Three new trustees appointed to UK board, including former Lexington mayor
Three new members have been appointed to the University of Kentucky Board of Trustees, and one trustee was reappointed, Gov. Andy Beshear announced Friday.
The Board of Trustees is the governing group that oversees UK, with authority over financial, educational and other policies of the university. It is made up of 16 members appointed by the governor, two members selected by the faculty, one member selected by the staff and the Student Government Association president, who is selected by the students, according to the university’s website.
Jim Gray, Clark Williams and Elaine Wilson have been appointed to the UK Board of Trustees. Todd Case, who has served on the board since 2022, has been reappointed.
Gray is the former Lexington mayor and current secretary of the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet. Gray was previously the CEO and chairman of Gray Construction in Lexington, which donated $5.25 million to UK in 2022 toward the renovation of the College of Design building, named the Gray Design Building. His term as trustee will expire on June 30, 2031, according to UK.
Williams, a UK alumni, is the managing member of Progression Strategic Solutions in Lexington. He is also the president of the Ed Brown Society, a non-profit organization supporting students of color in the thoroughbred industry, and an ordained minister. His term on the board also runs through June 30, 2031.
Wilson was previously a member of the Board of Trustees from 1999 to 2005. Wilson previously worked at Somerset Community College, and is an alumni of UK. She was the president of the UK Alumni Association board from 2014 to 2015. Wilson replaces Frank Shoop on the board, who resigned earlier this year and was appointed an honorary lifetime board member. Wilson’s term on the board runs through June 30, 2027.
Shoop is the longest serving UK trustee, having been a member since 1991. Beshear, in an executive order about Shoop’s appointment, said Shoop had demonstrated “his commitment to the duty to well and truly hold the future and welfare of the Commonwealth and the University of Kentucky in trust.”
“It has been determined that it is duly fitting and proper that Mr. Shoop should be recognized for his unique and lasting contributions to the flagship educational institution of the Commonwealth of Kentucky,” Beshear said.
In addition to the appointed members, three new elected members are joining the board.
Karen Petrone is the new faculty trustee. Petrone is a professor of history and co-director of the UK-Jewish Heritage Fund Holocaust Education Initiative. She has been a faculty member since 1994. Her term as faculty trustee will run through July 1, 2028.
Zachary Stacy also joins the board as the new staff trustee. Stacy is the associate director of Intellectual Property Development for UK Innovate. His term also runs through July 1, 2028.
Lastly, McKenna Dowell will join the board as the Student Government Association president and student trustee. Dowell will be a senior, majoring in political science and history. Her term runs through July 1, 2026.
This story was originally published July 28, 2025 at 10:12 AM.