Mark Fillmore named 2024-25 UK Arts and Sciences Distinguished Professor
LEXINGTON, Ky. (Sept. 19, 2024) — Mark Fillmore, Ph.D., professor of psychology at the University of Kentucky, is serving as the 2024-25 College of Arts and Sciences’ Distinguished Professor and will deliver the annual Distinguished Professor Lecture next spring.
This honor is bestowed on the basis of three criteria: outstanding research, unusually effective teaching and distinguished professional service.
“Being named an A&S Distinguished Professor is a special honor,” Fillmore said. “It’s a broad acknowledgment of my effort and dedication over the years — not only to my research but also the importance I place on educating our students and serving our community.”
Fillmore joined the UK faculty in 1999 after earning his bachelor’s degree from the University of New Brunswick and his master’s and Ph.D. at the University of Waterloo in Waterloo, Ontario.
Throughout his 24 years at UK, Fillmore has established himself as a renowned educator, mentor and researcher.
A member of the behavioral neuroscience and psychopharmacology area, the overarching theme of Fillmore’s research is understanding the role cognitive processes have in promoting risk-taking behavior — with emphasis on recreational drug use, including alcohol use disorder and dependence. His studies also examine at-risk populations, such as DUI offenders and those with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).
Supported by the National Institute on Drug Abuse and the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism for more than two decades, Fillmore’s work has significantly impacted both academic research and clinical practices.
Fillmore also strives to help his students understand the importance of conducting research. As past director of graduate studies, under his leadership, the Department of Psychology has expanded its commitments to training undergraduate and graduate students in addiction research.
“I firmly believe in the importance of including undergraduate and graduate students in our research efforts,” Fillmore said. “Students bring their own keen curiosities on the causes and consequences of drug and alcohol abuse — asking new questions and challenging old ideas, which are critical aspects of the scientific method.”
Fillmore’s dedication to fostering academic growth has been recognized through numerous teaching awards, including the UK William B. Sturgill Award for Outstanding Contributions to Graduate Education in 2021 and being named a 2024 “Great Teacher.”
“I was trained as a graduate student, and I’ve always thought, that is the model I want to follow,” he said. “I want it to be a team effort, where I’m not just conducting a study, learning and interpreting results, and publishing a document. I’m taking another individual up that ladder with me."
Fillmore has published more than 180 papers in leading journals of the discipline, has authored or co-authored 10 book chapters and has given numerous invited talks across the globe.
As one of the world’s leading scholars in the examination of the effects of alcohol on human cognitive information processing, Fillmore has also acquired more than $10 million in grants from the National Institutes of Health (NIH).
Additionally, Fillmore has been an active member on NIH review panels, significantly contributing to policy development in forensic and public health domains and serves as an expert witness in legal matters involving drug use.
“Dr. Fillmore embodies the heart of our college’s mission. His groundbreaking research, passion for teaching and genuine dedication to mentoring have touched the lives of so many students and colleagues,” Ana Franco-Watkins, Ph.D., dean of UK Arts and Sciences, said. “He is not only an outstanding scholar but a deeply valued member of our community — continually supporting and inspiring those around him. We are thrilled to honor him as our Distinguished Professor and excited to celebrate his ongoing contributions in the years to come.”
The Distinguished Professor Lecture will take place Spring 2024, and more details will be released at a later date.
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