UofL’s inaugural Black Business Summit was held April 28 in the Main Ballroom of the Student Activities Center. Hosted by UofL Interim President Lori Stewart Gonzalez, along with Louisville ambassadors and business leaders Alice Houston, Ira Salls, Junior Bridgeman, Darrell Griffith and new UofL men’s basketball coach Kenny Payne, the evening included cocktails and a dinner presentation on how locally-owned companies can build mutually beneficial relationships with the university.��

The Black Business Summit showcased how collaboration can support student success and build a talent pipeline to all Louisville businesses. Over 300 guests attended representing 120 businesses from all sectors and areas of the community.

During the evening, guests heard from the university’s top leadership including Gonzalez, Interim Senior Vice Provost Gail DePuy, Interim Athletic Director Josh Heird and Payne.

“One of our Cardinal Principles is diversity and inclusion and, as we add more events like the Black Business Summit, we continue to provide opportunities to exemplify that Cardinal Principle,” Gonzalez said. “The Black Business Summit was an opportunity for business owners, but it was an even bigger opportunity for us to see how we can partner and grow with our local community.”

In addition to the speakers, video messages were played throughout the evening from Houston, Salls and Bridgeman, who each shared stories about their personal connection with UofL and the importance of empowering students to become the next generation of business leaders.

The Black Business Summit also was an opportunity for the university to share the mission and vision of the new Center for Engaged Learnin, a resource designed to improve students’ educational experience while creating opportunities with our community businesses. These opportunities include internships, apprenticeships, research projects, community service and more.

“The success of this event proves how the community wants to grow its ties to UofL,” Griffith said. “I’m grateful to be involved in creating such a great event, and I’m excited to see how we can continue creating partnerships locally.”

UofL and the Department of Procurement Services are committed to engaging with the local community to increase awareness of potential opportunities for supplier diversity and develop mutually beneficial relationships with all businesses.

On April 18, Interim President Lori Stewart Gonzalez and Interim Provost Gerry Bradley conferred the 2022 Presidential Excellence Awards during the Celebration of Faculty and Staff. The awards recognize the employees whose personal and professional commitments to student success impact the entire university community.

Here are this year’s winners.

Cardinal Principles Champions
The Cardinal Principles Champions award honors faculty and staff who demonstrate one of the Cardinal Principles at the highest level of impact.
• Kathy Meyer, Community of Care
• Asma Addarrat-Edwards, Accountability
• Leondra Gully, Respect
• Nakia Strickland, Diversity and Inclusion
• Avery Kolers, Integrity and Transparency
• Mani Vangalur, Noble Purpose
• Cecilia Peredo, Agility
• Dwayne Compton, Leadership

Distinguished Faculty Awards
These awards honor faculty who bring distinction to the university through their commitment to the areas of service, teaching and outstanding scholarship, research and creative activity.

Outstanding Scholarship, Research and Creative Activity
• Jun Yan, School of Medicine, Basic and Applied Sciences
• Kristi Maxwell, College of Arts and Sciences, Creative and Performing Arts
• Donald Miller, School of Medicine, Career Achievement
• Manju Ahuja, College of Business, Social Sciences
• Andrew Rabin, College of Arts and Sciences, Humanities

Distinguished Service
• Chris Fitzgerald, School of Music, Service to UofL
• Fannie Cox, University Libraries, Career of Service
• Jose Fernandez, College of Business, Service to the Profession
• Anne Wallis, School of Public Health and Information Sciences, National/International Service
• Sharon Moore, Kent School of Social Work and Family Science, Service to the Community, the Commonwealth and/or the Region

Distinguished Teaching Professor
• Matthieu Dalle, College of Arts and Sciences, Full-time
• Tamer Inanc, Speed School of Engineering, Full-time
• Kimcherie Lloyd, School of Music, Full-time
• John Wise, Sr., School of Medicine, Full-time
• Edgardo Mansilla, Kent School of Social Work and Family Science, Part-time

George J. Howe Distinguished Staff Award
This award recognizes the contributions of an extraordinary UofL staff member who exemplifies the traits of its namesake George J. Howe (humility, generosity, and excellence in leadership) as well as the Cardinal Principles. This staff member’s career has had an exceptional impact on the university and its vision to be a great place to learn, work, and in which to invest.
• Marvin Mitchell, Senior Associate Athletic Director

Outstanding Performance Award
The Outstanding Performance Award recognizes university staff who inspire others through their outstanding dedication and commitment to UofL.
• John Burton, Library Specialist, University Libraries – Technical Services
• Connie Cox, Coordinator, Kent School of Social Work and Family Science
• James Creg, Program Manager, Department of Continuing Medical ����ֱ��
• Robert Fry, Database Analyst, University Planning, Design & Construction
• Victoria King, Custodian, Physical Plant
• Colleen Martin, Director, Student Disability Resource Center
• Christy Metzger, Program Director, Student Success Center
• Betty Nunn, Administrative Specialist, Bioengineering
• Steven Riley, Scientific Instrumentation Specialist, Chemistry
• Vanessa Streble, Administrative Associate, UofL Innovation & Commercialization

Outstanding Supervisor Award
This award recognizes supervisors who create a culture of engagement that includes supporting the development of team members and sending a strong, consistent message of respect, compassion and trustworthiness.
• Amber Roberts, Director of Undergrad Academic Student Services, College of ����ֱ�� and Human Development Office of Undergraduate Advising and Student Development

Team Impact Award
Team impact Award winners honor a team of dedicated employees who work collaboratively to realize their vision.
• The Prevention, ����ֱ�� and Advocacy on Campus and in the Community (PEACC) Center – Tisha Pletcher, Lamont Johnson, Kathleen Elsherif, Kayla Ray and Alyssa Collina

Presidential Commission Awards

Commission on Diversity and Racial Equity
• Presidential Exemplary Multicultural Teaching Award: Cynthia Ganote
• Presidential Exemplary Multicultural Staff Award: Shirley Wu
• CODRE Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Resident Leader Award: Abbas Rattani
• CODRE Commissioner of the Year Award: Maria Tinnell

Commission on the Status of Women
• COSW Catalyst: Karen Christopher
• COSW Champion of Advocacy: Stella Wang
• COSW Champion of Communications: Leondra Gully
• COSW Climate & Equity Champion: Riece Hamilton
• COSW Commissioner of the Year: Heidi Neal
• COSW Volunteer of the Year: Meagan West

UofL Interim President Lori Gonzalez and local officials gathered Friday to announce the effort through Supplies Overseas (SOS), an organization that works with area hospitals and healthcare providers to collect gently/unused medical supplies and send them to those in need.��UofL surgeon Gordon Tobin, a founding board member of SOS, also participated in the announcement.

Former ambassador to the Slovak Republic Tod Sedgwick said his contacts in Ukraine stressed the need for medical supplies. The local organization has collected almost 20 pallets of supplies – worth more than $100,000 — including bandages, defibrillators, and anesthesia and orthopedic supplies, said SOS president Denise Sears.��The organization also is sending personal protective equipment in response to Covid-19 concerns in the region.

SOS has worked with local philanthropist Christina Lee Brown to secure funding for the initiative, and officials from UPS have offered their services to help transport the supplies.

“This is a partnership of many elements of our compassionate community,” Tobin said, noting that the organization was created more than two decades ago by physicians at the UofL Department of Surgery, with early participation by UofL, Jewish and Norton hospitals. “And they continue to supply the needed supplies you see here today.”

Tobin said SOS has shipped more than $60 million in supplies to more than 106 countries around the world.

Gonzalez said UofL’s participation is an example of one of its Cardinal Principles, being a Community of Care. And she thanked those who have pulled the initiative together.

“This is an example of the university and the city stepping up to help those in need,” she said. “To the people of Ukraine, you are in our thoughts. You are in our prayers. And more importantly … we are able to take action to actually give help on the ground.”

People wishing to donate medical supplies can drop them off at the SOS headquarters, 1500 Arlington Avenue in Louisville, or request pick up for larger items.��The first shipment of supplies to Ukraine is expected to leave Louisville early this week.

UofL News: What attracted you to the University of Louisville when you initially applied for the provost role last year?

Lori Gonzalez: Well, first, it’s home. I am originally from Rockcastle County, so Kentucky is home. We’re happy to be closer to family and friends.

More important, the fact that UofL is a premier metropolitan research institution and a community engaged institution was intriguing to me. I saw similarities between the cities of Louisville and Memphis, where I worked at the UT Health Science Center. It was important to me that the institution was committed to addressing the Grand Challenges aimed to bring together all the intellectual capacity across Louisville to improve lives while elevating UofL’s national reputation. As I have stated many times, as UofL is elevated, so are Louisville and Kentucky.

UofL was a match for my interests and experiences – a strong traditional campus and an academic health center. Its rich history in athletic excellence corresponds with a loyal fan base.

I see UofL as an institution that embraces its history, identity and distinctiveness. UofL sets lofty goals then works to achieve them. The acquisition of KentuckyOne Health is an example of taking a risk to achieve important goals. Because of the acquisition, UofL Health made a huge difference during the pandemic, serving over a million patients last year alone. Many lives were saved because of this strategic acquisition.

Finally, I was attracted to UofL because it clearly demonstrates that is a student-first institution. Equity and diversity are hallmarks of UofL, and it leads the way in its continuing quest for becoming the university for all. UofL graduates move into the workplace as leaders ready to meet the challenges of today and tomorrow.

UofL News: What was your initial reaction when President Bendapudi announced she was leaving, elevating you to the president’s role in just a short amount of time?

Lori Gonzalez: It was bittersweet. I was happy that she was tapped to lead such a prestigious institution as Penn State, but I was sad to have her move on. She has been a terrific boss and I was looking forward to our partnership to build on the momentum that I saw when I first applied for the position of provost. I wish her very well and know she will continue to take my calls as I navigate this interim role.

UofL News: Do you feel you’ve settled into the role of interim president?

Lori Gonzalez: I have been in higher education administration for over 20 years, and I’ve worked closely with several presidents. My experiences as a dean, vice chancellor and a provost have prepared me for this challenge. While the focus of the provost is internal, the work of the president has much more public-facing responsibilities. As both Provost and President I have enjoyed very productive interactions with business, community and governmental leaders as well as our donors and other academic leaders.

I’m just about two months into the job, so I am sure there will be some surprises. I inherited a strong, talented and supportive team and because they excel in their roles, the campus has continued its forward momentum, if not accelerated it. I am also grateful that the Board of Trustees provided such strong support during and after the transition.

UofL News: Now that you’ve had some time to acclimate, what are your biggest priorities in the president’s role?

Lori Gonzalez: Our three-year strategic plan is in its third year so we will begin work on a refresh of the plan. While the focus will remain on being a great place to learn, work and invest, I would like to see the goals within each pillar focus on those areas that will make us distinctive. We should answer the question, ‘What makes UofL different from any other institution?’

One of our highest priorities will be student success. We want to focus on growing enrollment. I view enrollment as an opportunity to offer the population of the state a high quality and life-changing education that we are honored to provide. Strategies for enrollment range from strategic recruitment of out-of-state, international and transfer students and adult learners to creating exciting, interdisciplinary face-to-face and online options. We should ensure every student has an engaged learning experience and an opportunity to increase their digital literacy. Finally, by focusing on retention as a responsibility of everyone on campus, we can graduate more students in less time and help the state in so many ways, especially in workforce and economic development.

Financial sustainability is critical and through the efforts of our outstanding CFO, Dan Durbin, and our unit leaders, we have had improved budgets for several years in a row. We want to find continuing funding sources for compensation to ensure that employee salaries are competitive. So far, the state budget looks favorable to higher education, and we hope our budget requests are included in the final budget.

Building strong connections with the community, business and industry, donors, governmental officials, friends and fans also remains a top priority. UofL is well positioned to make contributions in the workforce, life-changing research and civic engagement. We want to share our accomplishments and partner with others to address the challenges of the university, city and state.��

UofL News: You’ve made some key appointments since December. How will they support your plans moving forward and what appointments remain?

Lori Gonzalez: Because my appointment to the interim role happened very quickly, our initial focus was both retaining our current high performing leaders and strengthening our leadership structure. While we needed key positions filled, we needed to take the time to do it right. As we move further into the semester, the leadership team is working well together. I am grateful to those who agreed to important interim roles and to work to keep the business of the university on track.

UofL News: How big a role has athletics played in your first weeks on the job? Has it been more or less what you expected?

Lori Gonzalez: A strong athletic program is critical to the overall success of the university. Our student athletes are leaders and their dedication to their sports bring students, faculty and staff together as Cardinals. The loyal fans support our teams with enthusiasm and this, of course, builds community.��

As everyone knows, we have had several transitions in athletics, including both the athletic director and men’s basketball coach positions. I have made a point to interact with and support many of our terrific coaches and their staff.��

So, while I have been more engaged with athletics in the interim president role than I did as provost, it hasn’t been surprising. I enjoyed watching our volleyball team at the Final Four and have cheered enthusiastically for our women’s and men’s basketball teams. I look forward to seeing all our teams take to the field, court, track and pool to show the community and nation what a No. 1 athletic program looks like.

UofL News: How would you describe your leadership style?

Lori Gonzalez: I characterize my leadership style as open and informal with an emphasis on building consensus. An institution is strongest when all the members of the campus are engaged. When an academic leader builds consensus, enables talent and establishes priorities, the campus can achieve its strategic vision. I believe that when core principles are at question or at stake, leaders should be prepared to work hard to reach consensus, if possible, but they must be able to make difficult decisions when necessary. I have spent my career focused on outcomes and taking action to meet the goals of the institution.��

My approach to leadership has been influenced by my father. He taught me that any opportunities I was given weren’t afforded to me because I deserved them more than any other person. My life is shaped by the belief that with great opportunity comes great responsibility. Giving back to one’s community and world was expected of me, and I also believe it represents one of the core principles of higher education.��

The Cardinal Principles resonate with me and the one I keep in top of mind every day is Noble Purpose. The Noble Purpose is my ‘why.’ I believe in the transformative power of education and work every day to ensure our students have an engaging experience in and out of the classroom and that our employees can thrive while meeting the academic mission of our university. By having the Noble Purpose as my touchstone, I have a constant reminder of UofL’s role in shaping the future.

On a lighter note, in the commonly used StrengthsFinder program, my five top strengths are: Arranger, Maximizer, Futuristic, Relator and Individualization.��

UofL News: What would you consider some of your biggest professional wins?

Lori Gonzalez: These wins aren’t mine alone. They resulted from the collective efforts of so many people. I’ll just list of few of the accomplishments from my past that bring me the most pride.

• As dean at UK, I invested in the research mission of the College of Health Sciences through hiring of strong research faculty. This investment, along with funding from the university, allowed the college to move from 44^th in research funding for schools of allied health by NIH in 2004 to 12^th in 2009.
• As provost at Appalachian State University, I led the strategic planning process that evolved to embrace sustainability as a core value underlying our plan. We had broad campus support and the plan, The Appalachian Experience: Envisioning a Just and Sustainable Future set the stage for the campus to move forward in very meaningful ways.
• As vice chancellor at the University of Tennessee Health Science Center, I led an effort to execute a plan to education students to address health equity and inculcate a focus on health as a human right by addressing the social determinants of health throughout our institution. Through our plan, titled Community Engaged Care, we created classroom and engagement activities to educate students about the social determinants of health.
• Thus far, as provost at UofL, we opened the Center for Engaged Learning which came of out the UofL strategic plan. The center will be the hub for students to become engaged in the high impact practices of undergraduate research, experiential education and community engagement.
• I am equally proud of my contributions toward the university’s enrollment stability since assuming the provost role. Our retention numbers have returned to pre-pandemic levels. This stability is critical to ensure students remain on track toward their academic success.
• The campus safely returned to in-person classes in the fall and we continued in the spring. We were successful and our campus remains one of the safest places in Louisville.
• I should mention the 1 percent salary increase for our full-time faculty and staff. Although the increase is small, our team continues to explore ways to support our faculty and staff.
• I am also very proud of the individuals I have mentored over the years. It is so fulfilling to see them move into positions of leadership in higher education including positions of chair, dean, vice president and president.

UofL News: What are some challenges you’ve overcome in your professional career?

Lori Gonzalez: Throughout my career, I’ve faced challenges large and small. I have had to deal with budget reductions that resulted in loss of positions and have had to discontinue low enrolled programs. I have addressed scientific misconduct and academic integrity cases. One of the biggest challenges came during my time as provost at Appalachian State. I placed a faculty member on administrative leave with a pay-pending investigation related to complaints about discrimination, retaliation and creating a hostile environment in the classroom. A small but vocal group of faculty members claimed that due process and academic freedom had been violated. The faculty senate considered a vote of no-confidence, and the motion carried by one vote.

I was fortunate to have strong public support from both the Chancellor and the Board of Trustees throughout and after this situation. Most importantly, I had overwhelming support from most of the other faculty along with many of the staff and students. As closure, all the documents associated with this situation were reviewed in full by our independent accrediting body (SACSCOC) review team during their onsite reaffirmation visit and they found no issues or irregularities with how the situation was handled.

While the vote was unfortunate, I stand by the decisions made because the role of the provost is to uphold the integrity of the academy. I went on to successfully lead the campus in the creation of the strategic plan and a review of academic programs. Because of the public nature of this challenge, I made a point to openly discuss the situation throughout the interview process at both the University of Tennessee Health Science Center and here at UofL. I also shared the details with President Bendapudi during my interview with her.

The experience was quite some time ago, but I continue to carry the lessons learned as a leader. Leadership within higher education, as with many large organizations, requires the ability to make difficult decisions under pressure and with the integrity of the institution and the students we serve in mind. I learned how important it is to seek advice and counsel in balancing the difficult task of applying policy and accountability. It is rare when everyone agrees with a decision, and it is important to hear other opinions and perspectives. However, at the end of the day, the leader must make hard decisions if the public investment in an institution is to be honored and sustained.

UofL News: Is there any issue or concern that keeps you up at night?

Lori Gonzalez: Along with so many UofL faculty and staff, I want to ensure our students have access to critical services, especially services focused on mental wellbeing. The pandemic has been hard on everyone, but especially our students. We know they are anxious and nationally the number of students with depression has increased over this period. While they’re enjoying classes and engagement on and off campus, they’re observing what is going on in our world – from political polarization to the devastating effects of climate change and – this too, must add to their anxiety levels.

Our faculty and staff deal with these same concerns. They have had many challenges balancing work and personal commitments in the most difficult circumstances. They’ve worked hard through this extraordinary time, and I want to be sure that we can begin to find the means to increase compensation that is too long in coming. We are working to identify strategies for long-term sources of funding to make UofL a truly great place to work.

UofL News: What would you say so far is your favorite thing about UofL?

Lori Gonzalez: That’s an easy one; its people. When I came to campus to interview, I received such a warm welcome from everyone. I told my spouse, Randy, that I just had to get the job! So many people have reached out during the transition with words of support and encouragement. Their actions, along with a fantastic leadership team, underscores that UofL is a great fit for me.

UofL News: What about the city of Louisville?

Lori Gonzalez: I feel a bit like Goldilocks – Louisville is just the right size – not too big and not too small. Randy and I have come to love the city and we are proud to call it home. The rich history and culture and the wonderful food scene are all part of why we enjoy living here. But as I said before about UofL, it is really the people that make us feel at home. We received such a warm Kentucky welcome when we returned home, and we are so glad to be back in the commonwealth.

UofL News: How do you spend your free time?

Lori Gonzalez: Randy and I are serial remodelers. We are currently working on our third house renovation. The kitchen and living room are completed and the bathrooms are up next. This is our third remodel and I must admit, I hope it is our last.

Our son, Clay is a musician and composer, so by extension, we are music lovers. We enjoyed going to his performances when he was an undergraduate and master’s student. He broadened our exposure to many different types of music. Our tastes run from the beautiful Bluegrass music of Kentucky to alternative rock.�� Two of our favorites are John Prine and the Avett Brothers.

I enjoy baking although I am not a master baker. We just finished watching every season of the Great British Baking Show and the amateur bakers put me to shame. Their creations made me realize I’m really not a baker, I just put things in the oven and hope they turn out!

UofL News: Are you a candidate to be the permanent president?

Lori Gonzalez: Since becoming interim president, I have been working to ensure the campus moves forward and that important initiatives continue and are successful. I will spend time reflecting on the position and whether I can add value in this role and then decide about applying for the permanent position. It was an honor to be tapped for the interim role and right now I’m focused on doing my best to lead our campus forward.

UofL News: Any other messages you want to share with the Cardinal community?

Lori Gonzalez: UofL is a catalyst for engagement, economic development and the creation of future leaders. I believe in UofL and will spend my time articulating the value of higher education to the state and the value of an education at UofL specifically. In the next few months, we will be working on spreading the amazing story of UofL to national audiences in ways we haven’t done before. This campaign will help extend our current Here and Beyond new branding initiative.��

In 2019, the private contributed $2 million to support the University of Louisville and, particularly, the Strategic Plan announced by Neeli Bendapudi shortly after she was named president

About $500,000 of the Gheens funding was directed to immediate campus safety and security enhancements. The rest was to fund seven strategic initiatives identified and created by committees of faculty, students, staff, alumni and community members through the university’s strategic planning process. Those projects, which were submitted by the Work, Learn and Invest committees and evaluated for potential impact and implementability, include:

Research Mentoring Academy

Participation in undergraduate and graduate research positively impacts retention, especially for underrepresented and underprepared students. But to be truly effective, the research also should be accompanied by appropriate peer mentoring, positively affecting both mentor and mentee. The newly established Research Mentoring Academy is designed to provide a foundation of best practice guidelines for mentoring, an opportunity for graduate students to learn and practice mentoring skills, and an environment to provide undergraduate students with a mentored research experience.��

The program consists of three parts:

• Developing skills and building confidence among graduate students through courses in communication, equity and inclusion, setting expectations and establishing boundaries, distorted thinking and growth mindset, and building a mentoring network
• Practicing and reflecting. Graduate students mentor undergrads through a proposed research experience; graduates meet to reflect and build skills; undergrads present their research results at an institutional showcase; graduate students discuss their experience at a research conference; and both parties reflect on the experience for assessment.
• Planning and achieving. Both parties conduct self-assessments to determine areas of strength and continued growth; graduates may continue to mentor undergraduates and will be paired with alumni mentors for continue learning; and all students will be supported in identifying skills for their career paths and the job market.

“We’re excited about the opportunity to offer a pipeline of mentoring training,” said Michelle Rodems, director for professional development, retention and success at the Graduate School. “We think this will contribute to the culture of quality mentorship overall at UofL – we know that graduate students who have training in mentoring and other personal and professional development skills end up having conversations about these with both their own mentors as well as their mentees. Both students and faculty benefit from an increased focus on effective research mentorship.”

Mentor/mentee teams will receive $1,500 per pair through the program, while alumni mentors will receive $100 honoraria for their participation. Gheens will cover the program costs, including administrative needs and the student funding, in its first year.

Cardinal Principles Marketing

UofL follows a set of guiding principles, the Cardinal Principles, that promote a culture of care, accountability, trust, equity and transparency. A proposal from a Great Places to Work subcommittee will ensure the Cardinal Principles are front and center for faculty, staff, students and visitors to campus.

The Gheens donation will help fund Cardinal Principles marketing initiatives to include display of the Cardinal Principles in high-visibility indoor and outdoor areas on all three campuses. In addition, the committee will print more than 2,000 t-shirts to be shared with incoming students during Welcome Week as well as intentionally place the Cardinal principles on the 2,000 Welcome Week schedule guides used by new students during Welcome Week.

“Creating bold, visible representations of the Cardinal Principles allows us to better tell our story,” said Glenn Gittings, co-chair of the subcommittee that proposed the campaign. “Sharing and leveraging that story allows us to grow partnerships and increase support.��“

Welcome Week T-shirts and schedules already have been distributed, and the signage installation begins in the spring. Gheens funding is covering the cost of the marketing program, including production and installation of the campus signage and printing and distribution of the t-shirts.

Outdoor Lighting and Safety

A survey conducted among Physical Plant custodial staff revealed concerns, substantiated by light-meter studies, about safety and security on the Belknap Campus, particularly in areas near waste/recycling containers, parking lots and railroad underpasses.

The university used Gheens funding to improve lighting and install security cameras in these high-concern areas. Physical Plant/Maintenance and Physical Security Management will be responsible for upkeep of the equipment.

Key upgrades on Belknap Campus included installation of lighting and cameras in parking lots near the affiliated residence halls on the west side of campus and behind Thrust Theater on Floyd Street.

“Appropriate lighting plays a significant role in the safety and comfort of our students, particularly those who must walk across campus in the evenings and early mornings,” said Mark Watkins, UofL’s chief operating officer. “Students, faculty and staff on all our campuses will benefit from the security provided simply by making sure they have safe walkways to get to and from their vehicles and residence halls.”

 The upgrades are expected to be completed by the end of the fall semester.

Last week: Gheens funding supported programs designed to improve the campus culture and provide 24-hour access to student services.

Next week: The Center for Engaged Learning will combine services and programs to give UofL graduates a significant leg up in their future employment and/or education.

Also, the 2021 winner of the Outstanding Supervisor Award, selected by a committee of peers, is Danielle Dolan, assistant dean and director in the A&S Advising Center.��

From Dolan’s nomination: “Danielle is the kind of leader that you want to work with for your entire career. She is kind, friendly, motivating, and genuinely cares about all aspects of your being. She has always encouraged a healthy work/life balance, with constant reminders to take care of ourselves. She consistently reminds us to make sure our mental health is a priority. After all, we cannot tell our students to do these things if we are not doing them ourselves! Danielle is the absolute embodiment of the Cardinal Principles. She has always worked diligently to create a community of care that is both accountable and respectful, both for our office and in working with our students. She creates an environment that allows everyone to be who they are and allows all voices to be heard and acknowledged. She has become a true leader by being transparent, honest and open with her staff and flexible in both processes and operations.”

The Outstanding Performance Award Winners are listed below.��

Jody Carroll, coordinator, vice president of Research – Technology Dev.

From the nomination: “Jody maintains great relationships with outside Intellectual Property law firms, is a leader when it comes to teaching others about financial responsibilities and goes beyond her role as financial coordinator by being a role model. She is very approachable, and kind and her positive attitude is contagious. Jody is a natural leader in our office. She always steps up to help new team members learn their role. No matter what else she has going on in her work, she continuously takes the initiative to help others and to drive our team to do the best we can in every situation. She is always willing to take on extra tasks that will make us a better team.”

Beverly Cooper, program assistant senior, International Affairs

From the nomination: “Beverly has been a dedicated employee at the university for almost 40 years. She is a consummate professional. She puts the International Student and Scholar Services (ISSS) team first, strives to get all involved, and has a student-centered mentality. In short, she has put her love in her job, her fellow staff members, and her university and community. Beverly has always been timely, resilient, and a self-starter. She asks the questions needed to fill in the blanks of any issues or concerns she sees in the office. She is dedicated to her customer service and making every international student feel welcome when they enter the university. She makes the university feel like family and like home for our students. For all the work that she commits to the office, dependability, hard-work, team-player, independent worker, bringing the office together to solve admissions concerns, and for being a genuinely wonderful person. She is not in this for herself. She is in it for the greater good and that is a lost trait.”

Carrie Faller, director of Workforce and Student Development, Metropolitan College 

From the nomination: “Carrie is a servant leader who consistently goes above and beyond her stated job description to ensure that the entire Metropolitan College community feels supported, valued and served on a daily basis. Carrie has worked for the University of Louisville for 13 years and I would be remiss if I let one more year go by without seeking an opportunity to recognize her work publicly. I believe Carrie is a phenomenal employee and an excellent example of how Cardinal Principles are put into action every day. Carrie excels in her work ethic, dependability, initiative, time management, organization and project management.”

Marcus Hayes, carpenter, Physical Plant

From the nomination: “Marcus demonstrates a high degree of effort, and always has a positive attitude toward his work assignments. [He] has never turned down work, and always gives 110% effort toward his daily assignments. We continue to hear feedback from students, staff and faculty that Marcus Hayes was helpful, respectful and friendly toward Physical Plant’s customers.” 

Carol Hines, unit business manager intermediate, Pediatrics – Infectious Disease 

From the nomination: “Carol has been a central figure in the success of the units that she has served and has been a central, exemplary and foundational member of the administrative structure of the Department of Pediatrics. Carol is always poised, calm, collected and kind. She is a role model for other staff in the division, unit, and the department. Her answer is always, ‘Yes… and is there anything else I can do?’ There have been some rough times in the past 20 years—personnel problems, long leaves of absence, transitions in leadership, financial constraints. But Carol’s steady, calm, competent approach has been a comfort to all of us at these times. Carol’s love for her work shows—her pride and sense of accomplishment is infectious.”

Justin Peterson, associate director of Intramural and Recreational Sports 

From the nomination: “Justin does everything with integrity and is committed to UofL students. He has helped to create a culture in the Student Recreation Center where customer service is a priority. He has excellent judgement and can be always be counted on the make the right decision. He always represents Intramural Recreational Sports and the university in a positive and professional manner. His work ethic is unmatched. He is a highly valued member of the Intramural Recreational Sports team, all of whom have the utmost respect for Justin.”

Eunice Salazar, unit business manager intermediate, Speed School – Conn Center

From the nomination: “Her consistently positive attitude and ‘take on anything’ mentality have characterized Ms. Salazar’s outstanding service to the university since her hire in 2013, and especially in her expanded capability as UBM since 2016. Eunice responds decisively and carefully to [her] barrage of daily administrative tasks and activities with the Cardinal Principles as her guide, consistently enabling the center staff, researchers, students, associated faculty, and industry collaborators as they navigate university, state and federal accounting and operations regulations. She maintains the center’s business dealings with a clear ethical compass and ensures training and adherence to best practices in accountancy.”

Joshua Spurgeon, research scientist, Speed School of Engineering 

From the nomination: “[Josh] has worked exceptionally hard to land a few significant grants for the Conn Center, including a prestigious NSF CAREER award, while also displaying strong service through community outreach activities that broaden the impact of the Conn Center’s activities. He has been dedicated to his students and tries his best to always be involved and accessible while mentoring graduate students. He has published 26 articles in five years in the Conn Center, including 4 articles with exceptionally high impact factors of 30+, and many highly cited works. He also has been granted one patent on solar-driven hydrogen generation from humidity in the air, and he has two other patents pending through UofL. He perseveres through tough challenges and research problems, and always takes the time to try to make sure that students are learning along the way. He also cares about his students as people and tries to build group unity beyond work activities.”

The inaugural winners of these awards are:

Community of care: Jenna Orwick, program coordinator, UofL Health Promotion

Orwick was a lead facilitator on the Growing Mindfulness Initiative, a campus-wide collaborative effort built around the Cardinal Principles to cultivate a community of care through mindfulness. She has coordinated weekly mindfulness programming and other services and workshops for the entire campus community. “Jenna has been essential in creating a culture on campus of compassion, gratitude, kindness and health mentally and physically,” according to her nomination.

Accountability: Cathy Carter and Roberta Devers from the Human Subjects Protection Program Office 

The office reviews research submissions that involve human participants and serves as the administration office to support the UofL Institutional Review Board. In 2020, the office transitioned its entire operation despite a high volume of time-sensitive work due to COVID. Carter and Devers have motivated the team by hosting discussions and meetings based on the Cardinal Principles.

Respect: Tamara Russell, academic coordinator senior, University Honors

According to her nomination letter, Russell “has a rare and extraordinary ability to subvert existing hierarchies to uplift and empower students. She is ceaseless and unwavering in highlighting students’ strengths, making space and creating platforms for them to speak their own truths, and supporting them to carry out their visions and plans … At the same time, she is able to see multiple perspectives and act as a liaison and mediator.”

Diversity and inclusion: Jonathan Hughes, director of admissions, Speed School of Engineering

Hughes has come up with creative initiatives that have yielded an increased number of African American and Black students attending the Speed School, according to his nomination. He also greatly increased the Latinx and first-generation student population at the school.

Integrity and transparency: Julie Dials, senior executive director of Development, University Advancement

According to her nomination, Dials exhibits the Cardinal Principles in her daily work. One of her values is also integrity. “She doesn’t just expect this of us as we deal with one another as well as with donors, but she also walks the walk. I have seen her time and time again display herself as an honest leader, one that extends grace and always assumes good intention.”

Noble purpose: Karen Thompson, administrative assistant, A&S Criminal Justice

During the pandemic, Thompson continued to come into the office, stating the work needs to be done and the faculty need support. According to her nomination, “Her belief in the noble purpose of our collective work has definitely helped the department’s faculty weather the storm of 2020-21, but it has also helped to shine a bright light on how her kindness, generosity and sense of care are too often underappreciated. This past year has made it abundantly clear … that things would fairly quickly start coming apart at the seams if she wasn’t there to keep holding it all together.”

Agility: Michael Mardis, Stephanie Reibert, Tim Moore, Angela Taylor, Heather Gentry, Kevin Lush, Ryan Sears, Joe Elliott, Amanda James, Lily Assgari, Kassie Flanery, Scott Burks, Vanessa Blair, Janet Cappiello, Paul DeMarco, Courtney Kerr, Reilly Brown, Zach Pennington, Mary Ann Vetter, Commencement Planning Team

The team recommended the postponement of May 2020 commencement due to the pandemic and began planning for a virtual celebration to honor what would have been the spring 2020 commencement date. The team then started to plan the virtual commencement ceremony in December 2020 and continued to meet weekly to plan and execute a return to in-person commencement exercises in May.

Leadership: Brandyn Bailey, Nubia Bennett, Blaz Bush, Valerie Casey, Sarah Garrison, Leondra Gully, Lisa Gunterman, LaJa Hurt, Jamieca Jones, Faye Jones, Goldie Latta, Daquarius Mahone, Marcos Morales, Monica Negron, Patsy Russell, Enid Trucios-Haynes, Marian Vasser, Aaron Weathers II, Phyllis Webb, Brevin Woodford, Shonna Boyd-Wagner, Kiana Fields, Vicki Hines-Martin, Karen Krigger,Jon Moody, Steven Osborne, Ryan Simpson, Tonia Thomas, Craig Ziegler, Diane Whitlock, Diversity and Equity Division

The DEI has stayed the course of its noble purpose, including some pushing back, to make a difference in the campus and the community, the nomination notes. “Even when they receive messages that their policy recommendations, messages or trainings are ‘too much’ or ‘not realistic’ or ‘don’t play nice enough,’ the DEI unit continues to speak up and out to try to make the action that is needed … As we move forward, this group will most likely continue to be instrumental in the leadership of the [Cardinal Anti-Racist Agenda] as the agenda must move from a dream into realities.”

Read more about these .

But the Brandeis School of Law at the University of Louisville is trying to change these statistics by addressing barriers to opportunities and providing mentorship to create greater equity, embracing the Cardinal Principles of leadership, diversity and inclusion.

Cameron Lyons and Lauren Neal, both second-year law students of color, are engaged in unique summer experiences. Lyons is taking part in a fellowship with the National Wildlife Federation. One issue he’s helping tackle is equitable access to the Land and Water Conservation Fund that he hopes will result in more outdoor recreation opportunities in disadvantaged areas.

“It is important to have diverse representation in environmental law for the same reason it is important to have diversity in any field – perspective,” Lyons said. “At the local, state and federal levels, attorneys of color contribute a unique perspective that safeguards the environment with respects to vulnerable segments of the population.”

Neal is a community engagement intern for Kentucky Waterways Alliance and a legal intern for the Kentucky Equal Justice Center. She is creating relationships between KWA and communities of color within Kentucky to give underrepresented communities a voice in planning about water sources. Her work with KEJC involves legal research and writing to help impact litigation and legislative (state and local) housing and consumer law issues within Kentucky.  

“Representation can make a world of difference when it comes to bridging the gap of communication so that the cycle of exclusivity and marginalization stops. Having a seat at the table allows for those conditions to be replaced by the empowerment of being present and, moreover, being genuinely heard in shaping the conversations about the environmental injustices that affect these communities,” Neal said.

Behind every great student is a great teacher

Both students credit Tony Arnold, Brandeis law professor and Boehl Chair in Property and Land Use, for mentoring them and making the connections needed to land their summer experiences.

“Professor Arnold has been the biggest mentor and encourager when it comes to my pursuits. He has been an amazing guide and wealth of knowledge on how to pursue my dreams – a true inspiration who has kept me motivated through a lot of tough times,” Lyons said.

Arnold says when law students of color become interested in environmental law and related fields like land use and natural resources, they need mentors who will encourage their interests and connect them to valuable opportunities in the field.��

“Too often Black and Latinx law students are steered, sometimes subtly and sometimes not-so subtly, to fields that are perceived to be most salient to communities of color, such as civil rights, criminal law and affordable housing law, or to fields that are high-paying, such as corporate law or major litigation,” Arnold said.

Although UofL’s Brandeis School of Law has a small environmental law program, mentoring is one of several reasons for the success in connecting law students of color to the niche.

Arnold says aspects of race and ethnicity are integrated into all courses in related fields of environmental, land use and natural resources law. This allows students to explore the ways in which environmental conservation and racial justice are interconnected.

In addition, Arnold’s research has influenced not only knowledge but also public policy and activism, which led to creation of the law school’s Resilience Justice Project. He has been involved in many community issues, including service on the board of the West Jefferson County Community Task Force, and has collaborated with the late Robert Garcia of in Los Angeles. Garcia was one of the nation’s top Latino environmental leaders and one of Arnold’s mentors.

Students have opportunities to work with Arnold on this research. Most recently, half of the co-authors of his most recent article, “Resilience Justice and Community-Based Green and Blue Infrastructure,” are current or former students of color.

“Our students get lots of personalized attention, support and encouragement,” Arnold said. “All students, but especially our students of color, need to know their professors are invested in them and their educational and professional development.” 

“Every member of our Cardinal family will be impacted by the actions that we are announcing today; admittedly, some more than others,” Bendapudi said. “I ask that everyone continue to show compassion to our colleagues and that we remain united through the coming weeks…We will continue to keep compassion, transparency and all of our Cardinal Principles at the forefront of our minds when addressing our financial realities. We will get through this together and we will continue to communicate with you every step of the way.”

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Additionally, UofL chief financial officer Dan Durbin explains the financial impacts on the university and UofL’s efforts to mitigate the financial challenges in the video below.��