This year’s honorees, representing nine UofL schools and colleges, include researchers, scholars and artists, along with those who provide critical support as administrators.��Their work over the past year helped to advance health, grow our technology workforce, improve equity and more.

“I continue to be impressed by the bold and dauntless sense of curiosity and exploration that’s so foundational to our campus and what it means to be a Cardinal,” said UofL President Kim Schatzel, speaking at the event. “Each and every one of you here tonight brings a passion and energy to that work, and it’s just incredible.”��

At the event, hosted by the , several major awards were presented to:��

• • , of the College of ������Ƶ and Human Development, who won Researcher of the Year for his work to shape mental health practice, especially for adolescent trauma-informed care and treatment;
  • , of the Schools of Dentistry and Medicine, which won Center of the Year in part for its recent $12 million grant from the National Institutes of Health to study links between the human microbiome and disease, which could lead to better treatments for a range of conditions;��
  • , of the College of Arts and Sciences, who won the inaugural Creative Works Award for her innovative work to marry technology and art, via an artificially intelligent painting collaborator;
  • Cheri Hildreth, of , who won the Unsung Hero Award for leading the launch and growth of the environmental health and safety programs over her 30-plus years of service to UofL;
  • Natalie Christian, of the College of Arts and Sciences, who won Early-Career Researcher of the Year for her work to harness plant-associated microbiomes to improve crop health;
  • and , of the Kent School of Social Work, who won the Grand Challenger Award in Empowering our Communities for their work to create supports for youth and their families most impacted by community violence and racial trauma;
  • , of the J.B. Speed School of Engineering, who won the Grand Challenger Award in Advancing our Health for work to integrate biological and clinical information, paving the way for personalized medicine;
  • , of the College of Eduacation and Human Development, who won the Grand Challenger Award in Engineering our Future Economy for her commitment to workforce up/re-skilling in the field of technology, including via innovative badging programs; and
  • Joan Scott, of the School of Dentistry, who won Research Administrator of the Year for providing integral research support to her school and department for more than 20 years.��

In the past year, UofL researchers and scholars submitted 1,075 proposals and received nearly $176 million in external grant funding to support groundbreaking discovery and exploration.��

“I believe what we celebrate is what we value as an institution,”�� said Kevin Gardner, UofL’s executive vice president for research and innovation. “With awards like these, we show that we value research, scholarship and creative activity. And, that we value you. The work you do is the backbone of UofL’s knowledge enterprise.”

The community health grant for $9,450 to the Cardinal Success program will be used to purchase Chromebooks that patients can borrow to access mental telehealth services. The telehealth services have become crucial to the program since the coronavirus pandemic disrupted in-person appointments.

Cardinal Success has offered no-cost mental health services to the West End community for more than six years. It is part of UofL’s Signature Partnership Initiative, which works toward eliminating educational, health, economic and social disparities that exist in the nine urban neighborhoods that make up the region.��

“We want to assure underserved residents of the West End that we are still available to help them cope,” said Patrick Pössel, professor in the Department of Counseling and Human Development, who runs the program. “While our center at Shawnee Academy is temporarily closed, our services through the Nia Center (2900 W. Broadway) remain open with virtual appointments to help maintain social and emotional health.”

To assist clients who do not have access to the hardware needed for a telehealth appointment, Pössel applied for the JHFE grant to purchase 30 Chromebooks to lend to patients. Pössel is also searching for a donor to help purchase mobile hotspots that can help telehealth patients access the internet.

The Cardinal Success Program offers individual, group and family counseling and psychological assessment services. It serves adults and children.��

The mental health services are given by UofL students completing practicum and internships. They are enrolled in master’s and doctoral programs in CEHD, the Kent School of Social Work and the School of Nursing.