Professional News

UK’s Jason Hope Elected to Board of Directors of Pulse

Photo of Jason Hope
Jason Hope

LEXINGTON, Ky. (Dec. 1, 2021) Jason Hope, the University of Kentucky’s director of International Health, Safety and Security (IHSS), has been elected to the board of directors of Pulse: International Safety and Security Professionals in Higher Education.

Pulse exists both to unite professionals whose roles are dedicated to international higher education safety and security and to advance knowledge and best practices in this complex field. He joins six colleagues from universities around the country as part of the board.

“It’s an honor to have been elected to this position by my peers and to have the opportunity to shape best practices in the field of international safety and security at this level,” Hope said. “I think it’s also a testament to the leading national role that the UK International Center has taken in this space — a space that is only becoming more critical given the complexities of international mobility today.”

Hope’s position at UK was created in 2015 as the result of a process driven by both the president and the provost’s areas, as well as the university’s Risk Management Advisory Committee. His role focuses, in part, on directing global risk analysis, communication with travelers and the institutional response to crises that may affect UK’s students, faculty and staff during their time overseas.

At the time his position was created, fewer than 50 full-time professionals in roles like his were employed by U.S. universities. That number has nearly tripled since then and universities abroad have also begun creating similar positions.

In a typical year, Hope supports more than 2,500 international trips taken by UK students and employees.

“Putting students first and taking care of our employees are two of the values deeply embedded in UK’s new strategic plan,” Hope said. “Through engagement and leadership in organizations like Pulse, the UK International Center has been successful in developing processes and procedures to do just that while members of our community are abroad — and it’s something we look forward to continue doing in today’s increasingly complex international travel landscape.”

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.   

In 2022, UK was ranked by Forbes as one of the “Best Employers for New Grads” and named a “Diversity Champion” by INSIGHT into Diversity, a testament to our commitment to advance Kentucky and create a community of belonging for everyone. While our mission looks different in many ways than it did in 1865, the vision of service to our Commonwealth and the world remains the same. We are the University for Kentucky.