturer, School of Information Science

• Mike Pirrman, academic advisor, Student Success

• Rachel Breckinridge, lecturer, School of Information Science

• Jonathon Frost, lecturer, Department of Communication

• Suann Reese, college budget analyst, CI Business Center

• Adrienne Brovero, associate director of debate, Intercollegiate Debate

• Benjy Hamm, director and associate extension professor, IRJ

• Beecher Reuning, assistant professor, School of Journalism and Media

• Youngok Choi, director, School of Information Science • Averi Cole, lecturer, School of Information Science • Derek Daskalakes, lecturer, School of Information Science • Andrew Dawson, lecturer, School of Journalism and Media • Jess Dominguez, assistant professor, Department of Communication

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• Leslie LeRoy, lecturer, School of Information Science • Liza Merryman, administrative services assistant, Student Success • Kathryn Montalbano, assistant professor, School of Journalism and Media • Laura Muir, department academic administrative associate, Department of Communication • Brooke Nowicki, career coordinator, Student Success

• Amber Lynn Scott, assistant professor, Department of Communication • Amanda Slone, lecturer, School of Information Science • Jenn Smith, academic advisor, Student Success • Adam Tristan, post-doctoral scholar, Department of Communication • Xun Zhu, assistant professor, Department of Communication

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IN WITH THE NEW:

EXPANDED CURRICULAR OFFERINGS The College of Communication and Information continues to introduce new and innovative programs and curriculum. Here are some of the recent additions:

in ISC and who wish to enhance their degree program with credentials in strategic communication approaches for the commercial and not-for-profit world.

(INET) INNOVATION NETWORK FOR ENTREPRENEURIAL THINKING CERTIFICATE

ONLINE GRADUATE CERTIFICATE IN INTEGRATED STRATEGIC COMMUNICATION

While the iNet certificate has been offered for several years, the revamped curriculum features 12 hours of unique coursework, including an experiential capstone course. Students are now strongly encouraged to take the EXP 396: Entrepreneurs Bootcamp course, offered in partnership with the Gatton College of Business and Economics’ Von Allmen Center for Entrepreneurship. Additionally, the iNet mentorship program is being reintroduced to connect students to a network of innovators and entrepreneurial mentors at the University of Kentucky and the surrounding community.

INTEGRATED STRATEGIC COMMUNICATION MINOR

The 18-hour ISC minor offers students an understanding of the general principles of integrated strategic communication.

The minor is open to students who are not currently majoring

This fully online program teaches skills in the use of data for designing, implementing and managing brand communication programs and is ideal for busy professionals who want to advance their careers. The interdisciplinary certificate is offered in conjunction with the information communication technology program in the School of Information Science.

SPORT COMMUNICATION, MEDIA AND PROMOTION CERTIFICATE

The 12-hour certificate in sport communication, media and promotion emphasizes the connections between sport, communication and society through coursework across multiple units in the College. Students will examine broader, global issues in the context of sport and media while also learning the strategies required to communicate sports information to a variety of audiences.

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EVENTS

Shawn Hils (right), senior director of the communications department and research and crisis communications lead for the National Basketball Association, delivered the 2022 James C. Bowling Executive-in-Residence lecture in November.

The annual holiday party is a great way for CI faculty, staff and alumni to gather before the holiday break and have fun.

CI had 15 faculty, staff and students at the Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication Southeast Colloquium hosted at Middle Tennessee State University. UK and the College will host the 2024 Southeast Colloquium in March.

In March, CI held an alumni social for the SEC Tournament in Nashville. Shown left to right: Patrick Leddin (Ph.D. COM, 2010), Dean Jennifer Greer, Conley Darland (COM, 2020) and Diane Massie (ADV/ISC, 1979).

Academic Advisor Courtney Spradling works with an incoming student during Merit Day, an early orientation for highachieving students who have been admitted to UK for Fall 2023.

In March, the Student Success team invited students to make signs to help them “Believe” in themselves for midterms as a tie-in to the upcoming series finale of “Ted Lasso.”

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HIGHLIGHTS

The Kentucky Journalism Hall of Fame welcomed five new inductees in March. Inductees pictured left to right: Mindy Fetterman (daughter of the late John Fetterman), Kim Greene, Dave Kindred, Nora Cole (who received the award in recognition of the late William Warley) and Sam Dick.

Following the 2023 Kentucky Journalism Hall of Fame inductions, journalist James Fallows, formerly of The Atlantic and author of 11 books, including “Breaking the News” and “Our Towns” delivered the annual Joe Creason Lecture in late March.

Members of the Dean’s Leadership Council met in April to help ensure the College stays focused on its strategic plan and to help bring new and innovative programming to students, faculty and staff.

In April, all of CI’s 2022–2023 undergraduate and graduate scholarship, fellowship and award recipients, as well as students who represent our college as ambassadors, peer mentors and members of the Dean’s Student Advisory Council, were recognized at the annual CI Student Awards.

Louisville Ballet Chief Marketing and Development Officer Regan Nichols (COM, 2007) delivered the 2023 Irwin Warren Lecture in Advertising and Digital Media in April.

Jack Rooney (right), managing editor for audience development of The Keene Sentinel, a small daily in New Hampshire, and David Woronoff (left), publisher of The Pilot, a twice-weekly in Southern Pines, North Carolina spoke on journalism innovation and alternative revenue at the National Summit on Journalism in Rural America in July.

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DEBATE

HIGHLIGHTS

The 2022–2023 Kentucky Intercollegiate Debate Team.

KENTUCKY DEBATE FINISHES ANOTHER STRONG SEASON The University of Kentucky Intercollegiate Debate Team completed another competitive season in 2022–2023. For the eighth consecutive year, UK Debate ranked in the top 16 nationally as they entered the National Debate Tournament.

The partnership of David Griffith and Austin Kiihnl received a coveted firstround automatic bid to the National Debate Tournament held this spring at Wake Forest University. Griffith and Kiihnl entered the tournament with a top-16 national ranking and reached the Sweet 16 before losing to eventual finalist the University Michigan. Prior to the National Debate Tournament, Griffith and Kiihnl reached the final round of the American Debate Association Championship for only the fourth time in school history.

“Austin and David have been the blueprint for planning, setting goals and

working to turn goals into achievements,” said Associate Debate Director Devane Murphy. “They are a model for what hard work and determination can accomplish. This is only the beginning of what I believe will be a very successful run for our top team moving forward.”

Overall, the team had a successful regular season too, with eight debaters reaching the elimination rounds at national tournaments, including a Sweet16 finish at Georgetown University and the University of Texas tournaments.

Aside from extending their competitive winning streak, UK Debate also continued their legacy of hosting successful events. Last season they hosted 15 events for middle, high school and college students from around the nation and across the globe. In total more than 8,000 individuals participated

in these events, representing over 500 schools, 40 states and four countries.

Notably, UK Debate hosted the 52nd annual Tournament of Champions, a national high school championship that brought nearly 2,000 individuals to UK’s campus. This was the first in-person version of the Tournament of Champions since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The UK Debate Team began their 2023–2024 season in September at Northwestern University. Team members returned to campus early for an annual “work week” in preparation for the start of the season. This early start also gave team members ample time to research this year’s topic, the desirability of restricting the United States’ nuclear forces, before the season kicked off.

DEBATE LOOKS TO EXPAND INTERNATIONALLY Dave Arnett, director of the University of Kentucky Intercollegiate Debate program, visited Hanoi, Vietnam, where he observed Team USA at the World Schools Debating Championship and spoke at the U.S. Embassy. The goal of the trip was to help expand Kentucky Debate’s international collaboration.

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While in Vietnam, Arnett presented “Competitive speech and debate in American secondary schools: opportunities for international engagement” at the U.S. Embassy to a group of parents, teachers and students and discussed a potential partnership with the American Center.

DEBATE

HIGHLIGHTS

Left photo: Ouita Michel (left) poses with her 1986 National Debate trophy alongside her debate partner David Brownell (right). Right photo: Ouita in the kitchen at her restaurant, Holly Hill Inn.

TEAM SKILLS TRANSLATE INTO RESTAURANT SUCCESS It’s not often that a nationally decorated intercollegiate debate record translates to a career as an awardwinning chef. However, Ouita Michel, a 1987 political science graduate, credits University of Kentucky Intercollegiate Debate for inspiring many of the decisions that led her to the culinary arts.

“It was through this dinner club that I became more interested in cooking,” Michel said. “It had a lot to do with getting praise from my friends. They’d say things like ‘Oh, you’re such a great cook. I could eat anything that you make.’ That kind of thing made me feel really encouraged.”

Michel was a member of Kentucky Debate from 1982–1986 before taking on a mentoring role during her final semester. She received the outstanding first-year award in 1983 and the distinguished student speaker award in 1984.

Michel ended her debate career by winning the prestigious title of 1986 National Debate Tournament champion alongside her debate partner David Brownell.

As she approached graduation, Michel took a restaurant job to explore the possibility of a future culinary career.

“It’s definitely been a moment I’ve relived in my life over and over again with a lot of happiness and a lot of joy,” Michel said. “Not everyone can say they won the last debate they were ever in.”

Michel said that while these competitions and accolades brought her joy to reflect on, many of the most influential moments from her time at UK happened in her day-to-day life traveling with her fellow debaters on a budget and exploring new types of cuisine along the way.

“We turned our meal allowance into a really fun experience,” Michel said.

This love of food-forward experiences followed Michel back to Lexington. Since many of the debaters lived in the same apartment complex, they hosted a dinner club where the teammates cooked for one another.

“Debate has this rapid-fire pace to it and so does professional cooking,” Michel said. “I think that had a lot to do with my love for it.”

Ouita smiles with her debate coach and former Director of Debate, J.W. Patterson.

Michel pointed out that debate has influenced her personal life as well, through the creation of an everpresent, supportive community that has been there for her over the last 40 years.

One example of this came when Michel and her restaurants faced financial struggles during the COVID-19 shutdown. Michel said her debate friends from around the country rallied enough money to keep Michel, her business and her employees afloat until they received government assistance.

“That’s the kind of friendships that you can form by participating in debate,” Michel said.

One thing that is not up for debate is the role that UK Intercollegiate Debate has played in shaping Michel’s and countless other debaters’ lives in the program’s nearly 70-year history.

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John Ramsey, (second from right) presents Provost Robert DiPaola (second from left), Dean Jennifer Greer (left) and School of Journalism and Media Director Erika Engstrom (right) with a proclamation from NASA.

ALUMNUS PRESENTS UK WITH PROCLAMATION FROM NASA As the chief transformation officer at Jacobs, the prime contractor at Kennedy Space Center for all ground operations, vehicle processing and launch applications, John Ramsey (TEL/ MAS, 1995) played a leading role in the November 2022 Artemis I mission.

missions that will eventually lead to the first woman and the first person of color stepping foot on the moon’s surface. The eventual goal of the Artemis program is to establish a long-term presence on the moon that will enable future crewed missions to Mars.

Artemis I sent an uncrewed Orion spacecraft on a 1.4 million-mile journey beyond the moon and back, and is the first in a series of increasingly complex

Ramsey returned to campus to present University of Kentucky Provost Robert DiPaola with a proclamation from NASA thanking UK for its support and

contributions to the Artemis I mission through the dedication of its alumni, which include Ramsey and dozens of other UK grads working at NASA. Artemis II, scheduled for late 2024, will send an Orion spacecraft with a crew of four to the moon to test whether the spacecraft’s systems operate as designed with a crew onboard while in deep space.

This will mark the first time humans have left Earth’s orbit since 1972.

UK PRESENTS HIGHEST HONOR TO ALUMNUS The University of Kentucky presented broadcaster and media broker W. Lawrence Patrick (TEL/MAS, 1972) with its highest honor during the May 2023 Commencement Ceremonies.

Patrick received an Honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters during the ceremony in Rupp Arena at Central Bank Center.

W. Lawrence Patrick was awarded an Honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters at the May 2023 commencement ceremony.

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After completing a bachelor's degree in telecommunications (now media arts and studies) at the University of Kentucky, Patrick went on to earn a master's degree from the University

of Tennessee, a doctoral degree from Ohio University and a juris doctor from Georgetown University.

Patrick was recognized for his monumental accomplishments in spearheading the developments of the broadcasting industry in the United States and beyond during times of rapid change and volatile transformation.

Besides his professional achievement, Patrick has generously contributed to the academic community and educational mission of broadcasting and communication.

ALUMNI

HIGHLIGHTS

Sarah Ladd (left), Jamie Lucke (middle) and McKenna Horsley (right) are all staff members at the Kentucky Lantern.

NONPROFIT NEWSROOM LIGHTS NEW PATH FOR JOURNALISM In a digital world where news is based on clicks and hidden behind paywalls, three School of Journalism and Media alumni are taking a different approach to journalism. These alumni are a part of the Kentucky Lantern, a free, nonpartisan news service that allows readers to access articles without paywalls or subscriptions and allows other news outlets to republish the website’s articles free of charge with attribution.

Jamie Lucke (JOU, 1976) serves as the editorin-chief of the Kentucky Lantern while McKenna Horsley (JOU, 2019) and Sarah Ladd (JOU, 2019) are reporters for the outlet. The team consists of just one other reporter aside from these alums as well as freelance contributors. Based just a short stroll away from the Capitol in Frankfort, the fourperson Kentucky Lantern team covers news across the state.

The team launched their daily newsletter and website in November 2022, covering the state’s economy, environment, government and health.

While the Kentucky Lantern is new, the idea of nonprofit newsrooms is not. The Kentucky Lantern is a part of States Newsroom, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit newsroom that operates similar newsrooms across 33 other states and counting.

Lucke, a former editorial writer at the Lexington Herald-Leader, was the first to come on board the Kentucky Lantern and brought on the other three team members in fall of 2022.

Ladd said Kakie Urch, Ladd’s mentor and associate professor in the School of Journalism and Media, was the first to suggest she may be a good fit for the Kentucky Lantern.

“The more I researched and read, the more I was drawn to and intrigued by the model of free and accessible news in this nonprofit model,” Ladd said.

Horsley shared a similar sense of intrigue with the nonprofit model and what it may mean to Kentuckians.

“I think our role is bringing this extra voice to what state politics coverage can be like here in Kentucky,” Horsley said.

The impact of this “extra voice” can be seen in the responses the team receives. Since launching, the newsletter has garnered thousands of subscribers and clicks. Both Ladd and Horsley expressed that they had received positive emails where readers said they appreciated the lack of a paywall, the depth of coverage and the ease of republishing. Lucke said she hopes to keep the momentum going.

“What I’d really like to do is lift up the stories of Kentucky people to illuminate and explain policy and to shine a light on the place where people and policy intersect,” Lucke said. “In doing that, we hold powerful people and powerful institutions accountable to the public and taxpayers. To me, that’s our guiding light.”

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HIGHLIGHTS

Antoine Huffman speaks at the December 2022 commencement ceremony.

Q&A WITH UK ALUMNI PRESIDENT Antoine Huffman (TEL/MAS, 2005) served as the 2022–2023 president of the University of Kentucky Alumni Association and chose to share some of his love for UK and the College of Communication and Information.

While at Kentucky, he was a three-year starter for the Wildcats football team, becoming a UK NCAA record holder. He was actively involved on campus with the UK Athletic Association Board of Directors, StudentAthlete Advisory Committee, UK Athletics Outreach Committee and Omicron Delta Kappa National Leadership Honor Society. In 2005, Huffman also became the first Black student to be crowned UK Homecoming King.

Since graduating, he has worked his way up in the medical device sales field, going from regional representative to what his company calls the “national directors.” Huffman is now the senior director of regional sales for Mizuho OSI. His successful career and involvement resulted in him being named a past recipient of UK’s Joseph T. Burch Young Alumni Award.

SOME OF HUFFMAN’S BEST COLLEGE MEMORIES

Q: What attracted you to UK? A: Football. I was recruited by the UK football team out of high school. When I visited campus, that’s what really accelerated my decision to attend. It felt

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like a home away from home. It was six hours away from Georgia, and it was in the SEC. The people were really great, and it felt like the people I knew back home in Atlanta.

Q: What did your time in CI mean to you?

A: Being in CI means having an opportunity to elevate yourself professionally and personally.

This college is the centerpiece of cultivating great leadership skills and professional development with its keen focus on creating a community of empowerment and innovative thinkers that seeks to make a positive impact on the world.

Q: How does your CI degree help in your career?

A: To this day, I use my telecommunications degree to understand the landscape and importance of corporate communication. Right now, corporate communication channels in most organizations are seeking improvement and need new processes in place to better communicate with different departments within their organization. With my degree, I have had the opportunity to help my company develop and implement a new corporate communication strategy that helps improve our overall company success and people strategy.

Huffman urges CI students to strive to make an impact. “Continue to learn with passion and seek ‘excellence’ in whatever you do by serving your passion with significant influence,” Huffman said.

ALUMNI

HIGHLIGHTS

LIBRARY SCIENCE ALUM USES GAMIFICATION TO ENCOURAGE READING In her role as interim director of the Casey County Public Library, Sammie Betler (MSLS, 2022) has been working to break the stereotype of the boring, silent library.

Betler recently focused on incorporating gamification into the library’s programming. Merriam-Webster defines gamification as “the process of adding games or gamelike elements to something (such as a task) so as to encourage participation.” Betler explained that by gamifying everyday tasks, we trick ourselves into being motivated to accomplish tasks that we might not want to do otherwise.

“For example, with children, you might challenge them to clean up a mess in a certain time limit or race with them to complete a task,” Betler said.

She also pointed out the effect gamifying can have on social interaction. Betler shared a personal example of how she has seen reading alone versus having a reading competition with another person impact her library when it adopted the Reading Dragons program.

Originally created by Dover Public Library in 2022, this program encourages a competitive reading incentive where participants receive a dragon trading card for every 30 minutes they read. Nearly 500 competitors of all ages participated in the library’s first year implementing the program.

As interim director, Betler says her “ability to utilize [her] passion for creativity and problem-solving to meet the unique needs that rural libraries tend to face” led her to explore other ways to bring gaming to her patrons.

Betler used principles and best practices she learned during Assistant Professor Spencer Greenhalgh’s LIS 618 Games, Literacy, Meaning and Learning course to apply for and receive a $3,000 grant to purchase gaming consoles and games for library members.

“A lot of grant writing is simply being able to justify a need,” Betler said.

Contributing to her justification for the Casey County Public Library grant was the fact that gaming and gamifying are often misconstrued. Betler said many people hear gaming and assume it is in reference to video games, but gaming is for people of all ages and interests.

Betler advises any student interested in library science to enjoy the process and program, whether that involves learning grant writing, participating in an Alternative Spring Break program or simply exploring their passions in a different way.

Sammie Betler shows one of the characters from the Reading Dragons program she implemented.

“This is an amazing opportunity that not everyone has the benefit of, so make the most of it,” Betler said. “Give yourself over to the learning journey and all that it entails, because you never quite know what sort of opportunities will be opened up to you.”

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HIGHLIGHTS

Meryum Siddiqi spoke to UK students about entrepreneurship during a lunch and learn event.

Entrepreneur & Artist:

ISC ALUM MAKES THE BEST OF BOTH WORLDS Meryum Siddiqi’s (ISC, MKT, 2020) childhood dream was to become a teacher. Her mother asked why, expecting a kindhearted response like “I want to help others learn,” but she instead heard her say, “because I like all the stickers they use.” Now 25, Siddiqi’s love for stickers has culminated in a career as a graphic artist and entrepreneur, selling her very own stickers and a wide array of other products she designs.

Siddiqi graduated with a degree in integrated strategic communication and marketing in May 2020, when the COVID-19 pandemic posed a negative outlook on the job market for new graduates. Following an extensive job search, she began exploring the possibility of becoming a business owner. Recognizing the need for financial stability alongside her entrepreneurial pursuits, Siddiqi took on the role of digital marketing specialist for an Islamic nonprofit, a full-time role that allowed her the flexibility to grow her business on the side. Siddiqi went on to launch her business Meryum Designs in the fall of 2020.

Aside from preparing her for her role in digital marketing, Siddiqi said that her ISC degree also helped prepare her for both the creative and business sides of her entrepreneurial endeavors.

“ISC is such a well-rounded program that I feel like it prepared me for this well-rounded career I

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am in now,” Siddiqi said. “It taught me a lot about communicating and connecting with other young entrepreneurs, which was an important first step for me. It also taught me a lot of skills that I still use on the daily, like how to write a creative brief, identify my target audience and plan and execute a marketing strategy from start to finish.”

The ISC program has a required internship component, which Siddiqi said helped her see her dream of owning her own business could in fact become a reality. Siddiqi also attributed much of her success to the guidance and mentorship she received from ISC faculty members.

“Their goal wasn’t just for us to get straight As, but instead they had a genuine desire for us to succeed after we graduate,” Siddiqi said. “No one should take their professors for granted. They have invaluable skills and experience that they can share with you, and I’m thankful I took advantage of that opportunity to get to know them.”

Siddiqi herself now serves as a mentor and role model for students, lending advice on creativity and entrepreneurship at events such as a lunch and learn in March 2023 where she gave a presentation on her work and did a question-and-answer session with current students.

ALUMNI

HIGHLIGHTS

OH, THE PLACES YOU’LL GO WITH A COMMUNICATION DEGREE When Brentin Ocker (COM, 2009) graduated, he never could’ve imagined that his degree would take him everywhere from the Super Bowl to the Grammy Awards to now working for one of the largest financial services companies in the world.

Throughout his career, Ocker has worked in a variety of industries—telecommunications, transportation, advertising, most notably, sports and now, finance.

“It has definitely been a winding and most certainly nonlinear path, but I would not have had it any other way, because all of those experiences have helped craft and cultivate where I am now and where I want to be in the future,” Ocker said.

Ocker now works as the executive director, head of product marketing for Commercial Banking at JPMorgan Chase, leading marketing initiatives for their business-to-business payment and treasury offerings.

“I can’t tell you how many times I heard people call me crazy for leaving sports and entertainment because I got to do some really special things,” he said. “I’ve been to Super Bowls, the World Series and even the Grammys. People were shocked that I would leave that world to work in finance, but I have a long-term goal of becoming a chief marketing officer for a disruptive brand. This role is a part of my path and plan to get there.”

Whenever he felt ready for a change of industry, Ocker said that his communication and marketing skills followed right along.

“There’s so much time and energy spent focusing on the skills needed within specific disciplines when ultimately that skill set is transferable and can be applied in practice and in many different ways,” Ocker said. “I personally would think that a communication degree goes beyond textbooks and theories. The College taught me and others how to engage with people, how to connect and collaborate, how to bring people together; I think those lessons now are more essential than ever, especially in marketing.“ For those still learning these lessons or those new to the job hunt, Ocker shared the advice he has carried with him throughout each of his roles.

“Be curious, listen and learn, then take action,” Ocker said. “I’ve made these transitions throughout my career, and it was all powered and fueled by curiosity and the willingness to listen, learn and grow. I also say to find ways to add value and make yourself indispensable. In order to do that you have to have a bias for action, have courage and take risks, whether it’s personally or professionally.”

Ocker said anyone with a communication degree has a path to a fulfilling career in nearly every field if they just follow their passions and use their transferable skills.

“When you find your passion, you turn that into purpose,” Ocker said. “Then, from there you’ll find fulfillment.”

Top photo: Brentin Ocker visits New York Stock Exchange on Wall Street.

Bottom photo: Brentin Ocker (right) poses with New York Yankees right-fielder Aaron Judge (left).

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ALUMNI UPDATES

Shannon Brock (JOU, 2007) was named editor of Kentucky Living magazine, published by Kentucky Electric Cooperatives. Kentucky Living is the highest-circulating magazine in the state, reaching upwards of one million people a month. Brock’s been with the magazine since 2015.

Susanne Evette McKinney (MSLS, 2022) was named a finalist for the Presidential Management Fellowship Program in February 2023 and in June was appointed to a position with the United States Agency for International Development for the fellowship’s two-year term. McKinney is one of only two fellows for this term that possess an advanced degree in library science.

Jeremy Jarvi (ISC, 2002) was selected as a member of the 2023 class of Leadership Kentucky, a program that brings leaders from across the state together to gain insight on the Commonwealth of Kentucky and its challenges and opportunities.

Sara-Elizabeth Bush (ISC, 2013) was named Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals Program Director of the Year.

The award recognizes a local hospital program director who exhibits selfless and heartfelt service, commitment and dedication.

Liz Rodgers (MAS/TEL, 2000) was appointed by Lexington Mayor Linda Gorton to serve as the city’s chief information officer. Rodgers is the third in city history to hold the position.

Former journalism major Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone, record-breaking Olympic hurdler and sprinter, was named the 2022 World Female Athlete of the Year. She was also recently named to the 2023 Forbes 30 under 30 list in the sports category.

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ALUMNI

HIGHLIGHTS

Drew Hatfield (ICT, 2023) managed the Cintas IT summer internship program as a part of his role as project analyst for the project management office at Cintas, where he developed engaging events and meetings for Cintas interns.

The University of Kentucky and Erin Ashley Simon (JOU, 2014) announced the first recipient of the Erin Ashley Simon Esports Internship Fund, a scholarship created by Simon to support students pursuing careers in the global billion-dollar esports industry.

Kaelyn Query (COM, 2010, left) received the 2023 “Entrepreneur” award from Commerce Lexington Inc. during their Salute to Small Business awards week. Lexington Mayor Linda Gorton (right) also proclaimed the day as “Lexington Event Company Day” in Lexington in honor of Query’s business.

Jennifer Yue Barber (COM, 2005) was a featured panelist at the UK Alumni Association’s luncheon celebrating the 135th anniversary of UK’s first female graduate, Belle C. Gunn, who graduated in 1888, as well as the countless women who have followed in her footsteps.

Carly Jessup (MSLS, 2022) and Kelly Bilz (MSLS, 2020) have been named to the American Library Association 2023 Class of the Emerging Leaders program, which brings together library workers with less than five years of professional experience from around the United States and Canada to serve the profession in a leadership role they might not otherwise have had so early in their career.

Mary Clark (MAS, 2016; M.A. COM, 2021) won Advisor of the Year for her work with WRFL at the 2023 Lead Blue Awards in April. The Lead Blue Awards recognize the successes and accomplishments of student leaders, registered and sponsored student organizations and their student organization advisors at UK.

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MEMBERS AND FRIENDS OF THE CI COMMUNITY

Lost in 2023

H. DAN O’HAIR: MENTOR, GUIDE, FRIEND

The College mourns the loss of former Dean and Department of Communication Professor H. Dan O’Hair, who died December 31, 2022, surrounded by family.

NOTABLE COLLEGE EVENTS UNDER DEAN DAN O’HAIR’S LEADERSHIP • Renaming the previous College of Communications and Information Studies to its current name, College of Communication and Information • Creating the Innovation Network for Entrepreneurial Thinking (iNet) certificate for students interested in entrepreneurial work in any major at the University of Kentucky • Establishing the CI Connect Living Learning Program, which offers first-and-second year CI majors an opportunity to interact with faculty and staff in their residence hall • Launching of the College’s newest undergraduate major, information communication technology, in 2014 and the ICT master’s program in 2015 • Establishing the Department of Integrated Strategic Communication when the ISC program split from the former School of Journalism and Telecommunications (now the School of Journalism and Media)

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He served as dean of the College of Communication and Information from 2009–2018 before returning to the faculty to again focus on teaching and research.

“Dan O’Hair had a national reputation as a scholar in the critically important field of crisis communication,” University of Kentucky President Eli Capilouto said. “As dean, he led our College of Communication and Information through a pivotal period of growth and change that aligned with the incredible transformation happening in the field of communication. But perhaps more than anything else, his enduring legacy will be that of mentor, guide and friend—to young faculty and scholars who he taught and nurtured, and who now are leading in their own right in these critical communication areas, which are so vital to our world and its future.”

In his career as a scholar, O’Hair published more than 100 research articles and scholarly chapters. He authored and edited more than 25 books in communication, risk management, health communication and terrorism. He was named a UK Research Professor in 2020.

Besides his family, one of his greatest joys was mentoring, supporting and guiding students, staff and faculty.

In 2020, he established the O’Hair Early Career Faculty Award Fund to

encourage faculty members at the start of their academic careers. See page 30 for this year’s O’Hair Award winner.

“I was incredibly honored to be one of the first recipients of the O’Hair Early Career Faculty Award and to have the opportunity to share that honor and talk about my career and goals with Dan,” said Jessalyn Vallade, associate professor in the School of Information Science.

“The award itself is a true testament to Dan’s commitment to mentoring and supporting junior faculty and colleagues.”

Dan’s passing leaves a hole in the heart of the College, but those whose lives he touched will forever be grateful for his leadership and friendship.

“Dan was so supportive of me as I moved into the role that he held for nearly a decade,” said Jennifer Greer, dean of the College of Communication and Information. “He was transformational in the life of the College during his term as dean, and Dan was so enjoying working with students, on books and with grantfunded projects in the Department of Communication in his post-dean career.

It’s just so heartbreaking that this new way of giving back to the College and the profession was cut tragically short.”

If you would like to support the O’Hair Early Career Faculty Award, please visit ukci.me/OHairAward or scan the QR code.

TRACI LETCHER:

GOING THE EXTRA MILE FOR STUDENTS

The College is saddened by the loss of Traci Letcher, long-time faculty member and senior lecturer in the Department of Communication, who died on June 12, 2023.

Letcher spent 23 years teaching and touched thousands of lives during her career at the University of Kentucky.

“Traci Letcher represented the very best when it came to teaching,” said Anthony Limperos, chair and associate professor, Department of Communication. “She brought unparalleled energy into the classroom, always demanded the best from her students and went the extra

mile to help them outside of class. Traci always put others ahead of herself. She will be missed deeply, but her impact will live on through the countless number of lives that she touched through her teaching and mentorship.“ One such student mentored by Letcher is communication junior Alexandrea Shouse. “I came to Traci as a lost transfer student filled with questions,” Shouse said. “She never lost patience and always showed me paths to learning the answer on my own. My time with her as a mentee was cut short, but the lessons learned during our time will stay with me forever.”

Letcher’s joyful presence in the classroom and her care and concern for everyone she met will forever be memorialized through gifts to the UK Department of Communication Fund for Excellence.

Letcher’s family has joined with the College to work toward a named student support fund to continue her legacy.

Scan the QR code to give to or to learn more about the UK Department of Communication Fund for Excellence.

RICHARD “DICK” WILSON Richard “Dick” Wilson (JOU, 1966), who died in April at age 85, served three decades at The Courier Journal, reporting on higher education and state capital issues. His successful career in journalism began at the Kentucky Kernel, where he was known for breaking campus stories well before they were officially announced—including the naming of UK’s new president.

Wilson worked at the Kernel as a reporter, managing editor and in a famed short-lived stint as editor-in-chief. He resigned after the Kernel’s advisor placed restrictions on the newspaper covering and advocating for integration of UK Athletics and the SEC athletic conference. Upon resigning, he proudly proclaimed himself “the only Kernel editor to have never

published an issue,” an act that showed he stood for journalism ethics and editorial independence.

Wilson served as the interim director of the School of Journalism and Telecommunications, now the School of Journalism and Media, for the 2002–2003 academic year.

In honor of his career, Dean Jennifer Greer posthumously awarded Wilson the 2022–2023 CI Leadership Award in May. Jack Guthrie, Wilson’s good friend and the Kernel editor who immediately preceded him, wrote of Wilson’s courage in the face of censorship. Visit ukci.me/Wilson to read Guthrie’s reflection.

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MEMBERS AND FRIENDS OF THE CI COMMUNITY

Lost in 2023

Joe Mainous was one of the first recipients of the University of Kentucky Debate Team’s distinguished student speaker award in 1949, a tradition that continues today.

He later served as the longtime assistant coach and took over head coaching responsibilities for the 1953 academic year. Mainous died in March at the age of 95.

Warren Wheat (JOU, 1961), former Kentucky Kernel editor, spent the next 55 years after graduating from the University of Kentucky in reporting and editing roles in newspapers in Kentucky, Ohio, Washington, D.C. and South Carolina. He is a 2018 inductee into the Kentucky Journalism Hall of Fame. Wheat died in July at the age of 83.

Ann Bowling and family generously supported the lecture series and scholarship established to honor her late husband, James C. Bowling, a giant in the public relations world. She also served as a member of the Board of Trustees at both Berea College and Midway University, where she was elected Trustee Emeritus upon her retirement.

Bowling died in June at the age of 92.

Joe Clark, widower of Maria Braden, died in April at the age of 87. The Kentucky native has been a generous supporter of the Maria Braden Endowed Scholarship in honor of his late wife, who was a beloved faculty member of the School of Journalism and Media before being inducted into the Journalism Hall of Fame shortly prior to her death in 2004.

Robert Slaton worked on numerous health-improvement projects in Kentucky throughout his career, including serving as Kentucky public health commissioner from 1978–1979, until his passing in December 2022 at the age of 81. He served on the National Advisory Boards of the Institute for Rural Journalism and the College of Communication and Information at UK.

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Terry Birdwhistell (MSLS, 1978) was considered the historian of the University of Kentucky and one of the country’s pre-eminent oral historians. During his 50-year career at UK, Birdwhistell taught oral history to hundreds of students in the College of Education, served as dean of UK Libraries, associate dean for special collections and digital programs, university archivist and founding director of the Louie B. Nunn Center for Oral History. He retired in August 2022 as UK’s senior oral historian.

He was named the School of Library and Information Science (now the School of Information Science) Outstanding Alumnus in 2012, inducted into the UK Education Hall of Fame and was posthumously announced as a 2023 Distinguished Service Award winner from the UK Alumni Association. Birdwhistell died in January at the age of 72.

GIVING

Preserving a Legacy WITH THE VISUAL STORYTELLING AWARD

I M PA C T

Tyler Gerth—University of Kentucky alumnus, talented photographer and, most importantly, a person who cared deeply for humankind—leaves behind a remarkable legacy through Building Equal Bridges, The Tyler Gerth Foundation. In line with the Foundation’s mission to create a more equitable world through unification, education and collaboration, the UK College of Communication and Information hopes to build bridges that give all students opportunities to shape their passions into professions through the Tyler Gerth Student Prize for Social Justice Visual Storytelling.

Gerth, a passionate photographer and activist, was tragically killed in 2020 while photographing and supporting the movement for racial justice in Louisville. This award continues Gerth’s legacy by encouraging future visual storytellers to use their work to document and support social justice causes, just as Gerth did.

“We are so proud of Tyler and are grateful to the UK College of Communication and Information for continuing his legacy through this award,” said Brittany Loewen, Gerth’s sister and president of Building Equal Bridges, The Tyler Gerth Foundation. “Tyler was humble, kindhearted and generous—wanting to make a difference for the next generation utilizing the craft that he loved. He sought to capture the humanity, dignity and resilient hope of the subjects he photographed. Our hope is that his story inspires others to do the same.”

To be eligible, students must be accepted and enrolled in the College of Communication and

2023 ONE DAY FOR UK

$30 thousand

134 gifts

One of Tyler Gerth’s photos of protests in Louisville, Kentucky.

Photo provided

by Building Equal Bridges, The Tyler Gerth Foundation.

Information and have demonstrated excellence in visual storytelling that depicts social justice causes.

Thanks to the generosity of the Building Equal Bridges, The Tyler Gerth Foundation, the College will award the first Tyler Gerth Student Prize for Social Justice Visual Storytelling ahead of the 2024–2025 academic year.

Interested in contributing to this new award fund?

Contact Nathan Darce at nathan.darce@uky.edu.

In 2023, CI’s One Day for UK campaign provided support for CI graduate education across the College.

Graduate students often have challenges different from the undergraduate population, including working full-time jobs and caregiving for family members all while paying for their own education. Gifts helped students in the four CI graduate degree programs through scholarships, practicum and internship support and conference travel funding.

Mark your calendar now for One Day for UK 2024 on April 18, 2024!

DIRECTOR OF PHILANTHROPY

Nathan Darce nathan.darce@uky.edu (859) 257-3033

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GIVING I M PA C T

THE IMPACT OF GIVING In 2022–2023, more than 125 students were awarded more than $290,000 in scholarships and awards.

Here are a few of their stories, in their own words. We thank our donors for helping our students.

“

As an international student from Colombia, it has been difficult for me and my family to ensure economic stability with the ongoing currency change in my country. The idea of pursuing a higher education degree outside of my home seemed impossible.

Thanks to your contribution, I see a bright future in the continuation of my dream to get my undergraduate degree.

”

“

Your contributions help me attend national and international conferences to present my research and network professionally.

By doing so, I will be able to start establishing myself as a communication researcher and bolster the opportunities I will have to grow as an academic.

”

“

”

Ruben Daniel Valencia Jr. (ICT)

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Bryson Steed (JOU)

Madison Adams (Grad COM)

Manuela Blanco Suarez (ISC)

Receiving a CI scholarship is not only a financial relief, but it also serves as a tremendous source of motivation and encouragement. Your belief in my abilities and potential has reaffirmed my commitment to academic excellence and personal growth. It serves as a reminder of the power of generosity and the positive influence it can have on an individual’s life.

“

As a former track and field athlete who loves to write, being a sports journalist feels like the perfect fit for me. Your contribution gives me the confidence to maintain my great academic standing as I approach graduation and turn my dream of becoming a sports journalist into a reality.

“

The journey to earn a master’s degree is not just difficult but expensive. With your generous support, the financial stress of starting school again is considerably lessened and makes this process possible for me to pursue a fulfilling, and hopefully, impactful career.

Sydney Webster (MSLS)

”

”

“

The University of Kentucky has always been my dream school. Living out of state and growing up with a specialneeds sister, which required our extra money go toward her therapy, medication and doctor’s appointments, made this dream seem financially impossible. The generosity of CI donorsponsored scholarships has helped support this dream of mine.

Isabella Smith (ISC)

”

GIVING I M PA C T

LEAVE YOUR MARK ON CI Partnering with the College of Communication and Information for the Pence Hall project gives you the opportunity to publicly honor those who have made an impact in CI, while also supporting future CI students. From naming the historic Pence stairwell to student production spaces to study spaces, you can support the College and pay tribute to members of our community.

FEATURED OPPORTUNITIES

Student Success Suite First Floor | $300,000 The Student Success suite will house our award-winning advising team, career services and college recruitment and retention initiatives. From a prospective student visit to a final advising appointment, this space will guide our majors to success.

Student Newsroom Ground Floor | $100,000 The Student Newsroom is an integral part of the student creation area. It will house the award-winning Kentucky Kernel and KRNL Lifestyle + Fashion staff, giving students easy access to ground floor studios and labs.

Outdoor Classroom Ground Floor | $75,000 The space near the modernized rear entrance will serve as the preeminent outdoor space for the College. This multi-use area provides open-air seating for class meetings, studying, relaxing and community building.

Study Spaces Ground, First, Second Floors | $5,000, $10,000 The renovated Pence Hall will provide CI students with plenty of opportunities to study between classes or while waiting to meet with faculty, staff or other students.

Study spaces are conveniently located on three floors: ground (student creation and production), first (college identity and student support) and second (instructional space and classrooms).

The opportunities here are just a few of the ways that you can leave your mark on Pence Hall. Scan the QR code for a full list of naming opportunities or to view the available spaces within the building plans.

CI CONNECT

2022–2023

59

308 Lucille Little Library University of Kentucky Lexington, KY 40506-0224

WAYS TO GIVE:

1.

Scan the QR code.

Help Us

SHAPE PASSIONS INTO PROFESSIONS!

Your support today helps the College of Communication and Information shape tomorrow’s leaders.

2.

3.

Use the included mailer.

Contact Nathan Darce at nathan.darce@uky.edu or (859) 257-3033.

4.

Visit ukci.me/give to make a gift.