UK CAFE Empowering Women Event is Tomorrow

LEXINGTON, Ky. (Oct. 25, 2016) —  The University of Kentucky College of Agriculture, Food and Environment (CAFE) will be hosting its second annual Intercultural Awareness Day tomorrow (Wednesday, Oct. 26), at the Hilary J. Boone Center.

The event will honor the top 25 students, faculty, staff and alumni of the college who have helped educate women on overcoming gender barriers and who champion diversity and inclusion across the UK campus community.

Titled "Women in CAFE — Empowering Our Future Awards Luncheon," the celebration runs from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. and features keynote speaker Cathy Bristow, the first woman and African-American chief union negotiator in the wine industry. Bristow currently serves as director of global quality for the Celanese Chemical Company.

Awards also will be presented for excellence in research, instruction and extension, and will include students, graduates of the college, and members of the community.

“I hope that this event will make people aware that we are all diverse, all unique,” said Natasha Saunders, extension associate in the Office of Diversity, Recruitment and Retention and co-advisor for the UK chapter of Minorities in Agriculture, Natural Resources and Related Sciences (MANRRS) in CAFE. “I am proud to work in this college where we put emphasis on inclusivity and collaboration. When we say we are a college that supports intercultural awareness, we stand behind those words in action.”

Nominees, nominators and special guests will be attending the luncheon event.

Later on that same day (Oct. 26), the college is sponsoring a roundtable discussion with Bristow, “Women at UK — Inviting in Your Voice.” The roundtable begins at 6:30 p.m. in the E.S. Good Barn’s Gorham Hall. The event is free and open to the public.

UK is the University for Kentucky. At UK, we are educating more students, treating more patients with complex illnesses and conducting more research and service than at any time in our 150-year history. To read more about the UK story and how you can support continued investment in your university and the Commonwealth, visit  uky.edu/uk4ky. #uk4ky #seeblue

MEDIA CONTACT: Carl Nathe, 859-257-3200; carl.nathe@uky.edu