Nominations Open for UK Global Impact Awards
LEXINGTON, Ky. (Feb. 23, 2021) — The International Center (UKIC) at the University of Kentucky is seeking nominations for the 2021 UK Global Impact Awards. These awards, launched in Spring 2020, recognize faculty, staff and alumni who have significantly contributed to the university’s global engagement.
“A globally engaged university fosters an institutional culture in which global connections and intercultural perspectives are taken into consideration in any and all of our core missions and activities,” Tim Barnes, executive director of International Partnership and Research in the UK International Center, said. “The global dimensions of our education, research and engagement are a vital part in making the University of Kentucky the University for Kentucky.”
The UK Global Impact Awards recognize contributions to enhancing UK’s global engagement through education, research and service, as well as fostering a culturally diverse, welcoming environment that is conducive to comprehensive campus internationalization.
Every university has faculty, staff, students and alumni who champion aspects of internationalization. It is only fitting that UK has a formal way to recognize these members of our community annually and showcase the contributions they make to connect the campus community to the wider world.
“Global engagement activities by faculty and staff are often seen as something extra. But they are crucial in fostering a diverse, vibrant community of globally informed scholars and globally competent students,” Sue Roberts, associate provost for internationalization, said. “Going ‘above and beyond’ to conduct collaborative research around the world, lead students on education abroad experiences, incorporate diverse cultural perspectives into courses here at home, and integrate international students and scholars contributes to campus internationalization and UK’s global presence — and so deserves special recognition.”
To nominate a colleague through March 22 and learn more about the 2021 UK Global Impact Awards, visit the International Center website.
Winners will be announced and honored at the UK Global Impact Awards reception in April, virtually or in-person as conditions permit. To learn about past winners and each award, visit https://international.uky.edu/GIA.
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.