On September 25, 2025, the University of Kentucky College of Social Work (CoSW) hosted its 3rd Annual Recognition Celebration at The Carrick House in Lexington. The evening brought together faculty, staff, students, alumni, and community partners for a night of celebration, connection, and recognition of those who have made lasting contributions to the college.
Honoring Donors and Students
Director of Philanthropy Ramla Osman opened the recognition portion by celebrating all scholarship donors and recipients. Among those honored in person were:
- Kathy Purcell, who established the Brian M. Reber Endowed Memorial Scholarship Fund
- Elaine Wilson, CoSW alumni and Board of Trustee member who established the Elaine Wilson Scholarship
- Linda Harvey, CoSW alumni and longtime donor
- Asha Dudee, recipient of the Reber Scholarship
- Shawn Hunter, recipient of the Virginia Marsh Bell Scholarship
- Jordin Williams, recipient of the Criminal Justice Women and Philanthropy Scholarship
“These scholarships represent not just financial support, but a belief in the future of our students,” Osman noted.
Recognizing Faculty and Staff
Chief Wellbeing Officer Andrea Deweese recognized retirees, years of service milestones, and employee award recipients. Special recognition was given to Dr. Melanie Otis, who is retiring after more than 25 years of service.
Faculty and staff milestones spanned from five to thirty years. Honorees who celebrated their years of service with the college were:
- 5 years: Amanda Carpenter, Haley Clark, Dr. Laneshia Conner, Alice Edwards, Dr. Laura Escobar-Ratliff, Courtney Leazier, Emily Nichols, Kyle Phillips, Sheila Rentfrow, Kathryn Showalter, Michelle Slone.
- 20 years: Dr. Julie Cerel and Dr. Christopher Flaherty.
- 25 years: Larry “Jeff” Damron.
- 30 years: Gary Trumble.
The People First, People Always Awards celebrated outstanding faculty and staff contributions:
- Xana Plum – Culture of Wellbeing Award
- Dr. Aubrey Jones – Culture of Research Award
- Dr. Shelita “Dr. J.” Jackson – Outstanding Teacher Award
- Josh Nadzam – PTI of the Year Award
- Wanda and Michael Holt – Steadfast Service Award
- Sally Levings – Outstanding Staff Award
- Sarah Orr – Supervisor of the Year Award
Celebrating Student Excellence
Director of Student Experience and Engagement Dr. Kayla Powell recognized members of the Dean’s Student Advisory Council and presented the inaugural College of Social Work Student Awards, launched in Spring 2025.
Student award recipients included:
- CPT Amanda Veen – Army MSW Program Award
- Shawn Hunter – Outstanding Undergraduate Student
- Brianna Hinton – Outstanding Graduate Student
- Dr. Lila Elliott – Outstanding Doctoral Student
- Olivia Stanley – Experiential Learning Student of the Year
- Jordin Williams – Dean’s Outstanding Service Award
“These students embody the mission of social work—serving, uplifting, and advocating for others,” Powell said.
Alumni Recognition
The College of Social Work Alumni Association (SWAA), established in 2022, highlighted the contributions of its Executive Advisory Committee and recognized alumni leaders through the 2025 SWAA Awards:
- Eddie Mann – Outstanding Experiential Learning Instructor Award
- Dr. Joelisse Galarza (DSW ’25) – “You Were Built for This” Award
- Olivia Raley (MSW ’25) – Rising Star Award
- Katie Wolf Whaley (MSW ’03) – Alumni Excellence Award & Hall of Fame Inductee
“Thousands of alumni represent the college in communities every day, and tonight’s honorees showcase the very best of that impact,” Osman said.
Closing the Evening
In his closing remarks, Dean Jay Miller reflected on the significance of the evening:
“The College of Social Work is a special place thanks to all of you. Whether you are a student, faculty member, staff member, alumnus, or supporter, your contributions shape our mission and ensure we continue to improve the human condition—always, in all ways.”
The evening concluded with a reception and continued celebration among honorees, guests, and members of the CoSW community. To see more photos of the event, please visit https://socialwork.uky.edu/highlights-2025-annual-recognition-celebration/.
