UK Wildcat Forum conference: Registration, call for proposals open now
LEXINGTON, Ky. (Oct. 7, 2026) — The University of Kentucky Wildcat Forum (UKWF) annual conference, “Resilient by Design: Cultivating Strength and Balance,” on Thursday, Dec. 10, will welcome professionals from UK, UK HealthCare and the greater Lexington community. The event is 9 a.m.-4 p.m. at the Gatton Student Center.
Registration for the conference is open now. Early bird registration for $20 closes on Nov. 2. Registration will then be $40 until Nov. 23. Register online.
UKWF is currently accepting proposals for breakout sessions. Sessions should be engaging and instructive for the UKWF community of professionals. Past conferences have included sessions on work-life balance, leadership strategies, career growth, mentorship, building community and more. Submit a proposal online by Oct. 18.
This year’s keynote speakers are Katie Neal, presenting at the opening session, and Krissalyn Love, Ed.D., presenting at the lunch session.
Neal’s keynote is titled, “Finding Your Footing: How to Lead When the Ground Keeps Shifting.” As CEO and principal of Katie Neal Coaching & Consulting, Neal coaches high-performing professionals at organizations like UK, Amazon, Deloitte, Harvard, Mercy Health and Microsoft to lead with intention and advance their careers. Neal earned her bachelor’s degree in communication from Wake Forest University and her certificate in leadership coaching for organizational performance at American University. She holds an International Coaching Federation Professional Certified Coach credential and is an active member of the ICF Ohio Valley Chapter.
Love’s keynote is titled, “Heroism on Your Terms: Knowing When to Rise and When to Rest.” Love graduated from UK with a bachelor’s degree in English, then she completed her master’s degree in adult and higher education at Morehead State University and doctorate in leadership from Spalding University. Love currently serves as the inaugural director of the Lula Morton Drewes Center at Transylvania University. In this role, she focuses on advancing institutional effectiveness, fostering community among diverse student populations, and developing impactful educational programming.
In addition to the keynote addresses and breakout sessions, the conference also offers networking opportunities for professionals from Lexington and beyond.
“Each year, we gather at the UKWF conference to learn and connect,” said Ryessia Russell, UKWF board chair and director of honors pathways in the UK Gatton College of Business and Economics. “We welcome new and returning attendees to be part of another impactful conference.”
Find more information about the UK Wildcat Forum at wildcatforum.uky.edu.
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 healthcare. 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 $1.02 billion research and development enterprise and a world-class medical center, all on one campus.