During this year’s Feb. 26 Cardinals at the Capitol day, President Gerry Bradley explained priorities of UofL’s . Advances in student success and workforce preparation, research and innovation, health care and community service were a focus of conversations with Kentucky’s lawmakers.

At least 40 UofL students participating in the Frankfort internship program were part of the vital cadre of student leadership represented at Cardinals at the Capitol. These students represent more than a dozen different majors and 15 counties across the Commonwealth. Interns are assigned to both political parties and members of the House of Representative and Senate within the Kentucky General Assembly. Students learn from legislators ranging from freshmen to party leaders and committee chairs.

Two interns part of this year’s dynamic and energetic cohort are Gabriel Reed and Reese Cameron.

Gabriel Reed is a Northern Kentucky native following in his mother’s footsteps interning in Frankfort while attending UofL. The sophomore political science major is assigned to UofL alumnus Rep. Matt Lehman ’99, (D-67) where he serves in a district just 15 minutes from where Reed grew up.

Reed said his legislative tasks have given him a greater appreciation of the collaboration and communication that goes into decision making, as well as a greater sense of empathy for those whose issues he may not fully understand.

“No matter how small, I feel like my impact is ensuring that somebody out there is better represented than they may be without me,” he said. “I have met so many intelligent, gifted and passionate legislators, staff and fellow interns and their dedication inspires me daily. I have not just learned about the legislative process, but about myself in terms of new ways to think, analyze and express my views.”

Reese Cameron, assigned to Sen. Julie Raque Adams (R-36), hails from Flatlands, Ky. and is a sophomore double major in political science and business economics. Cameron said being able to experience the legislative process from the inside has enhanced her understanding of and passion for the work. “The environment I’ve experienced at the Kentucky Capitol is the epitome of professional, and everyone is so passionate about what they do and works so hard to make a difference. In the future, I hope to use this experience as a guideline that I can carry forward with me forever.”

View the Cardinals at the Capitol photo album on .��

The Kentucky Department of ����ֱ�� (KDE) has tapped UofL’s College of ����ֱ�� and Human Development (CEHD) to create the Kentucky Reading Research Center, a new entity that will support educators in implementing reliable, replicable reading programs and promote literacy development.��

The project includes a two-year, $6-million contract—one of the largest competitive grant awards in the CEHD’s history—and is renewable for up to five years.

Executive Vice President and University Provost Gerry Bradley and CEHD Interim Dean Amy Lingo, who will serve as executive director of the Kentucky Reading Research Center when it launches July 1, joined state officials and legislators at Bourbon Central Elementary School in Paris, Kentucky to announce the project on June 3.

“KDE looks forward to partnering with the University of Louisville as they establish the statewide reading research center,” said Robin Fields Kinney, interim commissioner of education at KDE. “It is truly a united effort as Kentucky continues its efforts to implement evidence-based, high-quality reading instruction and meet the diverse needs of our youngest readers.”

The Kentucky Reading Research Center will deliver research and data on high-yield instructional practices and strategies. It will also partner with KDE to establish a research agenda evaluating early reading models, instructional resources and evidence-based practices needed to help students improve their reading ability. The center will conduct ongoing research on reading programs throughout the state, including their cost, effectiveness and how well they maintain student progress over time. Based on the annual outcomes of the center, KDE will make recommendations about programming and funding to the Kentucky General Assembly Interim Joint Committee on ����ֱ�� by Oct. 1 every year.

State Sen. Stephen West (R-27), chair of the Senate ����ֱ�� Committee, sponsored Senate Bill 156, which called for the KDE to establish the new research center, during the 2023 Kentucky General Assembly session.

“The center will be a welcome addition to our state’s efforts to focus on evidence-based practices and improving statewide reading proficiency outcomes for students,” West said.

In 2022, West and State Rep. James Tipton (R-53), chair of the House ����ֱ�� Committee, co-sponsored the Read to Succeed Act, which called for a multifaceted approach to improve reading outcomes for all students. The Kentucky General Assembly responded and appropriated $22 million in funding to support the implementation of the act’s comprehensive efforts, among them a statewide reading research center.

“Early literacy is the foundation for life. It is critical for Kentucky students to be able to read at the highest possible grade level by the end of third grade,” Tipton said. “Our statewide reading research center and Executive Director Amy Lingo are poised to make a significant a contribution to P-20 literacy efforts in our state.”

Lingo noted that she began her career as a seventh-grade teacher, where she developed a passion for teaching young people to read. Leading the center will bring that passion and expertise full circle.

“It is a privilege for me to have the opportunity to support our educators and students alike by examining effective strategies and advancing our understanding of literacy education in Kentucky,” Lingo said.

“The creation of the Kentucky Reading Research Center signifies the university’s proactive stance in addressing the challenges and opportunities associated with literacy education,” she continued. “Through interdisciplinary collaboration, cutting-edge research and community engagement, we will strive to advance our understanding of reading acquisition, comprehension and intervention strategies.”

Bradley conveyed support for the center on behalf of the university and acknowledged the talented CEHD faculty who play a key role in its success.

“As a premier metropolitan research institution, we leverage our resources and expertise to address the pressing needs of our commonwealth, like reading instruction,” Bradley said. “To be entrusted to create the Kentucky Reading Research Center reaffirms our dedication to scholarly inquiry and our unwavering commitment to enhancing educational outcomes for all.”