This year, 37 Cardinals matched with UofL, and will continue their medical training at one of the School of Medicine’s 25 first-year residency programs. Others secured placements at prestigious institutions nationwide, including Harvard, Vanderbilt, Emory, Johns Hopkins and Wake Forest.

In addition to an impressive 97% match rate, the class also boasts a 100% pass rate on a licensure examination that assesses student clinical knowledge.

This year, UofL’s Match Day took place at Angel’s Envy Bourbon Club at L&N Federal Credit Union Stadium. After ripping their envelopes open, students celebrated alongside family, friends and faculty.

“There’s no word to describe the excitement I feel right now! The UofL School of Medicine prepared us for this moment and truly made sure we were supported. I’m looking forward to my residency and cannot wait to be among the most innovative physicians in my field and change the lives of those affected by skin conditions that are currently incurable,” said Joseph Holland, Class of 2025 president and future resident of the Harvard Combined Dermatology Residency Training Program.

View more photos on from UofL’s Match Day 2025.Ěý

Among them are: social media coordinator for and , U.S. assistant racing manager at AMO Racing, graduate and all-female camel racing winner.

It’s easy to wonder what led Leslie from the Bluegrass State’s horse tracks to camel racing in Dubai. This week, she’s back in Louisville providing professional social media coverage of the Run for the Roses. Ěý

UofL News caught up with the accomplished alumna to hear more about her journey and the influence of the university.ĚýĚý

UofL News: What initially sparked your interest in the Equine Industry Business Program at UofL?Ěý

Leslie: I was intrigued by the program because there isn’t anything else like it. Being able to get a business degree while specializing in the equine field was something that really drew me in. I also liked that it was a very close-knit program and the class sizes were small.Ěý

UofL News: Can you share with us the journey that led you from studying equine business at the University of Louisville to becoming involved in camel racing and eventually winning the C1 Championship in Dubai?Ěý

Leslie: I worked in the Thoroughbred industry throughout college and took every opportunity to meet new people. Working for Thoroughbred racehorse trainer Mark Casse, I met a lot of connected people who had an influence on where I am today. In 2022, I went to Dubai for America’s Best Racing and it was then that I was first introduced to camel racing. I went out to film a segment on unique things to do in Dubai at the only camel riding school in the UAE, and that is where I met Linda Krockenberger, who co-founded the school and started the C1 Championships. We joked that it would be cool for me to one day compete in a race, and little did we know it would lead to this. Two years later the dream became a reality, and it turned out better than we both could have imagined.Ěý

UofL News: Do you have any memorable experiences or lessons from your time as a student at the University of Louisville that have stuck with you since graduating?Ěý

Leslie: I enjoyed meeting students with similar passions, even if we weren’t focused on the same discipline – we all shared the love for the horse. I really enjoyed my time on the UofL Saddleseat Team, in which we took home the national title. I have had a passion for horses since I can remember, but being surrounded by like-minded people on a daily basis certainly helped ignite my dream of working in the Thoroughbred industry. Terri Burch welcomed me into the program with open arms and for that, I’m forever grateful.Ěý

UofL News: Have you ever participated in any Kentucky Derby events or festivities? Did the university’s proximity and ties to Churchill Downs help your career?Ěý

Leslie: Yes, I was very lucky to work for Mark Casse when we had several horses competing in the Derby. War of Will in 2019 (who went on to win the Preakness Stakes), Enforceable in 2020 and Soup and Sandwich and Helium in 2021.Ěý

I was at the track every morning before heading to school, so being nearby was ideal, especially when my alarm went off at 4:30 each morning. I had to have a nap every day in between classes, but the hard work definitely paid off.Ěý

UofL News: What advice would you offer to prospective or current students in the Equine Industry Business Program at UofL who may be considering various career paths within the industry?Ěý

Leslie: Take every opportunity. Even if you feel as though the event, person or whatever it may be might not benefit you, you never know who you’ll meet. I exhausted myself, but it was the best thing I could have done for my career. If I hadn’t jumped at every opportunity, I wouldn’t be in the position I am today. I never gave up, and I knew that going to college while working and traveling wouldn’t be easy, but I was lucky to have a support system that helped me follow my dreams.Ěý

As kicks off Sept.15, the Cardinal Community, led by HLII and partners, is celebrating the diversity of the campus population through a scheduled throughout the month.

“We love the work we do to empower our students to live their authentic selves while exploring their own Latinidad. We are excited for this month of visibility and celebration, and we are dedicated to celebrating our culture throughout the entire year while we continue working towards an inclusive and welcoming campus,”Ěý±·±đ˛µ°ůĂł˛Ô said.

Celebrating its 10 year anniversary this year, UofL’s HLII office is located within the Ěýand presents heritage and identity events in an effort to uplift the Hispanic/Latinx culture represented on campus by curating educational and celebratory opportunities in which students and the community can engage. The initiative also works year-round to promote Hispanic, Latinx & IndigenousĚýstudent success through campus and community engagement, student coaching, leadership development and cultural programming and events.Ěý

Hispanic/Latinx Heritage Month is observed Sept. 15 through Oct. 15, in line with the day of independence for various Latin American countries. Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua all celebrate their day of independence on Sept. 15. Mexico and Chile’s follow within the same week. The national observance was first celebrated for only one week. It became a month-long celebration in 1989.

UofL celebrations begin with at the . Other events include aĚýĚýat theĚýCultural and Equity Center,ĚýĚýandĚýBaila con Migo. The full series of events can be foundĚý.

As you navigate the college experience, UofL has your back. You’re never alone in the Cardinal Community. Whether your needs are related to academic success, personal wellness, general well-being or recreational activities, there are resources available to enhance your overall student experience and to ensure a thriving future. Check out these 10 helpful campus websites:

1. Ěý–ĚýUofL hosts over 400 student organizations that cover a wide variety of student interests. These groups provide a wonderful opportunity to become involved in campus life and to connect with other students on campus who enjoy some of the same things you do. Find the list of contacts on theĚý.Ěý
2. –The Student Recreation Center (SRC) offers the latest fitness facilities and equipment, complete with basketball and racquetball courts. Campus Recreation also offers activities ranging from group fitness classes to competitive intramural sports to sport clubs.
3. Ěý–ĚýThe Cultural Center supports and offers programs that acknowledge and reflect the experiences of underrepresented populations. It also provides educational opportunities for all members of the campus community to examine their individual and group experiences within a culturally diverse society.
4. Ěý–ĚýThe counseling center offers services such as individual or group counseling, workshops, couples therapy, urgent consultations and psychiatric referrals. Some of the services are covered by student fees and do not require additional payment. The website also provides a list ofĚý
5. Ěý–ĚýThe Cardinal Station and Health Sciences Center (HSC) Campus Health Services (CHS) offices provide basic primary care including physical exams, immunizations, allergy shots, travel medicine, flu and COVID-19 shots, sexual health and contraception and more. CHS has an insurance advocate who assists students enrolled in the UofL student health insurance program.
6. Ěý–ĚýUofL’sĚýĚýprovides community-building socials with other first-gen students, workshops and individual coaching. Participants can earn completion grants toward their UofL bill.ĚýĚýmatches first-generation, first-year students with faculty and staff for individual mentoring in theĚý.Ěý
7. Ěý–ĚýThe University Writing Center offers one-on-one or group consultations to both undergraduate and graduate students with a trained writing consultant. The center also provides a range of online resources.
8. Ěý–ĚýThis is where many students can find out about outside-the-classroom learning opportunities, whether they are work-related (internships, co-ops) or research-focused. The Center for Engaged Learning (CEL) is an on-campus resource for UofL, the community and industry partners that helps Cardinals better prepare for academic and success.
9. Ěý–ĚýWhat’s going on today? You’ll find happenings from Belknap to HSC listed on the official UofL Event Calendar.
10. Ěý–ĚýThe ITS HelpDesk provides technology support to the Cardinal community. The ITS website features a Knowledge Base, Service Catalog and FAQ section with answers to questions like “What software is free for enrolled students?” and “What digital storage options are available?”

Several of these resources are sanctioned by UofL’s or the . The Office of Student Involvement is a hub for cultural, social and recreational programs, while the Student Success Center provides resources related to advising, academics, financial well-being and belonging.

According to the UofL Student Success Center, whether a student is in need of a laptop, exploring a new major, facing a financial barrier or simply looking for a peer who’s been there before, the SSC is the place to turn.

We urge you to explore the wide array of programs and activities at UofL. We’ll be here every step of the way!

The two have been playing softball for as long as they can remember. They were teammates in various youth leagues and even through high school. After landing at different colleges, though, they never imagined that they’d find themselves on the same team again.Ěý

Cassady began her college softball career as a Cardinal in 2019, playing 34 games with four starts as a freshman. Carmyn, who is almost two years older, transferred to UofL from Auburn before the 2020 season.Ěý

This past 2022 season – their last together– Carmyn came through holding the school-record .408 career batting average and an All-ACC First Team selection. She was also selected for NFCA All-America and NFCA All-Southeast Region teams.ĚýCassady was named to the ACC Academic Honor Roll

The sisters’ skill and grit filled the stat sheets while they both earned their degrees. Carmyn earned her marketing degree in 2021 and pursued an MBA. Cassady majored in psychology with a minor in Spanish.

Their impact, however, extended well beyond the classroom and the field. While active on the Cardinals’ roster, the sisters collaborated to sell branded gear for a purpose, donating their Name, Image, Likeness (NIL) earnings to the national nonprofit called.

Blessings in a Backpack collects food for school children who are fed during the week through federally-funded Free and Reduced Meal Program and who are at risk of going hungry on the weekends. The sisters, who volunteered at the organization’s Louisville office, created a logo and brand for Team Greenwood to generate proceeds for this cause.Ěý

The Greenwood sisters have moved on to the next chapters in their journey.ĚýCarmyn is working at a Bush Keller Sporting Goods store in Indiana, and has also had the chance to play professionally with Florida Vibe in Bradenton, Florida. Cassady is now attending the University of Alabama at Birmingham to pursue a masters degree. Her softball career continues.

Even though their time as Cardinals has come to an end, both maintain a deep fondness for UofL.Ěý

“I would like to thank Louisville for supporting me and cheering us on no matter what the outcome ended up being. I’m glad I am going to be able to be a Card forever,” Carmyn said.Ěý

“The love we felt from the fans made representing Louisville easy,” Cassady added. “I also want to thank the support staff in the athletic department because there is not a program in the country that dedicates as much time as they do to the overall wellness of their athletes.”

The first director, Ellis Mendelsohn, was hired in 1953. He held that position for decades before Dale Ramsay took over in 1980. Ramsay retired in November after 41 years and proudly passed the position onto Justin Peterson, while joking Peterson should go for a new record and serve for 42 years.

Peterson completed his undergraduate degree at Michigan Central University, where he was a sports official and supervisor in the Intramural Sports program. He then became a graduate assistant in the Department of Recreational Sports at Indiana State University, where he received a MS in Recreation and Sport Management.

In 2010, Peterson began his career at UofL. As a longtime member of the Cardinal community, he’s well known for establishing the Special Olympics program here in 2016. His dedication to that initiative led to UofL’s unified basketball team becoming the first ever to represent Special Olympics Kentucky at the USA Game.

Peterson’s first title at UofL was coordinator for Intramural Sports. He worked under Ramsey, who quickly became an influential mentor, and was eventually promoted to assistant director of Intramural Sports and then to associate director of Facilities. He’s been involved in nearly every aspect of the Student Recreation Center’s programming.

Now, he’ll be overseeing the people who hold these positions that he once did. His leadership is respected among peers as he’s spent more than 10 years building trust across campus.

“Dale taught me a lot about relationship building because it’s a really big piece of the job. If people don’t know who you are, they’re not going to call on you. But, if they meet you and know that they can call on you, they learn that they can trust you. Being able to have those conversations and doing the small things for people will go a long way,” said Peterson.

Peterson doesn’t just do the “small things” for others, though, he goes the extra mile.Ěý While continuing cherished traditions like the Turkey Trot and Canoe Regatta, he’s also expanding programming to reach more students with varied interests. In this spirit, the name of the SRC’s department was recently changed from “Intramural and Recreational Sports Department” to “Campus Recreation.”Ěý

Their purpose is to “…improve the quality of life and sense of belonging for all members of the University of Louisville community,” so he feels that the new name more accurately represents what they’re about. He’s continuing to broaden the vision of inclusivity by working with other departments to create programs that reach people with interests beyond the fitness center, field and court.

One way he plans to do this is by offering more activities in nature, such as hiking trips, alternative breaks at outdoor recreation spots and community cleanups.Ěý

Peterson is fostering an environment that’s welcoming for everybody, while also addressing the holistic wellbeing of each person. He’s found that recreation can be a unique catalyst for getting students to open up about mental health.

“There are emotional health initiatives that we can do because one of the beauties of the sports setting is that you can break down some barriers. You’ve got people who might not be willing to open up and talk about things, but if you get them out on the basketball court, you can start having a conversation. You get to know a lot about a person and create a connection with them,” he said.

The SRC’s intramural sports teams and clubs have been a great avenue for the UofL community to do just that. There are more than 25 clubs, from ballroom dancing to basketball to badminton, where connections are being formed and students get to explore fitness while having fun.

The connections Peterson has built continue to benefit every program he’s involved in. With his drive and dedication, he may just break that 42-year record.Ěý

Simmons-Chukalas was soon promoted from a car rental associate position to lead agent, eventually working in the corporate office. Her various roles led her across the country, where she directed training departments and airport operations in San Francisco, Atlanta and New Jersey. She stayed with the car rental company for nearly 29 years and made a name for herself in the industry.

Eventually,ĚýSimmons-Chukalas left the car rental company for a role as vice president of learning and development at a company in Colorado.Ěý

Though her professional career had taken off, not finishing her college degree remained a regret. When the Covid-19 pandemic hit in 2020, however, her position was eliminated andĚýSimmons-Chukalas had the chance to rethink her course.Ěý

“I think it was the perfect storm for me and I knew that the writing was on the wall … that it was time for me to go back to school. So I made the commitment that I was going to go back and finish. I just jumped into, once again, the deep end. I like to do that,” she said.

She searched for the best program to fit her needs and landed at UofL. Intentional and ambitious as ever, she had to get the Dean’s approval to take on the heavy course load needed to finish her B.S. in Organizational Leadership and Learning (OLL) in 1.5 years, which she did completely online. She’s graduating May 14 with a 4.0 GPA.Ěý

“I wanted a program that was catered to adult learners. I knew that I wanted to get credit also for my life experience. So, I actually interviewed schools, just like I would if I was going to find a vendor to partner with in a corporate role,” said Simmons-Chukalas, “I spoke toĚý(a faculty member)Ěýabout UofL and he did a great job promoting the program and talking about the benefits of it. I really valued and appreciated that UofL is different in the sense that you can earn credits for work-life experience through your PLA (Prior Learning Assessment) and, at the same time, you don’t have to pay for those credits that you’re earning.”

The OLL department at UofL offers innovative programs at the bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral levels. These programs educate professionals who focus on leadership, organization development, human resources, and workforce development in order to benefit individuals, organizations and society.Ěý

Simmons-Chukalas expressed that her courses were extremely validating and affirmed the work that she’s been doing for so long. Obtaining a degree from UofL will provide the credibility and additional industry recognition needed as she continues to move forward in her career. It’s also setting a great example for her two kidsĚý– her biggest motivation.

With her degree finally in hand, Simmons-Chukalas recently started her own consulting business and is working for a company where she builds programs to help underrepresented individuals grow professionally through mentorship and career development. Her long-term goal is to become a Chief Learning and Talent Officer.

“I love doing executive development programs, but I’m also very passionate about helping people who are underrepresented. So whether that’s people of color or women or the LGBTQ community … whomever that might be,” she said. “Those are big passions for me. I’m someone who came from very humble beginnings. I want to always be able to lift up and give a hand back to someone else going through that same experience because being successful in your career gives you the means to be able to provide for your family, and that’s probably the most rewarding thing that I’ve been able to do.”