xt71g15t9s91 https://exploreuk.uky.edu/dips/xt71g15t9s91/data/mets.xml Lexington, Kentucky University of Kentucky Alumni Association 2015 journals  English University of Kentucky Alumni Association Contact the Special Collections Research Center for information regarding rights and use of this collection. Kentucky alumnus Kentucky Alumni, vol. 86, no. 4, Winter 2015 text Kentucky Alumni, vol. 86, no. 4, Winter 2015 2015 2019 true xt71g15t9s91 section xt71g15t9s91 WINTER 2015

Hemp: More than just fiber
UK research will optimize production

* Hannah Ellis
‘12 Integrated
Strategic
Communication

In high school I realized that music was what I wanted
to do with my life. Coming from a family full of musicians
made life a lot of fun. My parents were so passionate about
music and developed that passion in me.
I don’t think I even applied to any other school - not going
to UK was not an option.

Scott Safford
‘95, LAW ‘97

Safford Motley PLC
Attorneys at Law

It’s
to have the
“ have awesome University ofchampions
I
from the
Kentucky
to share this journey with me.
”

My degree really is something that I utilize as a musician; I
know how to market myself as an artist. I have the business
background to help me with my music career.
My professors and advisor took a genuine interest in my
passion for music. They supported my success.
My lawyer, Scott Safford, is a UK graduate, too. In
Nashville, when you find another UK graduate, you want to
work with them! Scott and I immediately bonded, sharing
our campus experiences and pride for our Wildcats! When
you’re away from home, you want a couple of Wildcats in
your corner to “see blue.” with you.
The University of Kentucky is like a big family, cheering you
along every step of the way.
Now I live in Nashville and I’m getting ready to sign my first
publishing deal.

An Equal Opportunity University

www.uky.edu
866-900-GO-UK
seeblue.com

* Winter 2015 • Volume 86 • Number 4

UK is in its second year of hemp
cultivation, with plots growing at the
Spindletop Research Farm.

16

Photo: UK College of Agriculture, Food and
Environment
Hemp: It’s not just about fiber
The monetary benefit of Kentucky hemp is raising
farmers’ interest who look to capitalize on a plant with
a history of flourishing in the state.
By Linda Perry

12

James C. Blair ’51: Made a difference in
many lives

18

Pritesh Kumar: Medicinal cannabinoid
testing, research and development

After a distinguished career in law, James C. Blair helped
scores of students through his anonymous philanthropy.

With medicinal cannabinoid testing, Pritesh Kumar ’09
AS and his company advise clients on issues to maintain
a QA system to ensure compliance.
By Robin Roenker

22
24

Ann Rice O’Hanlon: Coloring within the lines

Memorial Hall has one of the largest frescoes in America
painted by a women — Ann Rice O’Hanlon ’30 FA.
By Linda Perry

12 cool things to know and share about UK

Proud of your alma mater? Then shout these facts from
the rooftops when you are doing a “meet and greet” in
your local community.
By Linda Perry

Photo : Steve Patton, Agricultural Communications Services

28
33
34
UK hemp fields

Big Blue Madness!

UK officially opened basketball season with Big Blue
Madness!

Wildcat Loyalty Rewards

Go ahead! Use us. You’ve paid for your membership,
so take advantage of all the benefits and services
available to you.

Club and association scholarships

The generosity of UK Alumni Association members is
evident with the final 2014-2015 scholarship tally.

Departments
4	
7	
8	
11	
36	
39	

Pride In Blue
Presidential Conversation
UK News
Blue Horizons
Alumni Clubs
College View

42	
52	
54	
55	
56	

Class Notes
In Memoriam
Creative Juices
Retrospect
Quick Takes

www.ukalumni.net

1

* As a UK alum and/or member of the
UK Alumni Association, you could receive
exclusive savings on auto and home insurance
1
from Liberty Mutual.
Along with valuable savings, you’ll enjoy access to
benefits like 24-Hour Claims Assistance.

For a free quote, call 1-866-477-4111
or visit www.libertymutual.com/ukaa
Client #7296

Discounts and savings are available where state laws and regulations allow, and may vary
by state. To the extent permitted by law, applicants are individually underwritten; not all
applicants may qualify.
Auto coverage provided and underwritten by Liberty County Mutual Insurance Company,
2100 Walnut Hill Lane, Irving, TX.
Home coverage provided and underwritten by Liberty Insurance Corporation,
175 Berkeley Street, Boston, MA 02116.
©2015 Liberty Mutual Insurance

1

2

Winter 2015

* Association Staff

How To Reach Us
Kentucky Alumni
UK Alumni Association
King Alumni House
Lexington, KY 40506-0119
Telephone: 859-257-8905
1-800-269-ALUM
Fax: 859-323-1063
E-mail: ukalumni@uky.edu

University of Kentucky
Alumni Magazine
Vol.86 No. 4

Kentucky Alumni (ISSN 732-6297) is
published quarterly by the University of
Kentucky Alumni Association, Lexington,
Kentucky for its dues-paying members.
© 2015 University of Kentucky Alumni
Association, except where noted. Views and
opinions expressed in Kentucky Alumni do
not necessarily represent the opinions of its
editors, the UK Alumni Association nor the
University of Kentucky.

Officers
David B. Ratterman ’68 EN - President
Peggy S. Meszaros ’72 ED - President-elect
Susan V. Mustian ’84 BE - Treasurer
Stan R. Key ’72 ED - Secretary
District
Michelle Leigh Allen ’06 ’10 BE
Jeffrey L. Ashley ’89 CI
Lisa G. Atkinson ’92 CI
William G. Bacon Jr. ’82 ’85 MED
Trudy Webb Banta ’63 ’65 ED
Brian R. Bergman ’85 ’ 86 EN
Heath F. Bowling ’95 BE
Jeffrey J. Brock ’83 SCC, ’84 BE
Michael L. Brown ’72 BE
Erin Burkett ’01 EN
Emmett “Buzz” Burnam ’74 ED
John S. Cain ’86 BE
James E. Cantrell ’76 EN
Shane T. Carlin ’95 AFE
Rebecca F. Caudill ’72 ’76 ED
Dr. Michael A. Christian ’76 AS, ’80 DE
Judith G. Clabes ’67 AS
Shannon R. Corley ’98 BE
Elizabeth Cox ’69 AS
D. Michael Coyle ’62 BE, ’65 LAW
Bruce E. Danhauer ’77 AFE
Ruth C. Day ’85 BE
Eugene L. DuBow ’53 AS
Philip D. Elder ’86 AFE
Abra Endsley ’98 ’01 CI
Linda L. Frye ’60 AS
Robert Michael Gray ’80 ’81 BE
Austin H. Hays ’03 BE
Wallace E. Herndon Jr. ’67 BE
Derrick C. Hord ’83 CI
Ann Nelson Hurst ’80 BE
Lee A. Jackson ’70 SCC, ’73 AS
Dr. Frank Kendrick ’90 ’92 DE
Shelia M. Key ’91 PHA
Turner LaMaster ’73 BE
Thomas K. Mathews ’93 AS
James D. McCain ’81 BE
Herbert A. Miller Jr. ’72 AS, ’76 LAW
Ashley S. “Tip” Mixson III ’80 BE

Update Your Record

UK Alumni Association
King Alumni House
Lexington, KY 40506-0119
Telephone: 859-257-8800
Fax: 859-323-1063
E-mail: ukalumni@uky.edu
Web: www.ukalumni.net
For duplicate mailings, please send both
mailing labels to the address above.
Member of the Council for Advancement
and Support of Education

Publisher/Executive Director: Stan Key ’72
Editor/Associate Director: Kelli Elam ’11
Managing Editor: Linda Perry ’84
Graphic Designer: Laura Banik
Publications Production Assistant: Hal Morris
Kelly R. Allgeier ’08: Alumni Career Counselor
Brenda Bain: Records Data Entry Operator
Linda Brumfield: Account Clerk III
Sara-Elizabeth Bush ’13: Program Coordinator
Nancy Culp: Administrative Services Assistant
Caroline Francis ’88, ’93, ’02: Alumni Career Counselor
Jack Gallt ’84: Program Coordinator
Leslie Hayes: Membership and Marketing Specialist
Kelly V. Hinkel ’11: Staff Support Associate I
John Hoagland ’89: Associate Director
Diana Horn ’70, ’71: Principal Accountant
Katie Jennings ’11: Membership Specialist
Emory Jones ’14: Program Coordinator
Albert Kalim ’03: Webmaster
Randall Morgan: IS Tech Support
Katie Murphy: Membership Specialist
Ashley Ritchie: Marketing & Communications Coordinator
Darlene Simpson: Senior Data Entry Operator
Jill Smith ’05, ’11: Associate Director
Frances White: Data Entry Operator

Board of Directors

Sherry R. Moak ’81 BE
Hannah M. Myers ’93 ED
Kimberly Parks ’01 BE
Abigail M. Payne ’05 CI
Quintissa S. Peake ’04 CI
Nicholas C. Phelps ’08 BE
William C. “Carlos” Phillips ’90 CI
James A. Richardson ’70 AS, ’72 ED
Charlene K. Rouse ’77 DES
Philip Schardein,’02 BE
Sharon Lee Sears ’80 CI
Marian Moore Sims ’72 ’76 ED
J. Fritz Skeen ’72 ’73 BE
George B. Spragens ’93 BE
Reese S. Terry Jr. ’64 ’66 EN
Peggy T. Tudor ’73 ’83 NUR, ’07 ED
Quentin R. Tyler ’02 ’05 AFE, ’11 AS
Craig M. Wallace ’79 EN
Lori E. Wells ’96 BE
Crystal M. Williams ’97 BE
Scott Wittich ’75 BE

At Large
Jo Hern Curris ’63 AS, ’75 LAW
Dr. Michael H. Huang ’89 AS, ’93 MED
Antoine Huffman ’05 CI
Matt Minner ’93 AS
Will Nash ’06 AS
Jane C. Pickering ’74 ED
College
Michelle McDonald ’84 AFE, ’92 ED - Agriculture
Winn F. Williams ’71 AS - Arts & Sciences
James B. Bryant ’67 BE - Business & Economics
Jeremy L. Jarvi ’02 CI - Communication & Information
Dr. Clifford J. Lowdenback ’99 AS, ’03 DE - Dentistry
Lu Ann Holmes ’79 DES - Design
Martha Elizabeth Randolph ’83 BE, ’87 ’92 ED Education
Taunya Phillips ’87 EN, ’04 BE - Engineering
Kimberly Baker ’92 FA - Fine Arts
Barbara R. Sanders ’72 AS, ’76 ED - Health Sciences
Janis E. Clark ’78 GS, ’85 LAW - Law
Dr. Emery R. Wilson ’68 ’72 MED - Medicine
Patricia K. Howard ’83 ’90 ’04 NUR - Nursing
Lynn Harrelson ’73 PHA - Pharmacy
Vacant - Public Health
Willis K. Bright Jr. ’66 SW - Social Work

Alumni Trustees
Cammie DeShields Grant ’77 LCC, ’79 ED
Kelly Sullivan Holland ’93 AS, ’98 ED
Terry B. Mobley ’65 ED
Appointed
Katie Eiserman ’01 ED - Athletics
Thomas W. Harris ’85 AS - University Relations
D. Michael Richey ’74 ’79 AFE - Development
Bobby C. Whitaker ’58 CI - Honorary
Jenna M. Hollinden - Student Government Association
Vacant - University Senate
Past Presidents
George L. Atkins Jr. ’63 BE
Theodore B. Bates ’52 AFE
Richard A. Bean ’69 BE
Michael A. Burleson ’74 PHA
Bruce K. Davis ’71 LAW
Scott E. Davis ’73 BE
Marianne Smith Edge ’77 AFE
Franklin H. Farris Jr. ’72 BE
Dr. Paul E. Fenwick ’52 AFE
William G. Francis ’68 AS, ’73 LAW
W. P. Friedrich ’71 EN
Dan Gipson ’69 EN
Brenda B. Gosney ’70 HS, ’75 ED
Cammie DeShields Grant ’77 LCC, ’79 ED
John R. Guthrie ’63 CI
Ann B. Haney ’71 AS
Diane M. Massie ’79 CI
Robert E. Miller
John C. Nichols II ’53 BE
Dr. George A. Ochs IV ’74 DE
Sandra Bugie Patterson ’68 AS
Robert F. Pickard ’57 ’61 EN
Paula L. Pope ’73 ’75 ED
G. David Ravencraft ’59 BE
William Schuetze ’72 LAW
David L. Shelton ’66 BE
J. Tim Skinner ’80 DES
James W. Stuckert ’60 EN, ’61 BE
Julia K. Tackett ’68 AS, ’71 LAW
Hank B. Thompson Jr. ’71 CI
Myra L. Tobin ’62 AFE
J. Thomas Tucker ’56 BE
Henry Wilhoit Jr. ’60 LAW
Elaine A. Wilson ’68 SW
Richard M. Womack ’53 AFE

www.ukalumni.net

3

* Pride in Blue

Slow down, relax and read Kentucky
Alumni magazine!
It’s with great pride
that we bring you the
2015 winter issue of
Kentucky Alumni
magazine.
It’s that time of
year again when there
seems to be a million
things going on, tons
of stuff to do, and
we’re generally just plain busy. It’s all part of the season, I
guess. During all the hectic activities going on, I hope you
will take a few minutes to slow down and enjoy this issue
of Kentucky Alumni magazine. Trust me — you’ll be glad
you did.
There are plenty of differing thoughts on hemp. What
about hemp research? Our cover story is about the
University of Kentucky College of Agriculture, Food
and Environment’s industrial hemp research. Now in
its second year, the current hemp projects are moving
along under the guidance of the Kentucky Department
of Agriculture. So, what exactly are the projects? UK’s
research projects include comparing the fiber quality of
three varieties of hemp. The varieties will be compared
to each other, as well as flax and kenaf, other fiber plants.
The project will look at two harvest methods and three
harvest timings when the plants are at different maturities.
Other research includes two separate hemp variety trials
for fiber and grain production, herbicide tolerance trial
for hemp used for grain production and a row spacing
trial geared toward fiber production. Specific projects are
conducted in conjunction with researchers at Murray State
University, Western Kentucky University and Eastern
Kentucky University. I find this all very fascinating. You’ll
be fascinated, too.
We introduce you to Pritesh Kumar, a 2009 biology
grad and founder and CEO of PhytoSciences Inc., a
firm that hopes to help lead the new wave of medicinal
cannabinoid testing, research and development in the

4

Winter 2015

United States. He started PhytoSciences in 2014 with
co-founders and fellow UK Department of Biology
graduates Brad Biggs ’10 AS and Mark Hamann ’09 AS.
The longtime friends, who met at UK, felt the timing was
right to focus their combined skills on what they loved:
natural pharmaceutical research.
Also in this issue, meet two-time Oscar winner
Henry “Bub” Asman. He won Academy Awards for
Best Achievement in Sound Editing — both for Clint
Eastwood movies. The first was “Letters from Iwo Jima”
and the second was for “American Sniper.” How cool
is that? The story got me thinking about all the Clint
Eastwood movies I have watched. I can’t decide on a
favorite. How about you? I know I will be watching a
couple again and paying extra attention to the sound.
There are many cool things about UK. We share a few
of the facts that make us proud to be alumni — perfect to
use during a “meet and greet.”
We love our members! So much of what we do —
programs and services that benefit the university, students
and alumni — simply would not be possible without your
loyalty and support. We want to make sure you are getting
the full value out of your membership. Be sure to check
out Pages 32 and 33 for information about our Wildcat
Loyalty Rewards program. There are great benefits to
being a member.
I hope you enjoy this issue of Kentucky Alumni
magazine as much as I enjoy sharing it with you. As
always, your feedback is welcome.
With Pride in Blue,

Kelli Elam ‘11
Editor

* Show your true colors at

WILDCAT
CENTRAL.
™

Get convenience and show your Wildcat pride
with a Bleed Blue Checking account.

Member FDIC

centralbank.com/wildcatcentral
www.ukalumni.net

5

* Banking that rises above.

Welcome to better banking
Federally insured by the NCUA.
6 Winter 2015

www.ukfcu.org

* Presidential Connection

Charting our future
In October, the UK Board of Trustees gathered for its
annual retreat. It was an opportunity to consider and endorse
our next strategic plan and celebrate benchmark moments for
the University of Kentucky. Paraphrasing Kentucky Senate
President Robert Stivers, the milestones we reached were not
about buildings or who and where we are today; it’s about
tomorrow and how our priorities usher in a bright future for
our students and the Commonwealth we serve.
On the first morning of our retreat, surrounded by faculty,
staff, students, alumni and friends, our campus family was
honored by the generosity of a successful and dedicated
alumnus. We announced the largest, single private gift in the
history of the institution: $23 million from Tom and Jan Lewis,
through the T.W. Lewis Family Foundation, to establish the
future Lewis Honors College.
The Lewis’ transformative gift is an investment in our faculty
who inspire student scholars; and our staff who support — in
myriad ways — success across our campus. It is an investment
in — and profound commitment to — the promise of our
students and future graduates who will positively impact the
communities they touch.
In Tom Lewis’ inspiring words, it will help our students
“reach and maximize their potential.”
On the second day of our retreat, joined by state and
local leaders, we broke ground on a new $265 million
multidisciplinary research building. The facility will bring
together a talented cadre of clinicians, basic science researchers,
translational scholars, statisticians, behaviorists and scores of
other experts to confront the complex questions of our day.
The primary business of the retreat was for our board to
consider and endorse the 2015-2020 Strategic Plan. They
heard from the faculty and staff experts who will lead the
implementation phase of the plan that we shared with campus
last May, as well as national experts who provided context for
our plan.
It was a data-rich conversation about the multifaceted mission
of our university. The dialogue underscored commitment to
our objectives and action steps; the specific ways we plan to
measure progress; and the ambitious path we plan to forge for
the future. Following that dialogue, the board strongly endorsed
five strategic objectives and the related strategies and metrics
for our plan:
•
•
•
•
•

We were able
to celebrate these
milestones because
of the members of
our community, past
and present. While it
was an extraordinary
effort to reach this
point, our hard work
continues in order
to meet our bold
goals. The alumni
family shares an
equally important
role in our progress,
and I look forward
to walking this journey with you.
We are emboldened by our shared progress, but it will take
a collective effort by the entire UK family as we write the next
great chapter in the history of the University of Kentucky. I
share the faith of our partners in progress, our donors and our
advocates. Together, we will carry forward on our vision for
this place and mission as Kentucky’s flagship and land-grant
research university.
Sincerely,
Eli Capilouto
President

Undergraduate Student Success
Graduate Education
Diversity and Inclusivity
Research and Scholarship
Community Engagement

To learn more about these strategic objectives and related
metrics, please visit www.uky.edu/strategicplan.

In October President Capilouto, joined by state and
university leaders, broke ground on a new research building.

www.ukalumni.net

7

* UK News
Photo: UK Public Relations & Marketing

Donna Arnett named dean of College of Public Health

Dean Donna Arnett

Donna Arnett, associate dean at the University of Alabama-Birmingham (UAB) School of
Public Health and former president of the American Heart Association, has been named dean of
the UK College of Public Health. 
 A native of Kentucky, Arnett sees her new role as an opportunity to address health disparities
relevant to the region, including cancer and drug abuse. She aims to strengthen the college’s
relationships with state and regional health agencies and expand the college’s portfolio of National
Institutes of Health-funded research. 
“A big focus of mine will be bringing public health, medicine and other health related colleges
closer together in terms of building population health,” Arnett said. “We’re building health for
the Commonwealth, and it fits very well with President’s Capilouto’s vision of the ‘University for
Kentucky.’”

 An NIH-funded researcher for 20 years, Arnett studies genes related to hypertensive disorders and the target organ damage
from hypertension. She has published more than 450 peer-reviewed papers and two books. She currently holds three NIH grants
for research on genes that determine a physiological response to a high fat diet and the cholesterol-controlling drug fenofibrate and
hypertension-induced left ventricular hypertrophy.
 After obtaining her bachelor’s degree in nursing, Arnett achieved a master’s degree in public health from the University of South
Florida. She received her doctorate in epidemiology at the University of North Carolina – Chapel Hill, where she also completed
an American Heart Association postdoctoral fellowship from 1992 to 1994. She was promoted to full professor of epidemiology
during her tenure at the University of Minnesota.
those commuters to travel through The
Arboretum Woods to campus and then
downtown along an established network
of dedicated bicycle facilities, with safe
crossings of busy intersections and without
having to negotiate the walking paths in The
Arboretum. The Lexington-Fayette Urban
County Government, a founding partner of
The Arboretum, instituted new way-finding
and safety-related pavement markings
and signage to guide cyclists between the
Bellefonte route and the new shared-use
path, along with a new pedestrian crosswalk
where the path intersects with Shady Lane.
 An improvement was made to the
connection from University Drive to
Hiltonia via the Baptist Health campus.
Baptist Health was a key partner for this
aspect of the project.

Photo: UK Public Relations & Marketing

New shared-use path connects commuters to campus, city
UK has now opened a new shared-use
path at The Arboretum, State Botanical
Garden of Kentucky, connecting bicyclists
and pedestrians from south Lexington
neighborhoods to campus and downtown.
 Located on the western edge of The
Arboretum Woods, the path links Shady
Lane to University Court, providing a safe
and efficient connection for dozens of
commuters cycling and walking along this
corridor daily. 
 “UK is undergoing a dramatic physical
transformation, including the redevelopment
and improvement of our parking and
transportation infrastructure. We’re taking
a holistic approach to provide a diverse
range of safe options for our campus and
surrounding community,” said UK President
Eli Capilouto. The shared-use path allows

College of Medicine welcomes students with white coats

Photo: UK Public Relations & Marketing

The UK College of Medicine welcomed the Class of 2019 at the UK Singletary Center for the Arts during the presentation of
white coats, symbolizing the commitment to clinical service, care and professionalism.
 “The white coat is an important symbol of the medical profession,” said Dr. Charles H. Griffith III, senior associate dean
for Medical Education, who delivered the keynote address. The Class of 2019 includes 137 medical students, 99 of whom are
Kentuckians and 54 are from rural and Appalachian counties. The class is 42 percent women. 

8

Winter 2015

* Largest single gift in UK history focuses on enhancing student experience, Honors
Photo: UK Public Relations & Marketing

Further underscoring the commitment to create the best possible academic experience for
students, UK President Eli Capilouto has announced the single largest gift in UK’s history — $23
million to create one of the country’s leading Honors programs. The gift, from UK alum and
long-time donor Thomas W. Lewis and his wife Jan, of Paradise Valley, Arizona, will establish an
Honors College at the University of Kentucky. The establishment of a new college will be subject
to faculty review and endorsement through the University Senate next year.
“Tom Lewis is investing in, and helping enhance, a vision we have to be the finest residential,
public research university in America,” Capilouto said. “This incredible gift will help us open the
doors of UK even wider — not simply to students with outstanding academic achievement, but
also those with different backgrounds, identities, perspectives and financial means, who will benefit
enormously from the focused and excellent educational experience offered by an Honors College
that will be among the finest in the country.”
“This gift is our way of helping University of Kentucky honors students reach their full
potential as leaders who will create, shape and influence people, ideas and discoveries for this and
generations yet to come,” said Lewis.
Tom and Jan Lewis
Lewis, a native of Lexington and a 1971 engineering graduate of UK, is a seventh generation
Kentuckian, tracing his direct ancestry back to Squire Boone, the father of legendary frontiersman Daniel Boone. After UK, Lewis
attended the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill where he earned an M.B.A.
He entered the home building business after graduate school and over the next 18 years was employed by a series of large firms
where he gained practical experience at all work levels. In 1991, he began his own business, T.W. Lewis Co., in Phoenix, Arizona,
which became one of the nation’s most successful home building enterprises, receiving numerous awards including America’s Best
Builder, the National Housing Quality Silver and Gold Awards and America’s Best Design Center Award.
In the last five years, at the direction of Capilouto and the UK Board of Trustees, participation in the university’s Honors Program
has nearly doubled, growing from 750 students to 1,400, part of an effort to enhance the undergraduate educational experience, while
also improving retention and graduation rates.

Photo: UK Public Relations & Marketing

UK establishes first LGBTQ* Resources Office

Lance Poston

The UK Office of Institutional Diversity has established its first Office of LGBTQ* Resources to create
a more inclusive environment for the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer members of the campus
community. One of the office’s first events is a trans* speaker’s visit to campus to address her transition
process and current activist focus.
 The new UK Office of LGBTQ* Resources, led by Lance Poston, intends to grow its outreach to reliably
serve all the LGBTQ* individuals on campus and to function as a communication and educational hub for
the entire community in sustainable and organized ways.
The acronym LGBTQ* stands for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer, broad terms to describe the
individuals who are a part of this community. However, everyone in the community does not identify solely
with these five words. The asterisk has become a commonplace way to reflect that gender identities and sexual
orientations exist beyond the acronym and that the university is open and affirming to everyone.

The term “state-of-the-art” takes on double meaning when referencing UK’s newest academic
facility, the Art and Visual Studies Building. After more than 40 years in what was originally meant
to be temporary space, the students, faculty and staff in the UK School of Art and Visual Studies
have a new cutting-edge facility to call home. Opening of the $15 million, more than 100,000
square-foot building marks the culmination of a four-year acquisition and renovation process.
In the last several years, due to significant structural problems and limitations on teaching
summer months in the aging former Reynolds Tobacco Co. Warehouse, the College of Fine
Arts and the university began looking for a solution that would not only meet the needs of the
institution’s art students, faculty and staff, but would also save money in necessary renovations to
Reynolds Building No. 1. UK proposed and was given state approval to purchase and convert the
University Lofts property on Bolivar Street for the school.
The new facility features not only traditional artist studios and instructional spaces, but several
other amenities, including five digital media labs, a multipurpose 3D fabrication lab, photography
suite, ceramics facility, print media shop, wood shop, and drawing, painting and foundation design
workshops. The building has 4,818 square feet of dedicated and multi-functional gallery space,
including a 2,666-square-foot front gallery, more than 1,000 square feet of additional exhibition
space on an adjacent hallway and a black box theater room for intermedia work.

Photo: UK Public Relations & Marketing

UK opens state-of-the-‘Art’ academic creative space

The printmaking studio is
outfitted with special ventilation
systems to help remove toxins
released from inks the students
and faculty use.

www.ukalumni.net

9

* The election of a new alumni representative to the University of Kentucky Board of Trustees
will be held in December. As a graduate of the university, your vote is important.
Your opinion is valued.

VOTING IS EASY

Watch for your ballot,
which will be distributed
by email only.

You may go to www.ukalumni.net/Update or call
800-269-2586 to confirm or update your email address
in order to receive a ballot. Graduates who do not
have an email address may call 800-269-2586 to
request that a printed ballot be mailed.

This is an opportunity to participate in the university’s governance through the election of a
graduate to serve as an Alumni Trustee on the university’s Board of Trustees. Of the 18 seats
on the UK Board of Trustees, three are elected by UK graduates. They are currently Terry
Mobley of Lexington (through June 30, 2016), Kelly Sullivan Holland of Lexington (through
June 30, 2018) and Cammie Deshields Grant of Winchester (through June 30, 2020).
Please vote in the Alumni Trustee election when you receive your online ballot. The names of
three graduates receiving the highest number of votes will be submitted to the governor of
Kentucky, who will appoint one of the three to fill the six-year term to begin July 1, 2016.

10

Winter 2015

* Blue Horizons

UK study shows prescription drug law’s effectiveness
Since Kentucky’s landmark prescription drug abuse legislation
took effect in 2012, the Commonwealth has seen a significant
decline in the number of prescriptions for the most commonly
abused medications, doctor shopping has decreased by more
than 50 percent and more Kentuckians are seeking treatment for
prescription medication addiction. These findings, among others,
are part of a yearlong study conducted by researchers at the UK
College of Pharmacy Institute for Pharmaceutical Outcomes and
Policy and compiled in a report to the Cabinet for Health and
Family Services.
 The study specifically researched and analyzed the impact
of state law known as House Bill 1, which included multiple
strategies to prevent the abuse and diversion of prescription
drugs; expanded Kentucky All Schedule Prescription Electronic
Reporting (KASPER), Kentucky’s prescription monitoring
system; and required that pain management facilities be owned
by a licensed physician. The bill mandated that practitioners and
pharmacists register with the KASPER system in an effort to
reduce the number of patients receiving similar prescriptions
from multiple doctors.

According to the study, since House Bill 1 was implemented:

•	 More individuals are seeking office-based addiction
treatment.  

•	 The number of patients “doctor shopping” declined by
52 percent.

•	 24 nonphysician-owned pain management facilities have
ceased operation.

•	 The number of opioid prescriptions to doctor-shopping
individuals dropped by 54 percent.

•	 5 million KASPER reports were requested in 2014.
•	 Each weekday, providers request more than 20,000
KASPER reports.

•	 For the first time in six years, Kentucky overdose deaths
declined in 2013.

UK research reveals potential environmental harm of nanomaterials
Nanomaterials are a common
component in many industrial and
consumer products. A team of
international researchers, led by UK
scientists, have found that these tiny
metal-containing particles may be more
toxic to plants and microorganisms
than other forms of metals. The group
of scientists led by Jason Unrine, an
assistant professor in the UK College
of Agriculture, Food and Environment,
studied biosolids from a simulated
wastewater treatment system containing
the nanomaterials silver, titanium dioxide
and zinc oxide and examined their effects
on plants and microorganisms. Their
findings were presented in two papers
recently published in the academic journal
Environmental Science and Technology.
 Nanomaterials from common
consumer products like sunscreens,
cosmetics and textiles end up in
wastewater treatment facilities where
they are removed from drinking water
and reside with sewage sludge. Further
processing at the plant turns this sludge
into biosolids. About half of the biosolids
produced in the United States and parts
of Europe are used as soil amendments
on agricultural and other lands and have
been for many decades. Biosolids can
provide needed nutrients and organic

matter to the soil. In the United States, the
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
regulates biosolids used as fertilizers.
 Until recently, these nanomaterials
have not been present in biosolids. The
researchers wondered whether current
EPA regulations for metals would be
protective when biosoilds contained metalbased nanomaterials.
Unrine, along with fellow UK
researchers Jonathan Judy and Dave
McNear Jr., studied the effects of the
biosolids on legumes, soil microorganisms
and nitrogen-fixing bacteria. They found
that the biosolids with nanomaterials
prevented the colonization of plants by
nitrogen-fixing bacteria and changed the
composition of microorganisms in the
soil. As a result, the plants had stunted
growth and took up far more zinc
compared to biosolids containing typical
forms of the metals.
 A study led by UKAg scientists Olga
Tsyusko and Chun Chen studied the
molecular mechanisms behind the adverse
effects on the plants and their nitrogenfixing bacteria. Their portion of the study
found dramatic differences in expression
of genes in the plants receiving biosolids
containing nanoparticles compared to
those receiving normal biosolids. They
believe some differences were likely caused

by the increased zinc uptake.
 Unrine said