It combined the board’s formal evaluation with a university-wide 360-degree leadership assessment that invited feedback from more than 1,400 members of the campus community — including trustees, senior leadership and a broad sample of faculty and staff — plus individual 360 evaluations of six cabinet members.

“President Bradley has provided steady, decisive leadership during a demanding period for the university,” said Board Chair Larry Benz. “The board has full confidence in his direction. In his first full year he delivered record first-year student retention, advanced the university’s 2026–2030 strategic plan, strengthened the institution’s finances and elevated Louisville’s national standing — including a 37-position rise in the national rankings over two years. We are united behind his leadership as we move into year two.”Ìę

The board noted the president’s priorities for the year ahead, including continued gains in student success, execution of the strategic plan, expanded philanthropy in advance of a comprehensive campaign, financial sustainability across the enterprise, and continued work to strengthen campus culture, communication and shared governance.

“I am honored to serve this university and grateful for a supportive and engaged board,” President Bradley said. “There is real momentum here, and my focus in the year ahead is to keep building trust across our campuses while we deliver for our students and the commonwealth.”Ìę

The board expressed appreciation to the faculty, staff and trustees who participated in the evaluation.

The Center for Bioscience will be custom designed as a collaboration space for research and innovation teams from UofL’s Health Sciences Center and Belknap Campus. The state-of-the-art interdisciplinary research facilityÌęwill bring together researchers from biosciences, engineering, computational science and related disciplines to accelerate discovery, innovation and technology development.

“The Center for Bioscience represents a strategic investment in the university’s research enterprise and will transform the regional innovation ecosystem,” said President Gerry Bradley. “The larger vision for an innovation park will further drive collaborative research and expand our connection with industry and the community.”

The innovation park is a planned development for the 37-acre property formerly owned by Kentucky Trailer acquired by the UofL Foundation in 2008. The property is bordered by S. Third St., S. Brook St. and the CSX and Norfolk Southern railroad. It is just south of the Speed School of Engineering.

Developer Wexford Science + Technology shared concept plans for the project with the UofL Board of Trustees at their July 23 meeting. Plans highlighted options for additional academic and industrial facilities, living spaces, a restaurant, parking and greenspace. Key considerations include potential uses for the property’s historic Drop Forge building and a pedestrian walkway over the railroad, connecting the park with Belknap Campus.

The Center for Bioscience will be constructed on the northeast side of the property, adjacent to the J.B. Speed School of Engineering.

“As the first building to be constructed in the innovation park, the Center for Bioscience will catalyze expansion of the university’s scientific capacity and strengthen regional and national innovation competitiveness,” said Jon Klein, executive vice president for research and innovation. “The building is key in our goal of advancing the translation of discoveries by fostering multidisciplinary research and collaboration.”

The Center for Bioscience will house advanced research infrastructureÌęincluding wet, dry and computational laboratories, shared core facilities, collaboration spaces, conference facilities and research offices that support basic, applied and translational research.

The center will support activities such as design, prototyping, testing and refinement of biomedical technologies, translational research conducted in partnership with federal and industry collaborators and applied technology development efforts addressing real world health challenges.

Beyond the Center for Bioscience, other aspects of the innovation park will facilitate , allowing companies to access UofL’s workforce pipeline, engage with students, collaborate with university researchers and clinicians, access shared research infrastructure and form strategic partnerships in biosciences, engineering, computational science and other fields to accelerate commercialization and fuel economic growth.

Download a high-resolution fileÌę for the preliminary conceptual image of the Center for Bioscience shown at the top.Ìę

“Freshman year in college is such a trial by fire and it will be great if Liam has a small semblance of what college life looks like,” Knaebel said. “I also like that Cardinals Rising is slowly teaching him independence so he can start making decisions for college on his own.”

Douglas Craddock, vice president for community engagement and interim vice president for access and opportunity, said the program is creating a vital pathway for early engagement, mentorship and ongoing support for students coming to UofL’s campus.

“It’s about presenting opportunities to help middle and high school students explore their interests, understand options to make a decision for their future and connect with early meaningful relationships,” he said.

Cardinals Rising offers these young students mentorship and an introduction to college academics and culture through monthly learning sessions paired with UofL student ambassadors representing a variety of college majors such as education, pre-med, engineering and communications.

“The ambassadors support students and families all the way through this ongoing career exploration and orientation to college,” said Craddock. “It’s really good for the students to have someone they can identify with going through this experience.”

Cardinals Rising Director Daquarius Mahone said the program’s participating middle and high schoolers hail from both private schools and Jefferson County Public Schools including Francis Parker School, W.E.B. Dubois Academy, Grace James Academy, Noe Middle, Fern Creek High, Iroquois High, West End Middle and Meyzeek Middle, with more schools expressing interest.

“The program takes what used to be a two-day college introduction in the summer and essentially makes it a four-year comprehensive orientation,” Mahone said. “Cardinals Rising’s goals are simply to help students understand the university, understand what it means to go to college, and to demystify college, specifically UofL.”

Monthly sessions open doors

To advance these goals, monthly Saturday sessions are tailored to grade levels and introduce students to interaction with different academic departments, college professors and career paths.

Cardinals Rising program coordinator Kennedy Frye said the monthly sessions encompass a wide range of activities including: working with the on a rocket-building project, creating podcasts and videos using a digital media suite with the , delving into the business side of , learning CPR with students, staging a mock trial with students and talking entrepreneurship with the as well as exploring opportunities for service with current .

As student progress through each grade level of the program, subsequent sessions explore timely and relevant college readiness topics, such as working with on college essays and resumes and working with the on potential scholarship opportunities and financial aid preparation.

In its inaugural year, Cardinals Rising posted impressive results, with near-perfect retention of both students and ambassadors, and word of mouth about the program has generated significant interest among educators and local schools, according to Mahone.

“It’s been tremendous seeing the students blossom and build community with one another as well as academic departments really getting behind this powerful work,” he said.

Mahone said connecting students with opportunities while also engaging parents is key to the program’s success. For the Knaebel family, it’s about surrounding Liam with information, resources and encouragement.

“Cardinals Rising has been an awesome opportunity for Liam to be exposed to an academic environment, not just the buildings, but the energy and opportunity to learn with peers about what the future might hold,” said Liam’s mom, Jennifer.

Liam, who enjoys his high school courses in chemistry, photography and history, said he is hoping to gain more knowledge about college and find his own unique path. “I am meeting new people and more prepared for what’s ahead so when I get here, I’ll be ready,” he said.

UofL students interested in becoming a ambassador or volunteering for the program can reach out to Daquarius Mahone.

Classrooms, laboratories and athletic facilities are filled with middle and high school students exploring new interests through more than 30 academic and athletic camps. From basketball and robotics to chemistry and artificial intelligence, they’re getting an early look at college life while discovering what’s possible.

One of UofL’s newest summer opportunities is theÌęÌęday camps focused on artificial intelligence.

Through AI Thinker Labs, students learn how artificial intelligence works, examine the ethical questions surrounding the technology and discover how it can be used responsibly in fields like marketing, leadership and finance.

By the end of the day, every participant leaves with a project of their own, whether it’s a business idea, marketing campaign or app concept.

“Our goal is to show rising high school students how AI can enhance their learning abilities, not replace them,” saidÌę, an instructor in the College of Business. “My hope is that these students leave with more knowledge and more confidence about how to use AI as they finish high school and enter college, hopefully here at UofL.”

UofL employees like program manager Lexus Gardner offered organizational and logistical planning for the camp, while UofL’s Digital Transformation Center made the opportunity more accessible for learners by offering financial support.Ìę

The initiative reflectsÌę, UofL’s university-wide initiative to proactively and responsibly engage with the opportunities and challenges of emerging AI technologies.

Across campus, hands-on learning continues in theÌęÌę.

The department’s second annual summer chemistry camp has grown from just seven students in its inaugural year to 83 middle and high school participants from across the region.

Led by General Chemistry Lab Coordinator and InstructorÌęMeenakshi Bansal, the program was held over two one-week sessions, giving each camper an immersive experience in a university chemistry laboratory through hands-on experiments and scientific discovery.

Hosted in the department’s modern undergraduate teaching laboratories in the Belknap Academic Building, campers explored how light interacts with matter using visible-light spectrophotometers and investigated concepts including absorbance, fluorescence, phosphorescence and light scattering. For most participants, it was their first experience working in a university chemistry laboratory.

Designed to be largely self-sustaining through registration fees, the camp also prioritized accessibility. Thanks to the support of participating families and a generous donation from Clariant, financial assistance was provided to 29 students, helping make the program possible for young scientists.

The camp was supported by seven undergraduate student leaders who mentored campers throughout the program while strengthening their own leadership, communication and teaching skills.

“There are not a lot of opportunities in chemistry for students to work in a laboratory before college.This gives them that chance,” said Hrishikesh Bhatt, a camp leader.

Roselline Peralta Danger, another camp leader, said the camp “allows students to get leadership opportunities they wouldn’t get anywhere else.”

Whether they’re programming an AI application, conducting chemistry experiments, building a robot or sharpening their skills on the court or field, every camper this summer leaves with something more than new knowledge: a glimpse of what their future at UofL could look like.

Ethan Havertape and Nate Royal developed Due Gooder, an AI-powered application designed to help college students stay organized and manage their coursework. Fed with users’ syllabi or learning management system information (such as Blackboard), Due Gooder can help students manage their work and plan for class deadlines.

Royal, a senior majoring in computer science in , and Havertape, a junior majoring in CIS in the , employ AI both within the software programming and in their business operations.

“Within the app, we’ve developed ‘Duey,’ a personal AI assistant that understands students’ class schedules, assignments and coursework context. Duey can help students plan study blocks, answer questions about syllabus policies and assist with schedule-related decisions,” Havertape said.

The system includes adaptive AI learning tools that generate flashcards and practice tests from the student’s notes, slides and coursework. It even identifies areas where the student needs improvement and adapts the study resources to strengthen those skills.

“Beyond the product, we use AI heavily across coding, operations, marketing and internal business workflows to increase efficiency,” Royal said.

The team gained support and mentoring for the project through Sandbox, a year-long class that guides students as they navigate the process of developing software businesses.

“Since entering Sandbox, we’ve grown from only a few hundred users to tens of thousands of student signups across thousands of universities, taken on investment and expanded into university research pilots focused on student engagement, persistence and retention,” Havertape said.

First offered during the 2025-26 year, UofL’s Sandbox chapter gave the student teams the opportunity to network with mentors and other Sandbox teams from across the U.S. The class allows students to form interdisciplinary groups to identify and validate software products, sell them and seek venture financing. The students retain 100% of the equity in any company they build as part of Sandbox.

Sandbox is for entrepreneurial students in any area of study, whether or not they are technologically trained, said , entrepreneur in residence and instructor for the course.

“Students with a desire to experience a startup team and develop a software business can benefit from spending a year in Sandbox,” Manzella said. “The resources and national networking opportunities available to Sandbox students help them lay a solid foundation and actually work through the steps to launch a business.”

Havertape and Royal said Sandbox gave them a distinct advantage in growing their idea.

“You do not need to already have a startup or even know exactly what you want to build,” Havertape said. “Sandbox gives students the opportunity to learn entrepreneurship from the ground up while being surrounded by people who are motivated to create and solve problems. The more effort and energy you put into the program, the more valuable the experience becomes.”

AI tool for Etsy sellers

Stephanie Sithu, another Sandbox alum, advanced her AI marketing tool, BeforeMe, through the class. Born out of a need to enhance her own Etsy business, BeforeMe is for Etsy sellers who want to grow their business on Pinterest. It generates pins from the user’s Etsy listings and schedules them.

In developing BeforeMe, Sithu engaged with both platforms’ tech teams and refined her marketing approach through Sandbox.

“I worked directly with both the Pinterest and Etsy API teams to build it. AI is central to BeforeMe in two ways: using Gemini to generate optimized pin copy and building my own heuristic AI layer that adapts scheduling based on which pins are gaining traction and what audience intent (shopping, lifestyle, gift-giving, solutions) they serve,” Sithu said.

The 2026 Speed School graduate in computer science said the structure of the Sandbox course was just what she needed.

“The customer discovery framework helped me stop guessing and start finding the real, specific problems Etsy sellers face with Pinterest marketing, which directly shaped the features I built,” Sithu said. “The lineup of industry speakers walked us through every stage of building something real, and I especially enjoyed the branding sessions. The pitching process was also humbling in the best way. I revised my pitch up to the final day, and by the end it felt genuinely like me, not a rehearsed product-benefit script.”

About Cardinal Intelligence

empowers the University of Louisville to lead and learn in the age of artificial intelligence (AI) with human-centered guidance and responsibility. For generations, Cardinals have embraced technology, expanding how we learn, discover, connect and work. While AI raises important questions, our students, faculty, researchers and staff bring the curiosity and innovation needed to find answers. Through Cardinal Intelligence, we are shaping how UofL uses AI to advance our university and uncover solutions that strengthen the communities we serve.

Nearly two and a half centuries later, as the nation prepares to celebrate its 250th birthday, UofL is reflecting on its longstanding connection to the American story. While civic engagement and public education have long been part of the university’s mission, the celebration provides an opportunity to connect those efforts through programs, lectures and student experiences that encourage reflection on the nation’s past, present and future.

That connection was on display when the city’s engraved copy of the Declaration of Independence was placed on exhibit for the public this winter. The historic document had been preserved and stored byÌę, highlighting the university’s role in safeguarding pieces of the nation’s history. The unveiling earlier this year also brought together community leaders, students and university representatives, including McConnell Scholars and President Gerry Bradley, forÌę.ÌęThe document is on display at the Sons of the American Revolution Genealogical Research Library through Labor Day.Ìę

While the 250th anniversary offers an opportunity to reflect on the country’s founding, it also encourages conversations about how the nation has evolved over the past two and a half centuries. Reflection took many forms across campus, including lectures throughout the spring semester.

TheÌęÌęhosted a free public lecture,ÌęThe American Economy at 250. Economists Ryan Yonk and Phil Magness explored the history of the American economy and examined the policies that have most influenced citizens’ well-being, particularly those with the fewest resources. The discussion with students and community members centered on how economic decisions have shaped the nation and what lessons they may hold for the future.

The celebration also extended beyond campus, giving students opportunities to experience the country’s history and landscapes firsthand.

Ìępartnered with theÌęÌęand theÌęÌęto lead a student expedition to Mount Rushmore and the Black Elk Wilderness as part of a United States-themed Alternative Spring Break experience. The trip allowed students to engage with some of the nation’s most iconic places while exploring themes of history, citizenship, conservation and public lands.

Ìęstudent NicolĂĄs Blanco originally signed up for the experience to go on a great American road trip. In the end, the experience was even more meaningful than he could have imagined. From visiting landmarks to learning about Indigenous cultures, he found the trip both impactful and rewarding.

“We learned a lot about Lakota culture, and we did some service work with the local community in South Dakota,” said Blanco. “We had a great time. I got to hang out with the kids there; I even taught them how to play guitar.”

These efforts reflect the spirit of the 250th anniversary by inviting students, faculty, staff and community members to explore the nation’s history, engage with its present and imagine its future – together.Ìę

For more than four decades, these prestigious awards have recognized distinguished graduates whose professional achievements, leadership, service and commitment to their communities reflect the very best of the Cardinal spirit.

“These awards honor an extraordinary group of Cardinals whose influence extends far beyond our campus,” said President Gerry Bradley. “This year’s honorees include nationally recognized business leaders, educators, healthcare professionals, public servants, military veterans and community advocates. From Chris and Lisa Dischinger’s transformational work in affordable housing and community development to Jeff Brohm’s leadership of our football program, each recipient reflects the innovation, service and excellence that defines the University of Louisville and inspires future generations of Cardinals.”

The 2026 Wilson Wyatt Alumni Awards honorees include:

Alumni of the Year

Chris ’90 and Lisa Dischinger ’11

Chris and Lisa Dischinger are co-founders of LDG Development. The Louisville-based company launched in 1994 to create quality, affordable housing and is now one of the nation’s largest affordable-housing developers. Married 38 years, they’ve built a family and a business rooted in the belief that everyone deserves a quality place to live.

Throughout his career, Chris has been a leader within the real estate industry and community. He has served as president of four different trade organizations, including as national president of the Society of Exchange, as well as serving on the Endeavor Louisville board, a high-impact entrepreneurship movement in Kentucky and Indiana catalyzing long-term economic growth through mentorship and support of regional entrepreneurs. Chris also serves as vice chair on the UofL Board of Trustees.Ìę

Lisa has played an instrumental role in shaping LDG’s mission and culture. Her early work managing its single-family home portfolio gave her direct insight into the challenges faced by families experiencing poverty – and inspired her to establish robust resident services that support families living at LDG communities and are focused on improving health and education outcomes. Key initiatives include onsite food pantries, after-school and summer camps focused on designed to improve school readiness and reading scores, and violence prevention programming.

Lisa also champions the benefits of early childhood education through her Rita June Foundation. This 501(c) philanthropic charity she founded raised over $10 million to support the construction of three Bezos Academies.

Alumni Fellows – Schools & Colleges

• College of Arts & Sciences – Michael G. Sullivan ’94, ’11
• College of Business – Jeff Brohm ’96
• School of Dentistry – Jim ’65 and Virginia Woodward ’71
• College of łÉÈËֱȄ & Human Development – Debbie Akers Ford ’87, ’96
• Graduate School – Daniel J. Cox ’74, ’77
• Kent School of Social Work & Family Science – Marcia Colone ’82
• Brandeis School of Law – Robert Mattingly ’99
• University Libraries – Kenneth A. Dennis ’69, ’73
• School of Medicine – Francesca Rinaldo ’13, ’15
• School of Music – Lorenzo Trujillo ’03
• School of Nursing – Dale R. Pike ’78, ’80
• J.B. Speed School of Engineering – Frank J. Diebold ’73
• School of Public Health & Information Sciences – Connie S. Mendel ’20
• Student Affairs Legacy Award – Welby E. Edwards ‘69

Signature Award Honorees

• Emerging Leader Award – Angel McCoughtry ’09
• Inclusive Excellence Award – Jennifer K. Adams-Tucker ’06
• Military Alumni Award – Gene Forrest Price ’80, ’88
• Alumni Ambassador Award – Michael Davis ’84

Among this year’s honorees are two of the most celebrated athletes in University of Louisville history. Emerging Leader Award recipient Angel McCoughtry remains the all-time leading scorer in Louisville women’s basketball history and went on to achieve international success as a two-time Olympic gold medalist and WNBA champion.

College of Business Alumni Fellow Jeff Brohm starred as quarterback for the Cardinals before embarking on a successful coaching career. Today, he serves as head football coach at his alma mater, leading Louisville’s resurgence on the national stage while strengthening connections among generations of Cardinals.

The 2026 honorees will be recognized during the annual ceremony on Oct. 29 as part of UofL Homecoming Week festivities on Belknap Campus.

Klein, whose storied career spanned more than 40 years, served as UofL’s Sports Information Director from 1983 until his retirement in 2022. He worked tirelessly behind the scenes and earned the reputation as one of the most well-known and respected communications leaders in collegiate athletics.Ìę

Following his retirement, Klein continued to work as a consultant with the Cardinals’ men’s basketball program during the 2022-23 season. After a year of retirement, Klein returned to action, rejoining former Louisville men’s basketball coach Rick Pitino as a special advisor for St. John’s men’s basketball program from 2024-26.

Klein joined the Cardinals’ staff in July of 1983 after nearly two seasons as sports information director at Morehead State University. Prior to that stint, Klein spent four years as an undergraduate and graduate assistant at Murray State University, where he earned his bachelor’s degree in journalism in 1981. At the time of his appointment at UofL, he was the youngest SID at an NCAA Division I football institution at 23.

In addition to working alongside Hall of Fame Louisville basketball coaches Denny Crum and Rick Pitino, Klein himself was a legend in his field. A 2015 inductee into the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA) Hall of Fame, Klein also worked one season as a student assistant in sports information at Austin Peay State University and was a sports writer for theÌęClarksville Leaf-Chronicle.

His career dedication led to Klein’s induction into the state’s Kentucky Sports Hall of Fame in 2017. He received the 2012 Katha Quinn Award, presented by the U.S. Basketball Writers Association in recognition for providing outstanding service to media covering college basketball.

Klein coordinated the computerized statistics operation for 40 NCAA Men’s Basketball Final Fours. In his initial season with the Cardinals, he edited the 1983-84 UofL basketball guide which was judged second in the nation by CoSIDA. Klein, who edited UofL’s 352-page basketball history bookÌęAbove the Rim, also received multiple other publication awards while at UofL and Murray State.

He served as the media coordinator for the 1987 USA Pan American Games men’s basketball team, has served on the NCAA Final Four media coordination committee and annually assisted in media operations for the Kentucky Derby. He was the local media center committee chairman for the 1996, 2000 and 2014 PGA Championships in Louisville, and served in a similar capacity for the 2008 Ryder Cup and 2004 and 2011 Senior PGA Championships. He also assisted in the media operations at the 1999 Ryder Cup in Boston.

Klein served as vice-chairman of the CoSIDA Scholarship Committee and was the athletic department’s representative for multimedia rights with the ACC, including the inception and oversight of the Cardinals’ broadcast center for the ACC Network.
Klein, who grew up in Southside, Tenn., is survived by his wife, the former Donna Graham, along with two sons: Alex (Beth) and Brady (Carly) and grandchildren Clark and Iris.ÌęÌęÌęÌęÌę

Kenny Klein was one of the most treasured figures in the history of Louisville Athletics.

For almost 40 years, Kenny gave himself completely to this university, to our student-athletes, our coaches, our staff and our fans. He was the keeper of our stories, the guardian of our history and the steady, smiling presence that made everyone around him feel seen and valued. There was no one who loved Louisville more, and Louisville loved him right back.

But Kenny’s legacy extended far beyond the walls of Louisville Athletics. He was revered nationally as one of the best sports information directors in the industry, a true master of his craft who earned the respect and admiration of peers, media and colleagues across the nation. His Hall of Fame recognition was well deserved, but those who knew Kenny understood that his greatest distinction was never a title or an award. It was the man he was every single day.

Kenny Klein was kind. He was generous. He was humble. He made everyone from the newest student manager to the most seasoned sportswriter feel like they mattered. He answered every call, remembered every name, and approached every interaction with grace and genuine warmth. In a profession that demands so much, Kenny never lost sight of what mattered most: people.

We extend our deepest love and condolences to the Klein family. We grieve with you, and we hold you close.

Kenny was, and will always be, a Cardinal Forever.Ìę

Fulbright success and global reach

TheÌę, the U.S. government’s flagship international educational exchange initiative, remains a cornerstone of UofL’s global success with over 180 scholars, the most of any Kentucky institution.Ìę

This year, four UofL students earned Fulbright U.S. Student Program awards, with an additional three named alternates:

Fulbright recipients include:

• Isabella Bastien ’26, College of Arts & Sciences, will study and research in Australia.Ìę
• Wisal El Majbri ’26, College of Business, will teach English in Taiwan.Ìę
• Hannah Limbong ’26, School of Public Health and Information Sciences, will teach English in Indonesia.
• Chris Millett, College of łÉÈËֱȄ & Human Development PhD candidate and School of Music faculty, will study and research in Norway.Ìę

Fulbright alternates include Adeola Esan, Grace McDaniel and Henny Ransdell.Ìę

Historic firstsÌę

This year also brought historic milestones for UofL in other global awards.Ìę

Richard Wilson ’21, ’22, J.B. Speed School of Engineering, earned a Schwarzman Scholarship,Ìę. The Schwarzman Scholars program prepares global leaders through study in China and engagement with international affairs.

Henny Ransdell ’21, ’25, College of Arts & Sciences, was named as a Luce Scholar and is the first recipient from UofL and the first from any Kentucky institution.Ìę

Ransdell, who has also earned a Fulbright Award and a Princeton in Asia Fellowship, will participate in the highly competitive, yearlong Luce Scholars Program, which provides immersive professional experiences in Asia through individualized placements. Selected from across the United States, the 2026–2027 cohort represents a diverse range of disciplines and emerging leaders.Ìę

Other prestigious awards

Darini Nagarajan, College of Arts & Sciences, was awarded The Goldwater Scholarship. The scholarship recognizes U.S. sophomores and juniors pursuing research careers in math, science and engineering, and is the preeminent undergraduate award of its type in these fields.Ìę

Joshua Schmidt, J.B. Speed School of Engineering, was named a recipient of the Congress-Bundestag Youth Exchange, a year-long professional fellowship funded by the German Bundestag, the country’s parliament, and the U.S. Congress. For over 40 years, theÌęCBYXÌęprogram has provided participants the opportunity to study and work in Germany.Ìę

Alexis Daniel ’24, ‘25, College of Arts & Sciences and Kent School of Social Work, will study Portuguese in Brazil as part of the Boren Awards, a program that funds up to one year of immersive study abroad in languages and regions of interest to U.S. national security.

Haider Nasir, College of Arts & Sciences, was selected for the Mary Churchill Humphrey Scholarship. This specialized UofL scholarship enables graduates of the College of Arts & Sciences to pursue advanced study in the United Kingdom.Ìę

Emma Posey, College of Arts & Sciences, will participate in English-Speaking Union (ESU) program. ESU is a non-profit educational service organization that offers summer study abroad scholarships for college juniors and Kentucky teachers to promote the advancement of knowledge in an expanding global community.

Four students were awarded, a prestigious funding opportunity that enables students from all disciplines to study or conduct research during the summer semester, building global perspectives and academic credentials that set them apart.Ìę

Recipients:Ìę

• Isaiah Cruz
• Marissa Gibson
• Darini Nagarajan
• Zack WadsworthÌę

More information about prestigious scholars can be found on theÌę.

“This extraordinary new space is no longer a promise, it is a reality,” said UofL President Gerry Bradley. “It enables our exceptional pediatric neurorecovery team to further expand what is possible for children recovering from spinal cord injuries and neurological conditions.”

Located within UofL Health – Frazier Rehab Institute, the new 13,631-square-foot, state-of-the-art facility brings clinical care, therapy and research together in one space, creating a first-of-its-kind environment designed to accelerate recovery and expand access for children with spinal cord injuries and other neurological conditions.

“This ribbon cutting represents far more than a new space. It represents new possibilities for children and families,” said Andrea Behrman, director of the center and professor in UofL’s Department of Neurological Surgery. “We now have a purpose-built facility that matches the innovation of our work, allowing us to deliver more intensive therapies, expand research and ultimately improve outcomes for the children we serve.”

For more than a decade, the program has been a national leader in pediatric neurorecovery, growing from serving one child per day to more than 20 daily therapy visits. The new facility replaces previously fragmented spaces, creating a cohesive environment that enhances collaboration among clinicians, researchers and families.

Supported by a $1 million grant from Kosair for Kids, along with $2 million in federal funding through the Health Resources and Services Administration and additional philanthropic support, the expansion increases the center’s treatment capacity by 33%, allowing up to 24 children per day to receive life-changing therapies.

“Kosair for Kids has proudly supported this program since its beginning, and today we celebrate what that commitment has made possible,” said Barry Dunn, president and CEO of Kosair for Kids. “This new space allows us to reach more children, provide greater hope and continue delivering on our promise to help every child live life to the fullest.”

The expansion also reflects strong leadership and advocacy at the federal level. Congressman Morgan McGarvey and former Congressman John Yarmuth helped secure critical funding to support the project. In addition, a meaningful bequest from the estate of Jane Burian, in memory of Dr. Frank J. Burian and Henrietta S. Burian, will leave a lasting legacy for the children and families served by the center.

“While research is a critical part of the broader program, our role at that makes a difference for families,” said Miranda Garvin, president of Frazier Rehab Institute.Ìę“It is this unique model that has elevated Frazier to one of the top rehabilitation centers in the country. This new space will offer children access to advanced rehabilitation in a way that simply isn’t available in most settings.”

The center plays a critical role in advancing research through the , helping translate scientific discovery into real-world recovery. By conducting research alongside clinical care, the center accelerates the impact of scientific inquiry on patient care, strengthening UofL’s position as a global leader in pediatric neurorecovery.

Facility highlights include:

• Fully integrated therapy and research spaces to accelerate collaboration and innovation
• Specialized treatment areas for children and teens of all ages
• Private consultation rooms to support families and care teams
• A welcoming, family-centered common space for caregivers
• Advanced rehabilitation technologies tailored to pediatric needs

In addition to clinical care and research, the center will serve as a hub for training future therapists, physicians and researchers, ensuring continued advancement in the field for years to come.

Support from the Shelley Trimble Fund for Pediatric NeuroRecovery continues to help families access critical therapies, regardless of insurance limitations, expanding the reach and impact of the center’s work.

View the .Ìę