‘Behind the Blue’: Laura Stephenson, dean of UK’s Martin-Gatton College of Agriculture, Food and Environment
LEXINGTON, Ky. (March 31, 2025) – In December of 2024, long-time agricultural and extension services leader Laura Stephenson was named vice president for land-grant engagement and dean of the Martin-Gatton College of Agriculture, Food and Environment (CAFE).
With a career spanning decades in extension service leadership in both Kentucky and Tennessee, Stephenson has worked at every level of the system — from county agent to state director — helping to connect research with real-world solutions for farmers, businesses and communities.
Now, as dean, she’s leading the college through a period of transformation, overseeing major facility upgrades, expanding workforce development programs and strengthening partnerships that bridge agriculture, education and public health.
On this episode of “Behind the Blue,” Stephenson discusses her vision for the college, the evolving role of UK Cooperative Extension Service in supporting producers of all sizes and how agriculture touches every aspect of life in the Commonwealth — from farm to table, rural to urban and beyond.
“Behind the Blue” is available via a variety of podcast providers, including iTunes and Spotify. Become a subscriber to receive new episodes of “Behind the Blue” each week. UK’s latest medical breakthroughs, research, artists and writers will be featured, along with the most important news impacting the university.
“Behind the Blue” is a joint production of the University of Kentucky and UK HealthCare. Transcripts for this or other episodes of “Behind the Blue” can be downloaded from the show’s blog page.
To discover how the University of Kentucky is advancing our Commonwealth, click here.
As the state’s flagship, land-grant institution, the University of Kentucky exists to advance the Commonwealth. We do that by preparing the next generation of leaders — placing students at the heart of everything we do — and transforming the lives of Kentuckians through education, research and creative work, service and health care. We pride ourselves on being a catalyst for breakthroughs and a force for healing, a place where ingenuity unfolds. It's all made possible by our people — visionaries, disruptors and pioneers — who make up 200 academic programs, a $476.5 million research and development enterprise and a world-class medical center, all on one campus.