Behind the Blue University of Kentucky Public Relations / UK HealthCare

LEXINGTON, Ky. (June 13, 2024) – [THIS IS AN ENCORE EPISODE.] This week marks the beginning of Campus Pride Week here at the University of Kentucky. Celebrated nationally in June, Campus Pride Week, hosted by the Office of LGBTQ* Resources (housed in the Office for Student Success) allows students, faculty and staff an opportunity to honor pride on campus while the spring semester is still in session. 
Throughout the week, the campus acknowledges the diversity of identities, experiences and histories in the LGBTQ+ community and recognizes all who have and continue to advocate for LGBTQ+ lives, rights and visibility. 
While this is an annual event at the university, this year will look a bit different, as the Office of LGBTQ* Resources has hired both a new director and assistant director. 
Glenn Means, new director, believes the week will provide the campus community with an opportunity to learn about the office’s resources and build community. 
Prior to his new role, Means served in the UK College of Public Health as the admissions and recruitment coordinator, and before that, Means worked for the Legislative Research Commission, where he handled constituent service matters for the Commonwealth. Means also served as the development director for Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Bluegrass and the donor stewardship manager for Lexington Habitat for Humanity. Outside of his work experience, Means has volunteered with various LGBTQ* organizations.
“Through all of this work, I have had the opportunity to educate, advocate and inform people on many issues that are important to our community, including mentorship, housing, healthcare, human rights and LGBTQ+ issues,” Means said. “It is a privilege to serve in this role to allow our students to have a safe space on campus and more importantly, a place for them to be themselves.”
As new director, Means hopes to create a more inclusive, supportive and affirming campus environment for LGBTQ+ individuals. He is committed to championing diversity, equity and inclusion, and to creating a space where all individuals are respected, valued and celebrated for who they are.
Atticus White, who will serve as the new assistant director, began their journey with the Office of LGBTQ* Resources back in 2018 during their sophomore year at UK where they were an intern in the office. After graduating in 2020, they held various retail and administrative jobs, but says nothing really stuck or felt fulfilling. 
“I kept thinking back to the office and how wonderful it was to work in an environment that did so much work to support a community I love,” White said. “I sent an email to the director at the time and described my work with the office previously. I made my way into an administrative assistant position. About six months into my position, I became the only full-time staff in the office. I was suddenly in charge of managing everything. While it was extremely overwhelming, I knew that I had to stay to keep our doors open and continue to support our students. After all that hard work and strife, I had the opportunity to apply for and accept the assistant director position.”
As the new assistant director, White wants to continue the great work the office has been doing since starting with the office but push for more visibility. 
“Glenn and I have talked a lot about our visions for the office in the future. One of the biggest things we’ve discussed is how to make our office more visible. Many students might not even know our office exists on campus. We want to change that,” White said. “Students of any marginalized identity have specific needs that their peers might not understand or relate to. We must continue our work so that students know that they are welcome not just in our office, but on campus, in Lexington, in Kentucky, in the United States and in the world.”
Through collaborative initiatives and outreach programs, starting with Campu

LEXINGTON, Ky. (June 6, 2024) –For over three decades, Everett McCorvey, D.M.A., has been the driving force as director of UK Opera Theatre, which is part of the School of Music at the UK College of Fine Arts. The school has earned a national reputation for excellence in opera, choral and instrumental music performance, as well as in music education, music therapy, composition, theory, and music history.
As the first African American to earn a doctoral degree in music from the University of Alabama, McCorvey is personally committed to creating opportunities for UK students from diverse backgrounds to thrive.
One of McCorvey’s most renowned projects is ‘It’s A Grand Night for Singing!’, a vibrant, high-energy musical showcase featuring hits from Broadway and beyond. Since its inception in 1992, ‘Grand Night’ has captivated audiences with its Emmy Award-winning performances, highlighting the best of Broadway both past and present.
On this episode of ‘Behind the Blue’, McCorvey shares insights into his upbringing in Montgomery, Alabama, the experiences that motivated him to pursue both performance and teaching and offers a preview of this year’s ‘Grand Night’ lineup.
"Behind the Blue" is available on iTunes, Google Play, and Spotify. Become a subscriber to receive new episodes of “Behind the Blue” each week. UK’s latest medical breakthroughs, research, artists and writers will be featured, along with the most important news impacting the university.
Transcripts for this or other episodes of Behind the Blue can be downloaded from the show’s blog page.
To discover what’s wildly possible at the University of Kentucky, click here.

LEXINGTON, Ky. (May 30, 2024) – After finding great satisfaction in writing his first popular press book, “Vote for US: How to Take Back Our Elections and Change the Future of Voting,” Joshua Douglas was motivated to pursue a similar endeavor for his second book.
Douglas, a professor at the UK J. David Rosenberg College of Law, sought advice from a trusted advisor about his new idea, which focused on using bipartisan solutions to improve our elections and potentially circumventing the need for Supreme Court involvement. His advisor suggested that this concept should be the conclusion of his book, proposing instead that Douglas explore why he views the Supreme Court as problematic and why a comprehensive election reform is necessary. 
The outcome is Douglas’ second book, released on May 14th, titled "The Supreme Court v. The Voters: The Troubling Story of How the Supreme Court Has Undermined Voting Rights." In this book, Douglas delves into significant voting rights cases—some lesser-known and others more familiar—to examine the pivotal moments that have profoundly affected our elections and the nation. Through clear and approachable writing, Douglas recounts each case, sheds light on the enduring electoral challenges we face, and underscores the significant influence the Supreme Court has had in creating a compromised electoral system.
On this episode of Behind the Blue, Douglas shares what attracted him to the cases discussed in his book, highlights unexpected details readers may learn about the Constitution’s treatment of voting rights, and offers ideas for reforms that could lead to meaningful improvements.
"Behind the Blue" is available on iTunes, Google Play, and Spotify. Become a subscriber to receive new episodes of “Behind the Blue” each week. UK’s latest medical breakthroughs, research, artists and writers will be featured, along with the most important news impacting the university. 
Transcripts for this or other episodes of Behind the Blue can be downloaded from the show’s blog page.
To discover what’s wildly possible at the University of Kentucky, click here.

LEXINGTON, Ky. (May 23, 2024) – In October 2016, the UK College of Social Work (CoSW) established a partnership with the Department of Defense to offer the one-of-a-kind Army-UK Master of Social Work degree. 
A satellite site was established within the Army Medical Department Center and School at Fort Sam Houston. The satellite implements the full-time, 60-hour CoSW program. The curriculum is delivered in a condensed format over 14 continuous months of study, and all classes are administered face-to-face on the Joint Base San Antonio-Fort Sam Houston campus. The goal is to develop well-qualified clinical social workers to fill positions across military service branches.
Colonel Teresa Murray, a graduate of the MSW program, is now the director of the very same program she graduated from.
Murray was promoted to the rank of colonel in April of this year. There are currently fewer than 10 active-duty social workers who have earned that title in the army.
With more than 21 years of active federal service, Col. Murray says the role of social workers in the military continues to evolve.
On this episode of ‘Behind the Blue’, Col. Murray discusses her career path, the importance and value of social workers serving the members of the U.S. Armed Forces, and the continuing importance of observing Memorial Day, as communities across the United States prepare to honor the brave men and women who have made the ultimate sacrifice in service to our nation.
"Behind the Blue" is available on iTunes, Google Play, and Spotify. Become a subscriber to receive new episodes of “Behind the Blue” each week. UK’s latest medical breakthroughs, research, artists and writers will be featured, along with the most important news impacting the university.
Transcripts for this or other episodes of Behind the Blue can be downloaded from the show’s blog page.
To discover what’s wildly possible at the University of Kentucky, click here.

This podcast discusses suicide, which may be difficult and distressing for some to listen to. Resources and assistance are available at 988lifeline.org.
 LEXINGTON, Ky. (May 22, 2024) – On May 1, 1824, Eastern State Hospital opened its doors as part of Fayette Hospital, becoming just the second state psychiatric hospital in the nation. Now 200 years later, it also holds the distinction of being the oldest continuously operating state psychiatric hospital in the U.S.
Last week, Eastern State Hospital held a celebration to honors its 200 years of mental health service to the Commonwealth. Lexington lawyer Bruce Simpson – who received treatment at Eastern State Hospital following a suicide attempt – joined the celebration to share his personal story and to thank the staff who helped him.  
On this episode of “Behind the Blue,” Simpson joins the podcast to talk openly and candidly about his nearly lifelong struggles with mental health, including his suicide attempt. He also highlights the importance of Eastern State Hospital and why mental health should be prioritized just as highly as physical health.
"Behind the Blue" is available on iTunes, Google Play, and Spotify. Become a subscriber to receive new episodes of “Behind the Blue” each week. UK’s latest medical breakthroughs, research, artists and writers will be featured, along with the most important news impacting the university.
Transcripts for this or other episodes of Behind the Blue can be downloaded from the show’s blog page.
To discover what’s wildly possible at the University of Kentucky, click here.

LEXINGTON, Ky. (May 16, 2024) – Greystar is a global leader in the investment, development, and management of high-quality rental housing properties. Greystar is one of the largest operators of rental housing in the world, with properties including apartments, senior living communities, corporate, and student housing.
In 2012, the University of Kentucky embarked upon an historic multi-phased partnership with Greystar to construct state of the art student housing facilities on campus. The development provided new housing to enhance the learning experience for students at the University of Kentucky. The multi-phased project replaced most of the existing student housing located across campus with modern state of the art facilities.
Over the past two years, Greystar and the University have embarked on a new partnership – working with students through the Explore First: Careers, Cultures and Connections program. Explore First is an education abroad program designed to equip and empower First-Generation students through participation in a 3-week education abroad program in London and Dublin.
Along with introducing career readiness within a global context, the program connects students with organizations, like Greystar, that have a global presence and employ UK graduates.
On this episode of Behind the Blue, Maria Hatch, Greystar’s Senior Director of Client Relationships, and UK’s Vice President for Student Success Kirsten Turner talk about the Explore First program and the benefits to both students and corporate participants.
"Behind the Blue" is available on iTunes, Google Play, and Spotify. Become a subscriber to receive new episodes of “Behind the Blue” each week. UK’s latest medical breakthroughs, research, artists and writers will be featured, along with the most important news impacting the university.
Transcripts for this or other episodes of Behind the Blue can be downloaded from the show’s blog page.
To discover what’s wildly possible at the University of Kentucky, click here.