Jessica Pennington is the Behavioral Case Specialist for A&S and also works with the residential colleges.  Before starting with A&S in June, she worked as a Research Assistant for the Collaborative Center for Literacy Development.   Jessica’s is a UK grad with both a BA in Psychology and MS in Educational Psychology.  Jessica was born in New Jersey, and grew up half in California and the other half in London, KY. She lives in Lexington with her husband of 2 ½ years, Adam.

I am a pretty serious crafter, I crafted my entire wedding everything from my garter to making over 250 paper flowers. I still love wedding crafting, woodworking and making homemade gifts for people is my favorite. Other than that I like to read and spend time with family and friends.

I am from Lexington, Kentucky and have worked for UK for almost seven years.  I have been married three and a half years and my wife and I welcomed our first child into this world in January.  I am an avid Cincinnati Reds baseball fan and enjoy watching UK football games.

1. What do you do in your spare time? 

In my spare time, I play on an adult baseball team in town.  I enjoy writing, exercising, and spending time with family.  

2. What is your favorite movie or book?

My favorite movie is O'Brother Where Art Thou?  In my opinion, this movie was the most superbly written and acted movie ever devised since the creation of cinema.  Gopher, Everett? 

3. What is the most interesting place you've been?  

The most interesting place I have been has been Chiloteca, Honduras.  I went with a team in college that worked with small business owners who had micro loans.  We advised them on business practices.  It was a humbling experience because of the extreme poverty and scorching heat.  

4. What is your favorite food?

Kara Covert is the Assistant Dean for Advancement for A&S.  Before arriving at UK in October, she worked as the Associate VP for Advancement at Transylvania University.  Prior to that, Kara served Eastern Kentucky University as Associate VP for Development, and Washington University in St. Louis working in both Alumni Relations and Development.  Kara’s undergraduate degree is from Transylvania and she holds a Masters degree from Vanderbilt University.  Despite growing up in Louisville, Kara credits her late grandmother for instilling a love of blue early in life.  Kara lives in Lexington with her husband Michael, who is the Associate Dean of Students at Transy, and their nine-year-old son, Evan.

Dear Friends,

As the 2011-12 academic year comes to a close let me thank you for all the incredible work, dedication and commitment you have exhibited throughout the year.  Without a doubt, our faculty and staff rival those at the most prestigious institutions in the country. 

Over the last year we have welcomed and educated a record-number of new students; we have successfully launched a new general education curriculum (UK Core) and a new residential college (Wired); we have made progress on shortening time-to-degree through our online and summer school initiative; we have greatly expanded our international efforts through faculty exchanges, short-courses, new education abroad programs, and our passport to the world initiative (Year of China); among many, many other successes. 

Our faculty and staff have been recognized by countless national organizations and agencies, as well as by the University community.  The following are just a handful of the many successes achieved this year: