Dr. Wayne D. Lewis, Faculty Director of the Black and Latino Male Student Success Initiative at the University of Kentucky

Recently, Dr. Wayne D. Lewis has been named to serve as the Faculty Director of the Black and Latino Male Student Success Initiative at the University of Kentucky. He is an Assistant Professor and Principal Preparation Program Chair in the Department of Educational Leadership Studies, Co-Director of the Policy Analysis Center for Kentucky Education (PACKE), and Facutly Co-Editor of the Kentucky Journal of Higher Education Policy and Practice. Dr. Lewis' teaching and research are in the areas of educational leadership, education policy and politics, minority student success, and school-family-community partnerships. Dr. Lewis is a native of New Orleans, LA and worked as a middle and high school teacher in public school districts in Louisiana and North Carolina before coming to higher education.

2012 Harambee Celebration

The Harambee Celebration is an opportunity for the Office for Institutional Diversity to extend heartfelt congratulations to students as they prepare to graduate from the University of Kentucky. This gathering of parents, family members, friends, faculty and staff is designed to properly recognize and honor this very special moment.

On May 5, 2012 at 2:00 pm, we bid farewell and best wishes to underrepresented students graduating from the University of Kentucky. This celebration was not only a testament to a job well done by graduates, but also a tribute to diversity and the village that took part in assisting students in achieving this academic milestone. Students were individually recognized and presented with a UK Alumni portfolio by Dr. Judy Jackson while their degree(s) obtained and parting words were shared with those in attendance. After crossing the stage, students were pinned with an official UK Alumni pin. Highlights of the 2012 Harambee Celebration included graduates Shantel Taylor as the student speaker and Nicholas Davis as the student performer. Dr. Adam Banks was featured as the keynote speaker.

This event was sponsored by: Black Graduate & Professional Student Association (BGPSA), Center for Academic Resources & Enrichment Services (CARES), Lyman T. Johnson Constituency Group, Martin Luther King Jr. Cultural Center (MLKCC) & Student Support Services (SSS).

 

Dr. Kaila Story discusses LGBT issues in the Black community at inaugural BlackOUT event

On November 15th, the UK LGBT Task Force, along with the Office for Institutional Diversity, sponsored the first BlackOUT event with speaker Dr. Kaila Story. BlackOUT was established in hopes of reaching out to LGBT students, staff and faculty of color (and their allies) at the University, encouraging the campus to look critically at itself, and how to better serve and foster this important and often overlooked aspect of its diverse culture.

Dr. Story, an assistant professor at the University of Louisville’s department for Women’s and Gender Studies, presented an informative and riveting account of the pressures and societal challenges faced by many LGBT people in the Black community. Dr. Story began by giving a history of the laws that specifically targeted LGBT persons, and the many movements, uprisings and struggles that the community, in its many factions, faced.

She also delved into the present problems facing the Black LGBT community, discussing how many feel separated from the overall LGBT movement, as well as challenges faced within the African-American community. She then concluded with a question and answer session, with many students voicing their concerns and observations of what it means to not only be an African-American student at the University of Kentucky, but also one with the additional “burden” of being an LGBT student as well.

The LGBT Task Force would like to thank everyone that attended the event and participated in the discussion. Due to the success and the turnout, the task force looks forward to holding many new events during the spring semester!

 

"Teach for America"

Teach for America is the national corps of outstanding recent college graduates and professionals, of all majors, backgrounds and career interests, who commit to teach for two years in urban and low-income communities and become lifelong leaders in expanding educational opportunity. The next application deadline for the 2012 Teach for America corps is Friday, January 6th. For more information contact colleen.crawford@teachforamerica.org.

"Teach for America" Newsletter

Application Flyer

UKnow Article

 

LGBT Task Force established at the University of Kentucky

Link to UKNOW article

Established by the Office for Institutional Diversity, the University of Kentucky LGBT Task Force makes ongoing assessments of attitudes and conditions throughout the University regarding lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender persons and issues.

The LGBT Task Force also makes recommendations for changes and seeks implementation of these recommendations on issues such as (1) the University-wide environment for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender students, staff, and faculty; (2) appropriate supportive services for such students, staff, and faculty; (3) educational programs for the entire University community; (4) other matters affecting the lives of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender community members at the University of Kentucky.

Task Force Members:

Eric Morrow (Chair) Program Coordinator, Program for Bioethics
Steven Oliver: Assistant VP for Institutional Diversity
Jeff Jones: Assistant Professor, Public Health
Mel Lesch: Resident Director, Residence Life
Ellen Riggle: Professor, Gender & Women's Studies and Political Science
Mary Bolin: Director and Psychologist, Counseling Center
Carol Taylor: Program Director for Comprehensive Family Services, Social Work Training Resource Center
Susan Matthews: Senior Staff Psychologist and Group Therapy Coordinator, Counseling Center
Sally Evans: Volunteer and Educational Programs Coordinator, VIP Center
William Adams: IS Technical Support, Institutional Diversity
Sharon Rostosky: Professor, Counseling Psychology
Matthew Waitkus: Academic Advisor, Business & Economics
Wanda McCants: Graduate Student, Counseling Psychology
K.J. Rawson: Lecturer, Writing, Rhetoric, and Digital Media
Christopher Garnett: Medical Student
Brandy Reeves: Health Education Coordinator, University Health Service
George Scott: Student Affairs Officer
Carol Mason: Gender and Women's Studies
Melissa Stein: Gender and Women's Studies

For more information about the University of Kentucky LGBT Task Force, please contact Chair: Eric Morrow at eric.morrow@uky.edu or follow on facebook at: http://www.facebook.com/UKLGBTTF

 

“Scholar in Residence” Position Established in the MLK Cultural Center

This is the inaugural year for the “Scholar in Residence” at the Martin Luther King, Jr., Cultural Center.  This newly created position is a two-year appointed term for a faculty member who will conduct and link the research in his/her discipline and to relevant aspects of the work of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.  Based on the scope and depth of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s body of work, the Scholars in Residence over the years will conceivably be chosen from faculty in Sociology, Literature, Political Science, History, Anthropology, American Studies or Africana Studies, Interdisciplinary Programs, Journalism, Social Work, Public Health, Education, Business and Economics, and Law, to name some of the possibilities.

The faculty member will involve students and/or colleagues in publishing white papers or longer pieces on their research from within their discipline and the implications of King’s work; present at national conference(s); coordinate with other colleges in presenting panel discussions or symposia on specific topics; guest lecture in one or more UK classes; and other endeavors that the faculty member’s creativity guides.  This programming that emanates from the MLK Center will cross disciplines and intentionally appeal to the wider campus community.

Dr. Arnold Farr will serve as the inaugural Scholar in Residence of the MLK Center.  Prof. Farr’s research areas include 19th, 20th and 21st century philosophy with an emphasis on social/political thought, German idealism, the history of Western Marxism, critical theory, and philosophy of race.  He is presently teaching a course on the philosophy of race, which examines the role that race and racism have played in the development of philosophical systems in the past.  The course looks at the way in which racism is perpetuated by philosophy’s silence on the issue of race.  “Ultimately,” he says, “we discover that philosophy is not as color-blind as it purports to be.   However, this gives us no reason to dismiss philosophy.  Our study reveals that philosophy also offers us many important theoretical tools for dismantling racism and its long-term effects.”  Prof. Farr has published over 20 papers on topics from race to German idealism to critical theory.  He is co-author and co-editor of Marginal Groups and Mainstream American Society, and his most recent book is Critical Theory and Democratic Vision: Herbert Marcuse and Recent Liberation Philosophies.  He is currently working on three other book manuscripts.  In 2005 he founded the International Herbert Marcuse Society, which holds a conference every two years.

Mr. Chester Grundy, long time Director of the MLK Cultural Center, will provide assistance to the Scholar in Residence and continue to ensure the diverse programming that the center has long offered.  The added focus will bring a stronger academic and deeper intellectual dimension to the work of the MLK Center through broader scope and greater depth in the ways in which the campus can engage in discussions around diversity and inclusion.

With the launching of the Scholar in Residence, the overall work associated with the MLK Cultural Center will have the added benefit of an Advisory Committee, comprised of faculty nominated by the participating Academic Deans and appointed by the Vice President for Institutional Diversity.  The support of the Deans has been enormous in structuring this form of faculty involvement.

A very special thanks goes to Dean Mark Kornbluh of the College of Arts and Sciences, who has provided the faculty and financial support for the inaugural two-year term of the Scholar in Residence program for the MLK Cultural Center.

 

 

CARES Awarded Grant from Target

The Office for Institutional Diversity and Ms. Toni Thomas of CARES are proud to announce that the center was awarded a grant from Target for its Peer Academic Coaching Program. Target, which has committed 5% of its income to support community programs and educational excellence, and names diversity as one of its core values, gifted $3,000 to support the program in an effort to make a difference in young people’s lives and provide the support they need to succeed. Many thanks to Target for their commitment in supporting communities and education, and to Ms. Thomas for her hard work and innovative ideas.

What is Peer Academic Coaching?
Peer Academic Coaching will team first year students who experienced academic difficulties during their first semester of college with a successful upperclassman who has a Grade Point Average (GPA) of 3.0 or higher and proven leadership experience. The teams will meet on a weekly basis. Students will have an opportunity to learn strategies and skills that will aid in addressing their academic weakness(es), enhance their ability to navigate the university system, and build their confidence as they make conscious and informed decisions about their education and life plans.

Specifically, the program’s goal is to assist participants who have a GPA less than 2.2 to improve their academic standing and for students on probation to reach good standing (minimum 2.0 GPA). Additionally, these students and their coach will develop a relationship that will provide a peer resource for the student as he/she works to enhance their academic standing and adjustment to college life.

What are the program components? Academic Coaching Components:
Orientation:

Students will be introduced to the goals of the program and the academic coaching method, as well as, meet their coach and other team members.

Academic Coaching Sessions:

Teams will consist of no more than 5-7 students who will meet weekly with a Peer Academic Coach to discuss distractions, goal setting, time management, study skills, campus resources, upcoming weekly calendar, student progress, “Question Behind The Question” (QBQ) methods to aid in improving personal accountability, and other topics identified by the student and/or coach.

Who can participate?
Participants will be first year students who earn a 2.2 or less semester grade point average at the end of their first semester of college.

What are the major responsibilities of the student?
Attend the program orientation.
Attend and actively participate in coaching sessions.
Complete the program evaluation.
Attend the recognition program.