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Summer Fun in Chem-Phys!

For many departments on campus, the summer months are a time to take advantage of quieter offices and catch up on things that get lost in the hustle and bustle of the academic year. The Departments of Physics & Astronomy and Chemistry decided to liven up the relaxed pace by hosting weekly potluck lunches. These gatherings gave the faculty, staff, and students a chance to take a break from research labs and offices and participate in something fun to break up their day. Not only was the company good, but the food was also interesting since each week had a different “theme.” In total the departments hosted nine potluck lunches with a variety of fun themes that were suited to various tastes. Both departments are lucky to have a diverse group of graduate students and faculty with an assortment of cultures and backgrounds represented. One of the most popular lunches was Asian-themed. Many graduate students and faculty members were able to share their home cultures through the dishes they brought to the lunch. Some of the other themes included Italian, fiesta, western, farm & garden and carnival/circus. These potluck lunches were the perfect opportunity to build community between the two departments, building upon the community that already exists.

Meet Kim Schindler

Name: Kim Schindler
Position: Research Analyst
Department: Sedimentary, Environmental, Radiochemical Research Lab (SER2L), Earth and Environmental Sciences
 
 

 

Hi Everyone! I’m Kim Schindler. I moved to Lexington in July of 2011.  I’m originally from a small town in the Hill Country of Texas. I received my BS in Ocean and Coastal Resources from Texas A&M University-Galveston in 2006 and shortly thereafter, moved to south Mississippi for 5 years.  I enjoyed my time at the University of Southern Mississippi, but I’m very happy here in Lexington and at UK. 

College of Art & Sciences Annual Awards Ceremony

On June 2, 2015 A&S Staff Council hosts a ceremony to honor the Outstanding Staff Award recipients. Each year two members of the staff receive the Outstanding Staff Award. The 2015 winners were Raegan Wilson (Enrollment Management) and Lori Eckdahl (Kastle IBU). Their dedication to their respective departments and to the college is demonstrated each day in the exceptional work they do. Both ladies received glowing recommendations from their managers and colleagues. It is evident how much they are respected by their teams and the faculty and staff they work with on a daily basis.

Raegan received her award on June 2 at our annual awards ceremony. Due to a previous commitment, Lori was not able to attend the ceremony and will receive her award at the upcoming All Staff Retreat.

Also recognized at the ceremony are staff members reaching milestone years of service. This year 24 staff members, with years of service ranging from five to forty, received their awards. 

Meet Lisa Blackadar!

Lisa Blackadar
Director of Annual Giving & Alumni Engagement
Development Office
 
 

 

 

This summer marks my 28th year in Lexington and I’m proud to call it home. I grew up on the east coast and spent most of my childhood on Long Island and then in New Jersey. It’s fun to get people to identify my accent. I’m proud of the fact that I naturally substitute “you all” for “you guys,” now!

Meet George White!

Trying to tell someone else who I am is like throwing a box of photos on the floor and scrambling to pick the most important pictures out in one hand: there are thousands of memories, but I can only share a handful at once.

Lexington is where I am from and where I grew up. Although I am an only child, I grew up around a large extended family. I can never forget how important meeting my cousins, aunts, uncles, and other relatives was every Sunday after church at Granny’s was when I was younger. Community grew on me as well. I studied abroad for five weeks in Mexico while at Transy. I have a broad sense of family that includes those from my family of faith, birth, workplace, community, and worldwide.

My life has changed a lot in just couple of years. I have gotten married, changed location in Lexington, changed location in the College… all fairly close together. I was filled with joy to meet and marry my wife, Latise. This is helping to complete the picture of family for me (of course – stand by for updates to the family list!).
 

Savannah Tate -- An Outstanding Senior Student Employee

 

Earlier this year, A&S announced an award designed to honor 2 outstanding senior student employees each academic year. One of the winners of the 2014-2015 award was Savannah Tate. Savannah maintained a 3.82 cumulative GPA during her time as a student at UK. Before she even graduated, she was able to secure a full-time position working in the UK Office of Undergraduate Admissions.

We asked Savannah to share with us a few tidbits about her time as a student employee in A&S:

Q: How long have you worked in A&S as a student employee? 

A: I’ve worked with A&S as a student employee for three and a half years. 

Q: What has been your most memorable experience as a student employee? 

A: One of my most memorable experiences as a student worker was the realization that I could make a difference in the lives of others even in the few hours I spent at work per week. I realized that a smile, a kind word, and a helpful attitude can go a long way in brightening someone else’s day.

Senior Student Employee -- Chloe Keeling

 

Chloe Keeling, Senior Student Employee in Physics and Astronomy

Meet our featured senior student employee, Chloe Keeling. Chloe has been working in A&S for just over 18 months. She has worked that entire time in the Department of Physics and Astronomy, but recently added work with Dr. Rita Basuray to her resume.

When asked about her most memorable experiences while working in Physics and Astronomy, Chloe said that working during the summer was always fun. The Physics and Astronomy teams have weekly themes and one day a week they would all dress up in themed clothing to take pictures. 

One of the tasks that Chloe was asked to take on was the updating of the Physics and Astronomy bulletin boards right outside their front office. When Chloe came on board, the bulletin boards were...well..shabby. The paper had turned yellow from age and the photos were not current by any stretch. "Getting everything updated and looking shard was fun and challenging," said Chloe.

Meet Erin Norton Miller

 

Erin Norton Miller at the Baker Museum in Artis—Naples, FL

Hi there; I’m Erin Norton Miller.  I am a native of Lexington, and UK is my alma mater!  I was an English major here and received my BA in May of 2000.  Before working at UK, I had jobs doing everything from retail to working in a warehouse to banking.  I started my career at UK in 2010 in a STEPS position in the College of Pharmacy.  I joined the College of Arts & Sciences in 2011 and began my current position as the Department Manager at the UK Appalachian Center and Appalachian Studies in June of 2013.  I really enjoy being a part of this College and getting to work on the Culture Committee.  I love being in a place that values learning and excellence but also encourages getting to know and having fun with colleagues.

Outstanding Student Employees

Each year the University of Kentucky seeks nominations from managers of students across campus to find the most outstanding of our student employees. This year, they received 42 nominations from healthcare, colleges and central services. A&S student employees represented 13 of those 42 nominees. Below are all of our fabulous student employees that were nominated by their managers for consideration as the UK Student Employee of the Year:

Meet Christine Gildersleeve, Department of Chemistry

Christine and son, Joey

Hi y’all! My name is Christine Gildersleeve. It’s almost easier to tell you where I am not from, than where I am from. I was born into a military family which meant that from the get-go I was on the move. Born in Texas but raised predominantly in the Pacific Northwest (or PNW as us Seattleites call it) I have always felt an innate desire to be close to the ocean. As a child I spent many of my vacations in the Southern Outer Banks (SOBX) of North Carolina. My mother is a Carolina girl and my father actually got transferred back to her home town when I was in high school. It was a lot of fun going to the same high school as my mom and having my extended family close-by.