Campus News

'Behind the Blue': New Education Dean on Vital Role His College Can Play in Kentucky

LEXINGTON, Ky. (Oct. 31, 2019) — The University of Kentucky recently welcomed Julian Vasquez-Heilig to its family as the new dean of the College of Education.

Vasquez-Heilig brings a strong research background to the post together with a zest for improving educational opportunities for all students, regardless of their background or socioeconomic status.

On this week’s edition of “Behind the Blue,” UK PR and Strategic Communication's Carl Nathe talks with the dean about what brought him to UK and the important role he sees his college playing not only on campus, but across the entire Commonwealth.

"Behind the Blue" is available on iTunes, Google Play, Stitcher 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.

For questions or comments about this or any other episode of "Behind the Blue," email BehindTheBlue@uky.edu or tweet your question with #BehindTheBlue.

To discover what’s wildly possible at the University of Kentucky, 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.   

In 2022, UK was ranked by Forbes as one of the “Best Employers for New Grads” and named a “Diversity Champion” by INSIGHT into Diversity, a testament to our commitment to advance Kentucky and create a community of belonging for everyone. While our mission looks different in many ways than it did in 1865, the vision of service to our Commonwealth and the world remains the same. We are the University for Kentucky.