By Francis Von Mann

Department of Women and Gender Studies Ph.D. candidate Rebecca Lentjes and Department of Geography Ph.D. candidate Bea Abbott have been awarded 2026 Mellon/ACLS Dissertation Innovation Fellowships, making them the first University of Kentucky students to receive this particular fellowship. Generously supported by the Mellon Foundation and administered by the American Council of Learned Societies (ACLS), the program supports doctoral students in the humanities and social sciences as they pursue innovative approaches to dissertation research, including new methodologies, formats and collaborations with community partners beyond the academy.

Lentjes and Abbott are two of 50 graduate students selected from a pool of more than 1,000 applicants through a rigorous, multi-stage peer review process that drew on the expertise of more than 170 scholars

By Francis Von Mann

LEXINGTON, KY. (Nov. 12, 2025) – Bernadine “Bernie” McGhee never imagined herself with a college degree. But in 2022 at 61, McGhee crossed the stage of Rupp Arena with a bachelor's degree in liberal studies from the College of Arts and Sciences.

“I thought I’d be a factory worker for the rest of my life,” McGhee said. “College wasn’t part of the plan. But life has a funny way of circling back.”

McGhee grew up in Gary, Indiana, one of nine children in a family where steel dust clung to everything: clothes, homes, hopes and dreams. Her parents both worked in the mills, and she expected to do

By Jenny Wells-Hosley 

LEXINGTON, Ky. (Aug. 22, 2025) — Frances B. Henderson, Ph.D., associate professor of gender and women’s studies in the University of Kentucky College of Arts and Sciences, is one of nine winners to receive the University of Kentucky’s 2025 Outstanding Teaching Awards.

These awards identify and recognize individuals who demonstrate special dedication to student achievement and who are successful in their teaching. Recipients were selected through nomination and reviewed by a selection committee based in the UK Provost’s 

LEXINGTON, Ky. (Feb. 7, 2025) — Anastasia Todd, assistant professor of gender and women’s studies in the University of Kentucky College of Arts and Sciences, will give the inaugural Gaines Lecture for Outstanding Research in the Humanities. 

The Gaines Lecture for Outstanding Research in the Humanities spotlights groundbreaking work related to the Gaines Center’s annual theme, which for 2024-2025 is Health and the Humanities. 

“There’s so much amazing research happening in the humanities at UK and we wanted to recognize these achievements,” said Michelle Sizemore, Ph.D., director of the Gaines Center. “The lecture provides an important opportunity to showcase this work and to

By Jenny Wells-Hosley 

LEXINGTON, Ky. (June 12, 2024) — Lukas Bullock, a Ph.D. candidate in the Department of Gender and Women's Studies (GWS) in the College of Arts and Sciences, received one of the the University of Kentucky’s 2024-25 Outstanding Teaching Awards.

These awards identify and recognize individuals who demonstrate special dedication to student achievement and who are successful in their teaching. Recipients were selected through nomination and reviewed by a selection committee based in the UK Provost’s Office for Faculty Advancement and the 

By Ryan Girves 

LEXINGTON, Ky. (April 29, 2024) — The University of Kentucky recognized exceptional faculty and teaching assistants with the Outstanding Teaching Awards during the 2024 UK Faculty Awards Ceremony onApril 25.

The Outstanding Teaching Awards recognize faculty and graduate teaching assistants who go above and beyond what is expected and demonstrate outstanding performance in the classroom or laboratory. Selected via nomination, candidates were reviewed by a

The University of Kentucky has announced recipients of the 2024 Faculty Awards. The College will have an awards program and reception in early fall to recognize the recipients. More information will follow soon.

2024 College of Arts and Sciences Faculty Awards recipients are: 

Outstanding Teaching Award

Excellence in Teaching Large Courses Award

Innovative Teaching Award

Outstanding Undergraduate

The article "The Positive Aspects of Being the Parent of an LGBTQ Child," co-written by Ellen Riggle, was cited in a Scientific American entry titled "Families Find Ways to Protect Their LGBTQ Kids" by Marla Broadfoot. 

"One study by researchers at the University of Kentucky set out to catalog the positive aspects of parenting an LGBTQ child," the article states. "The survey of 142 parents uncovered various ways the experience brought about parents’ personal growth. It made them more compassionate, gave them greater empathy for marginalized populations, strengthened their relationship with their

In early 2021, the Nunn Center and Dr. Janice Fernheimer partnered to launch the Women in Bourbon Oral History Project. This oral history project, built in collaboration with students, documents women who have played important roles in Kentucky’s bourbon industry. Doug Boyd and Janice Fernheimer reflect on this phase of the oral history project and some key themes expressed in the interviews.  
 

By Jennifer T. Allen

Last year, Jayden Sheridan worked 70+ hours a week to make ends meet while taking a 19-credit hour course load. A first-generation student from Findlay, Ohio, majoring in political science and minoring in gender and women’s studies and criminology while also working on a peace studies certificate, Sheridan has no lack of motivation.

“Looking back, I don’t know how I was doing that,” she said. “I don’t know how I was keeping my grades up and also working that much. Honestly, last year was a blur.” 

Being the first in your family to attend college means navigating the world of higher education without much guidance from home. Sheridan knew that to get the research experiences she wanted while in college, she was going to have to look for funding opportunities. 

“First-generation students don’t know where to go for scholarships

We are mourning the extremely untimely passing of Mel Lesch: our dearly beloved student, tireless scholar, dedicated activist, all too appropriately described by their friends as “human sunshine.”

We would like to share some tributes and student comments about Mel.

Tributes:

"Mel was a dedicated activist who worked tirelessly on behalf of the LGBTQ+ community. Among their accomplishments are helping to found UK's LGBTQ+ Center and the Audre Lorde Living Learning Community. Mel's dissertation work combined scholarship and praxis, seeking a deeper understanding of the challenges faced by trans college students in order to find better ways to support them. Mel was also a dedicated teacher and an exceptional and kind human." – Jenn Hunt



 

"I have been privileged to work and learn from

The following op-ed was written by Aria Halliday, an associate professor in the Department of Gender and Women's Studies, African American and Africana Studies and International Film Studies in the College of Arts and Sciences at the University of Kentucky.

LEXINGTON, Ky. (July 31, 2023) — Growing up, I was — what we called in the '90s — a “tomboy.” Other than the dreadful laffy taffy-colored taffeta dresses with ruffles and white lace-trimmed socks, which my

LEXINGTON, Ky. (July 12, 2023) — Are you looking to get lost in your next summer read but don’t know where to start?

We asked the University of Kentucky community to recommend books they feel would make good additions to anyone’s reading list.

In the descriptions below, faculty members across various colleges and disciplines share the novels they can’t put down. Pulling from the worlds of history and fiction — their picks explore timely themes while providing intriguing insights.

The recommendations below range from short stories to dystopian, historical and horror fiction.

“Demon Copperhead” by Barbara Kingsolver

Recommended by Diane Loeffler, senior lecturer in the 

By Brian Carrico 

LEXINGTON, Ky. (May 2, 2023) — The University of Kentucky recognized exceptional faculty and teaching assistants with the Outstanding Teaching Awards during the 2023 UK Faculty Awards Ceremony held Wednesday, April 26 in the J. David Rosenberg College of Law's Grand Courtroom.

The Outstanding Teaching Awards were established by the Provost to reward and encourage excellence in teaching. Selected via nomination, candidates were reviewed by a selection committee empaneled by the Center for Enhancement of Learning and Teaching in the Office for Faculty Advancement.

As the state’s flagship, land-grant university, our teaching mission is critical to the success and well-

By Richard LeComte 

LEXINGTON, Ky – As Black women gained economic status in the United States, one of the big issues that arose involved what their daughters’ toys would look like. It’s an issue Aria S. Halliday finds fascinating.  

"At the turn of the 20th century, a lot more Black people were able to participate in the consumer marketplace,” said Halliday, assistant professor in the Department of Gender and Women’s Studies and Program in African American and Africana Studies at the University of Kentucky’s College of Arts & Sciences. “They want stuff that represents their culture and who they think they are. From then to the present, we've been debating that. And I think that’s part of the thrust of the book.” 

Her book, “Buy Black: How Black Women

CHSS Workshop Series Grants

The Cooperative for the Humanities and Social Sciences’ Workshop Series Grants are supported by generous donors and the College of Arts and Sciences.  These grants offer funding for faculty and graduate students to create a series of workshops for reading, writing, and discussion of a particular theme across disciplines in the humanities and social sciences.

During the Spring Semester of 2022, CHSS supported four Workshop Series Grants. These workshop events presented new pedagogical and research ideas within A&S and across other UK Colleges as well. Below, we spotlight each series of workshops. We would like to thank our donors and everyone who participated in these workshops, and to congratulate those who planned and executed these innovative events.

by Amanda Nelson

LEXINGTON, Ky. -- Researchers at the University of Kentucky have released a 10-minute film titled “Becoming Myself: Positive Trans & Nonbinary Identities.” It features narratives from the lives of seven transgender and nonbinary identified young adults, reflecting on their experiences navigating gender identity.  

The film’s executive producers, based in the colleges of Arts & Sciences and Education, are Zak Clements, Ph.D. candidate in counseling psychology; Ellen Riggle, professor and chair in the 

By Lindsey Piercy

LEXINGTON, Ky. (May 4, 2022) — Susan Bordo, professor emerita in the Department of Gender and Women's Studies and Otis A. Singletary Chair in the Humanities in the College of Arts and Sciences at the University of Kentucky, has been elected as a member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences — one of the nation’s oldest and most prestigious honorary societies. 

Founded in 1780, the Academy honors excellence and convenes leaders to examine new ideas, address issues of importance to the nation and the world, as well

By Jennifer Haynes

LEXINGTON, Ky. (April 22, 2022) — Eleven university faculty and teaching assistants were recognized by the University of Kentucky with the 2022 Outstanding Teaching Awards on Thursday, April 21, in the J. David Rosenberg College of Law Grand Courtroom. 

This annual award program recognizes faculty and graduate teaching assistants who demonstrate special dedication and outstanding performance in the classroom or laboratory. Recipients were selected via nomination and reviewed by a selection committee based in the UK Provost’s Office for Faculty Advancement and the Center for the Enhancement of Learning and Teaching.

Each winner received an award certificate, a

Congratulations to Mariana Escobedo de la Pena for being awarded the 2024 Space, Place, and Southern Grace for Feminist Studies Scholarship. 

This scholarship is made possible by Sarah Caton (B.A. GWS ’16) and provides $1,000 for a GWS major entering their junior or senior year.   The scholarship winner will also have the opportunity to meet one-on-one with Sarah for professional mentorship throughout the academic year.

Sarah’s consulting business, blog, workshops, and two books focus on the craft of storytelling in entrepreneurship. She helps women small business owners become effective communicators across differences in identity and background—skills that she honed as a double major in GWS and Spanish at UK. Sarah believes that young people, and especially women, need mentors of many kinds, both formal and