By Selena Stevens

One large project Higgins-Hord will head at UK is “America’s Promise: The Alliance for Youth,” a program led by U.S. Gen. Colin Powell and focused on connecting young people, from birth to age 20, with support that fulfills five basic promises.

As a graduate of the University of Kentucky’s College of Human Environmental Sciences’ early childhood education master's program, she has worked to provide educational services to children through Lexington’s Community Action Council, the Child Care Council of Kentucky, the National Child Research Center in Washington, D.C., and more. Now she’s come full circle back to UK as the university’s new director of community relations.

In her new position, Higgins-Hord will work with UK communities – cities, counties, states – to create challenging, real-world opportunities in which UK students can learn. She will build networks and form partnerships between the university and businesses, schools and community programs to reach this goal.

“We want to establish relationships and form partnerships with the community to get our students out there,” she said. “We want students to go out in the community, make an impact and bring back their experiences. Seeing how they can make a difference in the community adds a greater perspective to their education.”

One large project Higgins-Hord will head at UK is “America’s Promise: The Alliance for Youth,” a program led by U.S. Gen. Colin Powell and focused on connecting young people, from birth to age 20, with support that fulfills five basic promises.  UK has been deemed a “University of Promise” by the program, and Higgins-Hord will seek ways to establish and implement the program on the university campus. UK students will not only gain a new perspective on community but through the process strengthen the character and competence of the youth with whom they will work. Several of UK's colleges and individuals have expressed interest in volunteering, creating programs supported by grants and other community ventures. Higgins-Hord also will work to form a “community partnership promise” with the Lexington-Fayette Urban County Government’s mayor’s office. Lexington was deemed a “Community of Promise” by the national program.

 “You never know what can happen if you’re a volunteer,” she said. “What your knowledge can bring to other people or what they may have for you may bring you your most valuable experiences in life.”

In her new position, Higgins-Hord also will work with UK’s alumni clubs across the United States to increase participation by minority members. She also is planning to create and circulate a newsletter on community services that students, faculty and staff have participated in with UK communities.

Before coming to UK, this former Miss Indiana was assistant director for Children’s Services at the Community Action Council in Lexington. She had previously served as project coordinator for the Child Care Council of Kentucky, as director of Kid’s Choice Inc. of Lexington, as a teacher with the National Child Research Center and a tutor serving the CEO's family of Black Entertainment Television.   At UK, she has served as an Early Childhood Laboratory teacher, teaching assistant and project manager of the Lexington Makes It Work Welfare Reform Evaluation Plan.  She also assisted the dean of the College of Human Environmental Sciences in recruiting students and developing strategies to serve minority, transfer and new students.

She is a board member of the American Lung Association of Kentucky and serves with the National Association for the Education of Young Children, the National Association on Family Relations, the UK Association for Early Childhood Education and the Council for Advancement and Support of Education.  She participates with the Provider Cabinet of Lexington, the Early Childhood Development Committee, United Way of the Bluegrass and the Chamber of Commerce.

For more information about or to participate in “America’s Promise,”   contact Higgins-Hord at (606) 257-7144 or by clicking here.