The program integrates leadership training with federal policy insight and skill development, equipping fellows to take on key roles in an evolving sector. Fellows take part in retreats, interactive learning opportunities, projects and a placement experience at another college or university. The program also provides the chance to build a valuable network of higher education leaders. The fellowship year offers opportunities for ACE Fellows to view leadership in action and emerge with both the practical skills and theoretical knowledge to implement effective changes for higher education.听

鈥淏eing named an ACE Fellow offers an opportunity to deepen my engagement in institutional decision-making, learn alongside a national cohort of peers and draw from proven best practices to strengthen leadership capacity and drive meaningful, mission鈥慶entered impact,鈥� Craddock said.听

Craddock joins an elite list of previous ACE Fellows from the University of Louisville. They are Richard Clover, 2001-2002, and Arist贸fanes Cede帽o, 2006-2007. UofL also has hosted five fellows through the听American Council on 成人直播 program.

The ACE Fellows Program is one of the longest-running leadership development programs in the United States with more than 2,500 alumni 鈥� many now听presidents, provosts and senior executives.

The program was developed with the input of supply chain leaders from a diverse range of regional and national corporations, ensuring graduates are equipped with skills modern employers value.

“Supply chain management is a core function of every global, national and regional business, and the demand for skilled professionals in this field has never been greater,” said Amy Henley, dean of the UofL College of Business. “We are thrilled to offer students a rigorous, industry-informed degree that prepares them for a rewarding and lucrative career while strengthening the talent pipeline for employers across our region and beyond.”

The 27-credit-hour program of study is built around five capabilities identified by employers as critical:

• A broad business perspective
• Core supply chain and operations knowledge
• The ability to turn data into actionable information
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills
• Relevant practical experience.

Students will have the opportunity to earn credit through internships and co-ops with regional industry partners and may choose to pursue international study abroad experiences. The curriculum also incorporates applications of artificial intelligence and data analytics, reflecting the modern demands of the profession.

“At UPS, we know today’s supply chains run on data, technology and collaboration across complex networks. Programs like UofL鈥檚 global supply chain management degree help develop the talent that powers Louisville’s world-class logistics ecosystem,” said Peg O’Neil, president, UPS Network Design & Optimization.

Supply chain management is among the fastest-growing career fields in Kentucky, with a projected 10-year job growth rate of 34%, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Louisville’s status as a major national logistics hub 鈥� with access to an international airport, major waterways, rail infrastructure and interstate highways 鈥� gives students exceptional proximity to industry leaders, internship opportunities and real-world learning experiences.

For more information about the BSBA in global supply chain management at the UofL College of Business, visit .

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

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

In his introduction before Cotton鈥檚 UofL talk, Sen. Mitch McConnell praised the senator for his passion and dedication to his country. 鈥淭om (Cotton) believes in America, and I don鈥檛 know anyone who鈥檚 done more to back it up,鈥� McConnell said.

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

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

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

鈥淚n my experience, it鈥檚 important to push them to use aggressively all the authority we鈥檝e given them,鈥� Cotton said. 鈥淚 believe since becoming chairman, I鈥檝e worked with these intelligence chiefs, and they鈥檝e done a great job getting back to their traditional mission of spying on bad guys to help keep the country safe.鈥�

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

Turning to another threat on the world stage, Cotton, who published a book on China in 2025, said that America needs to remain mindful that 鈥淐hina remains the most serious threat to our way of life 鈥� they are the one country in the world with a plausible path and ambition to replace America as the world鈥檚 dominant superpower in military and economy,鈥� Cotton said. 鈥淚鈥檝e done a lot of work in the Senate to ensure our military and intelligence agencies are postured to deter China.鈥� 听

Turning from China closer to home, Cotton encouraged McConnell Scholars and other UofL students who hold political ambitions. 鈥淚t鈥檚 not hard to advance in politics – showing up is the most important part,鈥� he advised. 鈥淛ust find a candidate that inspires you and raise your hand, say 鈥業鈥檓 here,鈥� and just put in the effort and the hard work.鈥�

With an estimated cost of $280 million, the building represents the largest single-project funding package in UofL鈥檚 history. The State of Kentucky has allocated $260 million toward the project, with the university providing the remaining $20 million.

鈥淭oday marks more than the start of a new building. It reflects a bold commitment to the future of health in our community and across Kentucky,鈥� said President Gerry Bradley. 鈥淭his new health sciences facility will accelerate discovery, strengthen our workforce and expand access to high-quality care. It鈥檚 an investment in people, in partnership and a powerful step toward building healthier lives, stronger families and a more resilient region.鈥�

The , located along Preston Street from Chestnut to Gray, will be a connecting point for the UofL Schools of Dentistry, Medicine, Nursing and Public Health and Information Sciences. The building features extensive medical simulation facilities, along with dedicated spaces for learning, research and work. The six-story, 257,000-square-foot structure will enable UofL to increase enrollment in health professions programs to meet existing and future health care workforce demands.

“Investing in the UofL Health Sciences Center is a direct investment in the future of Kentucky鈥檚 economy. By modernizing how we train our next generation of nurses, doctors and dentists through simulation training, we are ensuring that our commonwealth remains a leader in health care innovation,鈥� said Kentucky Senate President Robert Stivers. 鈥淎 healthy workforce is the backbone of a strong economy, and this facility will provide the critical infrastructure needed to train the next generation of health care professionals to serve the people of the commonwealth.”听

The space is designed to facilitate interdisciplinary learning, instilling a collaborative, interprofessional approach to health sciences. The goal is to advance health professions education, empowering the next generation of health care providers to improve health and health care for people in Louisville, across Kentucky and beyond.

鈥淏uilding a strong and resilient economy for Kentucky families starts with investing in people 鈥� those including our health care workforce. This state-of-the-art simulation facility will give students the hands-on training they need to master complex clinical skills before ever entering a hospital room,鈥� said David Osborne, speaker of the Kentucky House of Representatives. 鈥淏y modernizing health care education, we are strengthening the pipeline of highly trained professionals ready to meet the demands of a 21st-century economy. Ultimately, this investment will lead to better care, improved outcomes and healthier communities across the commonwealth.鈥�

The building鈥檚 modular classroom and conference spaces, research labs and workspaces are designed with the needs of learners and instructors in mind. UofL鈥檚 School of Public Health and Information Sciences will be completely housed within the building, while other spaces are customized for the Schools of Dentistry, Medicine and Nursing.

Extensive simulation facilities will incorporate the latest technology where health professions students, residents and clinical professionals can gain practical skills training. Jarrod Young, , is leading the development, integration and strategic direction of the simulation spaces.

“This groundbreaking is an investment in Louisville鈥檚 future,鈥� said Louisville Mayor Craig Greenberg. 鈥淏y uniting education, research and hands-on training, UofL鈥檚 new Health Sciences Building will grow the next generation of health care professionals, strengthen our workforce, improve health outcomes for people across Kentucky and reinforce Louisville鈥檚 role as a leading medical and education hub for Kentucky and beyond.鈥�

The structure is infused with an emphasis on collaboration, engagement and wellbeing for those who use each space, with formal and informal working and gathering spaces, natural light and easy access to landscaped outdoor spaces. Casual dining and seating options encourage personal interaction. Abundant windows are enhanced with a unique scrim to prevent glare and heat gain, while still taking advantage of sunlight. The space provides multiple opportunities to access nature with plantings along the perimeter, terraced outdoor space and a microforest of dense natural landscaping on the building鈥檚 south side.

The building sits along the main corridor of the and borders the , which is improving walkability, health and safety by enhancing walkways and adding trees and green spaces to the streetscape.

The building design is a product of architects Champlin | EOP with Perkins&Will, and Messer construction is the general contractor. Construction is expected to be completed in 2029.

To learn more, visit the .听View a of the construction site.

See the complete gallery of photos from the .

听

Coming in at No. 31, the 11-semester, full-time听听provides students with a strong foundation in the science and clinical practice of audiology, progressing from core coursework to advanced clinical specialties. Faculty emphasize evidence-based training through hands-on clinical experiences, interdisciplinary collaboration and research opportunities.

鈥淲e are so proud of our innovative curriculum that prepares students like no other program does. It’s rewarding to see those innovations being recognized and emulated by others,鈥� said Shae Morgan, an associate professor and program director of the audiology program. 鈥淥ur students get clinical and academic preparation at the top of the profession, and we’re thrilled to see that reflected in our increasing rank.”

Community engagement is a central part of the program鈥檚 training. Students lead initiatives such as an annual 鈥楬ear Camp鈥� for children with hearing loss, conduct community hearing screenings and participate regularly in events like MedFest Special Olympics and Walk4Hearing to promote healthy hearing in the Louisville community. Students also take part in regional and international service trips, including outreach in eastern Kentucky and collaborative clinical work with University of Kentucky students to Belize to perform hearing, speech and language evaluations.

Several other UofL graduate and professional programs also ranked among the nation鈥檚 top 50. These include听听at No. 29,听听at No. 39 and听at No. 43. Additionally, two programs saw notable rises in this year鈥檚 rankings. The听programs increased 22 spots to No. 124, while the听听in the College of Business rose 23 places to No. 114.

All graduate school rankings are published in the 2026 edition of U.S. News & World Report. Graduate education at UofL provides over 130 graduate programs to approximately 5,800 graduate students. More information is available on the听

The community is invited to this year鈥檚 free 2026 Grawemeyer Awards Lecture Series:

• Psychology听鈥撎�Sir Simon Baron-Cohen Stanford, founder and director of the听Autism Research Centre听at the University of Cambridge, will speak on Tuesday, April 14, 12 p.m., Middleton Auditorium – Room 101, Strickler Hall, about his pioneering scientific research into the prenatal sex steroid theory of autism. In 2021, he received a knighthood for his services to autism, and in 2023 he was awarded the Medical Research Council鈥檚 (MRC) Millennium Medal, for his work on the prenatal sex steroid theory of autism and his contributions to autism research and the public understanding of neurodiversity.
• World Order听鈥� Joshua W. Busby, a professor of public affairs at The University of Texas at Austin, will speak on Tuesday, April 14, 1 p.m., Chao Auditorium, Ekstrom Library. In his book, 鈥淪tates and Nature: The Effects of Climate Change on Security,鈥� Busby explains how the combination of state capacity, political exclusion and international assistance determine the degree to which the impacts of climate change affect security for a country鈥檚 citizens.
• Music Composition听鈥撎�Liza Lim, an Australian composer will give a lecture on听Thursday, April 16, 3 p.m., Bird Hall, School of Music. Lim is recognized for her visionary work,听鈥淎 Sutured World.鈥� The piece was commissioned by the Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra (BRSO)/Musica Viva, Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra, Amsterdam Cello Biennale, Melbourne Symphony Orchestra and Casa da M煤sica Porto for the world-renowned cellist Nicolas Altstaedt.
• Religion听鈥撎�Candida Moss, a biblical scholar at the University of Birmingham, UK, will speak on听Thursday, April 16, 7 p.m., Caldwell Chapel, Louisville Presbyterian Theological Seminary. Throughout the history of Christianity, the authorship of the New Testament was credited mostly to Matthew, Mark, Luke, John and Paul. But hidden behind these men are unnamed coauthors and collaborators. Their work is at the center of Moss鈥� influential book, 鈥淕od鈥檚 Ghostwriters: Enslaved Christians and the Making of the Bible.鈥�

There was no education award given in 2026.听

Charles Grawemeyer, a UofL alumnus and philanthropist, created the Grawemeyer Awards in 1984. An initial endowment of $9 million funded the awards, which have drawn nominations from around the world. Grawemeyer distinguished the awards by honoring ideas rather than life-long or publicized personal achievement, advocating that great ideas should be understandable to someone with general knowledge and not be the private treasure of academics.

Learn more about the lectures on the .

Watch segment on UofL鈥檚 and .

The funding, approved at the committee鈥檚 March 19 meeting, will support the creation of a new Student Wellness Center, which will be located in the Miller Information Technology Center on the university鈥檚 Belknap Campus. The measure goes before the full board for a final vote at its April 23 regular meeting.

Currently, Campus Health and the Counseling Center are housed in separate facilities on opposite ends of Belknap Campus. According to Michael Mardis, vice president for student affairs and dean of students, the renovated space in Miller will allow for additional therapy rooms, additional exam rooms, a dedicated group therapy room and psychological assessment room, procedure rooms and more.

鈥淭his new space will foster real-time collaboration and seamless care coordination between medical and mental health providers,鈥� Mardis said. 鈥淚t also will provide a modern, welcoming environment that normalizes help-seeking behavior and educates students about their health as they prepare for the larger world.鈥�

Mardis added that such a space is necessary to meet the increasing needs for mental and physical care at UofL, which are consistent with national trends.

Pending full board approval, Student Affairs will provide $6.5 million, with an additional $3.5 million generated through philanthropic efforts. The project is expected to be completed in about two years.

Academic and Student Affairs Committee action

The Academic and Student Affairs Committee approved the establishment of the Ray E. Murphy and Ann P. Murphy Endowed Chair in Nutrition and Health in the School of Medicine. The $2 million endowment will be funded by the Ann P. Murphy Trust ($1 million) with an additional $1 million match requested from the Council on Postsecondary 成人直播 Endowment Match Program (Bucks for Brains) pending approval of the UofL Board of Trustees. Named after Ray Murphy 鈥�59 and his spouse, Ann, the endowed chair provides needed resources to educate the next generation of physicians, dieticians, nutritionists and nurses.

The Academic and Student Affairs Committee also approved the creation of a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration (BSBA) in Global Supply Chain Management, effective for the summer 2026 semester, pending full board approval. The program will prepare students to manage international supply chains by addressing logistics, distribution systems, procurement, supplier relations, inventory/quality/project management, analytics, IT and artificial intelligence as well as the impact of customs, regulations and cultural differences. Applied learning will be developed in partnership with supply chain leaders from UPS, Brown-Forman, Amazon, PPL, GXO and DHL.

Additionally, the Academic and Student Affairs Committee approved the creation of a Graduate Certificate in 成人直播al Administrative Leadership. Pending full board approval, the program will be offered in the fall 2026 semester and will provide a pathway for educators to earn Level 1 Principalship certification in Kentucky 鈥� the required entry-level credential for those seeking administrative roles in P-12 setting.

The next meeting of the University of Louisville Board of Trustees will take place Thursday, April 23, at 1 p.m. in the Jefferson Room of Grawemeyer Hall on Belknap Campus. Meeting agendas, minutes, schedules and other information is available on the .听

鈥淭his initiative establishes UofL as a national leader in educating its students about intimate partner violence,鈥� said President Gerry Bradley. 鈥淥ur hope is that the project helps to curb instances of abuse and violence in our community and across the nation.鈥�

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

• College of Business
• College of 成人直播 and Human Development
• Department of Classical and Modern Languages
• Raymond A. Kent School of Social Work and Family Science
• School of Dentistry
• School of Medicine and the Department of Psychiatry
• UofL Health鈥擴ofL Hospital

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

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

鈥淢y daughter Mary鈥檚 name lives on,鈥� said Pat Byron. 鈥淭he important work begun by the Mary Byron Project will continue, helping train the next generation of advocates 鈥� lawyers and lay people, alike. With each of these important steps we get closer to making 鈥榥o more鈥� a reality.鈥澨�

.

This was celebrated in a big way during the 20th anniversary of the听. The weeklong conference held in February 2026 brought together faculty and staff to share ideas, explore new teaching strategies and learn from one another. Hosted by the听, attendees participated in more than 40 peer-led professional development sessions offered in multiple formats, including in-person workshops, virtual sessions and on-demand videos.

During a reception and award ceremony, President Gerry Bradley reflected on the transformative power of education and the importance of the university鈥檚 teaching community.

鈥淚f we鈥檙e going to continue to make the impact on our students –听on how they discover, how they can contribute and how they will engage with this ever鈥慶hanging world beyond our campus, the skills learned here really important,鈥� he said. “Teaching matters, learning听matters. All of you deserve our greatest thanks and my thanks.鈥�听

Provost Katie Cardarelli emphasized that human connection is at the heart of learning and the university鈥檚 mission. 听

鈥淩etention and graduation do not only improve through policy. They improve because educators are committed to creating learning experiences that are rigorous,听supportive听and deeply human – something unique in this ever-evolving, AI听technology鈥慸riven culture. This ceremony recognizes that commitment and the sustained effort that faculty invest in students often quietly and consistently, semester after semester,鈥� she said.听

During the reception,听Senior Vice Provost听Gail DePuy announced the听听This award听honors educators who have听demonstrated听a commitment to students with one or more innovative teaching practices.

The honorees include:听

• Devin Burke, School of Music, for his work reimagining music history through the use of multimedia timelines that encourage both chronological and geographical understanding.听
• Sarah听Fauque, College of Arts & Sciences, for her work to make quantitative, ecological models more engaging for students听through the use of听active, multimodal workshop series.听
• Karen Turner, School of Nursing, for developing Student Centered Interactive Learning Stations (SCILS) for graduate students building advanced clinical decision-making skills.听

In addition,听the ceremony recognized the 2025 Faculty Favorites and educators who听engaged in the Delphi Center鈥檚 professional development听cohorts. These opportunities include听Teaching Onboarding, FIT听Program听and Ascend Champions.听听

Educators can keep the momentum going by joining upcoming听听events or scheduling a consultation to further support student success.听

See the听听from the 2026听.

By听Vanessa Karem,听

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

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

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

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

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

鈥淣o matter how small, I feel like my impact is ensuring that somebody out there is better represented than they may be without me,鈥� he said. 鈥淚 have met so many intelligent, gifted and passionate legislators, staff and fellow interns and their dedication inspires me daily. I have not just learned about the legislative process, but about myself in terms of new ways to think, analyze and express my views.鈥�

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

View the Cardinals at the Capitol photo album on .听