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51Ƶ would like to express its gratitude for the invaluable contribution that the following faculty have made to this university. We wish to congratulate them on their retirement!
College of Arts and Sciences
Baranowski

Michael Baranowski

Department of Political Science, Criminal Justice, and Organizational Leadership

Since Michael Baranowski joined 51Ƶ in 2001, he was deeply interested in politics and service - he served as Faculty Regent and as Faculty Senate President, and is co-host of The Politics Guys podcast in his spare time. His students loved his sense of humor and regularly commented on his ability to lead discussions on current events in a fair and balanced way.

 
Bonner

Nick Bonner

School of the Arts

Art and Design Program

Congratulations to Nick Bonner on his retirement after 25 years of dedicated leadership in the Art and Design foundations program! Nick has been a constant presence for incoming Art & Design students during their first year, and his positive influence and guidance have positively impacted thousands of creatives, helping to transform their lives.

 
Harris

Daryl Harris

School of the Arts

Theatre and Dance Program

For 20 years, Professor Daryl Harris has had a positive impact on stage, in the classroom, in the program, and across campus and across our region  – shaping productions, curriculum, costumes, and conversations with his diverse and expansive insight and skillset, and leaving a lasting legacy of inclusiveness, innovative curriculum, and a culture of collegial support. His ability to lead students through difficult conversations was on full display in all of his courses and interactions.

 
Johnson

Sarah Johnson

Department of Physics, Geology, and Engineering Technology

Dr. Sarah Johnson has been a lecturer in the Geology Program since 2002, and was the Geology Program Director for many years. Her research interest is primarily in landslides.

 
Boni Li

Boni Li

Department of Sociology, Anthropology, and Philosophy

In her 30 year career at 51Ƶ as a Sociologist in the Sociology, Anthropology and Philosophy department, Dr. Yushi (Boni) Li has served on various university, college, and department committees, developed and taught a wide variety of a well-sought lower and upper level sociology courses such as global inequalities, technology and social change, marriage and the family, medical sociology. She is widely published, sometimes with undergraduate students, on topics such as long term care services, social security benefits and health care system in the US and China, impacts of mobile phones on people’s relationships in China, and college students’ attitudes toward living arrangements for their elderly parents.

 
McCartney

Phil McCartney

Department of Mathematics & Statistics

Phil McCartney devoted many of his 45 years at 51Ƶ to collegial governance and was the first individual to serve as Faculty Advocate. His research interest was in mathematical problem-solving, and this passion carried into the classroom in classes such as Introduction to Higher Mathematics.

 
Medlicott

Carol Medlicott

Department of History & Geography

In addition to serving as a model colleague and geography instructor, Carol Medlicott emerged as a nationally recognized authority on the history and cultural practice of the Shakers, the oldest communal society in America. Many of her books and articles focus on Shaker expansion and the western communities, culminating in an invitation to serve as the keynote speaker at a 2024 national conference commemorating the 250th anniversary of the beginnings of Shakerism in America.

 
Scola

Michael Scola

Department of Biological Sciences

Dr. Michael Scola taught across the University and beyond, from leading many Anatomy and Physiology courses for nursing students, to teaching Immunology classes for our Biology majors, to teaching graduate students in the Doctor of Nursing Practice program, to medical students at UK College of Medicine-NKY Campus, his expertise is wide-ranging and highly sought after. Dr. Scola is known as an exceptional instructor and throughout everything he does he has been devoted to the development of his students and their success not only in the classroom but to how that extends to their practice as members of the healthcare field.

 
Ernest Smith

Ernest Smith

Department of English

Dr. Smith has been a valued colleague and beloved teacher ever since arriving at 51Ƶ in 2009. In his time at 51Ƶ he was a pioneer in online instruction and was among the first to develop AP English courses, and he has been a key contributor to our graduate program, most recently serving as its Director. Dr. Smith’s scholarship and expertise in modern American literature, particularly poetry, filled a much-needed gap in our curriculum that will be sorely missed – we hope he can return from time to time to share his expertise and passion for poetry with our students.

 
Soliday

Paige Soliday

Department of English

Dr. Soliday has been a dedicated teacher and generous colleague, and during her 30 years at 51Ƶ she has significantly contributed to the vitality of our program through her service work, her course development, and creative pedagogy. Dr. Soliday has mentored generations of 51Ƶ students who make up the rich fabric of this region. She will be sorely missed by students and by her colleagues.

 
Weir

Kimberly Weir

Department of Political Science, Criminal Justice, and Organizational Leadership

Kimberly Weir joined 51Ƶ in 2003, and she has served the university in a variety of ways. Her dedication to students was exemplified in her unique approach to pedagogy – Kimberly exposed her students to other cultures without leaving campus through film, readings, and by sharing artifacts collected in her travels. Students reported that her passion for other cultures is infectious.

 
Wilkinson

Steve Wilkinson

Department of Mathematics & Statistics

Steve Wilkinson taught the full breadth of mathematics coursework ranging from Math for Liberal Arts to Calculus to advanced proof-based courses, and his work in the classroom was recognized with a statewide teaching award in 2017. Recent scholarly interests have included the mathematical modeling of climate change data and the intersection of mathematics and music; both areas where Steve included undergraduate students.
Chase College of Law
Kreder

Jennifer Kreder

Law

Jennifer Kreder will retire after joining the Chase faculty in 2004. Professor Kreder is a leading international expert on the law surrounding art and cultural heritage, specializing in the return of artwork looted by the Nazis during the Holocaust. She teaches Civil Procedure, Property and courses in the art law area. She has served in numerous leadership roles at Chase that helped enhance our program of legal education.

 
Stephens

Steve Stephens

Law

Henry (Steve) Stephens, Jr. will retire in May after 45 years of dedicated and impactful service to Chase, joining the faculty in 1979 and serving as Dean from 1986 to 1992. Dean Stephens researches and teaches in the areas of evidence, trial skills, environment law and mediation. He is a beloved professor and mentor whose legacy will endure for years to come.
Haile College of Business
Carrell

Mike Carrell

Department of Management

Dr. Mike Carrell served as a Professor of Management, Dean of our Haile College of Business, Regents Professor, and the Founding Director of the Alternative Dispute Resolution Center. He started at 51Ƶ in 1998 and has faithfully served the college and the region for the last 25 years. He has written several books on labor-management practices, which remain the “go-to” standard for the industry today.
College of Education
Prather-Jones

Bianca Prather-Jones

Department of Teacher Preparation and Educational Studies

Dr. Bianca Prather-Jones joined 51Ƶ in 2003, first as a lecturer and now retiring as an associate professor of special education. Known for her ability to create personalized and rigorous learning experiences in online teaching, she has been an integral contributor across all teacher preparation programs.
College of Health and Human Services
Martin

Caron Martin

School of Nursing

Caron Martin came to 51Ƶ in 1997 and is retiring May of 2024.  Her focus areas of teaching are pathopharmacology and advanced medical surgical nursing. Her research area is the identification of determinants of success of students in the Baccalaureate Nursing Program.

 
Robinson

Denise Robinson

School of Nursing

Denise Robinson is a Regents Professor of Nursing who joined 51Ƶ in 1984 and retired December 2023. Her teaching expertise are guiding the development of the doctoral projects and the analysis and application of health data in the DNP program.  Her scholarly focus has been many over her tenure but most recently looking at best practices in on-line graduate education for nursing student success.

 
Lynn Smith

Lynn Smith

School of Nursing

Lynn Smith is Associate Professor of Nursing who joined 51Ƶ in 2010 and retired December 2023. Her focus areas in teaching are nursing theory and research and clinical reasoning. Her research area has been looking at student perceptions of an ungraded class.
College of Informatics
Souren Paul

Souren Paul  

School of Computing and Analytics

Souren Paul, PhD from the University of Wisconsin Milwaukee, chaired the Business Informatics Department between 2019 - 2021. Post-administration, he continued teaching graduate Project Management for the Information Systems & Analytics program. A respected researcher, he recently led the Americas Conference on Information Systems and the International Conference on Information Systems.
W. Frank Steely Library
Nancy Campbell

Nancy Campbell

Library Services

Nancy Campbell, Associate Professor, was a faculty member at Steely Library for 45 years prior to her retirement in 2023. She served in a variety of capacities, most recently as Collections Analysis Librarian.

 
Mary Chesnut

Mary Chesnut

Library Services

Mary Chesnut, Professor, worked at 51Ƶ for 35 years, joining the Steely Library faculty in fall 2002 and retiring in 2023. She served in a variety of capacities, most recently as Teaching and Learning Librarian.

 
Lois Hamill

Lois Hamill

Library Services

Lois Hamill, Professor, was a faculty member at Steely Library for 16 years prior to her retirement in 2023. She served as head of the Special Collections and University Archives department. 

 
Lois Schultz

Lois Schultz

Library Services

Lois Schultz, Professor, was a faculty member at Steely Library for 45 years prior to her retirement in 2023. She served in a variety of capacities, most recently as Associate Dean of Collections.

 
Sullivan

Laura Sullivan

Library Services

Laura Sullivan, Associate Professor, was a faculty member at Steely Library for 39 years prior to her retirement in 2023. She served in a variety of capacities, most recently as Student Success Librarian.
learning PLUS Center
Williams

Diane Williams

Learning PLUS Center

Diane Williams has been a faculty member with 51Ƶ for over 30 years, having served as the Director of Learning Plus for many years. She has been a vital part of the success of that program and for Undergraduate Academic Affairs.