Who We Are

The Chellgren Center is a unit within the Provost Office with leadership invested in an Endowed Chair, Endowed Professorships, and Chellgren Faculty Fellows.

The Chellgren Center endowment supports the chair and the professorships for an explicit appointment period. Thereafter faculty who have held these positions, as well as other important faculty leaders in undergraduate education, remain actively engaged as leaders within the Center as Chellgren Faculty Fellows.

Commensurate with their status as senior level faculty, The Chellgren Chair and each Chellgren Endowed Professor maintains an active research program in their respective disciplines and directs a specific project intended to advance progressive reform of undergraduate education at the University of Kentucky.

The Chellgren Endowed Chair assumes a leadership role for the Center as spokesperson and advocate for undergraduate excellence.

Current Chair

Isabel C. Escobar, College of Engineering, Chemical and Materials Engineering

Former Chairs

Jan-June 2022: Dr. Luke H. Bradley, College of Medicine (interim)

2008-2021: Dr. Philipp J. Kraemer, College of Arts and Science, Department of Psychology

2007-2008: Dr. Philip Harling, College of Arts and Science, Department of History

The Chellgren Endowed Professorship supports the work of faculty interested in making a sustainable contribution to undergraduate excellence at the University of Kentucky. Each endowed professor serves a three-year appointment.

Candidates submit competitive applications to outline a specific three-year project designed to enhance undergraduate excellence. Projects vary considering the full range of activities that encompass undergraduate excellence including improvement in teaching, creative changes to the curriculum, and co-curricular practices that represent cutting-edge approaches to higher education. Each project must outline a compelling objective, a timeline for implementation, and an explicit outcomes assessment plan. Successful applications are selected by a committee of faculty and endorsed by the Chellgren Chair and the Provost before being submitted to the UK Board of Trustees for appointment.

Each Professorship provides a $10,000 award that can be used as a faculty overload stipend or in support various project costs. During their appointment period, each Professor also participates in various activities associated with the Chellgren Center, including mentoring of Chellgren Student Fellows.

Upon completion of the appointment period, each Professor submits a final report and agrees to present a description of their project to the campus community. Professors can also attain status as an Emeritus Chellgren Faculty Fellow and in that role can choose to remain engaged in the work of the Chellgren Center.

2019-2022

Dr. Luke Bradley, College of Medicine
Dr. Robin Cooper, College of Arts and Sciences
Dr. Ryan Hargrove, College of Agriculture, Food and Environment
Dr. Tammy Stephenson, College of Agriculture, Food and Environment
Dr. Ellen Usher, College of Education

Former

Dr. Francisco Andrade, College of Medicine
Dr. Joanna Badagliacca, College of Arts and Sciences, Emeritus
Dr. Gail Brion, College of Engineering
Dr. Anna Brzyski, College of Fine Arts
Dr. Janet Eldred, College of Arts and Sciences
Dr. Herman Farrell, College of Fine Arts
Dr. Jonathan Golding, College of Arts and Sciences
Dr. Jane Jensen, College of Education
Dr. Kathi Kern, College of Arts and Sciences
Dr. Michael Kovash, College of Arts and Sciences
Dr. Carl Lee, College of Arts and Sciences
Dr. William Rayens, College of Arts and Sciences
Dr. Ernie Yanarella, College of Arts and Sciences, Emeritus

Chellgren Faculty Fellows receive one-year of funding to complete a project related to the goals of the Chellgren Center. These projects can include creative instructional techniques, design of co-curricular and extra-curricular activities that enhance undergraduate education at UK or engage community partners in projects that extend UK’s educational commitment beyond the campus.

Applicants submit project proposals that are reviewed by the Chellgren Chair and by an ad hoc faculty committee when appropriate. Each Chellgren Faculty Fellow can receive up to $10,000 as overload funding or to support project costs. Upon completion of their project, each Faculty Fellow submits a detailed report outlining the measurable success and impact of their project.

2020-2021

Dr. James Brusuelas, College of Engineering
Dr. Nathan Vanderford, College of Medicine

2019-2020

Dr. Michael Baker, College of Fine Arts
Dr. James Brusuelas, College of Engineering
Dr. Michael Kilgore, College of Medicine
Dr. Brent Seales, College of Engineering
Dr. Nathan Vanderford, College of Medicine

Paul Chellgren

The benefactors of the Chellgren Center for Undergraduate Excellence are Paul W. Chellgren and his family. A UK graduate, Mr. Chellgren was an Honors Program student, a star intercollegiate debater, and President of the Student Body his senior year. He subsequently earned a Harvard MBA and a D.D.E. from Oxford University, where he has been named an Honorary Fellow.

In addition to a celebrated career in business, one that included service as the CEO of Ashland Inc., Mr. Chellgren has been a very active UK alumnus, having served for eleven years on the UK Board of Trustees. With the generous gift from Mr. Chellgren and his family, the University of Kentucky established the Chellgren Center for Undergraduate Excellence.

Nationally Competitive Awards

The Office of Nationally Competitive Awards began as a part of the Chellgren Center and is now a major collaborator in supporting academic excellence by providing students with assistance in applying for scholarships and fellowships funded by sources independent of the University of Kentucky.

Nationally Competitive Awards administers the campus nomination process for 12 awards that require institutional endorsement and provide guidance to students applying for other awards that allow direct application.

Learn More