UK Russian Studies, MCLLC, and allied concerned University of Kentucky Faculty join institutions across higher education in condemning Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. We are shocked by the Putin regime’s historical distortions, unprovoked attack on a sovereign nation, and senseless violence. Some of us were born in the region; many of us have long-standing ties to friends, family members, and scholars living there. As scholars of this region, we commit to providing factual information to help our community understand the issues facing the region.

We stand in solidarity with all the people of Ukraine during this terrible time. We express our solidarity with the citizens of neighboring states – from Belarus, Poland, Moldova, the Baltics, Central Asia,

By Olaoluwapo Onitiri

LEXINGTON, KY. -- Anna Voskresensky, senior lecturer in Russian studies, has received the American Association of Slavic and East European Languages Award for Excellence in Teaching on the Post-Secondary Level. She received the award at the association’s conference in Philadelphia in February.

The association, which was founded in 1941, exists to advance the study and promote the teaching of Slavic and East European languages, literatures and cultures on all educational levels.

Jeffrey Peters, chair of the Department of Modern and Classical Languages, Literatures and Cultures, described Voskresensky as an amazing individual, as he congratulated her for her achievement.

“"Anna is a gem. She is creative, innovative, dynamic, and caring,

By Danielle Donham and Lindsey Piercy

LEXINGTON, Ky. (March 2, 2022) — In times of crisis and uncertainty, we look to those with knowledge and experience to lead us through understanding. From economics and trade to warfare and culture — our faculty members at the University of Kentucky are generous in sharing their expertise to help the campus community and beyond comprehend events that are unfolding in real-time.

UKNow spoke with Robert Farley (senior lecturer, Patterson School of Diplomacy and International Commerce), 

By Richard LeComte 

LEXINGTON, Ky. – Sheila Jelen, Zantker professor in Jewish Literature, Culture and History in the University of Kentucky’s College of Arts & Sciences, was recognized as a finalist in the Jordan Schnitzer Book Awards for her work Salvage Poetics: Post-Holocaust American Jewish Folk Ethnographies. The book was a finalist in the category of Jewish Literature and Linguistics.  

Salvage Poetics explores how American Jewish post-Holocaust writers, scholars and editors adapted pre-Holocaust Yiddish fiction and documentary photography for

Left to right, Arts & Sciences inductees Steven Beshear, Paul R. Wagner, Alan Lowe, Jim Duff, Ashley Judd, and Interin Dean Christian Brady

On September 28, 2021, the University of Kentucky inducted 27 former students into the 2020 Hall of Distinguished Alumni. The alumni are being honored for their meaningful contributions to the Commonwealth, nation, and the world. The prestigious event, held every five years, was postponed last year due to pandemic restrictions.

The 2020 inductees include MCLLC alumna Ashley T. Judd (’07), who earned a B.A. in French. Ashley Judd of Franklin, Tennessee, and Cambridge, Massachusetts, is an award-winning actor, writer, humanitarian and activist. Her work as both an artist and advocate began right here on the UK campus. Her film and stage career has spanned 30 years and includes indie gems like “Ruby

By Jesi Jones-Bowman

LEXINGTON, Ky. (Oct. 28, 2021) — The University of Kentucky Office of Undergraduate Research has announced the fourth annual 5-Minute Fast Track student research competition finalists. These undergraduates competed in the competition’s two preliminary rounds and were selected as Top 10 finalists to present their research during the final round on Thursday, Oct. 28, in the Gatton Student Center Worsham Cinema.

Finalists will present their research in five minutes in front of a panel of five judges and a live audience using only a single static slide. This challenges students to develop their academic, presentation and research communication skills while also allowing them to showcase their research in a captivating way.

The

Dr. John David Erickson of Lexington (87), died Sept. 8, 2021. Born Jan. 9, 1934, in Aiken Minnesota, he was the son of August and Agnes Erickson.

He was professor in the University of Kentucky Department of Modern and Classical Languages, Literatures and Cultures from 1995 to 2012. The author of several monographs and studies on 20th-and 21st-century French and Francophone literature and culture, Erickson was one of the first scholars in the United States to write on and translate African francophone texts (Nommo: African Fiction in French South of the Sahara, 1979). He also taught at the University of Kansas, LSU and Rice University.

As a graduate student at the University of Minnesota, he founded and was the editor for more than 40 years of what has become a major scholarly journal of French and Francophone studies, L'Esprit Créateur. In recognition of

By Adrian Ho

LEXINGTON, Ky. (Sept. 23, 2021) — More than 11,800 students have gained free online access to essential course materials and saved more than $1.48 million in textbook spending from 2017 through 2021, thanks to the University of Kentucky Libraries’ Alternative Textbook Grant Program. The program supports UK faculty to switch from commercial textbooks to openly licensed textbooks, library-licensed information resources or free course content created by grant recipients.

“It is exhilarating to hear that the Alternative Textbook Grant Program has enabled equitable access to learning materials for so many students,” said Deirdre Scaggs, UK Libraries associate dean of

By Jesi Jones-Bowman

UK undergraduate researchers Bridget Bolt and Gretchen Ruschman. Students are encouraged to explore undergraduate research opportunities at the Research + Creative Experience Expo.

At the University of Kentucky, undergraduates have access to outstanding research and creative work activities led by world-class faculty and staff that promote self-discovery, experiential learning and lifelong achievement.

Explore exciting undergraduate opportunities at the first annual UK Research + Creative Experience Expo 3-5 p.m. Monday, Sept. 13, around the Gatton Student Center’s Social Staircase.

“The goal of the Research + Creative Experience Expo is to introduce undergraduates to the diversity of research and creative work conducted at UK,” said Chad Risko, faculty

Sept. 5, 1950 – Aug. 15, 2021

Dr. Linda Kraus Worley, professor of German Studies and Folklore/Myth in the University of Kentucky’s College of Arts & Sciences’ Department of Modern & Classical Languages, Literatures and Classics, died after 13-month-long battle with a rare leukemia on Aug. 15, 2021. She died under UK hospice care and with loving friends at her bedside.

Linda was born in Cleveland to German immigrants Hans and Elizabeth Kraus, who modeled the importance of hard work and dedication to family and friends. Hans was employed at a heating and air conditioning company for nearly 50 years, and Betty worked in the Borromeo College library and as a homemaker. Linda's parents encouraged her to read at an early age and she easily came to love words and stories.

She graduated magna cum laude with a bachelor's degree in English literature at Miami

By Meghan Arrell

LEXINGTON, Ky. (June 11, 2021) — In June, the University of Kentucky Lewis Honors College held its Spring 2021 Medal Ceremony in two physically distant ceremonies in the Gatton Student Center. As is tradition, all of the Lewis Honors College graduation awards were announced at the ceremony.

The Evans Scholar Award is given to a senior majoring in humanities or a related field. The 2021 finalists were Nicole Blackstone, Michael Di Girolamo, Kristen Karem, Michaela Lansdale, Chelsea Russell, Kayla Stroud and Anna Wagner. The winner was Michael Di Girolamo. 

Di Girolamo double majored in foreign language and international economics with a focus in Chinese and international studies, with a concentration on comparative politics and societies. He also minored in

By Emily Sallee

LEXINGTON, Ky. (May 13, 2021) — The University of Kentucky Office of Nationally Competitive Awards has announced that Kayden Jenson has received a 2021 Boren Fellowship to study Turkish. Jenson is pursuing joint degrees in law and diplomacy and international commerce through the Rosenberg College of Law and the Patterson School of Diplomacy and International Commerce.

The Boren Awards fund up to $25,000 for undergraduates and graduate students to support language study, research and study abroad in world regions

By Richard LeComte

LEXINGTON, Ky. -- In March 2020, Sarah McCurrach was asleep in Heidelberg, Germany, as messages crammed into her cell phone. When she awoke, she found out that a virus rampaging across the world was about to interrupt her education-abroad studies through the University of Kentucky.

“It was the 11th of March, and I looked at my phone and it  was off for some reason,” said McCurrach, a UK College of Arts & Science student who’s graduating in August because the Heidelberg second semester runs from April to July rather than through May. “I turned it back on, and my phone exploded with messages from the UK Education Abroad & Exchanges office on my Instagram and my Twitter. They were like, ‘Where are you?’ ‘Get on an airplane! Do you know what is happening in the world?

“So I naturally panicked a little bit, and I called my mom, and I

By Emily Sallee

LEXINGTON, Ky. (May 26, 2021) — Abigail Edwards, who graduated in May as a Modern & Classical Languages, Literatures & Cultures major from the University of Kentucky's College of Arts & Sciences, will travel to Japan this fall to serve as an assistant language teacher through the Japan Exchange and Teaching (JET) Program.

JET, the only teaching exchange program managed by the Japanese government, has placed more than 35,800 American young professionals in schools, boards of education and government offices throughout Japan. Like Edwards, most participants serve as assistant language teachers in public and private schools. The program typically receives up to 5,000

By Emily Sallee

LEXINGTON, Ky. (May 13, 2021) —  Kayden Jenson has received a 2021 Boren Fellowship to study Turkish. Jenson is pursuing joint degrees in law and diplomacy and international commerce through the Rosenberg College of Law and the Patterson School of Diplomacy and International Commerce at the University of Kentucky.

The Boren Awards fund up to $25,000 for undergraduates and graduate students to support language study, research and study abroad in world regions critical to U.S. interests. Jenson’s award is part of the Turkish Flagship Language Initiative (TURFLI), which funds a summer

By Emily Sallee

LEXINGTON, Ky. (April 29, 2021) — The University of Kentucky Office of Nationally Competitive Awards has announced that two Wildcats have been awarded Critical Language Scholarships, which provide funding to participate in intensive language and cultural immersion programs for American students enrolled at U.S. colleges and universities.

Mihir Kale, a political science major, Chellgren Fellow and member of the Lewis Honors College, will study Swahili virtually through the MS Training

We, the Department of Modern and Classical Languages, Literatures, and Cultures at the University of Kentucky, condemn the hateful violence committed in Atlanta on March 16, 2021. We stand in solidarity with the families of Soon Chung Park, Hyun Jung Grant, Suncha Kim, Yong Ae Yue, Delaina Ashley Yaun, Daoyou Feng, Xiaojie Tan, Paul Andre Michels who were murdered and Elcias R. Hernandez-Ortiz who was seriously injured by these horrific attacks. We also stand in solidarity with the countless others who have been subjected to anti-Asian hate, which has risen to record numbers this past year. We bear witness to their pain and their fear, the same pain and fear felt by many of our own faculty and students. Above all, we acknowledge that these attacks are the result of institutional structures that have allowed racism to proliferate in our country for far too long.

We condemn the

By Whitney Hale

LEXINGTON, Ky. (March 29, 2021) — Emily Andreasson, a University of Kentucky interiors and modern and classical languages, literatures and cultures/French and Francophone studies senior in the College of Arts & Sciences and Lewis Honors College member from Williamsburg, Michigan, has been selected to deliver the 26th Edward T. Breathitt Undergraduate Lecture in the Humanities beginning 7 p.m. Thursday, April 1, on Zoom. Andreasson’s lecture will focus on use of space for expression and healing brought on

By Danielle Donham

LEXINGTON, Ky. (March 16, 2021) — UK alumna Jamie Zimmerman’s passion for gender equality and interest in financial inclusion began early. 

She grew up surrounded by strong women in Lexington, Kentucky, where many families, including her own, “teetered at times on the brink of financial uncertainty.”

Zimmerman graduated with a bachelor’s degree in foreign languages and international economics from the UK College of Arts and Sciences in 2002. Immediately after, she enrolled in the Patterson School of Diplomacy and International Commerce and earned a master’s in international political economy with a concentration in international development in December 2003.