Chellgren Center welcomes new student and faculty fellows, celebrates graduating students
LEXINGTON, Ky. (April 17, 2025) — The Chellgren Center for Undergraduate Excellence at the University of Kentucky has selected the 2025 Class of Chellgren Student Fellows (Chellows) and the 2025-26 Chellgren Faculty Fellows. Dedicated to advancing the University of Kentucky’s commitment to student, teaching and program excellence, the center works toward that mission through several programs.
The Chellgren Student Fellows Program is open to all majors and takes place during the student’s second year at UK. During this time, students receive help understanding the process of research within their discipline, a research mentor to oversee a spring research project and assistance in preparing for the next phase of their career. Additionally, Student Fellows have the opportunity to engage in a variety of extracurricular activities designed to expand their cultural and intellectual perspectives.
The students selected as 2025 Chellgren Student Fellows are:
- Blake Atwell, College of Arts and Sciences*
- Stephanie Barksdale, College of Public Health
- Ryan Beam, Gatton College of Business and Economics*
- Carson Brown, Pigman College of Engineering*
- Landon Bruner, Pigman College of Engineering*
- London Carr, College of Arts and Sciences*
- Isabella Cherry, College of Education
- Maria Clara Daroz Freitas Lobo, College of Arts and Sciences*
- Saidah Ervin, College of Arts and Sciences
- Joseph Estelita, III, College of Arts and Sciences*
- Nancy Haddad, College of Arts and Sciences*
- Omar Hamid, Martin-Gatton College of Agriculture, Food and Environment*
- Catalina Hicks, College of Arts and Sciences
- Katelyn Huffaker, College of Arts and Sciences*
- Taylor Jenkins, Pigman College of Engineering*
- Hannah Jones, Pigman College of Engineering*
- Aaron Joseph, Martin-Gatton College of Agriculture, Food and Environment*
- Ayusma Karki, College of Design
- Morgan Lincoln, College of Design
- Taylor Martin, Pigman College of Engineering*
- Norah Masri, Pigman College of Engineering*
- Katherine Neglia, College of Health Sciences*
- Lilly Phipps, College of Health Sciences*
- Sutton Rhorer, Gatton College of Business and Economics*
- Trenton Schroering, College of Arts and Sciences*
- Isabella Skibba, College of Education*
- Allison Underwood, College of Arts and Sciences*
- Paloma Wizikowski, College of Arts and Sciences
- Grace Yates, College of Health Sciences*
- Samuel Yauwanta, College of Arts and Sciences*
*Also a student in Lewis Honors College
“Words cannot express how grateful and excited I am to be a Chellgren Fellow,” said Taylor Martin. “As a chemical engineering major wanting to get more involved with undergraduate research, I am eager to learn more about the program and the opportunities it provides to connect with like-minded peers. I firmly believe that our generation has the power to make positive change, and organizations like the Chellgren Fellowship help make it possible. I can’t wait to get started.”
As the Chellgren Center prepares to welcome its new fellows, they are also celebrating with the graduating Chellows. As the students wrap up their time at the university and prepare for their next respective chapters, they reflect on what their time with the Chellgren Center has meant to them.
“The Chellgren Center for Undergraduate Excellence has played a meaningful role in shaping my undergraduate journey at the University of Kentucky,” said Angie Bushroe, a 2023 Chellgren Student Fellow. “Its focus on academic excellence, mentorship and personal growth has empowered me to pursue opportunities beyond the classroom and further develop as a scholar and a leader. The experiences I’ve gained through the Chellgren Center have prepared me to take my next steps outside of UK with confidence.”
Graduating Chellows include:
- Helena Arjona, College of Communication and Information*
- Angie Bushroe, College of Arts and Sciences*
- Ella Brown-Terry, College of Arts and Sciences*
- Kailey Cain, College of Arts and Sciences*
- James Chen, Pigman College of Engineering
- Tiffany Clark, Pigman College of Engineering*
- Nicholas Coffman, Pigman College of Engineering*
- Elizabeth Corry, Pigman College of Engineering*
- Rohan Desai, College of Arts and Sciences*
- Sara Dickens, College of Public Health*
- Emma Grace Hague, College of Public Health*
- Faham Hossain, Gatton College of Business and Economics
- Abigail Humphrey, College of Public Health
- Rachel Hwang, College of Arts and Sciences*
- Pascalle Le Roy, College of Fine Arts*
- Cierra Ledford, College of Arts and Sciences
- Jada Lunsford, College of Education
- Ginny Lyle, Martin-Gatton College of Agriculture, Food and Environment*
- Asa O'Neal, Pigman College of Engineering*
- Joshua Plain, Gatton College of Business and Economics
- Coleman Reed, Pigman College of Engineering*
- Lizzie Rice, Martin-Gatton College of Agriculture, Food and Environment
- Elliana Sanchez, College of Arts and Sciences*
- Anna Stockstill, College of Arts and Sciences
- Connor Stuart, College of Arts and Sciences*
- Lauren Spencer, Martin School of Public Policy and Administration*
- Emma Thyne, College of Arts and Sciences*
- Gage Tucker, Martin-Gatton College of Agriculture, Food and Environment
- Madison Wade, College of Arts and Sciences*
- Helena Weiss, College of Health Sciences*
*Also a student in Lewis Honors College
In addition to the Student Fellows, three Faculty Fellows were also selected for the 2025-26 academic year.
The Faculty Fellows are:
- Jason Hans — Department of Family Studies, Martin-Gatton College of Agriculture, Food and Environment
- Francesca Dennstedt — Department of Hispanic Studies, College of Arts and Sciences
- Fabiola Fernandez-Doig — Department of Hispanic Studies, College of Arts and Sciences
Chellgren Faculty Fellows are provided with resources and support to design academic courses, research projects and other forms of creative work for a one-year period. Activities developed should sustain equity-oriented partnerships, organize novel opportunities for students to learn, and support faculty and students to implement ethical and rigorous participatory activities. The next application cycle will open in Fall 2026 for the 2027-28 academic year.
The center also has five endowed professorships that will finish their terms in June 2026 and the Chellgren Center will be announcing a call for proposals in September 2025.
The Chellgren Center will celebrate its 20th class in Fall 2026. For more about the celebration, contact the center at chellgrencenter@uky.edu to be added to the mailing list.
These prestigious positions were made possible by an initial gift from Paul Chellgren and his family to create the Chellgren Center in 2005. As a UK undergraduate, Chellgren was an honors program student and star intercollegiate debater. After earning his MBA from Harvard and a D.D.E. from Oxford University, he began a successful career that culminated with his retirement as chairman and CEO of Ashland Inc. He was inducted into UK’s Hall of Distinguished Alumni in 2000 and the Gatton College of Business and Economics Hall of Fame in 1995 and served on the UK Board of Trustees for 11 years. His commitment to improving and enriching undergraduate education at UK continues to impact thousands of UK students, faculty and staff.
To learn more about the Chellgren Center, visit www.uky.edu/chellgren/.
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.