By Kelli Elam, Amy Jones-Timoney, Whitney Harder

(April 17, 2015) — What makes a university thrive as a community and a center for knowledge? At the University of Kentucky, it's the people, and not only the outstanding faculty, staff and students, but the alumni who create and continue a legacy of excellence. This year, the UK Alumni Association is recognizing 23 former UK students — leaders who have impacted the Commonwealth, the nation and the world through their work — with induction into the 2015 Hall of Distinguished Alumni.

This year’s class will be honored tonight, Friday, April 17, at the

Patrick Brennan, mathematics and philosophy junior, publishes opinion piece on character and virtue during college years in Kentucky Kernel:

http://kykernel.com/2015/04/13/college-students-responsible-for-habits-…

At a young age, the habits we form in school and at home ideally help us face problems later in life with ease.

However, it seems to me that the characteristics which grant success in those settings do not transfer over, because in our society, adult life is radically different. College students may struggle if they cannot adapt and form new habits.

Some people might not agree that humans are creatures of habit. Is it not the case that we are free to make new choices at every moment?

One could go on to say that people should avoid habits and

by Sarah Schuetze

Sitting at the front of the room at a seminar table crowded with more students than anyone imagined, professor Francie Chassen-Lopez said, “I always say I have one foot on either side of the border.”

Chassen-Lopez is one of the four instructors teaching Social Theory 600, a graduate seminar called “Transnational Lives.” The professors include Ana Liberato, Cristina Alcalde, and Steven Alvarez—each representing a different discipline and approach to the course. “What makes this so exciting,” Alcalde said, “is we’re all coming at this from different perspectives.”

In many ways,

by Parissa Zargar

(Oct. 15, 2014) — University of Kentucky senior, Jaye "Jaxcy" Odom, of Albuquerque, New Mexico, has received the Chickasaw Nation Lifetime Scholarship. This honor is awarded to tribal citizens who are full-time students pursuing a degree from an accredited institution of higher education. Odom has been involved with the Chickasaw Nation through her attendance of tribal meetings and participation in activities to promote pride in Native American culture.

"When I found out that I had been awarded the Chickasaw Lifetime Scholarship, I was elated. It was an indescribable honor to be a recipient of this highly competitive scholarship, and it meant a

by Gail Hairston 

(Sept. 30, 2014) — More than an “s” has been added since the University of Kentucky College of Arts and Science was created in 1908 with only seven faculty members. In fact there was a College of Arts and Science even before the institution was named the University of Kentucky; the institution was called the State University, Lexington, Kentucky (previously Agricultural and Mechanical College of Kentucky and State College) until 1916.

In those 106 years, several of today’s largest colleges were birthed from the original College of Arts and Science’s former programs, including today’s College of Education, College of Communication and Information, College of Social Work and College of Fine Arts.

The college grew quickly under the inspiration and commitment of President James Patterson, whose statue now graces the plaza next to

by Whitney Hale, Allison Elliott-Shannon 

(April 28, 2014) — The 2014 issue of disClosure, an annual thematic publication dedicated to investigating and stimulating interest in new directions in contemporary social theory, is now available online through a collaboration between the University of Kentucky Committee on Social Theory (CST) and UK Libraries.

First published in 1992, the journal includes a variety of media including scholarly essays, poetry and visual art from a variety of disciplinary, geographical, and theoretical perspectives and genres. The journal aims to encourage work that employs innovative writing styles as well as formal

Each year, the College of Arts & Sciences awards selected faculty with Outstanding Teaching Awards. The recipients of the 2014-2015 A&S Outstanding Teaching Awards are Clare Batty, Emily Beaulieu, and Jeorg Sauer.

Clare Batty joined the Department of Philosophy in 2007.  She excels in teaching courses at all levels, from the 100-level “Knowledge and Reality” to the graduate-level “Perception and the Body.”  Described by her students as “passionate,” “engaging,” “lively,” “knowledgeable,” “approachable,” “funny,” and “demanding but kind,” Dr. Batty motivates numerous students to take additional

by Whitney Harder, Whitney Hale

(March 27, 2014) — The University of Kentucky Gaines Center for the Humanities has chosen 12 outstanding undergraduates as new scholars for the university's Gaines Fellowship Program for the 2014-15 and 2015-16 academic years. Gaines Fellowships are given in recognition of outstanding academic performance, demonstrated ability to conduct independent research, an interest in public issues and a desire to enhance understanding of the human condition through the humanities.

Gaines Fellowships are awarded for the tenure of a student's junior and senior years, or for the last two years of a five-year program; students in all disciplines and with any intended profession

By Nolan Gray

(March 18, 2014) - Whether you’re haggling in the agora in 400 BCE, or sitting in traffic in 2014 CE, humanity seems to have a universal desire to understand truth, ethics, and the “good life.”

“Philosophy in the broadest sense is all about what’s true and what’s good. Yet philosophy is also about how we should ask questions about the good and the true,” said Eric Sanday, Associate Professor in the University of Kentucky’s Department of Philosophy. “A historical approach to these questions involves determining how ancient authors understood these issues.”

At the upcoming Lexington Workshop in Ancient Philosophy, academics from across the country will explore this very theme: what

by Whitney Harder

(March 7, 2014) – Two University of Kentucky women who profoundly contribute to issues that affect women at the university and across the Commonwealth received the Sarah Bennett Holmes Award yesterday during a luncehon ceremony at the UK Student Center. Meg Marquis, staff, and Elisia Cohen, faculty, received the 2014 Holmes Award.

The award recognizes one female faculty member and one female staff member who promote growth and well-being of women at the university and across Kentucky. Created by the UK Women’s Forum, the Sarah Bennett Holmes Awards have been among the most esteemed recognitions bestowed at UK and brings recognition for efforts that might otherwise go unnoticed.  

Meg Marquis, director of Student Services for the 

by Whitney Harder

(Feb. 28, 2014) – Nominations for the Sarah Bennett Holmes Award are in and a total of 26 women will be acknowledged at the Holmes Award Luncheon at 11:30 a.m. Thursday, March 6, in the Frank Harris Grand Ballroom of the UK Student Center. Two of the 26 women who profoundly contribute to issues that affect women at the University of Kentucky and across the Commonwealth will be chosen as the 2014 award recipients.

Created by the UK Women’s Forum, the Sarah Bennett Holmes Awards have been among the most esteemed recognitions bestowed at UK. The award recognizes one female faculty member and one female staff member who promote

video courtesy of UK Public Relations & Marketing

article by Jenny Wells

LEXINGTON, Ky. (Nov. 7, 2013) — In addition to research presentations, the 2014 National Conference on Undergraduate Research (NCUR) will offer numerous volunteer opportunities for the entire campus community when the University of Kentucky hosts the conference April 3-5, 2014. From helping direct traffic, to managing technology, to just helping students find where they need to go, there will be a variety of positions available to students, faculty and staff.

Students will have even more flexibility to get involved, as the University Senate has given permission for faculty to redirect their classes April 3 and 4 so students can attend conference events and presentations. 

"

(Oct. 11, 2013) — While pursuing undergraduate degrees in political science,history and philosophy at the University of Kentucky, Ryan Pitts was recently accepted into the Dual Degree Program at Duke University in hopes of earning a J.D./LL.M in international and comparative law.  Pitts also received a substantial scholarship in order to pursue this program. He plans on attending in May 2014.

A particularly involved student with a 4.0 GPA, Pitts was one of the select 200 of over 5,000 applicants to be admitted into this “Top 14” law program. 

"This has been a surreal time, a dream come true," said Pitts. "I cannot thank my family, friends, or the

by Guy Spriggs

(Sept. 27, 2013)  — For almost a decade, UK philosophy professor Natalie Nenadic worked with feminist pioneer Catharine MacKinnon to coordinate a legal response to the sexual atrocities committed in the Bosnian genocide. Her efforts were integral in world recognition of such atrocities and their criminalization under international law.

After being awarded a grant from the American Association of University Women (AAUW), however, Nenadic is returning to her original research on understanding today’s proliferation of pornography and sexual violence and the role of technology in this development.

The AAUW grant won by Nenadic assessed not only the quality

Congratulations to Clare Batty and Eric Sanday, who have been promoted to Associate Professor. 5/8/13

We congratulate several Philosophy Department PhD graduates who were hired this spring into faculty positions:  Joan Braune, Assistant Professor of Philosophy at Mount Mary College, Milwaukee;  Josh Horn, Assistant Professor of Philosophy at the University of Wisconsin/Stevens Point;  and Tyler Klaskow, Visiting Assistant Professor (three-year appointment) at Grand Valley State University in Michigan. 5/1/13

Several Philosophy Department faculty and graduate students have been awarded fellowships for the 2013-14 academic year.  Among the faculty, Natalie Nenadicreceived a research fellowship from the American Association of University Women to work on her book, "Sexual Abuse and Pornography Today: A Heideggerian Analysis."  Graduate student fellowships include Ollie Wiitala, Dissertation Year Fellowship; Rob Guerin, UK-Heidelberg Exchange Scholarship and a research grant from the Deutscher Akademischer Austausch Dienst (DAAD); and Margot Wielgus, Allocated Fellowship (Fall 2013). 4/23/13

A number of students received awards from the Philosophy Department in 2012-13.  Undergraduate awards included Jeri McIntosh, Senior Achievement Award; Amy Logsdon, Matchette Award; and Kendra Sanders, Kuiper-DeBoer Award.  Graduate student awards included Josh Horn, Graduate Student Essay Prize, and Clint Jones, Philosophy Department Teaching Award.  Josh Horn also won a College of Arts & Sciences Outstanding T.A. Award. 4/15/13

The Philosophy Graduate Student Association hosted its sixteenth annual conference in the W.T.Y. Young Library on April 6 2013.  The conference was entitled "Philosophy and Community" and featured six graduate student talks along with a keynote address by Prof. Julian Young of Wake Forest University on "Nietzsche: The Long View." 4/6/13

Professor Dan Breazeale of the Philosophy Department has been named a Provost's Distinguished Service Professor for 2013-14.  This is the highest award given to faculty at U.K. and is based on lifetime achievement in teaching, research, and service. 4/2/13