UK Association of Emeriti Faculty honors Michael Tearney with distinguished service award
LEXINGTON, Ky. (Nov. 2, 2026) — The University of Kentucky Association of Emeriti Faculty (UKAEF) has named Michael “Mike” Tearney, Ph.D., the 2026 recipient of the Jean Pival Emeriti Faculty Distinguished Service Award, recognizing his nearly 20 years of advocacy on behalf of UK’s retired faculty.
Established in 2025, the award honors individuals who have made significant contributions to the strength, longevity and community of UKAEF. It is named for Jean Pival, a founding member of the association whose decades of service helped shape the organization. Pival, an associate professor of English, was a founding member of UKAEF and served the association in several leadership roles, including as its second president from 1989-90, executive secretary from 1989-2012 and recording secretary from 1989-2008.
Tearney, a retired professor from UK’s Gatton College of Business and Economics, has represented UKAEF on the Employee Benefits Committee for close to 20 years.
In nominating Tearney for the award, Dan Stone, Ph.D., also a retired professor from the Gatton College, highlighted both the longevity and impact of Tearney’s service.
“Much like Professor Pival, who served as a founding member and dedicated decades of her life to the executive functions of this organization, Mike Tearney has demonstrated an unwavering commitment to the mission and values of our emeriti community,” Stone said.
Through his work on the Employee Benefits Committee, Tearney has helped represent the needs of emeriti faculty while navigating complex changes to benefits and sharing that information with UKAEF members.
“By taking on the heavy lifting of benefits representation, he has provided a service that directly impacts the quality of life for every member of this association,” Stone said. “Through his many years of advocacy on the Employee Benefits Committee, Mike has helped ensure the health and flourishing of our association. He embodies the active, service-oriented spirit that Jean Pival championed throughout her career.”
Learn more about the Jean Pival Emeriti Faculty Distinguished Service Award at ukaef.org/emeriti-faculty-distinguished-service-award.
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