2026 Board of Trustees Election Faculty Candidates

I am running for the Board of Trustees because I believe that faculty deserve a seat at the table, a calm, respectful, and steady voice that leadership will hear and take seriously. That commitment is at the heart of everything I do at this University.

I am a Neonatal ICU physician at the University. Through mentoring, teaching, and supporting junior faculty in their professional development, my work has always been grounded in one belief: when we invest in people, everyone benefits, especially our students.

My ongoing leadership includes serving on the CATS AI Education subcommittee. We are working to understand the challenges faculty face in integrating technology into their teaching and how best to support their pedagogical approach.

This is a critical moment to build a collaborative partnership with University leadership. The foundation of that relationship must be open, calm, and honest communication, the kind that ensures our voice is genuinely heard and respected. Faculty must feel supported in the classroom and in their research, because we know that when faculty thrive, our students do too.

This is how faculty will continue to have a meaningful voice in shaping the future of the University.

I am committed to listening, bringing your concerns forward with care, and ensuring that faculty remain united in purpose. Together, we can build a University that is as proud of how it treats its people as it is of what it achieves.

I humbly ask for your support.

I’m a first-generation college graduate from Appalachia. I earned a BS in Agricultural Biotechnology in 2003 and a PhD in Biochemistry in 2008, both from UK. I’ve been a UK faculty member since 2014. I’ve been a student in our classrooms, studied in our libraries, lived in our dorms, conducted research on our campus, taught in our classrooms, and been a patient with UK HealthCare. I bring a holistic perspective.

I’m an Associate Professor of Toxicology and Cancer Biology in the College of Medicine. I direct several NIH-funded cancer training programs. My research focuses on addressing cancer disparities in Appalachian Kentucky. I’ve collaborated with faculty in at least nine of our colleges and several centers, including the Markey Cancer Center and the Appalachian Center. I participate with my colleagues in teaching courses and mentoring our students across several of our degree programs.

Higher education is under existential threats and significant challenges. We must have strong shared governance to ensure our faculty concerns are understood and our careers are valued and impactful. I’ve contributed in this regard as a University Senator (including when the Senate was disbanded) and a COM Faculty Councilor (Chair, 2023-2024). Now, I look forward to serving on your behalf as your Faculty Trustee to ensure that the Board and Administration are informed and responsive. It is essential that both faculty trustees work closely together to represent faculty across all colleges, and I look forward to working with fellow Faculty Trustee Dr. Karen Petrone in that regard.