Two UofL College of Arts & Sciences winter graduates are looking to their hometowns for guidance in their professions and hope to serve the people who shaped them. Chloe Hale and Emmy Walters, studying anthropology and biology respectively, plan to continue their education in graduate school with the goal of utilizing their advanced degrees to support communities like those in which they grew up.

Documenting home

Moving to a city from a rural county can be a culture shock. Coming from Martin County, Hale quickly realized she had a different experience growing up in Kentucky than many of her classmates. Hale’s quiet anxiety around drinking tap water is something few could understand.

“It makes me sad to see on the internet when a place in my home county doesn’t have water and it’s not gonna be back on for two weeks or something like that,” Hale said. “Just the fact that I can drink the water here in Louisville from the tap makes me feel guilty, in a way, because my family members are there, and they can’t drink the water.”

Hale grew up in an Appalachian community where clean drinking water was not a guarantee or to be taken for granted. Martin County lost its regular access to safe water due to infrastructure, resource access, mining contamination and environmental destruction.

“I think when you can’t drink the water there’s this little piece of trauma in the back of your mind every time you drink from the tap,” Hale said. “It’s like, ‘Is it clean? Can I? Is this drinkable?’”

For an independent study, Hale chose to document how hairstylists back home struggled to work without guaranteed access to clean water. She asked her sister and fellow hairstylists to take pictures throughout their workday anytime they encountered the need to use water.

“I decided that it would be a good idea to examine water access through a group of women that rely on water for an income,” Hale explained. “Hairstylists need water for absolutely everything: to clean, to wash hair, to rinse hair, to make different cleaning solutions.”

The project used these pictures as a “photo voice” to document and display the obstacles the Martin County hairstylists encounter every day due to the lack of access to consistently safe tap water.

While returning home is a complicated option with the ongoing water crisis, Hale hopes to continue her education in Appalachian studies at UofL with her sights set on a future PhD to continue to document and uplift her hometown and other communities.

“I definitely love my hometown, but think I’ve been able to curate what it means to be Appalachian a little bit more just because it is its own culture and it is an identity I’m proud of,” Hale said.

A better vision for Kentucky’s future

Emmy Walters’ first connection to optometry was through her love of reading and an early vision assessment at school. She was one of the only members in her family to need glasses and this sparked a curiosity about the relationship between her vision and the biological mechanisms that supported her eyesight and her favorite hobby. As she aged, her curiosity for vision only grew as she understood the obstacles to both eye assessments and literacy in her community.

“Growing up, our access to eye care was sufficient, but then you get in surrounding counties where there won’t be an optometrist for 45 minutes,” Walters said.

Walters early childhood love for reading was protected by her access to an optometrist, and an early assessment allowed her natural curiosity toward books to go uninterrupted. Walters still reads regularly and will attend optometry school next year. After shadowing an optometrist in Campbellsville Kentucky, her hometown, she hopes to practice in a similar rural area.

“I felt like I was home, like I was talking to my own family members; the way that they approached me and talked about things is something I’m used to, and it was comforting,” Walters said.

While shadowing in the practice, Walters began to see the personal impact she could have as an optometrist practicing outside of a major city.

“At least a third of the people that came in had never been to an eye doctor or hadn’t been in a very long time, and most of the time those were people from surrounding areas,” Walters said.

Walters hopes to one day combine her interest in optometry with her love for reading by supporting literacy through eye exams and philanthropy.

Interested in pursuing a degree or certificate program with UofL? Check out the  to find a program.

Four years ago, Jim Walls drove nearly 500-miles from Fayetteville, Georgia, to begin his freshman year at the University of Louisville. Prior to arriving on campus, Walls was acquainted only with his future roommate from Maryland, whom he had briefly interacted with on Instagram over the summer.

Even though he was far from home, Walls’ strong desire to connect with the UofL community proved invaluable during his first year. He actively sought out opportunities to get involved, which ultimately helped him find his place on campus.

“I had to come in with the mindset of being at a disadvantage because I’m from so far away,” said Walls. “But I knew if I put myself out there and got involved in different organizations, I’d be able to make my own friends and find groups of people to interact with.”

Walls was drawn to UofL because of the pre-dentistry program, . UofL School of Dentistry offers early admission opportunities to exceptional high school seniors who demonstrate a commitment to pursue a lifelong career in dentistry. As a pre-dental student, Walls was able to take a class at the School of Dentistry called “Introduction to Dentistry.” His favorite part was doing community service work with the school.

“There’s one instance where we went over to Seneca High School and actually were teaching some students about oral hygiene and handing out toothbrushes and other items,” he said. “That was a very enriching experience I’ve really taken to heart and is something I’ll always use as motivation going forward in my career.”

Walls became interested in the field of dentistry in elementary school when his family dentist discovered a tumor in his mom’s throat during a normal check-up.

“It ended up being something that potentially changed and saved her life, so from an early age I’ve always thought very highly of my dentist,” Walls said.

Walls, a biology student graduating from the , plans to attend dental school after graduation.

From Kenya to Kentucky

Ibrahim Henry Peterson, an international student in the , found his passion for the field through his upbringing in an orphanage in Kenya.

“Growing up without parents and going to school was not an easy experience. I faced many challenges, but it also taught me resilience and the value of hard work,” he said. “These experiences have deeply influenced my desire to make a positive impact on others’ lives.”

One of Peterson’s biggest adjustments as a student was the differences in cultural and academic environments. He vividly remembers doing poorly on his first exam.

“Despite my disappointing performance, every teacher congratulated me on my effort and encouraged me to keep studying hard. They all believed in my potential, which was a stark contrast to my experiences back home,” Peterson said. “Their support and belief in me inspired me to persevere and improve.”

After graduation, Peterson is considering a career as either a nurse anesthetist or a medical doctor. His goal is to start a clinic in his Kenyan community to provide much-needed health care services and give back to the area where he grew up.

Reflecting on his time at UofL, Peterson advises incoming international students to view challenges as opportunities for personal and academic growth.

“Don’t hesitate to seek help from academic advisors, tutors, and counseling services whenever needed,” Peterson said. “Practicing your English regularly will also enhance your communication skills. Exploring the city of Louisville can offer a well-rounded experience, so take the time to enjoy what it has to offer. And lastly, prioritize your health and well-being to maintain a balanced and successful academic life.” 

With years of experience in clinical trial regulatory and human studies administration, Schemke said she chose to pursue the master’s program in health care ethics because of its flexibility and applicability. 

“It involves and builds upon the same ethical principles I have learned through my research administration experience, and it culminated at the degree level that gives me the upward mobility potential I was looking for, as well as giving me the opportunity to continue to work full time,” she said.

As part of the degree’s culminating graduation experience requirement, Schemke completed a three-month internship at the , helping to establish and develop the new Drug and Supplement Branch of the Kentucky Cabinet for Health and Family Services. The branch will work to maintain and regulate hemp-derived cannabinoid production and sales in Kentucky. 

Schemke said the internship was an important part of the HCE program because “it provided the avenue for real world application of the concepts I learned during the program’s courses,” she said. 

As part of this hands-on experience, Schemke played a pivotal role in crafting regulations at the state level, ensuring that all of the research, outreach and advocacy was informed by ethical considerations and methodologies that she’s learned in the HCE program. 

What will this mean for Kentuckians? According to Schemke, when responsibility for hemp regulation began shifting to the Drug and Supplement branch, it expanded the number of staff focused on public safety related to the use and sale of these products.

“I was grateful to observe and learn the details of how such a reorganization is managed and think the recognition of need in this area can only help public safety in our state,” Schemke said. 

She credits the University of Louisville for making her next step possible.

 “I am thankful for the tuition remission benefit that UofL offers employees,” she said. “I felt very supported in the goal of advancing my education for future opportunities.”

UofL President Kim Schatzel will preside at the event and Melissa Johnson, a graduate student from the School of Public Health and Information Sciences, and outstanding Air Force leader, will be the student speaker.

The ceremony will be broadcast live at .

This year’s commencement will feature a with a walk-out song set to “Joker and the Thief,” a popular tune already familiar to Cardinal fans from athletic events. The Student Government Association initiative was created by students, for students ���Ի���is a collective way for graduates to mark their transition from student to alumnus.

In addition, 50 graduates are expected to attend the ‘s doctoral hooding and graduation ceremony at 2 p.m. on the same day. The ceremony will be held on the Belknap Campus in the Swain Student Activities Center Ballroom, second floor. Schatzel will preside.

For more information, visit .

Jessica Carney-Perks, an undergraduate communications student in the College of Arts and Sciences, attended Noe Middle School and duPont Manual High School. Her collegiate journey took her to two other universities before transferring to UofL where she completed her degree.

“There’s nothing like it, especially to return home. These are my roots,” she said. “To be in this space and transition from all of these locations, it’s all been a part of the journey.”

Carney-Perks said the decision to transfer to UofL came with support from her family.

“They’ve been through every twist, turn, curve I’ve hit,” said Carney-Perks.

Carney-Perks was surprised with a letter from her mother, who spoke of her intelligence, strength and humor.

Alison Jackson, a graduate student in the College of ����ֱ�� and Human Development, is from Lexington and said UofL created an environment where she felt connected to her fellow students from day one.

“I was looking for an environment that was supportive of non-traditional students,” said Jackson.

Jackson completed her bachelor’s degree in May 2023 and jumped into the master’s program soon after, all while having a full-time job and taking care of her family. She said she would often do homework with her grandson at the kitchen table.

“He calls me ‘honey’ and he would often look at me and say, ‘Honey, are you finished with your work?’ Being able to see him encourage and support me was fun and made a difference in my life and his as well,” she said.

Jackson’s daughter Ashlee wrote the letter and spoke on Jackson’s resilience and dedication to achieving her education all while supporting their family.

This heartwarming event serves as a reminder of the profound impact that family support has on the lives of UofL students and the importance of celebrating their achievements.

The award recognizes the efforts of one SBA organization annually that strives to create a better environment for law students and a more positive image of the legal profession. 

Taylor Reese and Elma Jasarevic, both May 2024 law school graduates, served as ABA representative and president of the student bar association, respectively, and were instrumental in securing the award for the law school.

The two cited their involvement in the SBA as a way to give back to fellow students.

“One reason I ran to be ABA rep and wanted to join the SBA is because you can make a change there, especially for our peers,” Jasarevic said. “I wanted to see everyone succeed.”

Jasarevic nominated the student bar association for the ABA award and believes a combination of factors helped them capture the honor, including a marked increase in student engagement over the past year, as well as better connecting the student body with the administration and making an impact within the legal and nonlegal community.

Reese and Jasarevic planned and held a series of three successful town halls to encourage open dialogue and offer a voice to underrepresented groups of law students who may not have felt heard.

“When Elma and I came into school, there was a little bit of a disconnect between students and administration,” Reese said. “This was the first year ever that we had a channel for people to leave us complaints, comments or suggestions. We set up a Microsoft form that any student could access and tell us anything.”

After receiving feedback, Reese met with the law school leadership to communicate comments and concerns and figure out solutions. The town halls also prompted greater participation in social events.

“I think the most that had previously attended any event was about 25-30 people but this year we had 125,” Reese said. “The students knew that all of us at SBA were very much an open ear, and we would go above and beyond to find someone who could fix problems. I think that’s a big part of why we had such a great year.”

Reese and Jasarevic are both pursuing law careers focused on public service, something they attribute to their time at UofL’s law school.

Reese will be working as a military lawyer, commissioning as a first lieutenant in the U.S. Army JAG Corps in January 2025.

“I always had an interest in special victims counsel, and the Army has that position,” she said. “I will be representing the survivors of domestic violence or sex crimes.”

Jasarevic’s journey will be closer to home. She will be sworn in this fall as the Jefferson County’s Assistant Commonwealth Attorney.

“Since I was in middle school, I’ve  had a passion to serve the public,” she said. “That’s one of the things that really attracted me to Brandeis was that great mission. I just love seeing how the school is thriving and how we’re furthering the public interest.”

“Giving back has always been a priority,” said Maldonado. “It’s something that my wife and I feel very passionate about.”

Maldonado, a first-generation student and retired military veteran, crossed the stage May 11 with eighteen other students who were part of the inaugural cohort of the the students at the . He was still on active duty in Fort Knox, KY, in 2012 when he began his master’s in social work program at Kent School, taking classes online, and in person on nights and weekends.

After Maldonado completed his MSSW and retired from the military in 2015, he was able to advance his career with a DSW he completed 100% online from his current home in Washington state with the support of his family and his employer, the Washington Air National Guard at the U.S. Army’s Joint Base Lewis McChord near Tacoma, Washington.

As an embedded mental health provider on the base, he has implemented a peer-supported resilience program designed to aid military personnel with anxiety and depression. “It can become overwhelming for any of us at any given time,” he said.

Maldonado said his studies gave him a better understanding of social work industry standards. “There have been significant changes in the direction of social justice and anti-racist practice at the forefront of our profession in the last few years,” he said. “I am now prepared to go from helping the individual navigate through the system to helping shape the system so that it better serves the individual, empowering them to make better decisions,” Maldonado said.

In addition to his busy day job, Maldonado has volunteered once a week for the past year with a substance abuse program for active-duty personnel.

“We need to continue to increase access to care not just for our service members but for their family members because the wellness of the member and the family cannot be separated,” he said.

Managing a family, full-time job and doctoral studies was no easy feat, but Maldonado said Kent School helped him feel he was never alone.

“There were so many times I felt overwhelmed but my advisor, , continued to be such a positive cheerleader even when I thought maybe I wasn’t going to make it,” he said. “All of the Kent School faculty and staff were genuinely interested in my success. Since I completed the program, I honestly believe that I am a better version of my capacity, and a better social worker.”     

“I look at these students as the pioneers and recently encouraged the DSW students to think about their impact. We are producing passionate, well-trained effective change agents, and when we launch students, it’s their opportunity to go forth and create the world we seek,” said Kent School Dean John Miller.

The new DSW program aims “to create leaders that can go into the community and social service programs in educational institutions, in health institutions, in the military,” said Lynetta Mathis, associate professor and director of the DSW program.

She said the structure of the program opens doors for practicing social workers with experience and practice wisdom to pursue doctoral education while retaining their current employment.  

“Quality social workers provide value in every space, and I’m most proud that we are giving geographically diverse leaders the opportunity to make a difference working and serving in their communities across the nation,” Miller said.

In his first year as dean of the school, Miller said he is proud to see the school’s evolution into the doctoral space.

“I am watching new social work leaders take their stance and say, ‘I am part of the answer’,” he said. “That gives me joy, and fires me up as dean of the Kent School of Social Work and Family Science — to see them answering the leadership call.”

To find a solution, the president’s staff approached the about 3D printing a less weighty reproduction of the necklace.

Luis Gustavo Rodriguez, a student ambassador for admissions and outreach with the , took on the challenge, creating a visually nearly indistinguishable reproduction of the iconic piece. The 80-hour project involved multiple steps, from modeling to 3D printing, sanding, painting and assembling the necklace.

“I had to use different techniques and approaches to ensure that the project was successful,” Rodriguez said. “All of it had its different challenges. Every part had different skills added into it.”

First, Rodriguez created 3D models of each piece of the necklace: the Minerva medallion, the plates for each of the 12 schools and colleges and the chain links. Using the 3D printers in the STEM+Hub, he printed each piece of the necklace in resin, layer by layer. He then sanded, painted and coated them in polyurethane for durability.

“The real trick was getting the artistic skills down in painting the pieces to recreate the medallion coloring,” Rodriguez said. “I applied primer, leaf gold, shading and airbrush shadowing. It’s been quite a while since I’ve used an airbrush.”

The fleur-de-lis pieces posed particular modeling challenges due to their dimensional detail, so for these, Sophie Wegenast, an intern in the added her expertise.

The assembled reproduction medallion necklace weighs 12 ounces, less than 40% of the two-pound original.

“I found the project to be a great learning experience that heightened my engineering skills. It was a fascinating experience that required a lot of patience and attention to detail,” Rodriguez said.

The highlight for Rodriguez was seeing President Schatzel’s smile when he presented the necklace to her.

“This is an amazing reproduction! I am truly grateful to Luis and the creative, innovative student engineers for their incredible work on this project,” Schatzel said. “It will be worn for years to come.”

Rodriguez received his bachelor’s degree on May 11, with a major in bioengineering. Next, he plans to earn an MBA. After that, he hopes to attend medical school to become a pediatric cardiothoracic surgeon.

Part of the growth in numbers comes as the result of major strides in the areas of affordability, access and equity, meaning Cardinals from a variety of backgrounds can take advantage of learning opportunities and experiences with reduced financial burden. This academic year, UofL announced the expansion of its Border Benefit Award that allows students from some neighboring states to attend UofL at in-state tuition rates, along with the investment of $2.4 million toward the Cardinal Commitment Grant for in-state residents.

UofL jumped 15 places in the 2023-24 U.S. News and World Report  ranking, from No. 146 to No. 131, and also topped the list of “best values” among national universities in Kentucky. In the past few years, Cardinals have graduated with the second-lowest student debt among all Kentucky four-year public universities.

New leadership helps guide the way

Taking the helm in early 2023, UofL’s 19^th president, Kim Schatzel, spent six months in some 40 listening sessions to learn what was important to UofL’s students, staff and faculty, as well as community and government leaders.

She outlined her first eight priorities in September, and those priorities became the basis for a new 2023-2025 . Schatzel was officially inaugurated on Sept. 29 in a joyous ceremony filled with music and tradition that was held on The Oval outside Grawemeyer Hall. The historic event took place during UofL’s yearlong celebration of its 225th anniversary. In recognition of her leadership, Schatzel was named among Louisville Business First’s Power 50 for 2024, which identifies the city’s most influential people in business and related communities. The Louisville Defender Newspaper also named Schatzel as one of the “Women Who Choose to Challenge” in the publication’s women’s history recognition edition.  

In spring 2024, the university chose Gerry Bradley as permanent executive vice president and university provost. No stranger to the Cardinal community, Bradley had served as dean of the  since 2016 and as interim provost since July 2023. He previously held that same role from January 2022 to February 2023.

Several other top leadership positions have been filled throughout 2023 and 2024, including: Karlis Kaugars, vice provost for information technology services and chief information officer; Dayna Touron, dean, ;��John W. Miller Jr., dean, ; and Kathryn (Katie) Cardarelli,����𲹲�, . This summer, Whitney Nash becomes dean of the , which celebrates 50 years of educating and preparing nurses for distinctive careers.

UofL also welcomed Pat Kelsey to lead the men’s basketball program, infusing excitement and enthusiasm into Card Nation.

Renovations, new infrastructure boost student success

The university is updating facilities and building new infrastructure to ensure students have the physical space to unleash their potential.

�ճ����Center for Military-Connected Students debuted its newly renovated offices in Brodschi Hall on Belknap Campus. The center focuses on meeting the needs of the more than 2,300 military-connected students enrolled at UofL. At the , construction of a new four-story, $90 million student success hub is underway. It will help us produce the next generation of engineers.

And thanks to a tremendously successful legislative session, the state budget appropriated $260 million toward a new Health Sciences Center Campus simulation center and collaboration hub. That’s the largest amount of funding for a single project in UofL’s history. It also is the largest project being funded in Louisville and represents the most general fund support for any single project among Kentucky’s colleges and universities this session. UofL also received about $69 million for needed repairs on some existing facilities.

UofL’s research and innovation powerhouse flourishes

Research and innovation continued to soar to new heights in academic year 2023-24. Just a few highlights were:

• More than $22 million in funding from the Health Resources and Services Administration was awarded to the Schools of Medicine ($16 million)���Ի���Nursing ($6.5 million) for physician and nurse training to help increase Kentuckians’ access to health care, particularly in underserved rural and urban areas.  
• The National Institutes of Health (NIH) has awarded four grants totaling $11.6 million to researchers affiliated with UofL’s to study factors affecting heart health. Through these projects, they hope to better understand how environmental exposures and tobacco products can affect the cardiovascular system, as well as how remodeling takes place in the heart after a heart attack.
• UofL researcher Cheri Levinson has received an $11.5 million grant from the NIH to continue her work addressing the devastating effects of eating disorders.
• UofL researchers Susan Harkema, Charles Hubscher and collaborators recently won a $1 million grant from the NIH aimed at helping spinal cord injury patients regain function. They are now among four teams exclusively invited to participate in another competition with a potential prize pool of $5 million.
• More than 100 UofL researchers are among the top 2% most-cited in the world, according to a new compiled by Stanford University and Elsevier. Citations show the value other researchers around the globe place on UofL research.
• Research conducted in UofL’s Micro/Nano Technology Center is investigating whether the antibacterial properties of cicada wings can be turned into an antimicrobial for use in places like food service, health care facilities and medical devices. 
• More than 80 of UofL’s top researchers, scholars and artists were honored in October at the 2023 Research, Scholarship and Creative Activity Awards ceremony.
• Four University of Louisville innovators have been selected by the prestigious National Academy of Inventors for its 2024 class of Senior Members. The four inventors selected from UofL–the only ones from Kentucky–are: Thad Druffel, Nobuyuki Matoba, Thomas Roussel and Jagannadh Satyavolu.

Commitment to serve, transform the community 

Throughout the 2023-24 academic year, Cardinals have utilized knowledge and resources to advance the mutual needs of the university and the community. Earlier this spring, more than 400 students danced for 18 hours at the annual raiseRED ���������ٳ�Dz�.��

The students raised more than $516,000 for Norton Children’s Cancer Institute and the . This is UofL’s largest student philanthropic effort. It has raised more than $5 million in its 11-year history.

In the mean time, former firefighter James Cripps was awarded one of the  for teaching firefighters throughout Kentucky about occupational cancer and mitigation strategies. A manufacturing administrator at the UofL Health , he hopes to eliminate some of those risks.

, meanwhile, celebrated a milestone: 200 years of compassionate care, medical innovation and serving the underserved. It was Kentucky’s first hospital, first admitting patients in a facility downtown in 1823. Now, to address a real need for citizens south and west of Louisville, UofL Health recently cut the ribbon on UofL Health – South Hospital in Bullitt County just off Interstate 65.

As part of UofL’s ongoing effort to collaborate with five K-12 schools in West Louisville, Central High School Pre-Medical Magnet Program students received white coats this spring, recognizing their hard work and encouraging them to stay focused on their goals. Students shadow UofL doctors and get to practice performing simpler procedures, like sutures, through this immersive curriculum.

Recently, UofL’s McConnell Scholars and others heard a presentation by Sen. Katie Britt, R-Alabama, who spoke about the importance of respect and trust in building relationships to address the country’s most pressing issues. A guest of the McConnell Center, Britt spoke as part of its Distinguished Speaker Series. Celebrating its 30th year, the center also brought Oksana Markarova, Ukraine’s ambassador to the United States, to Belknap Campus Oct. 30. She gave a public talk and met separately with the McConnell Scholars.

Students begin their next chapter at commencement

On May 11, more than 2,000 of the approximately 3,100 students who applied for degrees and certificates, will go across the stage at the KFC Yum! Center signifying their academic success.

This Commencement holds particular significance for the high school class of 2020, which graduated at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. For some, it will be their first chance to celebrate their educational achievement by taking part in a complete traditional ceremony.

UofL President Kim Schatzel will preside at both the 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. ceremonies. �ճ���� also will host a doctoral hooding and graduation ceremony for more than 100 graduates at 2 p.m. Friday, May 10, on Belknap Campus in the Swain Student Activities Center (SAC) Ballroom, second floor. All of these ceremonies will be broadcast live at .