UofL ranked #219 in the nation, one spot behind Eastern Kentucky University and just ahead of the University of Kentucky in the rankings, which take into account how much schools enhance their students’ social mobility. The study “rewards universities that take in the highest proportion of students coming from lower-income families, while maintaining high graduation rates and having a positive impact on graduate salaries and minimizing the costs of attending the college,” according to the publication.

Berea College ranked #3 nationally and led all Kentucky colleges and universities in the rankings.

“Our ranking reflects our strong commitment to our mission as a metropolitan research university and the impact we make not only on Louisville, but on the entire commonwealth,” said President Kim Schatzel. “We take great pride in the difference we are making for first-generation and underrepresented students and others for whom a college degree is life changing.”

Earlier this week, UofL topped all national universities in Kentucky in the U.S. News and World Report’s Best Value Schools ranking, moving up 15 spots to #131 overall.Ěý

The rankings reflect UofL’s commitment to provide accessibility to and affordability of a college degree and narrowing the opportunity gap between majority and minority students. UofL has shown consistent improvement in its six-year graduation rate, from 52% in 2014 to a 62% rate in 2022.

UofL also has increased the six-year graduation rate among Pell grant recipients, up 6% from 2020, and has made significant improvement in its student/faculty ratio, which dropped from 14.0 to 1 in 2020 to 12.7 to 1 in 2022.

In addition, UofL has increased the number of bachelor’s degrees awarded to underrepresented students by 15.2% since 2020-21 and posted a significant increase in the number of bachelor’s degrees awarded to low-income students.

“We believe the most recent data demonstrate the role the university plays in moving all students forward,” said UofL President Kim Schatzel. “It underscores our dedication to student success and our commitment to educational equity and inclusivity. We will continue to build on the progress by expanding engaged learning opportunities to ensure that all UofL students are well prepared for the careers, workplaces and complex challenges of tomorrow.”

Tied to UofL’s strategic plan, the FY 2023-24 budget is $1.65 billion — the largest operating budget in the university’s history. It includes a number of key initiatives.

For students, the budget:
• includes an undergraduate resident tuition rate increase of 2.5 percent, below the 3 percent cap imposed by the Council on Postsecondary łÉČËÖ±˛Ą;
• adds $3.5 million in institutional financial aid to support affordability for students and their families;
• increases the graduate stipend pool by $600,000 to help attract and retain outstanding students;
• invests in more student mental health services, supported by an SGA-approved request to increase the Student Services Fee by $15 per semester per full-time student. This is offset by the elimination of the current university facility fee of the same amount;
• raises the student minimum wage to $15 per hour so more students can work on campus while working toward their degree.

UofL faculty and staff will benefit from:
• a 2 percent cost of living (COLA) increase for eligible regular full-time and part-time faculty and staff who were hired on or before January 3, 2023, with a 0.4 FTE or greater, effective July 1, bringing total COLA increases to 6.5 percent over the past two years;
• a $5 million pool to implement Phase 1 of the university’s Compensation and Total Rewards Study;
• no increase in parking permit rates, as well as continued full tuition remission benefits for eligible employees and their dependents.

Other highlights include:
• almost $77 million in state support for asset preservation, including replacement of HVAC systems, roof repairs and other improvements to aging buildings;
• continued investment in the university’s website, which serves as the front door to prospective students and the community and provides key services and information to current students, faculty and staff;
• state funding for the construction of a new engineering building, which will begin in spring 2024.

More information on the 2023-24 budget is available on the .

“This is a budget of which we all should be proud,” said President Kim Schatzel. “Thank you to our Budget Office staff, who built this responsible, impactful plan. Thanks also to our faculty and staff for your hard work on behalf of the university. And to our students, I cannot thank you enough for being part of the Cardinal Family.”

The UofL Board of Trustees voted unanimously to appoint Schatzel during a special meeting on Nov. 30. Schatzel has served since 2016 as president of Towson University (TU), one of 12 universities that are part of the University System of Maryland. She also is a professor of marketing.

Schatzel, 66, who previously served as provost of Eastern Michigan University and dean of the College of Business at the University of Michigan-Dearborn, will officially assume the UofL presidency on Feb. 1, 2023. She succeeds Lori Stewart Gonzalez, who has served as interim president since December 2021 and will be returning to her previous leadership role as executive vice president and university provost for UofL.

During her first remarks on campus, Schatzel pledged to start her tenure as president by going on a discovery tour, listening and learning about the Cardinal community.

“Leadership is a team sport, especially when it comes to such a complex and innovative organization like the University of Louisville,” she explained, promising to work closely with faculty, staff, students, alumni, donors, elected officials, businesses and community partners “to expand UofL’s already tremendous impact and address the great challenges of today.”

Schatzel’s track record of leadership includes advancing diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives as priorities. She is credited with building a strong academic profile at Towson University, which enrolls approximately 20,000 students, while emphasizing accessibility, affordability and inclusive student success.

With a 6-year graduation rate of 72 percent, Towson University has the second highest graduation rate in the University System of Maryland. In 2022, 57 percent of its students identified as underrepresented minorities, and TU is one of few universities in the nation where Black, Latinx and Pell-eligible students achieve the same graduation rate as the overall student population.

Schatzel is a member of the Presidents’ Alliance on Higher łÉČËÖ±˛Ą and Immigration and the Presidents’ Trust of the Association of American Colleges and Universities (AAC&U).Ěý In 2017, she was honored by Maryland’s Associated Black Charities as their “Champion for More in the Middle” for her leadership in advancing diversity and inclusion at TU.

In 2020, Schatzel was honored with the Whitney M. Young Jr. Award. Given by the Board of Directors of the Urban League affiliates across the country, the award is in memory of the civil rights leader and former head of the National Urban League. The award honors members of the Baltimore community committed to advancing diversity, equity and inclusion in its region and Maryland.Ěý

During her tenure as Towson University’s president, the University System of Maryland, Maryland General Assembly and Maryland’s Office of the Governor supported $1 billion in capital investment to advance academic instruction and research, student life and athletics at TU – the most in its 166-year history. Those investments included a new Science Complex, the renovation and expansion of the University Union, a new College of Health Professions Building, acquisition of an office building in downtown Towson to house several university functions such as IT and Advancement, and new field hockey and women’s soccer stadiums that comprise the largest investment in women’s athletics in TU’s history.

“The University of Louisville is a historic university with rich traditions that provides leadership to Kentucky as the premier metropolitan research university for the Commonwealth,” Schatzel said. “I am incredibly honored to be chosen to lead such a remarkable institution and look forward to working together with our campus and community partners to advance UofL’s reputation as a pre-eminent institution nationally recognized for its excellence in research and scholarly work, education, inclusive student success, innovation, the arts and athletics – all aimed to establish the University of Louisville and the City of Louisville as a nexus for transformative solutions that advance the public good.

“My husband Trevor and I are thrilled to be joining the UofL community and look forward to embracing the university community, the City of Louisville and the Commonwealth of Kentucky as our new home. And we look forward to joining the more than 150,000 UofL alumni from around the globe in cheering on our Cardinals.”

Schatzel, who is a first-generation college student herself, was born in New York and earned a bachelor’s degree in biology and economics at Washington University in St. Louis, where she received significant support in the form of scholarships to complete her degree. She earned a doctorate in business administration, with concentrations in marketing and management of technology, from Michigan State University. She has taught at Boston College and the University of Michigan – Dearborn.

Schatzel currently serves as the Vice-Chair of the Board of Directors for the Colonial Athletic Conference (CAA), a premier mid-major conference that Towson University competes in with 19 Division I athletics teams. She also served as the CAA representative to the NCAA Division I Presidential Forum.

Schatzel navigated a non-traditional path to higher education leadership. She is one of less than two percent of university presidents who have significant business and private sector experience, spending more than 20 years as a corporate leader and serial entrepreneur in the technology and advanced manufacturing sectors. As part of her new venture experience, Schatzel founded and served as the president, chief operating officer, and later CEO of a multinational advanced manufacturing firm, working with the OEM automotive industry, with more than 1,500 employees on four continents.

She currently serves on the Board of Directors for the University of Maryland Medical System’s  Saint Joseph Medical Center (UMSJC) and chairs its compliance committee. She also served in the leadership role of Vice-Chair for UMSJC. Schatzel has served on the Board of Directors for the Health Alliance Plan and the Henry Ford Health Systems, both based in Detroit.

Her leadership contributions have been recognized by Maryland’s business publication The Daily Record, which named her one of the Most Admired CEOs in 2017 and 2022 and recognized her with its 2018 Icon Awards. She has been named to the Most Influential Marylanders list in both 2017 and 2021.

In 2021 and 2022, Schatzel was included in The Daily Record’s Maryland Power 100 list and its Maryland Power 30 Higher łÉČËÖ±˛Ą list.

“Dr. Schatzel brings the best of many worlds to the UofL community,” said Mary Nixon, UofL Board of Trustees chair. “Her impressive climb through the academic ranks, as well as her extensive experience both in the business community and in health care, make her uniquely qualified to lead the university into our next chapter as Kentucky’s premier metropolitan research university.”

Schatzel’s husband of 39 years, Trevor Iles, is a lecturer in the department of marketing at Towson University. They have two adult children – son Matthew, his wife Katie and their two-year-old son Forest, and daughter Katie and her husband Carson, who are expecting their first child in January 2023.

• Read more information about Schatzel on the .Ěý
• View photos from the Nov. 30 presidential announcement on .Ěý
• View the held at the Belknap and Health Sciences Center campuses.Ěý

UofL alumni are invited to a session Tuesday, May 10, from 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. in rooms 116 and 117, Swain Student Activities Center, Belknap Campus.

The community at large is invited to a similar session Wednesday, May 11, from 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. in Chao Auditorium, Ekstrom Library, Belknap Campus.

The public sessions will be both in person and on . If you cannot participate in the discussion, please use the on that site to provide your feedback.

Additional sessions will be held for students, faculty and staff. These sessions are not open to the public. Meetings also will be held with on-campus constituency groups, including the Council of Academic Officers; the executive committees of the Faculty and Staff senates; Student Government Association leadership; the Presidential Search Faculty Consultation Committee; and representatives from the Commission on Diversity and Racial Equality, the Commission on the Status of Women and diversity leaders.

The search committee will use feedback from all these sessions to create a leadership statement/job description for the presidency and to inform decisions made during the search process.

As chair, Williams will lead the scientific, clinical and educational programs of the UofL School of Medicine’s largest department, which includes more than 200 faculty and 150 staff in 10 divisions. He will build collaborations within the and with its partners. He also will be responsible for the planning and guidance of clinical efforts within the UofL Health system as well as developing and implementing a vision for the department that integrates clinical, educational and research missions, while fostering a culture of collaboration, equity and inclusion.

“We are excited for Dr. Williams to be joining our team,” said School of Medicine Dean Toni Ganzel. “He brings a wealth of expertise in cardiology and health equity. His academic background, clinical experience and leadership skills will be strong assets to the department, the institution and oudeptr community.ĚýHis work will enhance and augment our work with strategic partners in health equity.”

A Chicago native, Williams has over 40 years of experience as an educator, researcher, and clinician focused on advocacy for nutrition, national and international health care disparities, health care delivery and advanced access to cardiac imaging. He currently is chief of the Division of Cardiology at Rush University and associate dean for faculty diversity, equity and inclusion. He specializes in cardiology, cardio-nutrition, cardio-rheumatology, cardio-nephrology, preventive cardiology and cardiovascular radiology. A past president of the American College of Cardiology and the American Society of Nuclear Cardiology, he is former chairman of the board of directors of the Association of Black Cardiologists.

He also is the founder of the Urban Cardiology Initiative in Detroit, a program that works to reduce ethnic heart care disparities. Williams continues community-based efforts in Chicago at Rush, including leading the H.E.A.R.T. program (Helping Everyone Assess Risk Today), screening for heart disease and intervening with education, nutrition and lifestyle changes.

Williams earned his medical degree from the University of Chicago Pritzker School of Medicine. He completed his internship and residency at Emory University Department of Medicine and a fellowship in cardiology at the University of Chicago.

“Building and leading Rush cardiology has been challenging and fulfilling, yet I was drawn to the UofL Department of Medicine by the leaders, the faculty and the fundamentals already in place, as well as the potential that I see for growth and impact in the areas of prevention and health equity,” Williams said. “We have leadership with vision, and we have some existing programs that will be enhanced – and some robust opportunities to develop – aiming to expand health care access in Louisville, maintain our high level of clinical quality and patient experience, deliver cost efficient care and keep provider wellness at the forefront.”

Lee Gill, chief diversity officer and special assistant to the president for inclusive excellence at Clemson University, will join UofL as vice president for diversity, equity and inclusion on May 15.

With more than 25 years of experience in the diversity field, Gill currently is a member of the president’s leadership team at Clemson, where he is credited with building a sustainable infrastructure to incorporate diversity, equity and inclusion efforts into the campus culture and with creating programs that support and address the challenges facing women, Black and Hispanic students and the LGBTQ community.Ěý He created the Clemson University Men of Color National Summit, which brings together more than 2,000 students, educators, business professionals, government officials and community leaders from around the country to explore issues and share best practices to increase high school and college graduation rates.

Gill serves on a number of boards of directors, including the National Conference on Race and Ethnicity in Higher łÉČËÖ±˛Ą. In 2014, he received the National Diversity Visionary Award from Insight into Diversity magazine for his significant contributions to diversity in higher education.

“Mr. Gill’s extensive experience in building programming and weaving diversity, equity and inclusion efforts into the fabric of the universities he has served stood out among the many qualified candidates we reviewed,” said Lori Stewart Gonzalez, UofL’s interim president. “His enthusiasm is contagious, and we are excited about the advancements our campus community will make under his leadership.”

Prior to joining Clemson, Gill served for eight years as associate vice president for inclusion and equity and chief diversity officer at the University of Akron. He previously had served as chief executive officer of Stratus Group Consultants Inc., a firm providing diversity audits and training, management assessments and other services. Prior to that role, he held the position of dean of the Institute for Diversity and Leadership at Lake Michigan College in Benton Harbor, Michigan.

“I am excited at the opportunity of working with Interim President Gonzalez and the leadership team to help advance the DEI mission of this great university,” Gill said. “So many best practices, and national models are in place here at UofL along with an engaged faculty, staff and student body. I look forward to working with them and others to continue building a dynamic, inclusive campus community.” 

Gill holds a juris doctorate in law from the Chicago-Kent College of Law, Illinois Institute of Technology and bachelor of arts in political science from the University of Michigan.

He succeeds V. Faye Jones, who has served as interim senior associate vice president for diversity and equity since 2019. A tenured professor of pediatrics, Jones will continue her appointments as associate vice president for health affairs – diversity initiatives at the Health Sciences Center and vice chair of inclusive excellence in the Department of Pediatrics.

“Dr. Jones has served the university community well in her many roles, including as interim vice president,” Gonzalez said. “We look forward to her continuing commitment and excellent work on behalf of our students, faculty and staff. I hope the entire campus will join me in thanking her for her efforts and wishing her well.”

UofL Interim President Lori Gonzalez and local officials gathered Friday to announce the effort through Supplies Overseas (SOS), an organization that works with area hospitals and healthcare providers to collect gently/unused medical supplies and send them to those in need.ĚýUofL surgeon Gordon Tobin, a founding board member of SOS, also participated in the announcement.

Former ambassador to the Slovak Republic Tod Sedgwick said his contacts in Ukraine stressed the need for medical supplies. The local organization has collected almost 20 pallets of supplies – worth more than $100,000 — including bandages, defibrillators, and anesthesia and orthopedic supplies, said SOS president Denise Sears.ĚýThe organization also is sending personal protective equipment in response to Covid-19 concerns in the region.

SOS has worked with local philanthropist Christina Lee Brown to secure funding for the initiative, and officials from UPS have offered their services to help transport the supplies.

“This is a partnership of many elements of our compassionate community,” Tobin said, noting that the organization was created more than two decades ago by physicians at the UofL Department of Surgery, with early participation by UofL, Jewish and Norton hospitals. “And they continue to supply the needed supplies you see here today.”

Tobin said SOS has shipped more than $60 million in supplies to more than 106 countries around the world.

Gonzalez said UofL’s participation is an example of one of its Cardinal Principles, being a Community of Care. And she thanked those who have pulled the initiative together.

“This is an example of the university and the city stepping up to help those in need,” she said. “To the people of Ukraine, you are in our thoughts. You are in our prayers. And more importantly … we are able to take action to actually give help on the ground.”

People wishing to donate medical supplies can drop them off at the SOS headquarters, 1500 Arlington Avenue in Louisville, or request pick up for larger items.ĚýThe first shipment of supplies to Ukraine is expected to leave Louisville early this week.

UofL News: What attracted you to the University of Louisville when you initially applied for the provost role last year?

Lori Gonzalez: Well, first, it’s home. I am originally from Rockcastle County, so Kentucky is home. We’re happy to be closer to family and friends.

More important, the fact that UofL is a premier metropolitan research institution and a community engaged institution was intriguing to me. I saw similarities between the cities of Louisville and Memphis, where I worked at the UT Health Science Center. It was important to me that the institution was committed to addressing the Grand Challenges aimed to bring together all the intellectual capacity across Louisville to improve lives while elevating UofL’s national reputation. As I have stated many times, as UofL is elevated, so are Louisville and Kentucky.

UofL was a match for my interests and experiences – a strong traditional campus and an academic health center. Its rich history in athletic excellence corresponds with a loyal fan base.

I see UofL as an institution that embraces its history, identity and distinctiveness. UofL sets lofty goals then works to achieve them. The acquisition of KentuckyOne Health is an example of taking a risk to achieve important goals. Because of the acquisition, UofL Health made a huge difference during the pandemic, serving over a million patients last year alone. Many lives were saved because of this strategic acquisition.

Finally, I was attracted to UofL because it clearly demonstrates that is a student-first institution. Equity and diversity are hallmarks of UofL, and it leads the way in its continuing quest for becoming the university for all. UofL graduates move into the workplace as leaders ready to meet the challenges of today and tomorrow.

UofL News: What was your initial reaction when President Bendapudi announced she was leaving, elevating you to the president’s role in just a short amount of time?

Lori Gonzalez: It was bittersweet. I was happy that she was tapped to lead such a prestigious institution as Penn State, but I was sad to have her move on. She has been a terrific boss and I was looking forward to our partnership to build on the momentum that I saw when I first applied for the position of provost. I wish her very well and know she will continue to take my calls as I navigate this interim role.

UofL News: Do you feel you’ve settled into the role of interim president?

Lori Gonzalez: I have been in higher education administration for over 20 years, and I’ve worked closely with several presidents. My experiences as a dean, vice chancellor and a provost have prepared me for this challenge. While the focus of the provost is internal, the work of the president has much more public-facing responsibilities. As both Provost and President I have enjoyed very productive interactions with business, community and governmental leaders as well as our donors and other academic leaders.

I’m just about two months into the job, so I am sure there will be some surprises. I inherited a strong, talented and supportive team and because they excel in their roles, the campus has continued its forward momentum, if not accelerated it. I am also grateful that the Board of Trustees provided such strong support during and after the transition.

UofL News: Now that you’ve had some time to acclimate, what are your biggest priorities in the president’s role?

Lori Gonzalez: Our three-year strategic plan is in its third year so we will begin work on a refresh of the plan. While the focus will remain on being a great place to learn, work and invest, I would like to see the goals within each pillar focus on those areas that will make us distinctive. We should answer the question, ‘What makes UofL different from any other institution?’

One of our highest priorities will be student success. We want to focus on growing enrollment. I view enrollment as an opportunity to offer the population of the state a high quality and life-changing education that we are honored to provide. Strategies for enrollment range from strategic recruitment of out-of-state, international and transfer students and adult learners to creating exciting, interdisciplinary face-to-face and online options. We should ensure every student has an engaged learning experience and an opportunity to increase their digital literacy. Finally, by focusing on retention as a responsibility of everyone on campus, we can graduate more students in less time and help the state in so many ways, especially in workforce and economic development.

Financial sustainability is critical and through the efforts of our outstanding CFO, Dan Durbin, and our unit leaders, we have had improved budgets for several years in a row. We want to find continuing funding sources for compensation to ensure that employee salaries are competitive. So far, the state budget looks favorable to higher education, and we hope our budget requests are included in the final budget.

Building strong connections with the community, business and industry, donors, governmental officials, friends and fans also remains a top priority. UofL is well positioned to make contributions in the workforce, life-changing research and civic engagement. We want to share our accomplishments and partner with others to address the challenges of the university, city and state.Ěý

UofL News: You’ve made some key appointments since December. How will they support your plans moving forward and what appointments remain?

Lori Gonzalez: Because my appointment to the interim role happened very quickly, our initial focus was both retaining our current high performing leaders and strengthening our leadership structure. While we needed key positions filled, we needed to take the time to do it right. As we move further into the semester, the leadership team is working well together. I am grateful to those who agreed to important interim roles and to work to keep the business of the university on track.

UofL News: How big a role has athletics played in your first weeks on the job? Has it been more or less what you expected?

Lori Gonzalez: A strong athletic program is critical to the overall success of the university. Our student athletes are leaders and their dedication to their sports bring students, faculty and staff together as Cardinals. The loyal fans support our teams with enthusiasm and this, of course, builds community.Ěý

As everyone knows, we have had several transitions in athletics, including both the athletic director and men’s basketball coach positions. I have made a point to interact with and support many of our terrific coaches and their staff.Ěý

So, while I have been more engaged with athletics in the interim president role than I did as provost, it hasn’t been surprising. I enjoyed watching our volleyball team at the Final Four and have cheered enthusiastically for our women’s and men’s basketball teams. I look forward to seeing all our teams take to the field, court, track and pool to show the community and nation what a No. 1 athletic program looks like.

UofL News: How would you describe your leadership style?

Lori Gonzalez: I characterize my leadership style as open and informal with an emphasis on building consensus. An institution is strongest when all the members of the campus are engaged. When an academic leader builds consensus, enables talent and establishes priorities, the campus can achieve its strategic vision. I believe that when core principles are at question or at stake, leaders should be prepared to work hard to reach consensus, if possible, but they must be able to make difficult decisions when necessary. I have spent my career focused on outcomes and taking action to meet the goals of the institution.Ěý

My approach to leadership has been influenced by my father. He taught me that any opportunities I was given weren’t afforded to me because I deserved them more than any other person. My life is shaped by the belief that with great opportunity comes great responsibility. Giving back to one’s community and world was expected of me, and I also believe it represents one of the core principles of higher education.Ěý

The Cardinal Principles resonate with me and the one I keep in top of mind every day is Noble Purpose. The Noble Purpose is my ‘why.’ I believe in the transformative power of education and work every day to ensure our students have an engaging experience in and out of the classroom and that our employees can thrive while meeting the academic mission of our university. By having the Noble Purpose as my touchstone, I have a constant reminder of UofL’s role in shaping the future.

On a lighter note, in the commonly used StrengthsFinder program, my five top strengths are: Arranger, Maximizer, Futuristic, Relator and Individualization.Ěý

UofL News: What would you consider some of your biggest professional wins?

Lori Gonzalez: These wins aren’t mine alone. They resulted from the collective efforts of so many people. I’ll just list of few of the accomplishments from my past that bring me the most pride.

• As dean at UK, I invested in the research mission of the College of Health Sciences through hiring of strong research faculty. This investment, along with funding from the university, allowed the college to move from 44^th in research funding for schools of allied health by NIH in 2004 to 12^th in 2009.
• As provost at Appalachian State University, I led the strategic planning process that evolved to embrace sustainability as a core value underlying our plan. We had broad campus support and the plan, The Appalachian Experience: Envisioning a Just and Sustainable Future set the stage for the campus to move forward in very meaningful ways.
• As vice chancellor at the University of Tennessee Health Science Center, I led an effort to execute a plan to education students to address health equity and inculcate a focus on health as a human right by addressing the social determinants of health throughout our institution. Through our plan, titled Community Engaged Care, we created classroom and engagement activities to educate students about the social determinants of health.
• Thus far, as provost at UofL, we opened the Center for Engaged Learning which came of out the UofL strategic plan. The center will be the hub for students to become engaged in the high impact practices of undergraduate research, experiential education and community engagement.
• I am equally proud of my contributions toward the university’s enrollment stability since assuming the provost role. Our retention numbers have returned to pre-pandemic levels. This stability is critical to ensure students remain on track toward their academic success.
• The campus safely returned to in-person classes in the fall and we continued in the spring. We were successful and our campus remains one of the safest places in Louisville.
• I should mention the 1 percent salary increase for our full-time faculty and staff. Although the increase is small, our team continues to explore ways to support our faculty and staff.
• I am also very proud of the individuals I have mentored over the years. It is so fulfilling to see them move into positions of leadership in higher education including positions of chair, dean, vice president and president.

UofL News: What are some challenges you’ve overcome in your professional career?

Lori Gonzalez: Throughout my career, I’ve faced challenges large and small. I have had to deal with budget reductions that resulted in loss of positions and have had to discontinue low enrolled programs. I have addressed scientific misconduct and academic integrity cases. One of the biggest challenges came during my time as provost at Appalachian State. I placed a faculty member on administrative leave with a pay-pending investigation related to complaints about discrimination, retaliation and creating a hostile environment in the classroom. A small but vocal group of faculty members claimed that due process and academic freedom had been violated. The faculty senate considered a vote of no-confidence, and the motion carried by one vote.

I was fortunate to have strong public support from both the Chancellor and the Board of Trustees throughout and after this situation. Most importantly, I had overwhelming support from most of the other faculty along with many of the staff and students. As closure, all the documents associated with this situation were reviewed in full by our independent accrediting body (SACSCOC) review team during their onsite reaffirmation visit and they found no issues or irregularities with how the situation was handled.

While the vote was unfortunate, I stand by the decisions made because the role of the provost is to uphold the integrity of the academy. I went on to successfully lead the campus in the creation of the strategic plan and a review of academic programs. Because of the public nature of this challenge, I made a point to openly discuss the situation throughout the interview process at both the University of Tennessee Health Science Center and here at UofL. I also shared the details with President Bendapudi during my interview with her.

The experience was quite some time ago, but I continue to carry the lessons learned as a leader. Leadership within higher education, as with many large organizations, requires the ability to make difficult decisions under pressure and with the integrity of the institution and the students we serve in mind. I learned how important it is to seek advice and counsel in balancing the difficult task of applying policy and accountability. It is rare when everyone agrees with a decision, and it is important to hear other opinions and perspectives. However, at the end of the day, the leader must make hard decisions if the public investment in an institution is to be honored and sustained.

UofL News: Is there any issue or concern that keeps you up at night?

Lori Gonzalez: Along with so many UofL faculty and staff, I want to ensure our students have access to critical services, especially services focused on mental wellbeing. The pandemic has been hard on everyone, but especially our students. We know they are anxious and nationally the number of students with depression has increased over this period. While they’re enjoying classes and engagement on and off campus, they’re observing what is going on in our world – from political polarization to the devastating effects of climate change and – this too, must add to their anxiety levels.

Our faculty and staff deal with these same concerns. They have had many challenges balancing work and personal commitments in the most difficult circumstances. They’ve worked hard through this extraordinary time, and I want to be sure that we can begin to find the means to increase compensation that is too long in coming. We are working to identify strategies for long-term sources of funding to make UofL a truly great place to work.

UofL News: What would you say so far is your favorite thing about UofL?

Lori Gonzalez: That’s an easy one; its people. When I came to campus to interview, I received such a warm welcome from everyone. I told my spouse, Randy, that I just had to get the job! So many people have reached out during the transition with words of support and encouragement. Their actions, along with a fantastic leadership team, underscores that UofL is a great fit for me.

UofL News: What about the city of Louisville?

Lori Gonzalez: I feel a bit like Goldilocks – Louisville is just the right size – not too big and not too small. Randy and I have come to love the city and we are proud to call it home. The rich history and culture and the wonderful food scene are all part of why we enjoy living here. But as I said before about UofL, it is really the people that make us feel at home. We received such a warm Kentucky welcome when we returned home, and we are so glad to be back in the commonwealth.

UofL News: How do you spend your free time?

Lori Gonzalez: Randy and I are serial remodelers. We are currently working on our third house renovation. The kitchen and living room are completed and the bathrooms are up next. This is our third remodel and I must admit, I hope it is our last.

Our son, Clay is a musician and composer, so by extension, we are music lovers. We enjoyed going to his performances when he was an undergraduate and master’s student. He broadened our exposure to many different types of music. Our tastes run from the beautiful Bluegrass music of Kentucky to alternative rock.Ěý Two of our favorites are John Prine and the Avett Brothers.

I enjoy baking although I am not a master baker. We just finished watching every season of the Great British Baking Show and the amateur bakers put me to shame. Their creations made me realize I’m really not a baker, I just put things in the oven and hope they turn out!

UofL News: Are you a candidate to be the permanent president?

Lori Gonzalez: Since becoming interim president, I have been working to ensure the campus moves forward and that important initiatives continue and are successful. I will spend time reflecting on the position and whether I can add value in this role and then decide about applying for the permanent position. It was an honor to be tapped for the interim role and right now I’m focused on doing my best to lead our campus forward.

UofL News: Any other messages you want to share with the Cardinal community?

Lori Gonzalez: UofL is a catalyst for engagement, economic development and the creation of future leaders. I believe in UofL and will spend my time articulating the value of higher education to the state and the value of an education at UofL specifically. In the next few months, we will be working on spreading the amazing story of UofL to national audiences in ways we haven’t done before. This campaign will help extend our current Here and Beyond new branding initiative.Ěý

Gonzalez announced Wednesday that School of Dentistry Dean Gerry Bradley will serve as interim provost. Dean since 2016, Bradley has extensive academic and administrative experience, previously serving as associate dean for research and graduate studies and chair of developmental sciences at the Marquette University School of Dentistry. Since coming to UofL, he has played a key role in many important initiatives at the university, including serving as chair of several dean searches and co-chairing the Executive Budget Steering Committee.

Margaret Hill, associate dean for academic affairs, will lead the School of Dentistry as interim dean.

Gonzalez also appointed Gail DePuy, professor of industrial engineering and interim vice provost in the Center for Engaged Learning, to serve as interim senior vice provost. She will have oversight of the other vice provosts and oversee key initiatives in the provost’s office.  A former acting dean of the Speed School of Engineering, DePuy has been instrumental in developing and shepherding the university’s strategic planning effort since 2019.

Paul DeMarco, professor of psychological and brain sciences and interim director of undergraduate research and creative activity, will assume the role of interim vice provost for the CEL.

The appointments are effective immediately.

“With these changes to our already strong leadership team, and with the continued outstanding efforts of you, our faculty and staff, we are well positioned to continue our growth as a premier anti-racist metropolitan research university that creates thriving futures for students, our community and society,” Gonzalez said.

Gonzalez also said she expects to fill two other key positions, the vice provost for faculty affairs and the vice president for diversity and equity, “in the coming weeks.”