Nominations open for 2026 Global Impact Awards
LEXINGTON, Ky. (April 3, 2026) — The University of Kentucky International Center is seeking nominations for the 2026 UK Global Impact Awards. Nominations are being accepted through April 15.
Each year, since 2020, UK’s Global Impact Awards recognize faculty and staff contributions to UK’s global engagement through education, research and service and feature awards for alumni and community partners.
“As Kentucky’s engagement with the world through growth in exports, foreign manufacturing and business facilities, and economic development efforts continues to grow, the global dimensions of our education, research and engagement are vital in helping the University of Kentucky better serve the Commonwealth,” said Tim Barnes, UK executive director of international partnerships and research.
Nominees for the six award categories will be reviewed by members of the campus-wide International Advisory Committee — with additional input and review from other campus stakeholders, such as the UK Alumni Association and past awardees.
“Global engagement activities by faculty and staff are often seen as something extra, but they are crucial in fostering a community of globally informed scholars and globally competent students,” said Sue Roberts, associate vice president for internationalization. “Going ‘above and beyond’ to conduct collaborative research around the world, lead students on education abroad experiences, incorporate global learning components into courses here at home and integrate international students and scholars contributes to UK’s global presence — and so deserves special recognition. We are honored to do that with the Global Impact Awards.”
“Every university has faculty, staff, students, alumni and partners who champion aspects of internationalization,” Barnes said. “It is only fitting that UK have a formal way to recognize these members of our community and showcase the contributions they make to connect the campus community to the wider world.”
Nominate a colleague through April 15. More information and a list of past winners are featured at international.uky.edu/global-impact-awards.
Winners will be announced and honored at the annual UK Global Impact Awards reception later this fall in the Gatton Student Center.
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.