UK Wildcat Forum announces 2025 conference keynote speakers; early bird registration ends Oct. 15
LEXINGTON, Ky. (Oct. 15, 2025) — The University of Kentucky Wildcat Forum (UKWF) annual conference, “Leading with Intention: Finding Purpose in What You Do and Who You Are,” on Tuesday, Dec. 9, welcomes professionals from UK, UK HealthCare and the greater Lexington community.
Registration for the conference, hosted at the Gatton Student Center from 9 a.m.-4 p.m., is open now. Early bird registration for $15 closes on Oct. 15. Registration will remain open for $25 until Nov. 12. Register here.
This year’s keynote speakers are Devine Carama, presenting at the opening session, and Davonna Saier, presenting at the lunch session.
Carama is a 2022 Emmy Award-winning hip-hop artist, author and educator. His viral video on emotional intelligence led to features on “Good Morning America” and “The Jennifer Hudson Show.” Through his nonprofit Believing in Forever, he continues to mentor and uplift the community. He is also the director of ONE Lexington.
Saier is the founder of Davonna Inclusive, through which she champions positivity and strategic growth through coaching, public speaking and leadership development. A Certified Professional Life Coach, she blends heart and expertise to help individuals and organizations thrive.
The conference also includes breakout sessions and networking opportunities. Breakout sessions will focus on leadership skills, effective communication, health and well-being, and more. The full conference schedule will be shared soon.
“We are so excited to gather for the UKWF annual conference,” said Ryessia Russell, UKWF board member and director of honors pathways in the Gatton College of Business and Economics. “The conference promises to be engaging and inspiring — a space where people from the university and the Lexington community can come together to exchange ideas, build connections, and spark new possibilities.”
For more information, visit https://wildcatforum.uky.edu/.
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.