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 łÉČËÖ±˛Ą 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 łÉČËÖ±˛Ąal 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 .Ěý

It is the first Power 50 recognition for all three men.

Two members of the , Christopher Dischinger and John Hollenbach, also are among those recognized.

For the sixth consecutive year, Business First has published the list of 50 most influential business and civic leaders in the region. Louisville Business First selected honorees from individuals nominated by the public and those covered in the publication’s own reporting and sourcing. It does not include elected officials. The 5 on the Rise class recognizes emerging influential leaders.

Bradley assumed leadership of UofL in March after serving as executive vice president and university provost and dean of the UofL School of Dentistry. Since taking the helm at UofL, Bradley has overseen the completion of the , the opening of the Engineering Student Success and Research Building and surpassing 25,000 enrolled students for the first time in the university’s history.

In his State of the University address on Feb. 12, Bradley highlighted goals for UofL, including a focus on further improvements in enrollment, six-year retention rates, degrees offered and experiential learning opportunities. He intends to prioritize new residence halls and academic research facilities.

“I am grateful to lead this great university and amplify its positive impact on the city of Louisville,” Bradley said. “It is an honor to be recognized by Business First in the Power 50 2026, particularly after less than a year in my role as president of UofL.”

Since being named director of athletics in 2022, Heird also has had some significant wins. He hired Jeff Brohm to lead the football program and Pat Kelsey to take the reins of men’s basketball. In the 2024-25 season, ten UofL teams earned a top-25 ranking and 11 programs earned trips to the postseason.Ěý

Under Heird’s leadership, student-athlete academic success has been a priority. Last semester closed with an overall department GPA of 3.431Ěý— with 18 of 19 sports above 3.2. UofL athletes are also winning with a 96% graduation success rate.Ěý

Jason Smith, chief executive officer of UofL Health, was named CEO of the health system in October after serving most recently as its interim CEO and chief medical officer. In December, he oversaw the opening of the $186 million, seven-story .

The honorees will be profiled in the March 27, 2026, print edition of Louisville Business First, and online around that time.

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 .Ěý

UofL Health, Inc., is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit corporation and is governed by an independent board of directors. The agreement solidifies UofL/ULH roles as an integrated academic health system, combining UofL’s medical education and research with UofL Health’s clinical services (hospitals, clinics) to train future providers, advance medicine and offer comprehensive care. It also ensures that UofL’s Health Sciences Center serves as the academic arm, fostering research and education in medicine, dentistry and nursing, while UofL Health provides advanced patient care and expands access statewide through this academic integration.

Clubhouse Apartments Renovation Project

The Finance Committee approved a capital renovation project to the Clubhouse Apartments located on Crittenden Drive near Belknap Campus. The university purchased the property in July 2025 for $9.75 million. Assessment by architecture and engineering firm Luckett & Farley determined a need for significant renovations to the buildings on the property due to poor initial construction and lack of maintenance prior to the university’s purchase of the property.

The total cost of the renovation is estimated not to exceed $75 million. The committee also approved a financing plan for the project, which is scheduled to begin January 2026. Anticipated completion dates are August 2027 for two of the buildings and August 2028 for the third building.

Strategic Plan 2026-2030ĚýUpdate

President Gerry Bradley and Executive Vice President and University Provost Katie Cardarelli submitted the latest draft of the University of Louisville’sĚý to the board for review.

According to Bradley, this is the university’s most comprehensive strategic plan, which includes strategic priorities, goals, specific strategies to reach those goals as well as revisions to the university’s mission, vision and core values.

Initial drafts of the plan have been shared with trustees as well as university faculty, staff, students and other stakeholders since May 2025. Each new draft was developed based on constituency feedback. To further ensure transparency, Bradley, Cardarelli and strategic plan co-chairs gave plan updates to the UofL community at Town Halls and throughout the year.

Pending the board’s approval, the plan will be implemented in January. Then, 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.

Other Board of Trustees Actions

As legally mandated by the 2025 Regular Session Kentucky Senate , the board approved the Combating Antisemitism policy, which prohibits all forms of bias, discrimination and harassment, including Antisemitism. All such complaints will be investigated by the Office of Legal Compliance and Investigations in accordance with the existing university policy on .

The board also approved the December degree and certificate candidates. UofL’s newest alumni will be celebrated at the .

The winners were approved by the Academic and Student Affairs Committee. Award winners in the categories of Music Composition, World Order, PsychologyĚýand Religion were announced in early December 2025.

The next meeting of the UofL Board of Trustees is Jan. 22, 2026. Meeting minutes, dates and other information are available on the .Ěý

Cardarelli joined UofL as dean of the School of Public Health and Information Sciences in April 2024. In March 2025, she was appointed interim university provost to provide leadership for academic affairs and set the university’s curricula through collaboration with faculty, staff and students.Ěý

“Since Dr. Cardarelli arrived on UofL’s campus, she has, time and time again, proven her talents as an innovative, forward-thinking and strategic leader in higher education,” Bradley said. “For this search, we took every measure to garner feedback on our finalists from our entire university community. With so many outstanding candidates, we had much to consider, but we are confident that we found the best person for the job in Dr. Cardarelli.”Ěý

Cardarelli’s priorities will continue to focus on student success and further develop a strategic undergraduate success plan to dramatically improve retention. As interim provost, Cardarelli has played a key role in several initiatives such as the development of the university’s 2026-30 Strategic Plan, establishment of the Navigating Teaching Challenges program to support educators as they navigate legislative and policy changes and the development of the Student Success Task Force, which uses informed data and real-time problem-solving to improve student success.Ěý

Before coming to UofL, Cardarelli spent 10 years at the University of Kentucky, where she served in several positions, including senior associate provost for administration and academic affairs. She also served as assistant provost and senior assistant provost for faculty affairs, associate dean for academic student and faculty affairs, and department chair at UK. Her research focuses on community-engaged approaches to reducing chronic diseases in rural and urban communities. She has served as principal investigator on more than $14 million in grants funded by the National Institutes of Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, United States Department of Agriculture and other sponsors.Ěý

A professor of epidemiology and population health, Cardarelli received her Master of Public Health degree at University of North Texas Health Science Center in Fort Worth. She went on to earn a doctorate in epidemiology at University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston and completed the Executive Leadership in Academic Medicine fellowship at Drexel University.ĚýĚý

“To help further enhance UofL’s standing as a nationally recognized institute of higher education – one that is marked by student success, breakthroughs in research and strong community engagement – is the opportunity of a lifetime for me,” Cardarelli said. “I want to thank President Bradley, the Board of Trustees, the search committee and all those who supported my candidacy for this opportunity, and I very much look forward to working with our faculty, staff and students on shaping what will no doubt be a bright future for the University of Louisville.”ĚýĚý

“The value Dr. Cardarelli brings to this position cannot be overstated,” Bradley said. “We look forward to seeing her vision for UofL come to life in the short and long term.”Ěý

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 łÉČËÖ±˛Ą, 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 łÉČËÖ±˛Ą. 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 .

Reynolds, a UofL alumna, is CEO of Perception Institute, an organization of researchers, facilitators and strategists turning mind science research into solutions that apply to individual and institutional success. She previously served as CEO of the Louisville Urban League and was the first woman to hold this title in the affiliate’s 95-year history. Her career encompasses many firsts, including being the first Black woman to clerk for the Kentucky Supreme Court and the first Black inspector general for Kentucky.

Hollenbach is a managing partner of Hollenbach-Oakley, a Louisville-based commercial real estate development firm, which he co-founded in 1996. His firm has been involved with business park projects totaling over 3,500 acres and $1 billion dollars in real estate investment. A graduate of both Leadership Louisville and Bingham Fellows, he has served as a board member of the Louisville City FC Board of Directors, Louisville Sports Commission, the Building Industry Association of Louisville, Olmstead Parks Conservancy and the Old National Bank Advisory Board.

In other news …

Trustees conferred the Trustees Award to Jasmine Farrier, professor of political science and director of the UofL-Frankfort Internship Program. The Trustees Award was established in 1989 to honor faculty who have an extraordinary impact on students.

“Dr. Farrier’s commitment to student success is evident in her pedagogical approach, which balances rigor with accessibility and fosters intellectual curiosity while equipping students with practical skills,” said Trustee and Faculty Senate Chair Eugene Mueller. “Her ability to challenge students with complex constitutional and institutional topics — while simultaneously ensuring they build a solid foundation in critical thinking, research and civic engagement — is a testament to her excellence as an educator.”

The next meeting of the University of Louisville Board of Trustees will take place Thursday, May 22, at 1 p.m., in the Jefferson Room, Grawemeyer Hall. Board meeting minutes, schedules and other information are available on .

Executive Vice President and University Provost Gerry Bradley addressed ongoing dean searches. Ěý

• Semifinalist interviews for the dean of the College of Business concluded in February. Campus visits with four candidates began in mid-March. The search is expected to conclude by summer 2025.
• The dean search for the School of Dentistry is active and expected to conclude by summer 2025.
• Teresa Reed, dean of the School of Music since 2019, will step down in summer 2025 to return to a faculty position. Provost unit meetings on next steps were held in January and February. Associate Dean Krista Wallace-Boaz will serve as interim dean.

Bradley also provided an update on the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) reaffirmation of the accreditation process. Committee meetings have begun, with the application due in fall 2026 and site visits scheduled for March 2026.

Aaron LeMay, the newly appointed executive vice president for finance and administration and chief financial officer, reported on capital projects and budget development.

Both the steam/chilled water plant modernization project and the HVAC upgrade in the Chemistry Building are underway, on schedule and within budget. Ěý

LeMay said that “tuition and fees are exceeding the expected budget” because of continued record enrollment. The university’s liquid cash exceeds prior years due to budget, investment and asset management. Current liquid assets are more than $10 million greater than financials for fiscal year 2024 at this same time, and nearly $40 million greater than March of fiscal year 2023.

UofL’s CFO said he and his team are exploring new strategies that will continue to boost the university’s financial performance.

The University of Louisville Research Foundation and Board of Trustees will meet April 17, 2025. Agenda items and meeting minutes are available on the university’s .

This year’s officers, as submitted by the Governance, Trusteeship and Nominating Committee, are Diane Medley (chair), Larry Benz (vice chair), Brian Lavin (treasurer), Sherrill Zimmerman (secretary) and Diane Porter (at-large member).

Allie Rose Phillips, president of the , was sworn in as the new student constituency representative. Faculty Senate Chair Eugene Mueller continues his role as faculty constituency representative; and Staff Senate Chair Kevin Ledford continues as staff constituency representative.

Schatzel shared a which highlights the many achievements that the university realized over the past year. Following the presentation, she acknowledged the ongoing commitment to the university’s success demonstrated by the senior leadership team, faculty, staff and students.

Trustees attributed the university’s ongoing success to Schatzel’s outstanding leadership and commitment to bring UofL to the next level. Their remarks were part of Schatzel’s annual performance evaluation, conducted by trustees and representatives from the university community. Medley noted Schatzel’s efforts to build a strong senior leadership team, establish a solid working relationship with Kentucky state legislators and commit to many worthwhile and ambitious goals for the university.

The trustees approved the university’s in June. One of the drivers for that budget is the university’s strong philanthropy efforts. Keith Sherman, executive director and chief operating officer, reported that UofL’s main endowment pool stands at $914 million with investment returns at just over 11%. Additionally, FY 2023-24 fundraising was about $47 million.

continues to thrive as a premier health system in Kentucky. ULH CEO Tom Miller noted several recent achievements including the much anticipated opening of UofL Health – South Hospital in Bullitt County, Ky., this past March. Some of ULH’s strategies for 2025 include the expansion of the mental health services program across the commonwealth, buildout of the and seeking National Cancer Institute designation for the .

Jon Klein, UofL’s interim executive vice president for research and innovation, shared exciting news about a $24 million investment in clinical research infrastructure – the largest such investment in the university’s history. Funding, $12 million of which comes from the National Institutes of Health, will support the development of a clinical and translational research program at the university. A formal announcement will be made to the university community in the coming weeks. Watch UofL News for more information.

The University of Louisville Board of Trustees committees will meet Thursday, Sept. 19, at 1 p.m., in Grawemeyer Hall. Meeting agendas, minutes and other information is available on the .