As a strategic driver for institutional improvement, the CCCW advises the university president on policies, planning and actions that advance a campus environment where all individuals feel respected, valued and empowered. About 80 people from a cross-section of the university comprise the CCCW.

“UofL thrives as the thousands of people who work and learn here thrive,” Bradley said. “We don’t want our mission and vision statements or our Cardinal Principles to be just nice words. We want those words to ring true with everyone in our community.”

The commission’s first order of business was to conduct a comprehensive assessment of UofL’s current climate, culture and well-being by reviewing data from recent climate and trust surveys. In some cases, subject matter experts were invited to speak to the commission as members strengthened their understanding of what needed the most attention. Adding Katie Partin, director of institutional effectiveness in the Office of Academic Planning and Accountability, to the CCCW leadership team also brought integration with the university’s strategic planning efforts and ensured the commission’s work would find places to integrate.

This semester, the members organized their work into six key areas that warrant the most attention. Each member was assigned to one of the following subcommittees:

• Communication and Transparency
• Compensation and Career Development
• Physical Safety and Facilities
• Policy and Culture
• Psychological Safety and Well-being
• Workload and Morale

Over the course of several weeks, the entire CCCW met to discuss overarching issues, and the subcommittees met to develop recommendations for the president to consider for inclusion in the . That phase of the work was completed on March 23, and a final written report with the commission’s recommendations will be provided to the president by May 1.

Commission Co-chairs Dwayne Compton and Brian Buford, as well as Vice-chair Lindsey Ronay, provide regular updates to Bradley and Executive Vice President/University Provost Katie Cardarelli.

“President Bradley and Provost Cardarelli are fully committed to this effort. We see that first-hand in our meetings with them,” Buford said. “We bring the commission’s questions, concerns and requests to them, and they address each issue thoughtfully and thoroughly.”

Compton adds that the CCCW’s work is taking place at just the right time – when UofL and higher education in general face tough challenges and make tough decisions about academic, operational and budgetary concerns.

“There have definitely been a lot of hard but authentic conversations in our CCCW meetings,” Compton said. “You can’t deny the CCCW’s passion for its work. You also can’t deny our senior leadership’s commitment to this difficult but important effort.”

The funding, approved at the committee’s 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’s 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.

“This new space will foster real-time collaboration and seamless care coordination between medical and mental health providers,” Mardis said. “It 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.”

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 ����ֱ�� Endowment Match Program (Bucks for Brains) pending approval of the UofL Board of Trustees. Named after Ray Murphy ’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 ����ֱ��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 – 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 .��

George J. Howe Distinguished Staff Award

The George J. Howe Distinguished Staff Award recognizes the highest level of achievement among staff employees. Serving as a companion award to the Trustees Award for faculty, the George J. Howe Distinguished Staff Award is a symbol of what we value as a campus community, having an “extraordinary impact on the lives of students.” This award winner exemplifies the traits of its namesake George J. Howe in humility, generosity, and excellence in leadership, as well as the Cardinal Principles and whose career has had an exceptional impact on the university.

• Diane Whitlock, assistant vice president for strategic initiatives in the Office of Access & Opportunity

Trustees Award

The Board of Trustees of the University of Louisville established the Trustees Award in 1989 to honor faculty who individually impact the future of our students. The award is intended to recognize faculty who have had, currently or in the past, an extraordinary impact on students.

• Recipient will be announced on April 17, 2026.

Cardinal Principles Champions

The Cardinal Principles Champions Award recognizes faculty and staff who exemplify the university’s guiding values through meaningful actions and impact. Each recipient is recognized for demonstrating one of the Cardinal Principles in a way that positively influences students, colleagues and the broader university community.

• Community of Care: Audra N. French, School of Dentistry
• Agility: Libby Champion, College of ����ֱ�� & Human Development
• Respect: Amanda LeDuke, Philanthropy & Alumni Engagement
• Diversity: Katie Kleinkopf, College of Arts & Sciences
• Integrity & Transparency: MaryPat Chiavaroli, College of Arts & Sciences
• Noble Purpose: Tonia D. Thomas, Office of Access & Opportunity
• Accountability: Michelle Maddox, School of Medicine
• Leadership: Brad Shuck, College of ����ֱ�� & Human Development

Distinguished Faculty Awards

The University of Louisville recognizes faculty members who bring distinction to the institution through exceptional contributions in teaching, research, creative work and service. The Distinguished Faculty Awards honor individuals whose work reflects the university’s mission and Cardinal Principles, advancing student success, scholarship and impact across the university and broader community.

Outstanding Scholarship, Research and Creative Activity

• Basic and Applied Sciences: Gregory Barnes, School of Medicine
• Career Achievement: Aruni Bhatnagar, School of Medicine
• Creative and Performing Arts: William Reese Land, School of Music
• Humanities: Lauren Freeman, College of Arts & Sciences
• Social Sciences: Tara Schapmire, School of Medicine

Distinguished Service

• Service to the Community, the Commonwealth and/or the Region: Matthew H. Ruther, College of Arts & Sciences
• Service to the Profession: Kupper Wintergerst, School of Medicine
• Career of Service: Gerard Paul Rabalais, School of Medicine
• Service to UofL: Natalie C. Polzer, College of Arts & Sciences
• National/International Service: Mirzada Kurbasic, School of Medicine

Distinguished Teaching Professor

• James S. Chisholm, College of ����ֱ�� & Human Development, full-time
• Jennifer Koch, School of Medicine, full-time
• Shawn Schweppe Parkhurst, College of Arts & Sciences, full-time
• Heather L. Storer, Kent School of Social Work & Family Science, full-time
• Jennifer M. Foreman, Kent School of Social Work & Family Science, part-time

Outstanding Performance Awards

The Outstanding Performance Awards celebrate UofL staff who demonstrate exceptional performance, service and dedication. These awards highlight contributions that make a meaningful impact across the university.

• Mindy L. Christian, Public Safety
• Melissa Eversole, Office of Admissions
• David L. Fichuo, School of Medicine
• Julie Hornung, Clinical Trials
• Andrew C. Marsh, J.B. Speed School of Engineering
• Beth Masters, Human Resources
• Kristen Taxes Roy, Office of Access & Opportunity
• Veronica (Sissy) Snorton-Craft, Physical Plant
• Anika Strand, Student Success Center
• Mary Beth Uberti, Campus Health

Outstanding Supervisor Award

The Outstanding Supervisor Award recognizes supervisors who demonstrate exceptional leadership by supporting and developing their teams while fostering a positive and respectful work environment. These leaders model the Cardinal Principles through their actions and impact.

• Rachel Hodge, University Libraries

Team Impact Award

The Team Impact Award recognizes teams whose collaboration, innovation and shared efforts create meaningful impact across the university. These groups demonstrate the power of collective work in advancing the university’s mission.

• Benefits Team/Human Resources: Chastity Millanti, Michaeline Miller, Beth Masters, Carol Zehnder, Ashley Bertram, Shannon Hall, Mariah Mitchell, Greg Paradiso

Distinguished Retiree Awards

The Distinguished Retiree Awards recognize retired faculty and staff whose continued scholarship, service and contributions reflect the university’s Cardinal Principles and create meaningful impact beyond their careers at UofL. These awards are presented in partnership with the University of Louisville Association of Retired Personnel (ULARP) and the UofL Alumni Association.

• Distinguished Retiree Excellence Award: Allan Tasman, Emeritus Professor
• Distinguished Retiree Alumni Award: Michael Radmacher, UofL Alumnus and Retiree

Drafts of the plan were shared with the trustees in May and June 2025. Each draft reflected suggestions submitted by students, faculty, staff and other constituencies. The campus community was also invited to strategic plan update Town Halls throughout the process.

“This plan belongs to all of us,” said President Gerry Bradley. “The decisions we make, how each unit operates, the allocation of financial, human and other resources will all apply directly to our strategic goals.”

The university’s academic programs and operating units will have until May 2026 to begin incorporating the plan’s goals and action items into their own strategic initiatives. Additionally, recommendations from the President’s Commission on Climate, Culture and Well-being will be applied to the plan as appropriate.

Approval of the strategic plan was accompanied by the affirmation of the revised . These revisions also reflect input from the university community.

Bradley will further discuss the strategic plan in his Feb. 12 State of the University Address, which will take place at 4 p.m. in the School of Music’s Comstock Hall. The event will also be livestreamed on

Value of shared governance

The Board of Trustees constituency representatives – Andrew Winters (Faculty Senate), Kevin Ledford (Staff Senate) and Macy Waddle (Student Government) – presented a to the board. The statement emphasizes the value of shared governance, open dialogue, belonging and well-being, faculty and staff stability and investment in American innovation and global competitiveness among UofL students, faculty, staff, administration, strategic partners and state government.

Though not an actionable measure for the trustees, the board’s constituency representatives felt the statement was appropriate and necessary given the complex challenges that face higher education in Kentucky.

“We certainly welcome this statement as it properly reflects the collaborative nature between the Board of Trustees and the university’s constituencies,” Bradley said. “I think it is important to point out that not all university boards of trustees include or involve constituency groups in their decision-making. At UofL, all voices are heard. All voices matter.”

The UofL Board of Trustees regular committee meetings will take place Thursday, March 19, 2026. Meeting minutes, schedules and other information are available on the .��

The ceremony brought together students, faculty, staff and community members to mark the continued collaboration between UofL and the Louisville-based restaurant brand.

Special guests included Texas Roadhouse executives Gina Tobin and Chris Colson, along with representatives from Buffalo Construction, university leadership and the College of Business Student Council.

First opened in 2010, the Texas Roadhouse Student Center remains one of the most unique student spaces at any university in the country.

The Western-themed environment, complete with wooden benches, neon signage and design elements found in Texas Roadhouse restaurants, was originally funded and constructed by Texas Roadhouse. The recent renovations preserve some of the iconic theming while enhancing comfort, durability and functionality for today’s students.

“Texas Roadhouse has been an incredible partner to the University of Louisville for more than a decade,” said Amy Henley, dean of the College of Business. “Their investment with Buffalo Construction continues to strengthen the student experience and demonstrates the company’s ongoing commitment to growing Louisville’s future business leaders.”

Buffalo Construction partnered with Texas Roadhouse to lead the renovation project, mirroring the collaboration the two organizations use to build new restaurant locations across the country. The student center remains one of the most popular study spaces on campus, consistently filled with students seeking a quiet, comfortable and distinctive place to gather between classes.

“We’re proud to support the next generation of leaders at the University of Louisville,” said Gina Tobin, president of Texas Roadhouse. “This space reflects our culture, our roots in Louisville and our ongoing connection to the community.”

The drives intellectual and economic growth locally and globally through cutting-edge academic programs, innovative research and strong community partnerships. Students benefit from real-world learning experiences co-designed with industry partners and a wide array of undergraduate, graduate, executive education, certificate, entrepreneurship, equine industry, online and international programs.

See the from the ribbon-cutting event on Jan. 8, 2026.��

Associate Professor Andrew Winters, who is the former director of the doctor of social work program in UofL’s Raymond A. Kent School of Social Work and Family Science, was elected senate chair over the summer and formally assumed his responsibilities from outgoing chair, Eugene Mueller, at the senate’s Sept. 3 meeting.

“I am excited and honored to take on this responsibility,” said Winters, who previously served on the senate’s Redbook & Bylaws Committee. “I am a strong advocate of this body’s work and of shared governance. I learned a lot from the excellent work Eugene (Mueller) did during his time as senate chair, and I hope to carry that spirit forward during my term.”

Winters joined UofL’s faculty in 2018. During his time at the Kent School, he has worked on a breadth of research projects focused on improving youth outcomes, strengthening youth development practices at youth-serving organizations, challenging oppressive service delivery systems and critically evaluating organizational practices in child welfare.

Administrative search updates

• At the end of September, the search committee will begin reviewing submissions to fill the open position of executive vice president and university provost. See the for more information about the search.
• The search for the School of Music dean will not begin until the school’s accreditation process concludes in March 2026.

The next meeting of the University of Louisville Faculty Senate will take place Wednesday, Oct. 1, 3-5 p.m., Clinical Translational & Research Building, rooms 101/102, Health Sciences Campus. Senate meeting information, meeting minutes and committee reports are available on the .

For its dedication to empowering employees across the university, the Employee Success Center was given the from the College and University Professional Association for Human Resources (CUPA-HR). The award honors transformative thinking in higher education human resources, recognizing a new and innovative HR team, project or program that resulted in significant and ongoing organizational change within an institution.

“Receiving this award is such an honor to the Employee Success Center team,” said Laura McDaniels, interim director of the Employee Success Center. “It highlights our dedication and the thoughtful work that we put into building programs that encourage connection and engagement across campus.”

The Employee Success Center fosters that engaged and growth-oriented culture at UofL with several forward-thinking initiatives, such as a year-long onboarding process designed to help new employees integrate more fully into university life, leadership development, mentoring and career guidance for all employee groups, along with new and innovative recognition programs.

The center also received recognition earlier this year from the for its efforts to support and recognize employees through its people-centered initiatives, including new staff awards and CARDGrams, university-themed e-cards designed to make daily employee recognition simple, accessible and meaningful. Over 7,500 e-cards have been sent in recognition of colleagues since CARDGrams launched. Additionally, 95% of employees who participated in career coaching sessions reported a stronger sense of belonging.

“These recognitions and successes inspire us to continue creating experiences that strengthen our university community,” McDaniels said.

Larry Benz: Chair
Larry Benz is president/CEO of Confluent Health. In 2011, Benz was appointed to the Board of Trustees by then Gov. Steve Beshear. He served as board chair from 2015-2017. During his tenure, Benz also served as a member of the UofL Foundation, Inc. Board of Directors. He was re-appointed to UofL’s Board of Trustees in 2022. Benz also serves as a member of the UofL Athletic Association, Inc. Board of Directors and UofL’s President’s Council.

Chris Dischinger: Vice Chair
Chris Dischinger is co-principal and co-founder of LDG Development in Louisville. He has served as president of four different trade organizations, including the Society of Exchange Councilors. He was appointed to UofL’s Board of Trustees in 2024.

Brian Lavin: Treasurer
Brian Lavin is president/CEO of NTS Development Company, its subsidiaries and affiliates. Lavin has served on the board of directors of the Louisville Science Center, Louisville Ballet, Greater Louisville, Inc., National Multi-Housing Council, Louisville Apartment Association, Louisville Olmsted Parks Conservancy, Inc. and the Inquiry Commission for the Kentucky Bar Association. He was appointed to UofL’s Board of Trustees in 2023. Lavin also serves on the board of the Louisville Regional Airport Authority and is a member of the UofL President’s Council.

Sherrill Zimmerman: Secretary
Sherrill Zimmerman is a retired educator from Louisville, where she was a teacher, assistant principal and a magnet program coordinator for Jefferson County Public Schools. She has chaired the Kentucky Council on Postsecondary ����ֱ��, the body that coordinates higher education in the state, and has been a lifelong advocate for student success. Zimmerman was appointed to UofL’s Board of Trustees in 2021. She is also a trustee representative on the UofL Athletic Association, Inc. Board of Directors and is vice chair of UofL’s President’s Council.

Diane Porter: At-Large Member
Diane Porter is a former member of the Jefferson County Board of ����ֱ��. She was first appointed to the school board in June 2010. Porter was appointed to the UofL Board of Trustees in 2020. She also serves on the boards of the Fund for the Arts, Louisville Urban League and Leadership Louisville.

The University of Louisville Board of Trustees will hold regular committee meetings Thursday, September 18, at 1 p.m., in the Jefferson Room, Grawemeyer Hall. Board meeting minutes, schedules and other information are available on .

Budget Approval

The $1.8 billion budget plan, which went into effect on July 1, prioritizes funding outlined in the university’s strategic plan, including student success, retention and well-being; faculty and staff compensation and retention; and the university’s research enterprise.

Uncertain federal support, the loss of some research funding and transformative changes in athletics presented challenges in this year’s budget, which include an increase in student tuition as well as a student fee to support student-athlete services and student experiences.

“These were difficult decisions for us, understanding that finances remain the main obstacle to students pursuing higher education,” said President Gerry Bradley. “That is why in FY26, additional general funds for student financial aid will total $14.1 million, and we will continue to support the Cardinal Commitment, Global Cardinal Scholarship and Border Benefit programs.”

Other budget highlights include:

• Current employee retirement contributions will continue (7.5 percent automatic, plus 2.5 percent match) as well as 75 percent employer coverage of health insurance and 100 percent tuition remission for eligible employees and dependents.
• Upgrades to research performance computing capacity and creation of a cybersecurity center through a state appropriation of $10 million.
• Investments from the over $300 million from the Kentucky General Assembly for asset preservation and new construction projects will continue to focus on updating classrooms and labs in high-use areas, making safety improvements to roofs, development of the Health Sciences Campus Simulation Center and Collaboration Hub and more.

Read the complete fiscal year 2026 budget on the .

House Bill 4 implementation

Trustees approved measures to implement provisions of Kentucky House Bill 4, which relates to initiatives regarding diversity, equity and inclusion at public colleges and universities in the state. The bill was signed into law as and required implementation by July 1.

After House Bill 4 was introduced, a Board of Trustees Ad Hoc Committee along with four workgroups assessed compliance tasks in position analysis; policy analysis; admissions, financial aid and scholarships; and athletics.

“In a year when there are several other major university-wide changes under way, this effort has placed an extraordinary demand on our priorities,” said Bradley. “My appreciation for the many people who committed so much extra time to this difficult work cannot be overstated.”

See for details on implementation measures, updates and FAQs.

In other news …

Graduate certificates in holistic sports coaching education, classroom reading (p-12), instructional computer technology and elementary mathematics specialist were approved.

Macy Waddle was introduced as the new Board of Trustees student constituency representative. Waddle was recently elected as UofL’s Student Government Association (SGA) president. She is majoring in political science, Spanish and political marketing. She previously served as the SGA academic vice president (2024-2025), student government assistant to the academic vice president (2023-2024) and McConnell Scholar’s Program outreach chair (2023-2024).

The next meeting of the University of Louisville Board of Trustees will take place Thursday, July 17, at 1 p.m., in the Jefferson Room, Grawemeyer Hall. Board meeting minutes, schedules and other information are available on .

The meeting began with a presentation by Vice Provost Bob Goldstein outlining the results of 2022-23 climate surveys based on the experiences and assessments of faculty, staff and administration. The surveys revealed the university’s strengths in the areas of cost-of-living within the region, supervisor effectiveness and work-life balance. Themes around compensation, quality of facilities, budget cuts and administrative recognition were among the areas of needed improvement. Goldstein concluded with information on overlapping results across all surveys and highlights of progress, including modernization of facilities, Employee Success Center initiatives and establishment of strategic budget principles.

Goldstein emphasized the goal to “map climate surveys into the Strategic Plan process.”

Strategic Plan co-chairs Cherie Dawson-Edwards and Alma Ljaljevic-Tucakovic talked with the audience about the effort to wrap up the current plan and the process underway for the university’s next roadmap.

“We decided to continue with the four pillars in the current Strategic Plan because they reflect the core values of the university,” Ljaljevic-Tucakovic said.

The areas of focus: learn, discover, connect and work are each led by a different committee chair or co-chairs who each spoke briefly about their work.

Interim Provost Katie Cardarelli underscored the importance of university-community input throughout the development process of the .

She outlined the following tentative timeline:

• Mid-May – Initial draft to UofL senior leadership
• June – Initial review by the Board of Trustees
• Late August – First full draft to campus community with opportunities for feedback
• October – Completion of second draft
• Late November – Final draft to Board of Trustees with a vote in December

Additional resources:

• Watch the complete Town Hall on .
• The Climate Survey Report, Executive Summary and a feedback form are available on a . (Log in to your UofL account to access these materials.)
• Learn more about the . (This site will be updated as the Strategic Plan develops.)
• View the photo gallery from the Town Hall on .