Last week, our Board of Trustees engaged with campus leaders in meaningful discussions about the future of Kentucky’s university.

With our strategic plan, UK-PURPOSE, as a framework, board members directed me to focus on the acceleration of our collective work to advance the economy of Kentucky and the health, well-being and quality of life of its citizens.

Recent alumna Eeshani Godbole (PhD ChE ’22) and current graduate students John Dewey, Mauricio De Leo, Kristine Loh, and Maya Ramamurthy described their research, provided advice for high school students, addressed why they chose CEMS for their graduate education, addressed overcoming inequities in STEM, among other topics.

Mississippi State Unified club sport athletes hope to make this year’s Special Olympics Egg Bowl their team’s third-straight victory over their biggest rival, Ole Miss. Before this year’s gridiron showdown in Oxford on Nov. 29, the Bulldogs and Rebels will face off in Starkville for the ninth Special Olympics flag football match between the two rivals. The game is scheduled for 6:30 p.m., Nov. 18, at the MSU RecPlex near the Sawyer Tennis Courts on Stone Boulevard. Attendees are asked to bring lawn chairs to the event.

Few of the students profiled below started college with the idea that they’d soon be working side by side with professors and PhD candidates. But where their academic curiosity led, opportunities followed—and many were surprised to find what doors opened to them when they took initiative and moved their exploration beyond the classroom. For NYU undergraduates interested in research, gaining this kind of experience—in the field, the lab, or the studio—can take several forms, ranging from assisting a faculty or grad student mentor to embarking on independent projects and even co-authoring publications

Each November, we celebrate National Adoption Month—a time to raise awareness, honor adoptive families, and most importantly, recognize the children who are still waiting for their forever homes. As the Program Coordinator for Adoption Support for Kentucky (ASK), I have the privilege of working with foster and adoptive families across the Commonwealth, witnessing their joys, challenges, and extraordinary resilience. This month, I invite you to join us in celebrating adoption while recognizing the essential need for ongoing support and understanding for families as they navigate this life-changing

University of Kentucky College of Social Work Ph.D. student, Levone Lee, published his first lead-author article, titled -Attitudes Toward Aggressive and Violent Behaviors and the Role of Life Skills Among University Club Sport Athletes.- This article examines the relationship between life skills developed in sport context and attitudes toward aggressive and violent behaviors outside of sports.

Spirit Splash is one of the most popular events on campus — and has been voted one of the best college traditions in the nation. Part of Homecoming Week, this wet and wild pep rally invites Knights to charge into the Reflecting Pond and catch collectible rubber ducks and commemorative T-shirts. Other events during the weeklong celebration include Movie Knight, Comedy Knight, Knights Got Talent, Concert Knight, Culture Knight and so much more.

Nearly three dozen Carolina undergraduate and graduate students have received awards from the National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship Program for their research in STEM-related fields, including chemistry, geography, neuroscience and more.