UK Alumni Association Announces New Officers for 2020-2021

LEXINGTON, Ky. (July 1, 2020) — The University of Kentucky Alumni Association recently announced its 2020-2021 Board of Directors’ officers during its annual Summer Workshop. This year’s officers are Hannah Miner Myers, president; Mary Shelman, president-elect; Antoine Huffman, treasurer; and Jill Smith, secretary. The new slate officially takes office today and will serve until June 30, 2021.

Hannah Miner Myers of Madisonville, Kentucky, has been elected president of the UK Alumni Association. She graduated in 1994 with a bachelor’s degree in middle school education from the UK College of Education. She is a member of Delta Delta Delta sorority and served as student ambassador on the Student Development Council. Myers has a second bachelor’s degree in interior design and a double master’s degree in education and education administration. She served eight years on the City of Madisonville City Council and is serving her second term on the Hopkins County Fiscal Court as a magistrate for District Seven. She is an active community member and has served as a member of the Economic Development Council and Community Foundation board, past chairwoman of the Chamber of Commerce tourism board and past president of the Cardinal Garden Club. Myers has served as an adjunct professor of education on the Murray State University regional campus in Madisonville. She is a UK Alumni Association Life Member, UK Fellow and is active with the Hopkins County UK Alumni Club. She also is a fitness instructor, spinning instructor and marathon runner.

Mary L. Shelman of Belmont, Massachusetts, was elected president-elect of the UK Alumni Association. She received a bachelor’s degree in chemical engineering in 1981 and an MBA from Harvard Business School in 1987. She has been serving as treasurer of the UK Alumni Association this past year and has held several committee leadership positions including chairwoman of Budget, Finance and Investments, Nominating for Board, Diversity and Group Development, and Alumni Service Awards committees. She was also vice-chairwoman of Communications, Membership, and Nominating for Board committees. Shelman is an internationally recognized thought leader on the global ag-tech and agri-food system. She has consulted, taught and presented at conferences in 20 countries. She is past president of the International Food and Agribusiness Management Association and past president of English At Large, an adult literacy organization. She is a Life Member of the UK Alumni Association and a Wildcat Society member. Shelman is a native of Elizabethtown, Kentucky.

Antoine S. Huffman of Prosper, Texas, was elected treasurer of the UK Alumni Association. He received his bachelor’s degree in telecommunications in 2005. While at Kentucky, he was a three-year starter for the Wildcats football team, becoming a UK NCAA record holder. He was also a member of the UK Athletic Association Board of Directors. He served three years as the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee president, two years as chairman for the UK Athletics Outreach Committee and was a member of the ODK National Leadership Honor Society. In 2005, Huffman became the first African American to be crowned UK Homecoming king. He is active in the community with Habitat for Humanity, Boys and Girls Club, the Salvation Army, and is a motivational speaker at local churches, schools and special regional events. In 2002 to 2005, the Atlanta, Georgia, native was nationally recognized for his community service, academics and athletic achievement. In addition, he was a finalist for the Wuerffel Trophy. He received the ARA Sportsmanship Award, two-time ESPN The Magazine Academic All-America, four-time NCAA Academic All-American, four-time SEC Academic honor-roll, and member of the Good Works Team. Huffman has served as chairman for the Membership, Communications, Club Development, and Nomination committees within the UK Alumni Association and served two terms as president of the Greater Nashville UK Alumni Club. He is in the medical field as a regional director of sales for the southwest and he is a Life Member of the UK Alumni Association.

Jill H. Smith of Lexington, Kentucky, is secretary of the UK Alumni Association. She earned a bachelor’s degree in marketing and management from the University of Kentucky in 2005 and a master’s degree in career, technical and leadership education from the University of Kentucky in 2011. She joined the UK Alumni Association in 2006 as a program coordinator and held four other positions at the association before becoming executive director in February 2020. She also serves as associate vice president for alumni engagement and secretary of the UK Alumni Association Board of Directors. She has been an active volunteer with the Council for Advancement and Support of Education at both the state and district level. She is an advisor to the Delta Rho chapter of Delta Delta Delta and an active participant in Lexington area Tri-Delta alumni activities. She is a Life Member of the UK Alumni Association and UK Fellow and serves on several university committees.