UofL News: You started your career in dentistry and later transitioned into university administration. What’s a skill from your first career that has been surprisingly helpful in your current role?

President Bradley: Dentists must quickly diagnose conditions on the spot and act decisively to treat the condition and eradicate the problem. I think that has helped in my ability to quickly get the best information, triage accordingly, decide a course of action and implement the action.  

UofL News: You’re originally from Ireland and have lived in Switzerland and various parts of the United States. What’s something about Louisville that has genuinely charmed you?

Bradley: The warmth of the people and the size of the city. It is so convenient to get around and it has all the attractions one would need to have in a city: great restaurants, performing arts, historical sites and museums, bourbon tours, a zoo, an orchestra and more.

UofL News: When you first moved to Louisville, running was something you enjoyed. Are you still a runner or is there another form of exercise you now appreciate?

Bradley: I’m still a runner and ran the Kentucky Derby Marathon in 2024. Typically, I run approximately 30 miles a week and love the opportunity to get out and enjoy the scenery, along with the relaxation it gives me. It sets me up for the day. I like to run early in the morning, and then I don’t have to worry about trying to fit it into my schedule later in the day.

UofL News: Leading a university is only part of who you are – for example, you also have five sons. How to do strike a good work-life balance?

Bradley: I don’t take my work home; I leave it all behind. I rarely will email in the evening, only if I must, particularly if it’s people who report to me. I want my home time to be my family time.

UofL News: It’s a busy job to serve as UofL’s president. If you unexpectedly had an hour of free time on campus, what might you be doing?

Bradley: Walking through campus seeing students – that’s what I really enjoy doing during the day. I try to have at least some walking meetings during the week.

UofL News: If you could trade places with any UofL student or professor for a day, what major or activity would you choose to experience?

Bradley: I’d do something fun that I have no skill or talent doing. So, for example, I like to listen to music, but I can’t sing or play an instrument. It would be so cool, though, to be able to do this for one day.

UofL News: College is full of firsts for many students. Maybe it’s their first time away from home. Their first big group project. Their first time doing laundry. What is a story from a “first” during your college days?

Bradley: The first time being put under pressure with a rigorous curriculum, and I was no longer able to take my studies for granted. During college, I also was selected as the class president for the first time.

UofL News: You’ve navigated different roles within UofL, from dean to provost to president. How do you know when it’s the right time to take on a new challenge? 

Bradley: You don’t always know, occasionally opportunities come your way. Keep doing well at the job you have and sometimes you are asked to take on new jobs and roles.

UofL News: What advice do you have for students as they set their sights on a future goal or career?

Bradley: Never give up doing what you love.

Lawrence keynoted the school’s commemoration of Constitution Day 2023, which kicked off a in celebration of as UofL’s 19^th president and was part of the yearlong series of events marking the university’s 225^th anniversary.

Lawrence today is the secretary of the Phi Beta Kappa Society and was previously president of Brandeis University and dean of George Washington University’s School of Law. His topic was the role of universities in a fully functioning democracy.

He opened with a quotation from Justice Louis D. Brandeis: “If we are to be led by the light of reason, let our minds be bold.” And he closed with a quote from Brandeis’ protégé, Justice Felix Frankfurter: “To regard teachers—in our entire educational system, from the primary grades to the university—as the priests of our democracy is … not to indulge in hyperbole.”

“It is the special task of teachers to foster those habits of open-mindedness and critical inquiry which alone make for responsible citizens who in turn make possible an enlightened and effective public opinion (needed to create a functioning democracy),” he said.

“A renewed and strengthened national commitment to accessible and inclusive education will not only permit members of our society to live more meaningful lives, and more productive lives, but it will allow our nation to resist authoritarian impulses and embrace the openness of mind and spirit that are as essential today for a self-governing people in a democratic society as they were … 236 years ago when the framers signed the Constitution. …

“Indeed, the ultimate authority of their signing and the ultimate authority to which we must continue to appeal and which our nation is duty bound to educate, is, ‘We the People.’”

Lawrence’s address was followed by a spirited panel discussion that included Brandeis Law professors Cedric Merlin Powell, Enid Trucios-Haynes and Joe Dunman and UofL General Counsel Angela Curry.

The presentation can be viewed in its entirety A photo gallery from the event is

“More than 1,200 people — students, staff, faculty, alumni, donors, business and community partners, legislative leaders in Frankfort and D.C. — participated in those sessions,” said Schatzel, who began her tenure at the university in February and will be . “I hope that you take away from my remarks that I did not just listen, but that I heard from you during my listening sessions and that I’m committed to these eight presidential priorities.”

The eight priorities are:

1. To improve communications on our campus and trust in our community;
2. To enhance UofL’s research and innovation enterprise;
3. To advance inclusion and institutional equity;
4. To realize student success inclusive of all students;
5. To establish “s����ٱ𳾲Ա����” by standardizing and centralizing key systems and processes throughout the university;
6. To retell . “We are no longer a commuter school,” she said, calling UofL a “university with international impact and influence, an anchor institution for Louisville and Kentucky, and renown for our excellence in collegiate athletics.”
7. To create a coordinated community engagement plan to focus efforts for the best impact and become the foundation of UofL’s 2024 application for recertification as a .
8. To begin addressing concerns from the recently released faculty/staff compensation study. Reiterating that she is firmly committed to a deadline of Oct. 1 to present an initial plan that will address some concerns, she said, “Despite how we got there, addressing those concerns is now my responsibility.”

Schatzel also pointed to three items from the approved by the Board of Trustees earlier this year.

The first is the five-year Undergraduate Success Plan to advance inclusive student success and raise UofL’s six-year graduation rate from 62% to 70%. The plan also focuses on eliminating completion gaps for several demographic groups, such as Pell-eligible students who graduate approximately 10 percentage points below the overall student population.

The second is to complete and begin implementation of an Institutional Equity and Inclusion Plan that emphasizes UofL’s commitment “that all members of our community — inclusive of all identities, demographics, life experiences, abilities and ideologies — will be welcomed and supported so they can thrive and reach their fullest potential.”

Finally, she highlighted the new Five-year Research, Scholarship and Creative Activity Plan. It is aimed at retaining UofL’s coveted status as a with very high research activity by using benchmarks from other members of the . The AAU is made of the nation’s 71 leading research institutions.

“This is indeed one of the greatest universities in our nation and has created tremendous opportunity for thousands of students through the transformative education UofL offers,” she said. “… UofL graduates teachers, police officers, doctors, legislative leaders, entrepreneurs, pastors, engineers, accountants, artists, musicians and farmers. All our neighbors. … There is much to be proud of here at UofL and working together, there is indeed further greatness in our future.”

View photos from the Sept. 5 campus update event on .

Watch the entire address:

“I love Dr. Bendapudi. I’m excited for this day and I’ve been waiting for it,” said Kelly Carrico, a staff member in the Office of Finance and Administration. “It’s a big day for UofL  —a fresh start.”

A crowd of more than 2,500 attended the celebration, held on The Oval in front of Grawemeyer Hall.

Provost Beth Boehm told attendees that the inauguration recognizes “ancient and enduring” academic traditions. She also had high praise for Bendapudi: “She is a breath of fresh air,” said Boehm. “She has restored the university’s optimism.”

Several dignitaries took part in the celebration. The dais party included Gov. Matt Bevin, Rep. John Yarmuth, Mayor Greg Fischer and Robert Brooks Brown, a U. S. Army four-star general who previously worked with Bendapudi to create military education programs.

Fischer said he is impressed with Bendapudi and that they share many of the same values and ideals.

“We’ve made a pact to build the best town and gown in the country,” he said.

Western Kentucky University President Timothy Caboni was one of many education officials who traveled to Louisville for the inauguration. Caboni, who worked with Bendapudi when they were both at the University of Kansas, said he wanted to show his support “as a sister institution” president.

“We’re really pleased to be here to celebrate a new president as well as our good colleague,” he said

In her inauguration speech, Bendapudi talked about the importance of leadership, ownership and the courage to tackle big ideas.

cannot just be a hashtag or a slogan. It is our declaration of leadership and ownership,” she said. “We will all behave as owners of the university, because we are.

“Now, in the shadow of The Thinker, I want you to think with me big, bold thoughts, daring to imagine what would happen if we succeed, which we must and which we will.”

Several times during her address, Bendapudi expressed gratitude for the work of faculty and staff.

“Our faculty are inspiring. Not only are they committed researchers, they go the extra mile and invest time to build meaningful, deep, transformative relationships with our students,” she said. “Our staff work tirelessly to make this place run. They are the glue that holds this university together.”

She also told students, “you truly are the reason we exist and I have to tell you, you are among the best I have ever seen. I love you. I do. It’s not in the script but I cannot resist.”

and more highlights below. The ceremony is also .

On Thursday, Dr. Neeli Bendapudi will officially be sworn in as UofL’s 18^th president at an inauguration ceremony on The Oval.

Prior to her move to Louisville, Bendapudi was provost and executive vice chancellor at the University of Kansas. At KU, she was lauded as a skilled collaborator, fundraiser and faculty advocate. She has a PhD in marketing from the University of Kansas, and teaching experience at the Ohio State University and Texas A&M University.

In 2011, she returned to KU to become the School of Business dean and the H.S. Price Professor of Business. In 2016, she was promoted to provost and executive vice chancellor.

Though her formal inauguration is this week, Bendapudi’s appointment was approved by the university’s board of trustees in April, and she has been on campus since May.

At the time of her appointment, board chair David Grissom said, “She has such enthusiasm and passion. The more we looked into her credentials the more interested we became… to state it simply — she blew us away.” 

at the helm of this university dates all the way back to 1846. UofL’s first president was Samuel Smith Nicholas, who held that position for just one year – 1846 to 1847.

He was succeeded by James Guthrie, whose 22-year tenure from 1847 to 1869 was the longest of any UofL president. Other than Nicholas’s stint, the shortest tenure was held by George Colvin (1926 to 1928).

Philip Grant Davidson (1951 to 1968) was UofL’s last president prior to entering the Kentucky state system and becoming a public institution in 1970. That effort was led by president Woodrow Mann Strickler, who held the role from 1968 to 1972.

Since 1846, UofL has had 18 presidents and eight acting presidents. Bendapudi is the university’s first permanent female president, but Carol Garrison served as acting president during the summer of 2002.

The presidential list also includes some other recognizable names to those familiar with campus – Kent, Strickler, Ekstrom, Miller, Swain, Shumaker.

Technically, the University of Louisville dates back to the merger of Louisville College and the Louisville Medical Institute in 1846, but the institution’s history – and its leadership – goes back even further.

On April 3, 1798, eight Louisvillians declared their intention to establish the Jefferson Seminary and began soliciting funds to buy the necessary land, buildings and other expenses to bring this institution to fruition. According to “The University of Louisville,” by Dwayne D. Cox and William J. Morison, their efforts were the first steps in the creation of the modern-day University of Louisville.

Accordingly, .

From 1813 to 1829, Jefferson Seminary was led by four presidents: Mann Butler, William Tompkins, Charles M’Crohan and Francis Goddard.

The institution then morphed into the Louisville Collegiate Institute, from 1837 to 1840, which included two presidents: Benjamin Farnsworth and John Hopkins Harney.

Harney also led Louisville College, that institution’s only president, from 1840 to 1846, while the Louisville Medical Institute (1837 to 1846) included three presidents: John Rowan, William Garvin and James Guthrie.

Inauguration information

Dr. Bendapudi’s formal inauguration is Thursday beginning at 2 p.m. on The Oval at Grawemeyer Hall.

The inauguration is part of a series of events scheduled all week designed to engage all of UofL’s constituencies. .��

Past presidents

The inauguration is part of a series of events scheduled next week designed to engage all of UofL’s constituencies — faculty, staff, students, alumni and the Louisville community — with festivities planned for all three campuses.

The celebration kicks off on Tuesday, Oct. 2 at 11:30 a.m. at the SAC with a student social. All UofL students are invited to eat lunch with Dr. Bendapudi, which will be served by faculty and staff.��

Later that same day, at 6 p.m., an open reception and panel discussion will be held at the Speed Art Museum. The discussion will focus on UofL’s Town and Gown relationship and includes Dr. Bendapudi, Mayor Greg Fischer and local education officials.

On Wednesday, Oct. 3, those on the Shelby Campus will be able to welcome Dr. Bendapudi with a breakfast, beginning at 8:30 a.m. The HSC faculty and staff social, in the HSC Plaza, begins at 11 a.m. Oct. 3, while the Belknap faculty and staff social is at 2 p.m. Oct. 3 in the Humanities Quad.��

The final event of the week is the Inaugural Celebration, which will be held at 3 p.m. after the formal ceremony on Oct. 4. Faculty, staff, students and community members are welcome to attend.��

The full slate of inauguration events .��

Brothers Eric and Christian Bush joined Evan Wright for the 608-mile trek to the nation’s capital Jan. 20 to witness the peaceful transition of power first hand, while fellow McConnell Scholar Celia Cusick was one of the millions of women to protest at the Women’s March the next day. Despite their opposing political views, all agreed that witnessing – and taking part in such a historical event – was an experience they’ll never forget.

“It was a pretty surreal moment, seeing so many important political leaders – past presidents and congressional leaders – coming onto that stage,” Eric Bush said. “Watching these people, who have said some pretty nasty things about each other during the campaign, come together to watch the peaceful transition of power – which is a uniquely American experience – was very impactful.”

For Cusick, taking part in the Women’s March was an equally-powerful experience.

“It was empowering for me to be there because, it was about standing up for not only who I am as a person but for those who can’t stand up for themselves,” Cusick said. “This was me putting my words into action and telling the public and the president that his words and actions reflect all of us and they’re not OK.”

For Wright, the inauguration was a family affair, attending both the inauguration and the Freedom Ball later that night with his father.

“We decided we wanted to go because we wanted to be a part of this historic moment,” Wright said. “You see it on TV, but it’s not really real until you see it in person. It really was one of the best days of my life.”

The McConnell Scholars were interviewed last week on UofL Today with Mark Hebert about their experiences in Washington, DC. .��