News Summary
The University of Kentucky is undergoing significant leadership transitions with four deans departing since May, affecting six of its 19 colleges. Interim deans have been appointed to manage these changes, including newly designated leaders in the Graduate School, College of Nursing, College of Pharmacy, and Lewis Honors College. The College of Law is also preparing for a dean transition later this year. University officials are forming an advisory committee to aid in the search for permanent deans as stakeholders anticipate how these changes will influence academic programs and operations.
Lexington, KY – The University of Kentucky is experiencing significant leadership changes, with four deans departing from various colleges since May 2023. The transitions indicate a notable shift in administration within the institution’s key academic divisions.
The most recent departures include Christian Brady, who served as Dean of the Lewis Honors College and officially left his position on May 31, 2023. Following him, Rosalie Mainous, Dean of the College of Nursing, stepped down effective June 6. Another dean, Padraic Kenney from the Graduate School, is currently on sabbatical, and Kip Guy, who leads the College of Pharmacy, is set to leave on July 31 to take on a new role at the University of Minnesota.
As the university navigates these leadership shifts, interim deans have been appointed to maintain continuity within the affected colleges. Jana Jasinski, Vice Provost, will serve as the acting dean of the Graduate School, while Gwen Moreland, previously the Chief Nurse Executive for UK HealthCare, has taken over at the College of Nursing. Craig Martin, currently the Dean of Operations, has stepped in as interim dean of the College of Pharmacy, and Laura Bryan has assumed the role of acting dean for the Lewis Honors College.
In total, six out of the university’s 19 colleges are now being led by interim deans, raising concerns and speculation about the overall stability of college leadership. Additionally, Mary Davis, Dean of the College of Law, has announced plans to step down in October 2023, transitioning back to a faculty position after serving as interim dean since 2019 and being appointed as the permanent dean in 2020. In anticipation of her departure, Paul Salamanca has been designated as interim dean of the College of Law, beginning June 30, 2024.
As part of its ongoing efforts to stabilize leadership, the College of Education also recently announced the appointment of Nick Pace as its new dean, effective July 2023. The university spokesperson indicated that leadership changes tend to happen in cycles, leading to years of both high turnover and relative stability. This reflects a broader trend not only at the University of Kentucky, but also in academic institutions nationwide.
To address the current vacancies and guide future appointments, the university plans to form an advisory committee charged with aiding in the search for permanent deans. However, specific timelines for these searches have not yet been established, leaving uncertainty about when the leadership landscape will become more stable.
The recent departures and transitional appointments underscore the dynamic nature of academic leadership at the University of Kentucky, raising questions about how these changes will affect faculty, staff, and students throughout the institution. As the university moves forward, stakeholders will be watching closely to see how these leadership transitions will influence academic programs and university operations as a whole.
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Additional Resources
- Kentucky.com
- Wikipedia: University of Kentucky
- Kentucky Kernel
- Google Search: University of Kentucky leadership changes
- Riverbender
- Google Scholar: University of Kentucky education leadership
- WDRB News
- Encyclopedia Britannica: University of Kentucky
- Richmond Register
- Google News: University of Kentucky deans list
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