From The Blue: The UK Alumni Association Podcast UK Alumni Association

On this episode, we feature Alumni Commons, a $9 million development project located on the University of Kentucky campus along the former Rose Street corridor between Columbia Avenue and Huguelet Drive. 

We highlight three stories about Alumni Commons: first, we talk with students at the first public event held on the site; second, we hear from UK dignitaries during the dedication ceremony; and finally, we interview the lead landscape architect for the project. 

We talk with eight UK alumni about their favorite Homecoming memories. 

Three recent graduates of the University of Kentucky discuss their time as students, in service as an Alumni Ambassador, and what they've been doing since graduating. 

Janie McKenzie-Wells serves as president of the UK Alumni Association and takes a moment to discuss the impact UK has had on her life and career as well as the impact she hopes to make during her term at the helm of the UKAA Board of Directors. 

UK Alumni Association President Antoine Huffman is completing his year at the helm of the Board of Directors. In this episode, Huffman discusses the impact UK has had on his life and career as well as the impact he hopes he has made through his volunteerism. 

As the UK Alumni Association recognizes the impact women have made upon the university over the past 135 years, it is essential to consider the influence of the Board of Trustees as it governs the institution’s educational and financial policies. The UK Board of Trustees consists of 16 members appointed by the Governor, two members of the faculty, one university staff employee and one member of the student body. The terms of the appointed members are six years. 


Georgia M. Blazer was the first woman appointed to serve on the Board of Trustees and served from 1939 to 1961. Mira Snider Ball was the first woman to serve as chair of the UK Board of Trustees in 2007. Today, the three alumni representatives to the Board are three accomplished female alumnae:



·      Brenda Baker Gosney ’70 HS, ’75 ED


·      Paula Leach Pope ’73 ’75 ED


·      Rachel Watts Webb ’05 CI



These women recently spent time with UK Alumni Association Associate Director for Strategic Initiatives Christina Yue to share how UK has impacted their personal and professional lives.

For more information about the 135 Years of UK Women initiative, visit www.ukalumni.net/135years.