The newsletter for the WKU community
March 7, 2023
Board of Regents awards University Distinguished Professor status to Philips
In a meeting Friday at WKU’s Innovation Campus, the WKU Board of Regents voted to award University Distinguished Professor status to Biology Professor Dr. Thomas Keith Philips.

Considered an expert worldwide on several different types of beetles, Dr. Philips has led groups of WKU students to locations around the globe including Ghana, South Africa, Bolivia, Peru, and Chile.

Speaking in support of Dr. Philips, WKU Provost Dr. Bud Fischer noted his contributions to applied research and learning. “He’s highly respected internationally for both teaching and research. His research gives students hands-on opportunities to learn, and that’s what he does best.” The University Distinguished Professorship program is designed to recognize faculty members who have served WKU with distinction and have compiled an outstanding record of achievement in teaching, research, and service.

Additionally, the Regents approved Faculty Emeritus status for Dr. Sam Evans, former Dean of the College of Education and Behavioral Sciences; Dr. John Moore, Professor of Teacher Education; and Mr. Rico Tyler, Practitioner in Residence of Teacher Education. Faculty members who are awarded Emeritus status must have served the university for a minimum of 10 years and have had distinguished records of achievement and university service.

The Regents also approved the adoption of a university admission policy and the adoption of an updated Student Code of Conduct.
CLIMBING HIGHER
Gordon Ford College of Business announces Dr. Mark Ciampa as the Program Director for the Master of Cybersecurity Data Analytics Program. Learn More
Gatton Academy senior receives appointment to West Point
Gatton Academy of Mathematics and Science and Bardstown High School senior Reagan Phelps received the honor of being nominated to the United States Military Academy by Congressman Brett Guthrie of the Commonwealth’s 2nd Congressional District. Phelps, who has been working toward becoming an officer in the military since the age of 9, has accepted the appointment and will head to West Point on June 26.
Spotlight: Doug Tate
Doug Tate, Assistant Director of Housing Administration at WKU, received the SEAHO Service Award at the Southeastern Association of Housing Officers annual conference March 1-3 in Richmond, Virginia. The award is chosen by the senior housing officer of the member institution to recognize a staff person who has made significant contributions to residence hall students and the housing organization.
Pearley first recipient of fellowship at WKU Innovation Campus
Lamont “Jack” Pearley, a graduate student in the WKU folklore studies program and a collaborator with the WKU Innovation Campus, has been named the first recipient of the prestigious MIT OpenDocLab Kentucky-based fellowship. More Innovation Campus News: Metals Innovation Initiative March Newsletter
2022-23 service learning award recipients announced
The Center for Gifted Studies at WKU announces the award recipients for the 2022-23 Doctors Mody Service Learning Competitions for Young People.
U.S. Poet Laureate visits WKU
On February 27, U.S. Poet Laureate Ada Limón visited WKU on behalf of the PCAL Cultural Enhancement Series to do a reading of her poetry. She read 10 poems from her books The Carrying and The Hurting Kind. Following the reading, she conducted a Q&A with the audience, and then she held a meet-and-greet and book signing in the Academic Commons.
Harrison Lecture
Dr. Brooke Blower will present Americans in the World at War: Intimate Histories from the Crash of Pan Am’s Yankee Clipper as WKU’s 2023 Lowell Harrison Distinguished Lecture at 4 p.m. Wednesday in Gary Ransdell Hall Auditorium.
Pi(e) a Professor
Ogden College of Science and Engineering will celebrate Pi Day early with Pi(e) a Professor on Wednesday to support the WKU Food Pantry. The event will be held from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. in front of the Colonnade at Ivan Wilson Fine Arts Center.
Celebration of the Arts awards ceremony Friday night
The Kentucky Museum invites the campus and community to the awards ceremony for the 2023 Abound Credit Union Celebration of the Arts from 6 to 8 p.m. Friday. Showcasing over 200 works, this year's exhibition is truly a celebration of this region’s art. The exhibition will be on display through April 14.
WKU Week in Photos
WKU is moving full STEAM ahead with the semester! Check out Hilltoppers and local students engaging with Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics as well as other applied learning and research activities in this installment of WKU Week in Photos. Contributing photographers include Clinton Lewis, Aurelia Spaulding, Tyreon Clark, Ogden College of Science & Engineering, Gordon Ford College of Business, Jim Lindsey, WKU Exercise Science, WKU Psychology Department and WKU Department of Chemistry.
Athletics
March
7
Tuesday
Student Health Fair

Healthy Days will be held from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. today at the Preston Health and Activities Center. Learn More
March
7
Tuesday
Wedge Seminar

Dr. Vicki Phillips, WKU graduate and Chief Executive Officer of The National Center on Education and the Economy, will present Rooted in Kentucky, Extended to the World at 6 p.m. today at Gary Ransdell Hall Auditorium. Learn More
March
8
Wednesday
Percussion Ensemble

WKU's Percussion Ensemble will perform at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday at the Ivan Wilson Fine Arts Center Recital Hall; admission is $5. Learn More
Western Kentucky University 
1906 College Heights Blvd. 
Bowling Green, KY 42101