By Whitney Hale

LEXINGTON, Ky. (March 1, 2021) — While debate on immigration policy rages on across the country, the University of Kentucky College of Arts and Sciences Passport to the World initiative will explore the topic of xenophobia with a lecture by historian and award-winning author Erika Lee. The free public talk, “Immigrants Out: The History of American Xenophobia,” will be presented 4 p.m. Thursday, March 4, via Zoom. 

Lee’s talk, which is also being presented as part of UK's Women’s History Month programming this March, is based on her 2019 book “America for Americans: A History of Xenophobia in the United States,” an American Book Award winner and

by Gail Hairston

(Oct. 17, 2014) — An expert in U.S. foreign relations in the Middle East since 1940 will discuss the historical foundations of the current crises in the region at 7 p.m. Monday, Oct. 20, in the UKAA Auditorium of the University of Kentucky's W.T. Young Library. The event, "Messy Little Wars: U.S. Approaches to Iraq Since 1990," is part of the UK College of Arts and Sciences event Year of the Middle East.

As an Ohio State University research scholar, Professor Peter Hahn has been supported by the J. William Fulbright Foreign Scholarship Board, the National Endowment for the Humanities, the Truman Library Institute, the John F. Kennedy Library, the Lyndon Johnson Foundation, the Eisenhower World Affairs Institute, the Office of United States Air Force History, and the U.S. Army Center of Military History.

His most recent

WAMC Northeast Public Radio Station recently featured UK Appalachian Center’s new project “Las Voces de los Apalaches.” Anne Kingsolver—Director of the Appalachian Center—and Pedro Martínez—project leader were interviewed by Celeste Headlee.

Kingsolver and Martínez talk about how “Las Voces de los Apalaches” started as a project that sought to create awareness and increase knowledge about the Appalachia region. The common conception that Appalachia is full of poor-whites is mistaken, there are different ethnic groups living in Appalachia that have been silenced over the years. “Las Voces de los Apalaches” is a platform that will allow different cultures to share their experiences and their lifestyales in the Appalachia.

One group that has greatly grown since the early 2000s is the Latino community. Over 4% of people living in the Appalachia region identify themselves as

El Departamento de Arts & Sciences se enorgullece de anunciar que la profesora Ana Rueda ha sido nombrada Profesora Distinguida del 2014-2015 en el área de Arts & Sciences. La Dr. Rueda recibió su título de Doctorado en la Universidad de Vanderbilt en 1985, y luego fue profesora en al Universidad de Missouri-Columbia. Ana Rueda comenzó su carrera en UK en el 2002.

La carrera de la Dr. Rueda ha sido una amalgama de investigación, instrucción y servicio, lo cual contribuyó a su nominación a este premio. Reconocida internacionalmente por su trabajo en el área de Literatura Española, la Dr. Rueda ha conducido investigaciones tanto en teoría de cuentos, teoría epistolar y literatura de guerra, como en estudios interdisciplinarios en música, historia cultural y literatura por mujeres. Rueda ha publicado 6 libros y alrededor de

The University of Kentucky has been presenting the Sullivan Award to students, faculty, and staff since 1927. This award recognizes individuals who evince a sense of love and helpfulness for other communities, at home and abroad.  

This year’s UK recipient is graduating senior Andrew Ritzel. A Biology and Spanish major, Ritzel is being recognized for his involvement and leadership with UK’s Alternative Spring Break (ASB) Program and for creating a formal partnership between UK and Shoulder-to-Shoulder Global.

Ritzel’s involvement started when he was a first-year student here at UK. “Coming into college, the Alternative Spring Break Program was something I had heard about at other universities. I was really interested in the program, so I went to one of the information sessions at the beginning of the school year. I learned that UK’s ASB program was launching a brand new

LEXINGTON, Ky. (April 16, 2014) —  The piece, an exploration of people, place and promise, will be celebrated with a presentation, "Nation of Nations: Awakening to a New World," and reception at 7 p.m. Thursday, April 17, in the UK Libraries Athletics Auditorium. The event and reception are free and open to the public.

"Nation of Nations" includes a series of 10 works embodying the spirit of many different peoples and creeds: Incan, Kenyan, Mexican, Moroccan, Cherokee, Hindu, Hebrew, Creole, Arab and Russian. On each one, the phrase, “Have Mercy on Us,” is written in a different language: Cherokee, Chinese, English, Arabic, Hindi, Hebrew, Swahili, Latin, Russian and Haitian Creole.  In addition, the titles of the 10 paintings echo the anthems, "My Country, 'Tis of Thee" and "America the Beautiful."

"Nation of Nations" was installed in

LEXINGTON, Ky. (April 8, 2014) — A "¡Viva México!" event at the University of Kentucky will celebrate Latin American residents of Appalachia on Saturday evening, with a concert by the Latin-Appalachian roots band Appalatin, followed by the debut of a community-based theatrical performance titled "Las Voces de los Apalaches."

The concert starts at 7 p.m. Saturday, April 12, in the Worsham Theater at the UK Student Center. The staged reading of "Las Voces de los Apalaches" starts at 8:30 p.m. The event is co-sponsored by UK's Appalachian Center and College of Arts and Sciences.
Appalatin plays roots music bridging Latin American and Appalachian folk traditions. The six-member band uses all-acoustic instrumentation, featuring

LEXINGTON, Ky. (March 27, 2014) — Tearing down the walls of diversity is a task that requires one to think outside of the box. 'Boxes and Walls' is hosted by CATalyst, which has teamed up with six other organizations to build a multicultural museum for students to explore.

The exhibits are designed to personalize the struggle of tearing down these walls of oppression and to educate attendees on the impact of this persecution over time.

Keeping with this year's theme, "Oppression through Time," participating organizations are building their exhibits to reflect the impact of oppression on historically oppressed groups.

Alexis Asamoah, president of the African Student Association, says that she hopes their exhibit will take attendees back in time.

“We would like students to understand the effects of colonization through an interactive

LEXINGTON, Ky. (March 24, 2014) ­― As part of the year-long Viva Mexico program, University of Kentucky Libraries and the UK College of Arts and Sciences will host a speaker on “Mexico on the Digital Frontier: Creating Access in Archives and Libraries.” Linda Arnold, professor emerita of history at Virginia Tech University, will speak on the topic at 2 p.m. Wednesday, March 26, in the Niles Gallery of the Lucille Little Fine Arts Library on UK’s campus. A reception will follow in the Little Library foyer.

Arnold spent 29 years at Virginia Tech, where she developed and taught more than a dozen undergraduate writing-intensive courses, and directed nearly 30 undergraduate independent studies.  She was a pioneer in digital history who, along

LEXINGTON, Ky. (Feb. 27, 2014) – As part of "¡Viva Mexico!," University of Kentucky Libraries presents "Alebrijes of Oaxaca, Mexico: an Exhibition of Mexican Folk Art from the State of Oaxaca." Showcasing more than 30 Oaxaca alebrijes on loan from UK faculty members' personal collections, the free public exhibit is on display through April 25, in the atrium of the William T. Young Library.

Whimsical carvings depicting animals, people, objects and imaginary creatures, alebrijes are known for their paintings of intense colors and intricate patterns. Carved from the twisting branches of the copal wood, the figures are sanded and painted with a base coat of paint. The final painting is done meticulously with detailed designs and

LEXINGTON, Ky. (Feb. 21, 2014) — The axolotl may look like a creature from a science fiction movie, but researchers at the University of Kentucky say these strange little salamanders have a lot to teach us.

On Monday, Feb. 24, the university will host a daylong symposium, titled "How Mexican Axolotls Promote Science, Conservation, and Creativity," sponsored by the UK College of Arts and Sciences, Department of Biology, and Department of Hispanic Studies.

The axolotl (rhymes with "tax a bottle") is unusual in that it does not undergo a metamorphosis between its juvenile form and adulthood, as do most salamanders, a trait known as paedomorphism, the retention of juvenile traits by adults.

"Axolotls are the most famous paedomorphic

LEXINGTON, Ky. (Jan. 29, 2014) — College & Research Libraries News, published by the Association of College and Research Libraries (ACRL), currently is featuring a familiar image as its January 2014 issue cover photo — an Aztec tribute poster from "A Glimpse into Ancient Mexico: Writings of the Aztecs, Mixtec and Maya" exhibit at the University of Kentucky's William T. Young Library.

The exhibit at Young Library is one of many events presented by UK Libraries as part of UK College of Arts & Sciences "Passport to the World: ¡Viva México!,"

by Ceci Amador

When December arrives, it brings new—and stronger—waves of Christmas-themed everything. Yet, there are some that have a harder time getting in that wonderful Christmas spirit: I am talking about myself. Don´t get me wrong, I love Christmas, but having grown up in another country (Guatemala), my Christmas preparations and traditions have been pretty different since I came to the University of Kentucky. I have realized I don´t get into the Christmas spirit until I finally make it back home. This isn´t a bad thing, I knew what I was getting into when I applied for college in the US, and it’s not like holiday activities are lacking here. On the contrary, there are several, they´re just different from what I am used to.

In a college town, by the time December rolls in, everyone wants to be done with school, go home, have a nice winter break, and enjoy

“Death is not meant to be feared, it is meant to be celebrated.”

This is what Rosalinda Rodriguez was taught as a little girl growing up in Mexico. This has been a prevailing philosophy in Mexico for many centuries now, and it is still the main reason for the Mexican tradition of Día de los Muertos.

Rosalinda Rodriguez was born and raised in the city of Jalapa in Veracruz, Mexico. After graduating high school, Rosalinda moved to Mexico City in order to continue her studies in Hotel and Restaurant Management and International Relations. After completing her studies there, she decided to move to the United States, believing that this country would offer her more opportunities in her desired field of work. Now, Rosalinda has been living in Lexington for twelve years; she is married and has two children. Although Rosalinda does not go back to Mexico as often as she would

by Ceci Amador

Antiquated printing press practices are an art, and Juan Pascoe is a great Mexican artist in this sense. Born in Chicago, IL to a Mexican father and an American mother, Juan Pascoe found his to his father´s country after he finished his education at Whitman College in 1969. He founded his first press in Mexico City in 1976, and later moved to an old Hacienda in Michoacán, Mexico where he currently has his printing studio set up.

This year, UK’s Passport to the world Program is celebrating Mexico. In order to do this, various activities and events have been organized to show the UK community all that our neighboring country has to offer. So, how exactly does manual printing connect with Mexico? Well, Pascoe’s work is known both in Mexico as well as in the US, and given that manual printing is still an active practice here in UK, we thought

Video courtesy of the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs.

LEXINGTON, Ky. (Nov. 14, 2013) — The University of Kentucky is celebrating its commitment to international education with various events Nov.18-22, joining institutions across the country to celebrate the benefits of international education and worldwide exchange.

International Education Week (IEW) is a joint initiative between the U.S. Department of State and the U.S. Department of Education to promote programs that prepare Americans for a global environment. 

International education is growing steadily on campus. The number of international undergraduates has increased by 6 percent over last fall's enrollment.  English as a second language (ESL) undergraduate students have increased by 42 percent

by Grace Liddle & Whitney Hale

LEXINGTON, Ky. (Nov. 6, 2013) – University of Kentucky Libraries is adding another stamp to its passport in support of the UK College of Arts and Sciences Passport to the World program with exhibitions and programs in celebration of ¡Viva Mexico!

The exhibits and events at UK Libraries include:

By Victoria Dekle

Piecing together the developments of Mesoamerican civilization is not easy… or comfortable. University of Kentucky archaeologists Christopher Pool and Michael Loughlin have spent many summers in southern Veracruz working among snakes, spiders and sharp sugar cane fields in dense humidity so they can learn more about ancient Mesoamericans.

Pool and Loughlin are both scholars of the Olmec culture -- considered by most archaeologists to be one of the earliest complex societies in Mesoamerica and the creators of giant stone heads that weigh over six tons -- and the succeeding Epi-Olmec culture that produced some of the oldest writing in the Americas.