Why the People Working at the University of Kentucky are So Special

Find out "Why the People Working at the University of Kentucky are So Special."

Video Produced by UK Marketing and Brand Strategy. To view captions for this video, push play and click on the CC icon in the bottom right-hand corner of the screen. If using a mobile device, click on the "thought bubble" in the same area.

LEXINGTON, Ky. (April 29, 2022) — Hear the voices of University of Kentucky faculty and staff who talk about why they do the work they do. It's all about putting students first.

Staff and faculty highlighted in the video:

  • Kathy Sheppard-Jones, executive director, Human Development Institute;
  • Alexis Meza de los Santos, admissions counselor, Undergraduate Admissions;
  • Mallory Griffith, administrative support associate, Student Success, Fraternity and Sorority Life;
  • Chad Risko, associate professor of chemistry, UK College of Arts and Sciences and faculty director, Office of Undergraduate Research;
  • Brandon Thompson, associate dean of Student Engagement;
  • Clark Kebodeaux, clinical associate professor of pharmacy practice and science, College of Pharmacy; and
  • Melynda Price, director, Gaines Center for the Humanities William L. Matthews Jr. Professor of Law, UK Rosenberg College of Law, faculty member of the UK College of Arts and Sciences Program in African American and Africana Studies, and the John and Joan Gaines Professor of Humanities.
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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.