University of Kentucky Hosts Open Forum for Dean Candidate of College of Design, Encourages Community Involvement and Feedback

Candidate B for Dean of UK’s College of Design to Participate in Open Forum

UK Welcomes Potential Future Dean of the College of Design With Open Arms and Open Forums

LEXINGTON, Ky. (May 7, 2024) — A renewed chance for active community participation unveils as the University of Kentucky gets set to hold an open forum for the second of three final candidates in the running to become the new dean of the College of Design. The select trio of distinguished finalists was initiated from an all-encompassing national hunt.

Community Engagement and Evaluation

The university encourages active participation from the UK community in these critical deliberations. The second, yet to be publicly named candidate is slated to be part of the open forum at 2 p.m. on Wednesday, May 8. The venue is the prominent Britt Brockman Senate Chamber within the Gatton Student Center.

As part of ensuring maximum community inclusivity, those unable to attend physically can nevertheless involve themselves through a live Zoom broadcast of the forum. In the interest of providing enough preparation time, the CVs and names of the finalists will be made accessible to the UK community 24 hours before each respective forum on the search website.

Feedback and Decision Making Process

After each forum, a forum recording along with an anonymous online survey about each candidate will be made public on the search website for 48 hours. This process aims to enable members of the community to assess candidates’ strengths and growth areas.

UK Provost Robert S. DiPaola, who formed the committee assigned to conduct the search, will be responsible for the final selection once all feedback from the community and the committee is evaluated.

The University of Kentucky’s Continued Mission

The University of Kentucky marks itself as a beacon for potentially revolutionary breakthroughs and a source of healing, bolstered by its distinguished faculty and staff spanning over 200 academic programs, a $476.5 million research and development enterprise, and a highly regarded medical center.

Recognized by Forbes as one of the “Best Employers for New Grads” in 2022 and dubbed a “Diversity Champion” by INSIGHT into Diversity, UK shows an unyielding commitment to serving Kentucky and fostering a sense of belonging for all. This selection of the College of Design’s new dean continues to echo the same ethos and principles that UK had when it was founded in 1865, emphasizing its motto, “We are the University for Kentucky.”