A&S Welcomes Alumni, Faculty to Hall of Fame
Lexington, Ky. (Nov. 2, 2009) - During Homecoming 2009, The University of Kentucky College of Arts & Sciences Hall of Fame welcomed its newest inductees. The induction ceremony and dinner was held Oct. 30 in the Thoroughbred Room of the Lexington Convention Center. In addition to four distinguished alumni, inductees included two faculty members – the first A&S faculty members to enter the college’s Hall of Fame.
The 2009 Inductees to the College of Arts and Sciences Hall of Fame are:
Alumni
· Ernest Steele – A first generation college student, Steele attended UK following a tour of duty in World War II and the birth of his first two sons. Steele earned his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in mathematics from UK in 1948 and 1950. He utilized this education in his life-long career as an actuary in the insurance business, working closely with former Kentucky Governor Albert B. “Happy” Chandler at Coastal States Insurance. He eventually served as president of three different insurance companies, and was the founding president of Knoxville-based Appalachian National Life Company.
· William H. Jansen, II –Jansen acquired his interest in applying anthropology to solve social problems during his time as an undergraduate at UK, earning his bachelor’s degree in 1971. He is passionate about working to better the lives of others, and feels that his connections to UK have profoundly affected his life. Now a research professor at the University of North Carolina, Jansen works to strengthen health care services and improve the health of those in the developing world. Jansen has worked in both government and non-government positions throughout his career, and currently serves as Senior HIV/AIDS Technical Advisor for the U.S. Agency for International Development in Zimbabwe.
· Dr. Olson Huff – Born in Eastern Kentucky, Dr. Huff attended UK to achieve his dream of becoming a doctor and received his bachelor’s degree in chemistry in 1957. Huff joined the Air Force during medical school, serving in Vietnam as a medical duty officer. Early in his medical career, he developed an interest in influencing peoples’ actions related to health and moved to Asheville, N.C., to work for a children’s development evaluation program. Now a retired pediatrician and successful author, Huff sits on several boards and commissions, serving as chair of the Task Force on Obesity and Nutrition and co-chair of the Study Committee on Childhood Obesity.
· Sandra Helton – After earning her bachelor’s in mathematics at UK in 1971, Helton specialized in finance and planning/control at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology Sloan School of Management. As an experienced corporate executive and board director, Helton has a record of inspiring business growth at large corporations such as Compaq. She has led significant strategic and financial transformations in Fortune 500 Companies, mostly recently as executive VP and CFO of Telephone and Data Systems. Currently, Helton serves on the Board of Directors for Principal Financial Group and chairs the Audit Committees for both Northwestern Memorial Healthcare and Convance Incorporated.
Faculty
· Wimberly Royster –Royster received his doctorate in mathematics in 1952, and served as chair of UK’s Math Department from 1963 to 1969. He was the recipient of an honorary doctorate in 2005 and has had a long and outstanding career in research and teaching, acting in various administrative positions at the University of Kentucky for more than 20 years. Royster was instrumental in securing National Science Foundation funding for UK, most recently a $26 million grant for research in the Appalachian Mathematics and Science Partnership in 2002. He currently works for the Kentucky Science & Technology Corporation and maintains his position as professor emeritus in the Department of Mathematics.
· William Y. Adams –Adams served as chair of the Department of Anthropology twice during his 26 years at UK, assisting in the development of the University Studies Program. He received his doctorate in anthropology in 1958 and was appointed professor at UK in 1966, later being named a Distinguished Professor by the College of Arts & Sciences in 1980. His expertise and lengthy publishing record have led to Adams’ status as a world-renowned expert on Nubian archaeology and history. In December of 2005, Adams was awarded the Order of the Two Niles, the highest civilian decoration given by the Sudanese government, for his lifetime of contribution and research.
For more information on the A&S Hall of Fame or to submit a nomination for 2010, contact the College of Arts and Sciences Alumni and Giving office at 859.257.8124 or online at http://www.as.uky.edu/alumni/nomination.