“Social work really aligned with my desire to help people like those I grew up with find resources for mental health, financial assistance, food assistance, even scholarships for college like I found for myself,” she said.

Johnson, who earned a bachelor’s in social work degree from the UofL Kent School of Social Work and Family Science in May, said she faced financial and family hardships growing up in the Portland neighborhood and debated whether to go to college. Fortunately, Johnson ultimately found her ideal path as a first-generation student at Kent School. She interned at the Department of Child-Based Services through Kentucky’s Child Welfare CW-PREP, an innovative career preparation program that provides scholarship funds and a path to employment for students interested in making a positive impact serving the children and families of Kentucky.

“I grew up around individuals impacted by the child welfare system, and it shaped my desire to be a social worker who leads with understanding rather than judgment,” Johnson said.

As a Kroger Scholar, Johnson has been a coordinator for Nourish the Ville, a food drive targeting the West Louisville “food deserts” and partnering with the local non-profit Cabbage Patch. She also founded the Black Business Society, a club which connects UofL students with networking, career assistance, financial literacy, mental health and other resources. Johnson hopes to continue both these community service activities beyond graduation.

UofL News talked to Ka’Lynn about how University of Louisville and Kent School have influenced her life path and what’s next for her.

UofL News: As a recent Kent School graduate, what have you learned about the impact social workers can make?

Johnson: Social workers create impact at every level for individual, family, and community by being both advocates and support systems. For individuals, social workers provide guidance, mental health support and resources during vulnerable moments. For families, they help strengthen communication, promote reunification when safe and connect them to tools that build stability. On a community level, social workers address systemic issues such as poverty, food insecurity and access to health care.

UofL News: How has your social work education and training in CW Prep enhanced your understanding of the clients you hope to serve?

Johnson: The training has given me a greater understanding of trauma, resilience and systemic barriers. From coursework and hands on experience in child welfare, I have learned that families are often navigating generational challenges, not just isolated problems. It also helped me understand the importance of trauma-informed practice, ethical decision-making, clear communication and empathy while maintaining professional boundaries.

UofL News: How does social work embody your passion and purpose?

Johnson: Social work reflects my personal mission to create stability and opportunity for families who may feel unheard or unsupported. My passion is in helping families break cycles of instability and access the resources they deserve. Social work allows me to turn my experiences, education, and leadership into meaningful action.

UofL News: How do you hope to help your clients in the field?

Johnson: I want to provide trauma-informed mental health support and empower them to see their own strengths. I want families to leave services feeling more stable, confident and hopeful about their future. I also hope to mentor other students entering social work, especially those facing personal hardship, to show them that resilience and purpose can coexist. I want to model leadership that is grounded in service and integrity.

UofL News: What are your post-graduation plans?

Johnson: I currently work as a pharmacy technician at Kroger but hope to transition soon to work at DCBS and gain a few years of experience there before considering other options like perhaps starting my own non-profit. I want to become a licensed social worker and plan to begin my MSSW (master of science in social work) program at UofL in spring 2027.

UofL News: What has been the best part of your UofL Kent School experience?

Johnson: As a Kent School graduate, I am proud to be part of a 90-year legacy that values service, advocacy and community transformation. My journey has not been easy, but it has strengthened my commitment to becoming a future licensed clinical social worker who leads with empathy and courage. I am grateful for the education and mentorship that have prepared me to carry this mission forward.

In less than one week, a five-mile section of I-65 between the Watterson Expressway (I-264) and downtown Louisville (Jefferson Street) will close to for bridge replacement as part of the I-65 Central Corridor Project. The shutdown will run through Friday, July 31.

The associated ramp and intermittent local street closures will directly impact UofL’s Health Sciences Center downtown campus as well as Belknap campus.

Patients, employees and students should allow for extra travel time and use the Waze navigation and live traffic app to find the most efficient routes during the two-month closure. Please refer to the  for news/information, FAQs and other resources that relate to the project’s impact on UofL, including new student orientation.

In addition, the , includes details about the project, such as maps, news, traffic alerts and more. The site also includes links to receive text and email updates about the project.

For questions related to impacts on UofL, email ULI65@louisville.edu

The endowed Heidi S. Margulis Scholarship was announced as a surprise on May 21 at the University Club on Belknap Campus. The Humana Foundation is honoring their board member Margulis with a starting gift of $300,000 to establish the new scholarship.

Margulis’ early years in a family with the fraught history of a mother’s and grandmother’s escape from the Holocaust fueled her passion for change and a desire to give back to the community that nurtured and sustained her. Margulis’ journey of positive community transformation in Louisville originated at UofL with her own scholarship and overseas work-study immersion program that culminated in a degree in International Studies with honors in December 1974.

Following in the footsteps of her UofL political science professor and mentor Landis Jones, Margulis became a Capitol Hill intern, working with U.S. Senators Wendall Ford and Dee Huddleston. She served during the tumultuous era of the Watergate Scandal.

Margulis began her career with Humana in 1985, and in her 34-year tenure, she led Humana’s government affairs strategy while also managing the company’s charitable foundation, community engagement and corporate social responsibility initiatives. She retired as chief corporate affairs officer in 2019.

Following her retirement, she has served on The Humana Foundation board and the operating board of UofL Health, among other community and government boards.

Margulis said, “One of my core beliefs and values is that everyone deserves a fair shake in the system.”

The first Heidi S. Margulis Scholarship will be awarded to a SPHIS student in fall 2026.

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“I always loved going to the dental office and trying to see what they were doing through the reflections from their goggles,” said the Knoxville, Tenn., native. “My childhood dentist was the only healthcare provider I had who looked like me. As I grew up, I also wanted to be a source of inspiration for future generations of providers,” she said.

Rainey, a May 2026 graduate, took a moment to speak with UofL News about her journey to become a dentist.

UofL News: You worked as a dental hygienist in Tennessee from 2014 to 2020 before being accepted to the UofL School of Dentistry. What inspired you to go for dental school and why Louisville?

Rainey: Dental school was always the end goal. I learned about ULSD as a pre-dental student through Dr. Sherry Babbage-Melisizwe, who visited Tennessee State University to present about the dental school. Her tenacity and passion during that meeting ignited my desire to be taught by her and a curiosity about Louisville. The next summer, I attended Summer Medical and Dental ����ֱ�� Program (SMDEP) in Louisville, and I knew ULSD was my dream for dental school. When it came down to it, Louisville was the first dental school to offer me the chance to complete my number one childhood goal.

UofL News: What has been your favorite part of the dental school experience?

Rainey: All the meaningful connections and communities built along this journey. From classmates to staff and faculty, and even patients, I formed new life-long friendships that I can’t imagine living without. There are lots of individuals I am really going to miss seeing on a daily basis.

UofL News: You received numerous awards for the volunteer hours you have devoted to community dentistry such as UofL’s Goodwill Opportunity Clinic and Free Smiles Clinic. What is it about that work that is gratifying for you?

Rainey: I always had a heart for service. From middle school forward, I was always active in local and national community-based service organizations (such as Beta Club, USNDA, Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc., Remote Area Medical). Coupling that with my love of providing free dental services is my niche. I plan to continue volunteering with free dental clinics wherever I am living. Sometimes, help is simply needed without any strings attached.

UofL News: What are your post-graduation plans?

Rainey: I am a National Service Corps scholar, so the next four years I will be fulfilling my service requirements in underserved areas. I’ve signed on with a federally qualified health center in Northern Kentucky. While I wait on my license to process to begin work, I will definitely enjoy a bit of a break.

UofL News: Now that you are embarking in your career as a dentist, what is your patient care philosophy?

It is important to me that I understand my patient’s needs and wants so that I can provide them with the necessary information for them to make an informed decision about their health. I always want to create a safe, non-judgmental environment for my patients to build a bridge of trust. The majority of them notice and appreciate this.

UofL News: How do you envision your long-term goals and career path?

Rainey: As far as long-term goals, I see myself volunteering and providing mentorship to other young aspiring professionals. How and where I will be to do that is still up in the air, but I know everything will work out in the end. I hope my journey in becoming a dentist may inspire upcoming generations of oral health professionals.

UofL News: How did you feel when you found out you were selected as a Breonna Taylor Fellow?

Rogers: I felt honored and incredibly grateful to be given the opportunity to work in such an impactful way. Most law students are forced to choose between paying their rent and other expenses or working in public interest. This fellowship gave me the honor and opportunity to practice in a field I am passionate about, and to help those most in need.

I am so thankful to the Breonna Taylor Legacy Fellowship team, Taylor’s family and the law school for this opportunity. I have been proud to attend a law school that has such a supportive community for its students and provides them with such incredible opportunities.

UofL News: What did you learn from your fellowship and how did this experience enhance your law school experience?

Rogers: For my fellowship, I worked at the Clark County, Indiana, Public Defender’s Office. Last summer, I worked on developing motions and trial documents for the attorneys in the office. Further, I was responsible for speaking directly to our clients in the office and on the phone. My goal was to give our clients who often have no one to turn to, a listening ear. Using my restorative justice training, I assisted our clients through the system and addressing their concerns.

UofL News: How has this experience been professionally and personally meaningful for you?

Rogers: The Breonna Taylor Legacy Fellowship gave me an incredible opportunity to serve the community and advocate for the rights of the public. It can be easy after a fight for justice to forget, to be complicit in our lives. My goal as a fellow was to never forget. I am committed every day to fighting for those most disadvantaged.

UofL News: How do you believe being a Breonna Taylor fellow will continue to influence your future law career?

Rogers: This internship was absolutely a pillar of my future career. At the office, I learned the system and route of a trial from beginning to end. Communicating with clients is essential to a proper practice and career. Post-graduation, I have secured a clerkship for the next two years working in the Eastern District of Kentucky.

I believe I learned how to be a better community member and how to help those going through the system, using my skills to assist future clients and the community at large. Bryan Stevenson, an attorney I look up to, says “no one should be defined by the worst thing they have ever done.” Unfortunately, defendant’s rights are violated and judged before they ever walk through the door. This is a lofty goal, but one I carry with me every day.

UofL News: What has been your favorite part of your experience at the Brandeis School of Law?

Rogers: I can’t say enough about the community that I have become a part of. The support from staff, faculty and my peers has been life changing. I was so thankful to be at a place where I can learn and grow with a community of support behind me.

The Brandeis School of Law held its fifth Annual Breonna Taylor Lecture on April 9.��.��

Cotton has served as the junior senator from Arkansas since 2015. He is chair of both the Senate Intelligence Committee and Senate Republican Conference and is the third-ranking member of the Senate Republican leadership. Before his election to the Senate, Cotton represented Arkansas’s 4^th congressional district in the U.S. House of Representative from 2013 to 2015.

A Harvard Law School graduate, Cotton served nearly five years on active duty as a U.S. Army infantry officer (2005–2010), achieving the rank of Captain. He served combat tours in Iraq with the 101st Airborne and in Afghanistan with a Provincial Reconstruction Team, earning a Bronze Star.

In his introduction before Cotton’s UofL talk, Sen. Mitch McConnell praised the senator for his passion and dedication to his country. “Tom (Cotton) believes in America, and I don’t know anyone who’s done more to back it up,” McConnell said.

During the discussion held at Chao Auditorium and , moderator and McConnell Center Director Gary Gregg asked Cotton questions on a wide range of topics including his prominent role in the Senate Intelligence Committee, the current military operation in Iran, and the threat of China, as well as advice for students aspiring to politics.  

Cotton said one of his most important priorities as a legislator is leading the Senate Intelligence Committee which plays an important, but largely quiet role in overseeing all the major intelligence agencies, notably the FBI, CIA and NSA.

As chair of the committee and as a military veteran, Cotton said he has prioritized supporting and advocating for front line intelligence officers to empower them to do their jobs with utmost effectiveness.

“In my experience, it’s important to push them to use aggressively all the authority we’ve given them,” Cotton said. “I believe since becoming chairman, I’ve worked with these intelligence chiefs, and they’ve done a great job getting back to their traditional mission of spying on bad guys to help keep the country safe.”

In response to a question about the current military operation in Iran, Cotton noted, “Iran was a threat that was grave, growing and gathering. Our objective is to degrade Iran’s military to the point that they can no longer have a nuclear program or develop an intercontinental missile defense, which ultimately threatens troops and U.S. citizens,” he said. Cotton said that according to his everyday intelligence briefings about the Iran war, the United State is on time or ahead of schedule on every military line of effort.

Turning to another threat on the world stage, Cotton, who published a book on China in 2025, said that America needs to remain mindful that “China remains the most serious threat to our way of life – they are the one country in the world with a plausible path and ambition to replace America as the world’s dominant superpower in military and economy,” Cotton said. “I’ve done a lot of work in the Senate to ensure our military and intelligence agencies are postured to deter China.”  

Turning from China closer to home, Cotton encouraged McConnell Scholars and other UofL students who hold political ambitions. “It’s not hard to advance in politics – showing up is the most important part,” he advised. “Just find a candidate that inspires you and raise your hand, say ‘I’m here,’ and just put in the effort and the hard work.”

These nine highlights represent 90 years of the school’s impact:

1. Kent School is recognized as the best social work program in Kentucky and nationally ranked as a top 50 social work graduate program based on U.S. News and World Report 2025 rankings.
2. Faculty and staff conduct research around the globe. The Kent School and its Center for Family and Community Well-Being has established and maintains a robust $27+ million research portfolio. The research – collaborative, community-based and evidence-driven – has been disseminated through a record 90 presentations and 60 professional publications. It continues to make a positive impact on hundreds of individuals, families and communities every day.
3. Kent School offers five degree programs, including the bachelor’s in social work, master of science in social work, master of science in couple and family therapy, doctor of philosophy in social work and doctor of social work program, which launched in 2021. Few social work schools offer a full array of programs to provide students an educational pathway that takes them from a bachelor’s to a doctoral degree.
4. While Kent School celebrates the milestone of 90 years, the PhD program, which now spans 120 graduates, 25 states and three countries, marks 30 years. Today, these graduates are embedded in 56 colleges and universities. Both of the school’s doctoral programs are directed by distinguished professors who are Society for Social Work Research (SSWR) Fellows. Anita Barbee and Heather Storer are part of this esteemed fellowship society which honors individuals for their accomplishments, leadership and contributions to the scientific society. Fellows serve as role models and mentors for individuals pursuing careers in social work research.
5. Through the work of Professor Karlynn BrintzenhofeSzoc, the Dr. Renato LaRocca Endowed Chair in Oncology Social Work, Kent School is helping to fill the gaps as the need for professionals in the specialty area of oncology social work continues to grow. Associate Professor Tara Schapmire recently received a five-year, $1.6 million grant to lead a national training initiative providing specialized training for 250 social workers across the United States.
6. UofL is one of only two universities in the nation that houses a couple and family therapy program in a school of social work. Established 30 years ago, the Couple and Family Therapy (CFT) Program, located on Shelby Campus, educates graduate students to become marriage and family therapists. In addition, the CFT program manages the Relationship Solutions Clinic, a valuable resource that offers therapy services to the local community. Services are provided by graduate level CFT students under supervision in a professional setting.
7. Our students are everywhere! Through practicum site placements across 31 states and two countries, Kent School students gained valuable hands-on learning experience by providing more than 124,000 hours of service working with local, national and global community partners from fall 2024 through spring 2025.
8. Kent School is a participating partner in Kentucky’s program, an innovative career preparation program for students interested in making a positive impact serving the children and families of Kentucky. Undergraduate students who enroll in this program receive benefits including free in-state tuition, mentorship, skills training and priority job placement after graduation. The Kent School staff member overseeing the UofL student participants, Emily Watts, is an alumnae and student in the DSW program.��
9. Each year, faculty design and host study abroad programs that expand upon classroom learning, engaging students in new cultural experiences. Past study abroad opportunities included trips to Belize, Peru and Vietnam.

The school recently celebrated 90 years of impact through education, research and service at an anniversary gala on March 28. Held at the Speed Art Museum, the event honored the past, present and future of the school.

A unique 90^th anniversary art collage entitled “Art of our Mission,” facilitated by Kent School alumnae Toya Northington ‘18 and Kent School professor Lesley Harris, represents the contributions of faculty, staff, students, alumni and friends. Pieces of the collage were on display at the gala, and the final compilation will have a permanent home in the Kent School’s Oppenheimer Hall.

“This is a testament to the robust work which happens around campus to create meaningful education paths and to support our military-connected students,” said Kyle Hurwitz, director, Center for Military-Connected Students.

With almost 3,200  enrolled, military students account for more than 12% of UofL’s total enrollment.

Each year, Military Friendly® evaluates universities based on graduation outcomes, culture, military support and financial aid, among other areas. Military Friendly® Gold institutions are selected for “leading practices, outcomes and effective programs.”

“We are very proud to continue to earn these designations year after year,” said President Gerry Bradley. “We recognize and celebrate the Center for Military-Connected Students, whose dedicated efforts enable us to promote student success at the highest levels.” 

One of the many programs supporting UofL’s service members is Red Bird Allies, a once per semester training for faculty and staff to learn about the military-connected student experience and to understand the concerns, unique perspectives, strengths and challenges of this student population.��

Emily Miles, an academic advisor in the College of Arts and Sciences, is one of more than 200 faculty and staff Red Bird Allies. She frequently advises students who have been in the military, have a parent in the military or want to join when they graduate.��

“Thanks to the training I received, I feel comfortable giving guidance about transferrable credits or financial coverage concerns and referring them to the highly capable specialists at the Center for Military-Connected students,” said Miles. “Feedback from students indicates UofL’s support of military-connected students is exceptional.”

Interested in becoming a Red Bird Ally? .

“This initiative establishes UofL as a national leader in educating its students about intimate partner violence,” said President Gerry Bradley. “Our hope is that the project helps to curb instances of abuse and violence in our community and across the nation.”

Dean and Professor of Law Melanie B. Jacobs said the new Mary Byron Endowed Chair “will not only lead IPV law and policy education but also engage in unprecedented transdisciplinary collaboration to provide opportunities for UofL students to help those impacted by IPV and, just as importantly, to learn how to prevent IPV.”

The 1993 murder of 21-year-old Louisville resident Mary Byron by her estranged ex-boyfriend who was unknowingly released from jail led to the creation of — Victim Information and Notification Everyday. First used in Louisville, VINE from Equifax is a national automated notification service that provides crime victims, survivors and other concerned citizens with near real-time, anonymous alerts regarding changes to an offender’s custody status. VINE is available in more than 45 states, and according to Equifax, delivered nearly 21.5 million notifications in 2025.

The Mary Byron Project’s mission since 2000 is to foster innovations and programs to prevent intimate partner violence. It accomplishes this through public advocacy, funding groundbreaking IPV initiatives throughout the United States and becoming a national thought leader.��

The project’s board wanted to preserve and institutionalize this legacy and selected the Brandeis School of Law to extend the work through the Mary Byron Endowed Chair.

“This chair will advance legal education and policy related to intimate partner violence and help integrate IPV-focused learning throughout the law school and university curriculum to train professionals to better understand and ultimately prevent, IPV,” said Mary Byron Project Founding Executive Director and Board Chair Marcia Roth.

“There is no more fitting partner than the Brandeis School of Law at UofL to carry forward this legacy of thought leadership as we work to break the cycle of intimate partner violence for generations to come,” said Mike Davis, developer of VINE in collaboration with Yung Nguyen.

Louisville Mayor Craig Greenberg said this work will impact residents throughout the city.

“The top priority of my administration is public safety – ensuring that all our residents are safe and feel safe in their neighborhoods. We know that all too often, this begins with making sure people are safe in their own homes.��I applaud the Mary Byron Project, Equifax and many others for supporting this center and endowed position at UofL. It will help end domestic violence not just here in Louisville but across the country, and it will continue the powerful legacy of the Byron family,” he said.

“Mary Byron’s story inspired a new era of safety and support for victims of crime, starting with the notifications provided by VINE,” said Equifax Senior Vice President and General Manager of Public Safety, Jarrod Carnahan. “We are proud to support the Brandeis School of Law and the Mary Byron Endowed Chair to extend our mission beyond notification technology and help empower a new generation of leaders to identify early warning signs and intervene before intimate partner violence leads to tragedy.”

Building upon the existing Robert and Sue Ellen Ackerson Law Clinic, which was created in 2009 and represents clients who have suffered from IPV in Jefferson County, the new Mary Byron Center’s collaborative partners will include:

• College of Business
• College of ����ֱ�� and Human Development
• Department of Classical and Modern Languages
• Raymond A. Kent School of Social Work and Family Science
• School of Dentistry
• School of Medicine and the Department of Psychiatry
• UofL Health—UofL Hospital

The center will grow into an interdisciplinary entity designed to make systemic changes, provide wrap-around services for clients and teach those providing services their role in combatting IPV, a learned behavior passed on from generation to generation. By teaching about its breadth and impact in all areas of academia, students will learn how to disrupt the pathways that have historically triggered IPV.

The Mary Byron Center will also facilitate an annual conference designed to bring together aspiring and practicing law professionals from across the globe. This conference will provide opportunities for other universities to learn about UofL’s unique approach to teaching and addressing IPV so that they, too, can integrate IPV studies into their core curriculum.

“My daughter Mary’s name lives on,” said Pat Byron. “The important work begun by the Mary Byron Project will continue, helping train the next generation of advocates – lawyers and lay people, alike. With each of these important steps we get closer to making ‘no more’ a reality.”   

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During this year’s Feb. 26 Cardinals at the Capitol day, President Gerry Bradley explained priorities of UofL’s . Advances in student success and workforce preparation, research and innovation, health care and community service were a focus of conversations with Kentucky’s lawmakers.

At least 40 UofL students participating in the Frankfort internship program were part of the vital cadre of student leadership represented at Cardinals at the Capitol. These students represent more than a dozen different majors and 15 counties across the Commonwealth. Interns are assigned to both political parties and members of the House of Representative and Senate within the Kentucky General Assembly. Students learn from legislators ranging from freshmen to party leaders and committee chairs.

Two interns part of this year’s dynamic and energetic cohort are Gabriel Reed and Reese Cameron.

Gabriel Reed is a Northern Kentucky native following in his mother’s footsteps interning in Frankfort while attending UofL. The sophomore political science major is assigned to UofL alumnus Rep. Matt Lehman ’99, (D-67) where he serves in a district just 15 minutes from where Reed grew up.

Reed said his legislative tasks have given him a greater appreciation of the collaboration and communication that goes into decision making, as well as a greater sense of empathy for those whose issues he may not fully understand.

“No matter how small, I feel like my impact is ensuring that somebody out there is better represented than they may be without me,” he said. “I have met so many intelligent, gifted and passionate legislators, staff and fellow interns and their dedication inspires me daily. I have not just learned about the legislative process, but about myself in terms of new ways to think, analyze and express my views.”

Reese Cameron, assigned to Sen. Julie Raque Adams (R-36), hails from Flatlands, Ky. and is a sophomore double major in political science and business economics. Cameron said being able to experience the legislative process from the inside has enhanced her understanding of and passion for the work. “The environment I’ve experienced at the Kentucky Capitol is the epitome of professional, and everyone is so passionate about what they do and works so hard to make a difference. In the future, I hope to use this experience as a guideline that I can carry forward with me forever.”

View the Cardinals at the Capitol photo album on .��