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Global Impact Awards

The UK Global Impact Awards seek to recognize alumni, faculty, and staff achievements and contributions towards enhancing the University of Kentucky's global engagement through research, education, and service, as well as fostering a culturally diverse, welcoming environment that is conducive to comprehensive campus internationalization.

Nominations are now open for the 2024 Global Impact Awards. Winners of 2024 Global Impact Awards will be announced and honored at the UK Global Impact Awards reception, which will be held in the Gatton Student Center in fall 2024.

Nominations will involve submission of a narrative (1-3 pages) describing the nominee’s qualities, achievement and work, and how these reflect the criteria listed for the relevant UK Global Impact award, along with a current C.V. of the nominee.

Self-nominations will be asked to submit one letter of reference in support of their nomination.

Nominations for the 2024 Global Impact Awards close April 15.

Click here to nominate.

Global Impact Award Trophy

Award Categories

Alumni Global Impact

This award seeks to recognize alumni whose highly distinguished careers have featured significant work outside the United States that has resulted in outstanding contributions to their communities or professions in global contexts, and/or who have exemplified ideals of global citizenship through the promotion of inter-cultural communication and mutual understanding, international peace and security, or responsible and sustainable international development.

Distinguished Faculty Achievements in International Research & Scholarship Award

This award seeks to recognize UK faculty who advance UK’s role as an impactful, globally engaged research university through a demonstrated  commitment to global engagement through research, scholarship, and creative activities, as evidenced by well-established and ongoing records of international activities, and taking into account the diversity of scholarly production, and the varied traditions of collaboration, publication and grantsmanship that characterize the faculty of a comprehensive, research-intensive university.  

Distinguished Faculty Achievements in Education Abroad Award

This award seeks to recognize UK faculty who demonstrate a commitment to global engagement and excellence in teaching through facilitating education abroad programs.

Distinguished Faculty Achievements in Internationalizing the Curriculum Award

This award seeks to recognize UK faculty who demonstrate a commitment to global engagement through activities and leadership in internationalizing the curriculum, with well-established and ongoing records of incorporating significant global perspectives and intercultural components to educational activities taking place on the UK campus.

Distinguished Staff Achievements in Campus Internationalization Award

This award seeks to recognize UK non-academic staff who demonstrate outstanding commitment, support and service to international students, staff, or visiting scholars/researchers at UK, and/or to UK students, faculty and staff engaging in education abroad activities.

Community Partner Global Impact Award

This award seeks to recognize organizations active in Kentucky that show exceptional commitment to promoting global awareness and cultural diversity in the Commonwealth, and have positive impact on the global engagement efforts of the University of Kentucky, our students, faculty, and staff. This may include charitable organizations and NGOs, public or private corporations, as well as local and state government agencies. The Community Partner Global Impact Award is also open to individuals who show exceptional commitment to promoting global awareness and cultural diversity in the Commonwealth, and have positive impact on the global engagement efforts of the University of Kentucky, our students, faculty, and staff. 

2023 Global Impact Award Winners

Christine Elder

Ambassador Christine Elder, B.A. Germanic Language and Literature, 1971 UK Alumni Global Impact Award

Youling Xiong

Dr. Youling Xiong, Professor, Department of Animal and Food Sciences Martin-Gatton College of Agriculture, Food and Environment UK Global Impact Award for Distinguished Faculty Achievement in International Research and Scholarship

Rosie Lanphere

Dr. Rosie Lanphere, Associate Professor, Department of Exercise Science and Kinesiology College of Education UK Global Impact Award for Distinguished Faculty Achievement in Education Abroad

David Fahringer

Professor David Fahringer, Department of Physician Assistant Studies, College of Health Sciences UK Global Impact Award for Distinguished Faculty Achievement in Internationalizing the Curriculum

Megan Koshurba

Megan Koshurba UK Global Impact Award for Distinguished Staff Achievement in Campus Internationalization

Kentucky Refugee Ministries

Kentucky Refugee Ministries Community Partner Global Impact Award

Past Winners

2022 GIA Awardees

  • Alumni Global Impact Award: Dr. William H. Jansen, B.A., Anthropology, 1971
  • Community Partner Global Impact Award: Kiwanis Club of Lexington
  • Distinguished Faculty Achievements in International Research and Scholarship: Dr. Nikiforos ("Nick") Stamatiadis, Professor, Civil Engineering
  • Distinguished Faculty Achievements in Education Abroad: Dr. Beth Barnes, Professor and Director of Undergraduate Studies, Integrated Strategic Communication
  • Distinguished Faculty Achievements in Internationalizing the Curriculum: Dr. Ann Kingsolver, Professor of Anthropology, Director of Appalachian Studies
  • Distinguished Staff Achievements in Campus Internationalization: Ms. Summer Eglinski, Director of Gatton Global Initiatives in the Gatton College of Business and Economics

2021 GIA Awardees

  • Alumni Global Impact Award: Mosoka Fallah, Ph.D., Microbiology, Immunology and Molecular Genetics, 2011
  • Distinguished Faculty Achievement in International Research and Scholarship: Sherali Zeadally, associate professor, School of Information Sciences, College of Communication and Information 
  • Distinguished Faculty Achievement in Education Abroad: Larry Grabau, professor, Department of Plant and Soil Sciences, College of Agriculture, Food and Environment 
  • Distinguished Faculty Achievement in Internationalizing the Curriculum: Sharon Brennan, Associate Professor, Department of Curriculum and Instruction, College of Education
  • Distinguished Staff Achievement in Campus Internationalization: Patricia Bond, Senior Assistant Dean, Office of Graduate Admissions & Recruitment, The Graduate School

2020 GIA Awardees

  • Distinguished Faculty Achievement in International Research and Scholarship: Srimati Basu, professor, Department of Gender and Women’s Studies, College of Arts and Sciences
  • Distinguished Faculty Achievement in International Research and Scholarship: Jeffrey Seay, associate professor, Department of Chemical and Materials Engineering, College of Engineering
  • Distinguished Faculty Achievement in Education Abroad: Patricia Hyjer Dyk, associate professor and director of graduate studies, Department of Community and Leadership Development, College of Agriculture, Food and Environment 
  • Distinguished Faculty Achievement in Internationalizing the Curriculum: Melody Ryan, professor, Department of Pharmacy Practice and Science, College of Pharmacy 
  • Distinguished Staff Achievement in Campus Internationalization: Patricia Whitlow, director of Nationally Competitive Awards