I want to make sure to recognize and appreciate the heroic actions of those in our community who responded quickly, bravely and professionally in the early moments of the horrific attack and throughout the day.Ìę

I know you all join me in offering our tremendous gratitude to the courageous officers of Louisville Metro Police Department who rushed into the Old National Bank Building, saving lives while putting themselves at great risk.

Within minutes, officers from our own UofL Police Department arrived to support LMPD. These brave members of our community worked quickly with LMPD to secure the scene itself as well as throughout the hospital district. I cannot say it often enough how greatly I appreciate our colleagues – the officers of ULPD – as each day they work tirelessly to keep our community safe.

We all recognize with deep gratitude the efforts of our colleagues at UofL Health – UofL HospitalÌę– the trauma doctors, nurses and staff – who provided outstanding emergency medical care to those injured in the attack and continue to care for them. In our darkest moments, these heroes, as well as other first responders, exhibited true bravery and professionalism in serving their fellow citizens. I feel, as I know we all do, humbled by their actions and grateful to all of them.Ìę

I want to remind everyone that asking for help, especially in times of trauma and stress, is a most important part of recovery. Help is available for those needing additional support. Students can call ourÌęÌęat 502-852-6585 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. or accessÌę other options atÌę. Counseling for our faculty and staff is available through our Employee Assistance Program provider, Anthem EAP. CallÌę800-865-1044 or go toÌęÌę> Select “Member Log In” > Type “University of Louisville.”ÌęÌę

As we all work to find a path forward in the midst of this tragedy, although I have only been a part of UofL for less than three months, I have great faith in our Cardinal and Louisville communities. I have quickly learned that Cardinals stick together, especially when they need each other most. Please take an extra moment to care for yourself, your classmates and your colleagues, and don’t hesitate to reach out to the university for support.

Sincerely,

Kim Schatzel, Ph.D.
President

This year, more than 700 students submitted recommendations for Student Champion Awards, yielding 547 recipients representing several schools, colleges and offices.

“A UofL diploma represents a communal investment in academic, professional and personal success,” said interim President Lori Stewart Gonzalez, who as provost initiated the Student Champion Award program in 2021. “As our students succeed, so does our university. My thanks and congratulations to the winners of this year’s Student Champion Award.”

The College of Arts & Sciences received the most nominations, with student submissions recognizing 173 faculty and staff across multiple departments. Students also recognized 63 employees in the College of łÉÈËֱȄ and Human Development, 45 employees in the School of Medicine and 33 employees in the College of Business.

Raymond Chastain, associate professor in the College of Arts & Sciences, Amy Hirschy and Susan Longerbeam, both associate professors in the College of łÉÈËֱȄ and Human Development, and Leondra Gully, director of the Cultural Center, received the most acknowledgements from the student body.

“Our Student Champion Award recipients demonstrate the kind of faculty and staff that make UofL a great place to learn,” said interim Provost Gerry Bradley. “Their commitment exemplifies the Cardinal Principles of Community of Care and Noble Purpose. The support they provided and the relationships they developed were vital to the university’s mission.”

All faculty and staff names that were submitted as Student Champions can be viewed [PDF].

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.ÌęUofL 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.ÌęThe 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.ÌęThe first shipment of supplies to Ukraine is expected to leave Louisville early this week.

Organizers are also working to plant seeds to spread that principle throughout Louisville and Southern Indiana.Ìę

The raiseRED youth philanthropy program encourages local high schools to hold fundraisers in support of raiseRED, inspiring younger students to get involved and, hopefully, continue that involvement in their college careers.

Since 2017, these fundraisers have added more than $189,000 to the $3 million total raiseRED has tallied to support the Norton Children’s Cancer Institute and the School of Medicine’s Department of Pediatrics’ Division of Hematology and Oncology.Ìę

“The Youth Philanthropy Program of raiseRED gives younger students a chance to become leaders in their own setting and find something they are passionate about,” said Megan Bryant, a senior elementary education major who is heading the program this year. “Seeing their passion for helping people affected by pediatric cancer and blood diseases is inspiring. They are not putting themselves first, and they are making sure they put all of their energy into helping others.”

raiseRED volunteers reach out to area schools (often their alma maters) every year to encourage partnerships. This year for the first time, raiseRED is getting some help from Children’s Miracle Network, which has a team of dance marathon experts that offer advice and support.Ìę

For 2022, four area high schools are planning their own mini dance marathons to support raiseRED. They are Louisville Male (raiseGOLD), Ballard (Dance Maroon), North Oldham (raiseTEAL) and Charlestown Senior, Indiana (pirateTHON).Ìę

pirateTHON, a first for Charlestown Senior High School, shows the power of creating a youth service pipeline: Its creators are sisters Demaria (a senior) and Anneiah (a sophomore) King, whose older sister, DeAsia King, is a raiseRED veteran and this year’s executive director.

“Throughout my time with raiseRED, Demaria and Anneiah have learned a lot about our organization and have even attended various events we have put on,” said DeAsia King, a senior neuroscience major. “My participation and their interest in the cause motivated them to create their own program.”

Demaria and Anneiah King hope this will be the first of many raiseRED marathons at their school.

“When I leave, I want them to continue running pirateTHON even better than this year,” Demaria King said.Ìę

Anneiah King added: “Since Charlestown is such a small town, we can bring our community together as a whole. It’s phenomenal to see all of my fellow students come together and help out with pirateTHON. It will be really nice to continue pirateTHON for the rest of my high school career and hope that it continues when I graduate.”

The 18-hour raiseRED dance marathon marks the culmination of fundraising events held throughout the year, and was last held in person in 2020, when it inadvertently landed in UofL’s pandemic history books as one of the final in-person events of the 2019-2020 academic year.

The 2021 version was an enthusiastic virtual affair that, despite its limitations, still raised more than $507,000. This year, the marathon returns to an in-person, indoor experience that begins Feb. 25 at 6 p.m. and ends Feb. 26 at noon in the Student Activities Center ballroom. Covid-19 protocols will be observed. About 1,000 UofL students participate each year.

With raiseRED’s support, the pediatric oncology and hematology clinic, located in the Novak Center for Children’s Health on the Health Science Campus, has been able to add a researcher and hire a full-time social worker. The center’s director is Dr. Ashok Raj.

The raiseRED website, , is filled with inspiring stories from grateful patients and their families. To donate, .Ìę

For UofL student Karthik Kalvakuri, however, that simply wasn’t an option. When businesses and schools shut down across the country, too many people found themselves struggling to make ends meet and he felt the urge to help.

Ten of his peers also felt such an urge. Together, they started facilitating projects for Mission CuraKid, with a simple intent: “Doing our part to help spread smiles in these unprecedented times.”

At that point, Bangalore, India, native Kalvakuri had already started Mission CuraKid to help ensure children in impoverished countries had access to proper health care services. But when COVID-19 hit, he turned the nonprofit’s global focus closer to Louisville.

The junior biology major recruited 10 of his UofL peers to help: Shria Narapaneni (biology), Donna James (neuroscience), Amini Patel (neuroscience), Manav Patel (mechanical engineering), Gopika Gopan (biology and neuroscience), Dakshin Devanand (neuroscience), Chandani Patel (neuroscience), Neel Patel (exercise science), Karthik MalyalaÌę (computer science engineering) and Pranav Talluri (finance).

Their first project was to collect supplies and food for schoolchildren who were pulled out of their schools in 2020. They reached out to local businesses asking for donations of school supplies, health and hygiene items, snacks and masks, and assembled backpacks for 150 children. They also wrote notes of encouragement for those students abruptly isolated from their peers.

The Mission CuraKid group didn’t want to stop with a one-and-done service, however. They completed a second, similar project in August 2020, donating backpacks to 370 children within the Louisville area.

Their third project was completed in December 2020, during which Mission CuraKid donated 200 backpacks with school supplies and sanitary materials, and 130 baskets filled with food and nonperishable items.

The group’s fourth and most recent project was completed last month and was its biggest yet, with 600 totes filled with sanitary and school supplies for children starting school this fall. The totes were donated to nine different charities.

“We noticed that more often, it was kids caught up in the middle of these struggles. We chose these projects based on need. Our second and fourth projects were completed right as school began so that we could provide school supplies to children and give them a good start to the year,” Kalvakuri said. “Our third project was completed in December 2020. We wanted to help families have a secure and happy holiday season even with the pandemic happening.”

Though the idea to localize Mission CuraKid came from the pandemic, Kalvakuri wants to continue its mission if/when it ends. The UofL students also want to continue the work after they graduate.

“We are hoping to expand with more members and bigger projects,” Kalvakuri said. “As long as there is work to be done and people in need of help, Mission CuraKid wants to do its part. I believe a good community looks after each other and grows together.”Ìę

Follow Mission CuraKid’s projects on its .

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 OfficeÌę

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:ÌęMichael 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 .

After developing symptoms such as fever, fatigue and trouble breathing, Booker headed to a Louisville emergency room for what he thought was a case of pneumonia. Much to his surprise, the nursing staff informed him that had contracted the COVID-19 virus. He was admitted to the hospital and was immediately prepped for a CT Scan. That’s where Booker’s memory goes dark.

“I woke up over a month later in Lexington, not knowing where I was at. A nurse came in and started asking me questions. She asked me what month I thought it was. I went in on July 18 – so I told her July. It was September.”

Booker awoke from his medically-induced coma over 70 miles from home and surrounded by a sea of needles, tubes and life-supporting medical equipment. The medical staffs of three different hospitals had worked diligently to save his life, but Booker wasn’t out of the woods just yet.

While Booker had survived a 95-day battle with COVID-19, the long road to rehabilitation was still ahead of him when he was transferred to Baptist Health Louisville on Oct. 11. He had lost over 50 pounds over the course of treatment. It was difficult to bear his full weight on his legs, and even more difficult to start walking again. The feeding tube that had kept him alive now presented him with new challenges to overcome. Booker had to re-learn how to eat, drink and speak again.

Overcoming these new challenges was a feat on its own, but Booker was determined to reunite with his family as soon as possible.

“I’m a father, so my biggest concern was getting back to my daughter. We are so close it isn’t even funny. For me, quitting wasn’t even an option,” Booker said.

On Oct. 23, Booker was discharged. He was met by a processional of friends, family and coworkers waving signs saying, “best day ever” and “welcome home.”Ìę After months apart, Booker was reunited with his overjoyed 4-year-old daughter. But this happy homecoming would unfortunately be cut short.

A sharp pain in his stomach immediately set off alarm bells for Booker. After returning to the hospital, doctors informed Booker that his gallbladder had failed. It needed to be removed, but his lungs were still weak for the surgery to be performed safely. After weeks of outpatient care and recovery from his rollercoaster battle with the COVID-19 virus, the surgery was carried out successfully. Demetrius Booker was finally going home for good.Ìę

Coworkers at the University of Louisville were among Booker’s biggest supporters during his battle with COVID-19 and gallbladder failure. Colleagues transferred their own sick days and vacation days to Booker. Some came with homemade signs for their coworker to celebrate his recovery. Many donated money to the GoFundMe page that mitigated healthcare expenses. Over $21,000 was raised throughout 5 months by over 340 donors.

When asked about the actions of his UofL family, Booker stated, “I was so taken back. I truly felt blessed. I didn’t even know that I impacted people like that. To everyone who donated hours, who donated money, who reached out saying they were praying for me – all I can tell you is thank you. I don’t know how to ever re-pay you. It truly was one of those things I’ll never forget. It really did touch me.”

Booker went on to highlight the impact of his supervisor, Kari Donahue. Donahue helped promote the GoFundMe page started by Booker’s family. Through Donahue’s coordination and commitment, Booker was able to maintain his full salary despite his months of intensive care.

“She fought tooth and nail to make sure people knew my story. She wanted people to know that one of her employees was going through it, and that alone speaks volumes. We truly are a community within the workplace,” Booker said. “To know an employer is standing beside you like that – it makes you love and enjoy where you work and what you do even more.”

Two weeks into the semester, UofL has tested more than 14,200 students, faculty and staff and has seen only 215 positive cases, a positivity rate of less than 1.5%. In the past seven days, the rate has dropped below 1%. That compares to a community rate of about 9% and is well below that at many other colleges and universities. The university’s recent and cumulative testing rates are . In response to student concerns, the dashboard will be updated several times per week.

“We are pleased that our students, faculty and staff have taken the COVID situation so seriously,” said Phillip Bressoud, executive director of campus health. “The fears so many had expressed have not materialized. Now it is up to us to continue the good work to ensure our semester can continue without many of the issues other schools are facing.”

Bressoud cited several reasons for the early success, including strong participation in COVID-19 training modules mandated for students, faculty and staff before they return to campus. To date, about 78% of faculty and staff and more than 52% of students have completed the training despite many taking classes or working remotely.

Other factors in the early success include:

• Student, faculty and staff adherence to masking, physical distancing and hygienic practices
• Early identification and isolation of individuals carrying the virus
• The university’s contact tracing, which has helped identify and encourage testing among other individuals who may have been exposed
• Limiting of large gatherings on and off campus

“We are particularly impressed with our student cooperation,” said Dean of Students Michael Mardis. “Thanks to the leadership of our Student Government Association and our many student organizations, we have experienced very few problematic gatherings that we’ve seen at other universities. The willingness of students to care for themselves and for one another has been key to our early success.”

COVID precautions are still necessary to prevent outbreak

Despite these results, however, health officials have warned that the pandemic is far from over.

Steven Stack, Kentucky’s commissioner of public health, has raised concern about this week’s Kentucky Derby and Labor Day activities and their effect on COVID in the community. Stack said people should stay “Healthy at Home” as much as they can, practice social distancing when out in public, wear a mask when near othersÌęand wash hands often.Ìę

“If we all do these things, we have a much better chance for safer, healthier fall and winter holidays with family and friends,” Stack said.Ìę“These changes to our routines make an immense difference and save lives.”

Bressoud added a concern about the first home football game, Sept. 19. He urges students, faculty and staff to continue to be diligent in protecting against COVID-19.

“We know from watching other universities that it only takes one or two incidents to set off a COVID outbreak,” Bressoud said. “While we are so appreciative of our students and our community taking precautions so far, we need them to keep up the good work.”

“This is a team effort,” Mardis said. “Just like our football team needs all the players working together, our campus community needs everyone to do their part to ensure we can continue to have a safe and productive fall semester.”

“Cardinal Family,

This pandemic has surfaced many truths about our society. In many cases, it has highlighted the goodwill and caring community found across this country as individuals have banded together to help address the growing need created by the global public health crisis. In many other cases, however, it has shown us the glaring disparate impacts of Covid-19 on communities of color due to longstanding health and structural inequities, legacies of slavery and racism we grapple with still today.

In the last four months, we have come to know the names of Ahmaud Arbery, Breonna Taylor and most recently George Floyd. Ms. Taylor is from our very own Louisville community. Whatever your perspective on the specifics of each case, I hope we can agree that these three lives being taken from us so soon is devastating.

At the University of Louisville, Diversity and Inclusion is one of our core Cardinal Principles. This university strives to be a home and safe haven for our students, faculty and staff of color just as we strive to do this for all of the many rich and diverse identities held throughout our campus community. I believe that in many cases we succeed in helping people survive and thrive, but I am also certain that in numerous cases the same expressions of hate and exclusion that daily impact people of color and vulnerable communities outside the campus affect our Cardinal Family right here in our own backyard.

To our students, staff and faculty of color – I see you. I hear you.

Given these tragic incidents and mounting tension building in our own city and across the country, I know many of you are in deep pain having to confront these inequities, sometimes on a daily basis. Please know that I am here to support you, this university is here to support you and we will continue our endeavor to provide an environment where everyone can thrive.Ìę

I want to highlight some of the actions taken recently and others we will soon take to ensure we fully live out our commitment to being a Community of Care that values Diversity and Inclusion:

1. The Campus Environment Team is in the process of revamping the Bias Incident Response Team to better equip the university to support our constituents, track its occurrence, and implement strategies to counteract incidences of bias, microaggression and racism.
2. The University of Louisville Police Department’s primary mission is to focus on providing a safe campus community, which includes supporting diversity and equity within the department and on campus. The Department continues to be actively involved in open forums discussing critical racial issues that impact our campus and local community.
3. The Office of Diversity and Equity, the HSC Office of Diversity and Inclusion, and all affiliated offices are enhancing programming related to structural racism, and reaching out to support those experiencing pain and isolation as well as those who want to learn more and work to change inequitable structures.
4. The Department of łÉÈËֱȄ Leadership, Evaluation and Organizational Development in the College of łÉÈËֱȄ and Human Development, in collaboration with the Office of Diversity and Equity, are developing an educational series for faculty and staff on topics related to diversity and inclusion.
5. We have made available a curated list of resources on the Diversity and Equity site for the campus community to engage with to learn more about the historical legacy of slavery and racism in America.

These actions represent some progress, but they are not the solution. The thing that will ultimately change these unfair systems that continue to disproportionately harm people of color, particularly black people, is for each of us to learn more, to understand how we contribute, both knowingly and unknowingly, to these systems and to actively work to change them. I too am committing to learn more, to take real actions to make a difference, to be better and to do more.

The frustration and anger that has led to protests here and across the country is understandable. Each of us must choose how to take meaningful action to improve the society we live in. Take care of yourself and take care of each other. This is what our Cardinal Principle of Community of Care requires of each of us.

It will take all of us acting collectively with informed intention and empowering care to start to see the change we need. I ask each of us to please take an intentional step today to be better and to do more. I need your help. Our Cardinal Family of color needs your help. Our society needs your help.

Sincerely,

Neeli”