Leadership changes at UK colleges as multiple deans leave their positions
Four deans at the University of Kentucky have left their positions since the beginning of May, according to information from the university.
The deans of the Lewis Honors College, Graduate School, College of Nursing and College of Pharmacy have left their positions, or announced they will be leaving their position, since May and acting deans have been named.
Of the 19 colleges at UK, six currently have an interim dean, with the College of Education’s new dean starting in July, according to the university’s website.
It’s not uncommon for multiple deans to leave in a school year, said UK spokesperson Jay Blanton, and the roles can be “somewhat cyclical.”
“There are years when there is little turnover. There are years when deans change — they take promotions or other jobs, or they return to the faculty or take a sabbatical,” Blanton said in an email. “It’s not uncommon to have years where there is no turnover. It’s also not uncommon to have years where there are multiple acting deans as part of transitions within colleges and units.”
Padraic Kenney, who was hired as dean of the Graduate School in 2023, is currently on sabbatical, Blanton said. Jana Jasinski, UK’s vice provost, became the active dean of the college on May 16.
Christian Brady, the Lewis Honors College Dean, was hired as the president of Wittenberg University in early May. His last day at UK was May 31, and Laura Bryan, who previously served as the acting dean of the college from 2020 to 2022, will again be acting dean.
Rosalie Mainous “is no longer serving as dean of the College of Nursing” as of June 6, according to an email from Provost Robert DiPaola. Mainous was hired as the dean of the college in 2022, and is still a tenured faculty member.
Gwen Moreland, the chief nurse executive for UK HealthCare, will be the acting dean of the college, DiPaola said.
Kip Guy, who has been dean of the College of Pharmacy since 2016, will also leave UK later this summer. He was announced as the dean of the University of Minnesota College of Pharmacy earlier this year, effective July 31. Craig Martin, a professor and the college’s dean of operations, will serve as the interim dean, DiPaola said in an email to faculty.
“The provost works with the colleges on when best to put together an advisory committee to assist with the search for deans, but we have strong leadership in place at each of the colleges who will maintain an excellent academic experience for our students while supporting collaboration and innovation for faculty and staff,” Blanton said.
Status of other college deans
Mary Davis announced she would be stepping down from her position as dean of the College of Law in October 2023 and returned to a faculty position at UK. She had been the interim dean of the college since 2019 and was made the dean in a permanent role in 2020. She was the first woman to be the dean of the College of Law.
Paul Salamanca was named the interim dean of the law school in June 2024, and candidates for the position have been interviewed on campus multiple times, according to UK’s website.
Salamanca’s appointment as interim dean ends on June 30. A new dean has not been announced, and a call for an interim dean was sent on May 20. No announcement has been made about an interim dean after Salamanca’s appointment ends.
The College of Education, which has had an interim dean since 2023, recently announced Nick Pace as the new dean. Danelle Stevens-Watkins, who was the interim dean, will return to her role as a faculty member in the college.