UKNOW University of Kentucky News

UK Professor Named National Treasure

Published: Nov 17, 2011

On many occasions, faculty, staff and clinicians around the University of Kentucky share their pride for the UK family and the expertise and notoriety their colleagues hold in respective fields. This reality – the presence of world-class artisans, scholars and researchers in the heart of the Bluegrass – was fully understood when University of Kentucky Professor Nikky Finney received the National Book Award for her captivating work, “Head Off & Split,” on Wednesday evening in New York City.

The author Walter Mosely wrote that “Poetry contains the magic of language, the ache of truth, and the possibility of entering a world where the rules play hide and seek with your sense of being. A poem, when it works, is a rolling realization of ideas and emotions that bring you somewhere you've never been with a sense of familiarity that opens up a whole new world right there in your mind.” That so aptly describes Nikky Finney both as a poet and as a teacher. Her poems, carefully and finely honed words and passages strung together like beautiful pearls, combine common experiences, searing emotions and sometimes uncomfortable history to speak truth in uncommonly beautiful and resonant ways.

Today, what students and her colleagues at UK have known for years, a nation now understands – the treasure that is Nikky Finney and her poetry, which reaches and touches us all. I want to congratulate her on this incredible achievement, and I am honored to count her as part of UK’s special family.

Please visit UKNow.com to read the full story, and I encourage you to watch the National Book Award ceremony and Professor Finney’s acceptance remarks.

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		1 SPUR meeting view SPUR meeting view SPUR meeting view SPUR meeting view SPUR meeting view SPUR meeting view SPUR meeting view SPUR meeting view SPUR meeting view SPUR meeting view Student-Teacher-Student Exhibit view UK Employee Benefits Open Enrollment view UK Employee Benefits Open Enrollment view UK Employee Benefits Open Enrollment view UK Employee Benefits Open Enrollment view UK Employee Benefits Open Enrollment view UK Employee Benefits Open Enrollment view UK Employee Benefits Open Enrollment view Ovid's Cafe Open for Finals view UK Employee Benefits Open Enrollment view UK Employee Benefits Open Enrollment view Fine Arts Institute Classes & Workshops view Academic Calendar: Eight-Week Summer Session registration and add/drop continues for students enrolled in the 2012 Spring Semester view Academic Calendar: Add/Drop for priority registered students for the 2012 Fall Semester view Academic Calendar: First summer session registration and add/drop continue for students enrolled in the 2012 Spring Semester view Academic Calendar: Eight-Week Second Summer Session registration and add/drop continue for students enrolled in the 2012 Spring Semester view Tue	2 SPUR meeting view SPUR meeting view SPUR meeting view SPUR meeting view SPUR meeting view SPUR meeting view SPUR meeting view SPUR meeting view SPUR meeting view SPUR meeting view Student-Teacher-Student Exhibit view UK Employee Benefits Open Enrollment view UK Employee Benefits Open Enrollment view UK Employee Benefits Open Enrollment view UK Employee Benefits Open Enrollment view UK Employee Benefits Open Enrollment view UK Employee Benefits Open Enrollment view UK Employee Benefits Open Enrollment view Ovid's Cafe Open for Finals view UK Employee Benefits Open Enrollment view UK Employee Benefits Open Enrollment view UK Employee Benefits Open Enrollment view Free Parking for South Campus Residence Hall Move Out view Systems Thinking For Sustainability Student Showcase view Wed	3 SPUR meeting view SPUR meeting view SPUR meeting view SPUR meeting view SPUR meeting view SPUR meeting view SPUR meeting view SPUR meeting view SPUR meeting view SPUR meeting view UK Employee Benefits Open Enrollment view UK Employee Benefits Open Enrollment view UK Employee Benefits Open Enrollment view UK Employee Benefits Open Enrollment view UK Employee Benefits Open Enrollment view UK Employee Benefits Open Enrollment view UK Employee Benefits Open Enrollment view Ovid's Cafe Open for Finals view UK Employee Benefits Open Enrollment view UK Employee Benefits Open Enrollment view UK Employee Benefits Open Enrollment view Free Parking for South Campus Residence Hall Move Out view UK Employee Benefits Open Enrollment view Student-Teacher-Student Exhibit view From Street to Studio view Thu	4 SPUR meeting view SPUR meeting view SPUR meeting view SPUR meeting view SPUR meeting view SPUR meeting view SPUR meeting view SPUR meeting view SPUR meeting view SPUR meeting view UK Employee Benefits Open Enrollment view UK Employee Benefits Open Enrollment view UK Employee Benefits Open Enrollment view UK Employee Benefits Open Enrollment view UK Employee Benefits Open Enrollment view UK Employee Benefits Open Enrollment view UK Employee Benefits Open Enrollment view UK Employee Benefits Open Enrollment view UK Employee Benefits Open Enrollment view UK Employee Benefits Open Enrollment view UK Employee Benefits Open Enrollment view UK Employee Benefits Open Enrollment view Ovid's Cafe Open for Finals view Free Parking for South Campus Residence Hall Move Out view Academic Calendar: Last day for candidates for a May degree to submit a thesis/dissertation to The Graduate School view Fri	5 SPUR meeting view SPUR meeting view SPUR meeting view SPUR meeting view SPUR meeting view SPUR meeting view SPUR meeting view SPUR meeting view SPUR meeting view UK Employee Benefits Open Enrollment view UK Employee Benefits Open Enrollment view UK Employee Benefits Open Enrollment view UK Employee Benefits Open Enrollment view UK Employee Benefits Open Enrollment view UK Employee Benefits Open Enrollment view UK Employee Benefits Open Enrollment view UK Employee Benefits Open Enrollment view UK Employee Benefits Open Enrollment view UK Employee Benefits Open Enrollment view UK Employee Benefits Open Enrollment view UK Employee Benefits Open Enrollment view UK Employee Benefits Open Enrollment view SPUR meeting view Sat
6 SPUR meeting view SPUR meeting view SPUR meeting view SPUR meeting view SPUR meeting view SPUR meeting view SPUR meeting view SPUR meeting view SPUR meeting view UK Employee Benefits Open Enrollment view UK Employee Benefits Open Enrollment view UK Employee Benefits Open Enrollment view UK Employee Benefits Open Enrollment view UK Employee Benefits Open Enrollment view UK Employee Benefits Open Enrollment view UK Employee Benefits Open Enrollment view UK Employee Benefits Open Enrollment view UK Employee Benefits Open Enrollment view UK Employee Benefits Open Enrollment view UK Employee Benefits Open Enrollment view UK Employee Benefits Open Enrollment view UK Employee Benefits Open Enrollment view UK Employee Benefits Open Enrollment view 145th Commencement view Sun	7 SPUR meeting view SPUR meeting view SPUR meeting view SPUR meeting view SPUR meeting view SPUR meeting view SPUR meeting view SPUR meeting view SPUR meeting view UK Employee Benefits Open Enrollment view UK Employee Benefits Open Enrollment view UK Employee Benefits Open Enrollment view UK Employee Benefits Open Enrollment view UK Employee Benefits Open Enrollment view UK Employee Benefits Open Enrollment view UK Employee Benefits Open Enrollment view UK Employee Benefits Open Enrollment view UK Employee Benefits Open Enrollment view UK Employee Benefits Open Enrollment view UK Employee Benefits Open Enrollment view UK Employee Benefits Open Enrollment view UK Employee Benefits Open Enrollment view UK Employee Benefits Open Enrollment view UK Employee Benefits Open Enrollment view Dodgeball Open Gym view Academic Calendar: Beginning of College of Pharmacy 15-Week Summer Term view Academic Calendar: Advising Conference and Registration for new and readmitted students view Academic Calendar: Deadline for applying for admission to the Graduate School for the 2012 Eight-Week Summer Session view Academic Calendar: Deadline for applying for admission to the Graduate School for the 2012 Eight-Week Second 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view Academic Calendar: Last day a student may officially drop a course or cancel registration with the University Registrar for a full refund of fees view Academic Calendar: First day of Four-Week First Summer classes view Academic Calendar: Late registration for returning students not already registered and new applicants cleared late for admission. view Tue	9 SPUR meeting view SPUR meeting view SPUR meeting view SPUR meeting view SPUR meeting view SPUR meeting view SPUR meeting view SPUR meeting view SPUR meeting view UK Employee Benefits Open Enrollment view UK Employee Benefits Open Enrollment view UK Employee Benefits Open Enrollment view UK Employee Benefits Open Enrollment view UK Employee Benefits Open Enrollment view UK Employee Benefits Open Enrollment view UK Employee Benefits Open Enrollment view UK Employee Benefits Open Enrollment view UK Employee Benefits Open Enrollment view UK Employee Benefits Open Enrollment view UK Employee Benefits Open Enrollment view UK Employee 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Employee Benefits Open Enrollment view UK Employee Benefits Open Enrollment view UK Employee Benefits Open Enrollment view UK Employee Benefits Open Enrollment view UK Employee Benefits Open Enrollment view UK Employee Benefits Open Enrollment view UK Employee Benefits Open Enrollment view UK Employee Benefits Open Enrollment view UK Employee Benefits Open Enrollment view UK Employee Benefits Open Enrollment view UK Employee Benefits Open Enrollment view UK Employee Benefits Open Enrollment view American Red Cross Lifeguarding Course view UK Employee Benefits Open Enrollment view UK Employee Benefits Open Enrollment view UK Employee Benefits Open Enrollment view UK Employee Benefits Open Enrollment view Fri	12 SPUR meeting view SPUR meeting view SPUR meeting view SPUR meeting view SPUR meeting view SPUR meeting view SPUR meeting view SPUR meeting view UK Employee Benefits Open Enrollment view UK Employee Benefits Open Enrollment view UK Employee Benefits Open Enrollment view UK Employee Benefits Open Enrollment view UK Employee Benefits Open Enrollment view SPUR meeting view UK Employee Benefits Open Enrollment view American Red Cross Lifeguarding Course #9 view Sat
13 SPUR meeting view SPUR meeting view SPUR meeting view SPUR meeting view SPUR meeting view SPUR meeting view SPUR meeting view SPUR meeting view UK Employee Benefits Open Enrollment view UK Employee Benefits Open Enrollment view UK Employee Benefits Open Enrollment view UK Employee Benefits Open Enrollment view UK Employee Benefits Open Enrollment view American Red Cross Lifeguarding Course #9 view Sun	14 SPUR meeting view SPUR meeting view SPUR meeting view SPUR meeting view SPUR meeting view SPUR meeting view SPUR meeting view SPUR meeting view UK Employee Benefits Open Enrollment view UK Employee Benefits Open Enrollment view UK Employee Benefits Open Enrollment view UK Employee Benefits Open Enrollment view Academic Calendar: Last day to drop a course without it appearing on the student's transcript view Academic Calendar: Last day to change a grading option view Mon	15 SPUR meeting view SPUR meeting view SPUR meeting view SPUR meeting view SPUR meeting view SPUR meeting view SPUR meeting view SPUR meeting view UK Employee Benefits Open Enrollment view UK Employee Benefits Open Enrollment view UK Employee Benefits Open Enrollment view Academic Calendar: Last day to officially withdraw from the University or reduce course load and receive a 50 percent refund view Academic Calendar: Final deadline for submission of application and all required documents to the Office of Admissions for undergraduate admission for the 2012 Eight-Week Summer Session view Tue	16 SPUR meeting view SPUR meeting view SPUR meeting view SPUR meeting view SPUR meeting view SPUR meeting view SPUR meeting view SPUR meeting view UK Employee Benefits Open Enrollment view UK Employee Benefits Open Enrollment view Academic Calendar: Second summer session registration and add/drop for students who entered the University in the 2012 first summer session view Academic Calendar: Eight-Week registration and add/drop for students who entered the University in the 2012 Four-Week Intersession view Wed	17 SPUR meeting view SPUR meeting view SPUR meeting view SPUR meeting view SPUR meeting view SPUR meeting view SPUR meeting view SPUR meeting view UK Employee Benefits Open Enrollment view The 31st Annual UK Symposium in Reproductive Science & Women’s Health view UK Fun Day view Thu	18 SPUR meeting view SPUR meeting view SPUR meeting view SPUR meeting view SPUR meeting view SPUR meeting view SPUR meeting view SPUR meeting view The 31st Annual UK Symposium in Reproductive Science & Women’s Health view American Red Cross Lifeguarding Course #9 view Fri	19 SPUR meeting view SPUR meeting view SPUR meeting view SPUR meeting view SPUR meeting view SPUR meeting view SPUR meeting view SPUR meeting view American Red Cross Lifeguarding Course #9 view Sat
20 SPUR meeting view SPUR meeting view SPUR meeting view SPUR meeting view SPUR meeting view SPUR meeting view SPUR meeting view American Red Cross Lifeguarding Course #9 view 43rd Annual Family Medicine Review Session 2 view Sun	21 SPUR meeting view SPUR meeting view SPUR meeting view SPUR meeting view SPUR meeting view SPUR meeting view SPUR meeting view Academic Calendar: Midterm of 2012 Four-Week Intersession view 43rd Annual Family Medicine Review Session 2 view Mon	22 SPUR meeting view SPUR meeting view SPUR meeting view SPUR meeting view SPUR meeting view SPUR meeting view SPUR meeting view Academic Calendar: Payment deadline of registration fees and/or housing and dining fees view 43rd Annual Family Medicine Review Session 2 view Tue	23 SPUR meeting view SPUR meeting view SPUR meeting view SPUR meeting view SPUR meeting view SPUR meeting view SPUR meeting view Academic Calendar: Last day to withdraw from the University or reduce course load view 43rd Annual Family Medicine Review Session 2 view Lexington Farmers Market @ UK view Wed	24 SPUR meeting view SPUR meeting view SPUR meeting view SPUR meeting view SPUR meeting view SPUR meeting view SPUR meeting view 43rd Annual Family Medicine Review Session 2 view Thu	25 SPUR meeting view SPUR meeting view SPUR meeting view SPUR meeting view SPUR meeting view SPUR meeting view SPUR meeting view 43rd Annual Family Medicine Review Session 2 view Fri	26 SPUR meeting view SPUR meeting view SPUR meeting view SPUR meeting view SPUR meeting view SPUR meeting view SPUR meeting view Sat
27 SPUR meeting view SPUR meeting view SPUR meeting view SPUR meeting view SPUR meeting view SPUR meeting view Sun	28 SPUR meeting view SPUR meeting view SPUR meeting view SPUR meeting view SPUR meeting view SPUR meeting view Academic Calendar: Memorial Day - Academic Holiday view Academic Calendar: Final grading window is open view Mon	29 SPUR meeting view SPUR meeting view SPUR meeting view SPUR meeting view SPUR meeting view SPUR meeting view American Red Cross Lifeguarding Course #10 view Tue	30 SPUR meeting view SPUR meeting view SPUR meeting view SPUR meeting view SPUR meeting view SPUR meeting view American Red Cross Lifeguarding Course #10 view Academic Calendar: Last day for doctoral candidates for an August degree to submit a Notification of Intent to schedule a final examination in The Graduate School 2012 Four-Week - First Summer Session view Academic Calendar: Last day for doctoral candidates for an August degree to submit a Notification of Intent to schedule a final examination in The Graduate School 2012 Eight-Week - Second Summer Session view Lexington Farmers Market @ UK view Wed	31 SPUR meeting view SPUR meeting view SPUR meeting view SPUR meeting view SPUR meeting view SPUR meeting view American Red Cross Lifeguarding Course #10 view Thu

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