New dean of UK Lewis Honors College announced
LEXINGTON, Ky. (June 5, 2026) — After a comprehensive national search, James Buss, Ph.D., has been selected as the next dean of the University of Kentucky’s Lewis Honors College.
“Dr. Buss has a wealth of experience and knowledge in the field of honors education, helping found two honors colleges at different institutions and contributing to greater student success at each,” said UK Provost Robert DiPaola, M.D. in the June 5 announcement. “The Lewis Honors College is an integral part of how we prepare our communities’ future leaders at UK, and I am confident that Dr. Buss will continue the great work of our honors community and help lead them to greater heights.”
Buss serves as dean of the Honors College and director of the Virginia Ball Center for Creative Inquiry at Ball State University, roles he has held since 2023.
While at Ball State University, Buss has helped grow the Honors College student population by 22% since 2022, welcoming its largest first-time student class of more than 600 in Fall 2025.
Buss helped found honors colleges at both Northern Kentucky University and Salisbury University, and he served as the founding dean from 2018 to ’23 and from 2016 to ’18, respectively.
He also served as interim associate provost at Northern Kentucky University from 2021 to ’23, helping implement the university strategic plan and advancing undergraduate student success.
Buss has also worked as director of the University Honors Program at Oklahoma City University, as well as chair of the history department.
“An honors education means more than learning about the liberal arts among like-minded peers,” said Buss. “It’s a community, an environment that helps transform students into great thinkers, creators and doers who go on to lead our communities to new horizons. I am eager to begin working together with the incredible Lewis Honors community to continue fostering innovation and nurturing talented students.”
Buss holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Bowling Green State University in history and policy history, respectively. He earned a doctoral degree in history from Purdue University.
He is also the author of “Winning the West with Words: Language and Conquest in the Lower Great Lakes” and has published numerous peer-reviewed articles and book chapters.
Buss will begin as dean of the Lewis Honors College July 1.
Learn more about the UK Lewis Honors College and the honors community.
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.