Education

Here are all 12 presidents in the history of the University of Kentucky

By Monica Kast

February 13, 2022 5:00 AM

James K. Patterson pictured in his office in the Administrative (or Main) Building, 1900. Part of Louis Edward Nollau F Series Photographic Print Collection (University of Kentucky), circa 1885 - 1966. Photo Credit: UK Special Collections UK

Eli Capilouto has been the president of the University of Kentucky for more than 10 years.

He is the 12th president of UK. Here are the former presidents, and how long they held the role, according to the university.

James Patterson, president from 1869 to 1910

Patterson 2.jpg — James K. Patterson, the University of Kentucky’s first president, from 1878 to 1910. This portrait was taken in his final year. University of Kentucky Special Collections

Henry Barker, president from 1911 to 1917

Barker 4.jpg — Henry Stites Barker, president of the Agricultural and Mechanical College, which later became the University of Kentucky, from 1911 to 1917. Part of Louis Edward Nollau F Series Photographic Print Collection. University of Kentucky Special Collections

Frank McVey, president from 1917 to 1940

McVey 1.jpg — Frank L. McVey, University of Kentucky president from 1917 to 1940. University of Kentucky Special Collections

Herman Donovan, president from 1941 to 1956

Donovan 1.jpg — Herman Lee Donovan, University of Kentucky president from 1941 to 1956. vUniversity of Kentucky Special Collections

Frank Dickey, president from 1956 to 1963

Dickey 2.jpg — Frank Dickey, University of Kentucky president from 1957 to 1963. University of Kentucky Special Collections

John Oswald, president from 1963 to 1968

Oswald 3.jpg — John W.Oswald, University of Kentucky president from 1963 to 1968. University of Kentucky Special Collections

Albert Kirwan, president from 1968 to 1969

Kirwan 6.jpg — Albert Kirwan, University of Kentucky president from 1968 to 1969. University of Kentucky Special Collections

Otis Singletary, president from 1969 to 1987

Singletary 7.jpg — Otis A. Singletary, University of Kentucky president from 1969 to 1987. University of Kentucky Special Collections

David Roselle, president from 1987 to 1989

Roselle 6.jpg — David P. Roselle, University of Kentucky president from 1987 to 1989. University of Kentucky Special Collections

Charles Wethington Jr., president from 1989 to 2001

Wethington 6.jpg — Charles Wethington Jr., University of Kentucky president from 1990 to 2001. University of Kentucky Special Collections

Lee Todd Jr., president from 2001 to 2011

Former University of Kentucky President Dr. Lee Todd

Eli Capilouto, president from 2011 to current

Dr. Eli Capilouto celebrated his 10th year as the twelfth president of University of Kentucky in 2021. December 9, 2021. Marcus Dorsey mdorsey@herald-leader.com

Monica Kast

Lexington Herald-Leader

859-334-0595

Monica Kast covers higher education for the Herald-Leader and Kentucky.com. Previously, she covered higher education in Tennessee for the Knoxville News Sentinel. She is originally from Louisville, Kentucky, and is a graduate of Western Kentucky University. Support my work with a digital subscription

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