‘UK at the Half’: Jason Brooks on UK’s DEI Accolades
LEXINGTON, Ky. (Feb. 28, 2022) — For this “UK at the Half,” University of Kentucky Executive Director for Institutional Engagement Jason Brooks discusses the recent awards and recognitions UK has received for its efforts in diversity, equity and inclusion.
For the fifth year in a row, UK was named a Higher Education Excellence in Diversity (HEED) Award recipient and Diversity Champion by INSIGHT Into Diversity magazine. Only selected institutions — those that rank in the top tier of HEED Award recipients — receive the Diversity Champion designation.
“For us to be designated as a Diversity Champion means that we’re doing something right, and that we are continuously striving to be, what we consider, best in class,” Brooks said.
UK was also ranked on the Forbes list of "Best Employers for Diversity" in 2021. Partnering with market research company Statista, Forbes’ annual list recognizes businesses with at least 1,000 employees who demonstrate a strong commitment to inclusive workplace practices.
“People love the University of Kentucky, including myself,” Brooks said. “It’s the atmosphere, how we treat our employers, at a top-tier level appreciation. That’s us. That’s UK."
“UK at the Half” airs during halftime of each UK football and basketball game broadcast on the radio and is hosted by UK Public Relations and Marketing. To hear the “UK at the Half” interview, click the play button above.
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.