GATTON - Key Persons
After her tumultuous first-year experience as an undergraduate student, Alicia is serious about her work as a cultural navigator for today's students. She works hard to ensure that her conversations are with students and never at students. Alicia joined the Gatton Undergraduate Resource Center as an Academic Advisor in May 2023. She has extensive academic advising experience, including advising administration, advisor training and development, and advising research. Prior to entering the higher education profession, Alicia was a high school English teacher in Indiana. She completed a Bachelor of Arts in English with a secondary education minor at Indiana University, a Master of Arts in Student Development Counseling & Administration from Indiana Wesleyan University, a Specialist in Education (Ed.S) in Administration & Supervision - Higher Education from Middle Tennessee State University, and a Doctor of Education (Ed.D.) in Educational Leadership from East Tennessee State University. Alicia's dissertation research was focused on the importance of academic advisor training and development (The Front Lines of Student Success: A Phenomenography Exploring the Background and Knowledge of Primary Role Academic Advisors in Higher Education). She very involved in NACADA: The Global Community for Academic Advising and enjoys spending time with and learning from her peers in the organization.
As a first-generation student, Alicia knows how each student she meets has had their own experiences that have shaped their worldview and perspectives, impacting their ambitions and goals. She hopes every student that she helps to guide feels heard, supported, and encouraged to achieve their goals, no matter how their individual road to success may look. Alicia enjoys reading, being outside with her husband and dogs, sleeping in on the weekend, spending time with friends, kayaking and hiking, visiting her brother in the Pacific Northwest, magnolia flowers, sports, baking, music, terrible reality television, making others laugh, and watching her "kiddos" (no matter what age) succeed in life.
Amanda has a bachelor's degree in accounting and a master's degree in business administration. Amanda has worked at the University of Kentucky since 2010, with over 11 years of experience at UK in Accounting and Reporting Financial Services. She has recent experience in the area of endowment and gift accounting. In 2021, Amanda moved to Gatton College of Business and Economics where she will be working on financial reporting needs, budgeting, financial analysis, policy development and training. Amanda will be working on the budgets and allocations for our internal system FRANsys. She will be approving financial transactions in the University systems, including Payment Request Documents, Shopping Carts, and Concur reports.
Amanda is a proud Eastern Kentucky native, originally from Pike County. She moved to Harrison County when she was in elementary school and currently resides in Carlisle, KY. She and her husband have two children, Ryan and Hadlee, and two dogs. In her free time, she likes to spend time with her kids, camp, read, and watch UK sports. Go Cats!
Job Titles:
- Director of Philanthropy & Alumni Engagement
Andie joined the University of Kentucky Gatton College in January 2020 and serves as a Director of Philanthropy and Alumni Engagement. She works with Gatton alumni and donors while individually identifying, cultivating and soliciting new prospects to garner support for students, faculty and staff. Andie is a graduate of the University of Kentucky earning a BA in Integrated Strategic Communications and Minor in Political Science. She also earned her Masters in Leadership Development from St. Mary of the Woods College in Terre Haute, Indiana. Prior to her role in higher education, she worked in the nonprofit sector for the Muscular Dystrophy Association in a series of roles including Development Coordinator and Executive Director.
Job Titles:
- Computer Support Specialist II
Job Titles:
- Computer Support Specialist I
Bethany Fugate has proudly served at the University of Kentucky as an Academic Advisor since January of 2016 and has worked in higher education since 2008. As an advisor, she is responsible for helping students explore their goals and dreams, oversee their graduation plans, connect them to campus resources, and act as their advocate and cheerleader. Bethany's favorite part of her job is working with students. She loves getting to be a small part of their journey and watching them grow, learn, and succeed. Bethany received her BS in Psychology from Kentucky Wesleyan and a M.Ed in Counseling and Human Development from Lindsey Wilson. She enjoys music, UK Athletics, puzzle games, Harry Potter, building Lego sets, and spending time with family.
Job Titles:
- Assistant Director
- Assistant MBA Director
Beverly Kemper is the MBA Program Assistant Director and has been at the University of Kentucky for over 20 years. Beverly brings a wealth of knowledge to guide prospective and current students through the University system. Beverly helps students interested in the program through the application process and satisfying the admissions requirements. Once admitted to the Gatton MBA program, Beverly is your primary contact for all program guidelines.
Job Titles:
- Program Coordinator for the MBA Center at the Gatton College of Business
- Program Planning Coordinator
Candace Bramley-Hardesty is the Program Coordinator for the MBA Center at the Gatton College of Business and Economics. Candace assists in planning and coordinating events, managing the office budget and recruitment efforts. Candace received her Bachelor's of Science degree in Hospitality Management with a minor in Business Administration from the University of Kentucky. In addition, Candace received her MBA from the University of Kentucky in May 2019.
Christine Wildes joined the Kentucky Science and Technology Corporation in February 2012 as the Assistant State Director for the Kentucky Innovation Network, which also coordinates several programs including Idea State U, the Lt. Governor's Entrepreneurship Challenge, and regional IdeaFestivals. Currently, she is adjunct faculty in Gatton's management department and program manager for the Von Allmen Center for Entrepreneurship. She earned her B.S. and M.S. degrees in education and psychology from the University of Wisconsin-Stout; her MBA from the Minnesota School of Business; and her Ph.D. in education with an emphasis on training and performance.
Job Titles:
- Information Technology Support Specialist II
Chris is an audiovisual professional with a foundation in information technology. A passionate advocate for his users focusing on their needs while providing interoperability, serviceability, and modular designs. Prior to working with the Gatton College of Business and Economics, he served Eastern Kentucky University as the Classroom Support Lead for five years. Leading a team of students in the maintenance and support of users for 400+ spaces. Chris earned his BS from Eastern Kentucky University in Network Security and Electronics in 2016.
Job Titles:
- Degree Certification Specialist
As Office Manager, Denise brings the Graham team a wealth of industry experience in customer service and administrative support across multiple organizations, including Kentucky State University, Marriott Hotels and Resorts, and Olympia Church of Christ, in her home state of Washington. She holds an Associate of Technical Arts degree in Information Processing Management from Puget Sound Community College.
Job Titles:
- Assessment Graduate Assistant
Elyssa Berney is a doctoral candidate in Counseling Psychology, with research interests including psychometric evaluation and understanding structural power in work and health care spaces. Her role includes developing and evaluating assessments for College initiatives, providing quantitative and qualitative analysis of College data, and communicating and contextualizing College data to internal and external stakeholders. Her program evaluation experience includes Student Learning Outcome evaluation within the University of Kentucky Office of Strategic Planning and Institutional Effectiveness, as well as equity and justice-based initiative and syllabus development within the College of Education. She completed her BA in Psychology at Texas Tech University in 2017 and her MS in Counseling Psychology at the University of Kentucky in 2019.
Job Titles:
- Employer Relations Manager
Hayley Hollenberg brings her love of recruitment and networking to the new role of Employer Relations Manager in the Graham Office of Career Management. In her role, she assists the Director of Employer Engagement by fostering relationships with employers in hopes of connecting Gatton students with their next employment opportunity. Previously, Hayley served as an Admissions Counselor at Berea College, where her work centered around college access. Hayley graduated from Indiana University Bloomington in 2018 with her Bachelor's degree in Psychology and minors in Sociology, Communication & Public Advocacy. She received her Master of Education in Higher Education Administration from Vanderbilt University in 2021.
Job Titles:
- Assistant Director of Advising
Job Titles:
- Executive Assistant to the Associate Deans Administration, Faculty, Research and International Programs
Job Titles:
- Director of MBA Admissions and Recruitment for the Gatton College of Business
- Director, Admissions & Recruitment
- Director, Admissions & Recruitment / Professional Resource Center
Jacob Westover serves as the Director of MBA Admissions and Recruitment for the Gatton College of Business and Economics. With origins from Florence, Kentucky, he is a proud University of Kentucky alum, holding a Bachelor of Arts in Communications, a Masters of Higher Education with a Student Affairs concentration, and a certificate in Leadership Studies. Additionally, he has held multiple roles on campus, including Orientation Leader, Resident Advisor, Tour Guide, Peer Mentor for the First-Generation Living Learning Program, K Crew Leader, and Parent & Family Ambassador. "I'm most excited about helping shape the conversation regarding access and affordability for college. I want to ensure that all students see Gatton as their second home and identify key players that will help us achieve a more diverse and comprehensive college."
Job Titles:
- Assistant Director
- Affairs Support Coordinator
- Assistant Director for Graduate Programs
Jeannie Graves is the assistant director and student affairs support coordinator for graduate programs. Jeannie is the first contact for the BUAD and Economics PhD Programs and handles the day-to-day operations. Prior to working for Gatton, she worked for the Kentucky State Government and in the private sector.
Job Titles:
- Assistant Director of the University of Kentucky Center for Poverty Research
- Assistant Director, Center for Poverty Research
- Assistant Director, Center for Poverty Research / Dean
Jeff Spradling is the assistant director of the University of Kentucky Center for Poverty Research. He came to UK in 2002. He holds a bachelor's in journalism and a master's in English from Morehead State University. Jeff is a native and resident of eastern Kentucky and is interested in community and youth development in the region. He currently serves on the board of directors at the Challenger Learning Center in Hazard, Ky. His personal interests include gardening, camping, and writing. He is married to Pam Spradling, and they have three daughters: Katie, Emily, and Anna.
Job Titles:
- Data Analytics Specialist for the Office of College Enhancement
Jeff Welch is the Data Analytics Specialist for the Office of College Enhancement in the Gatton College of Business and Economics. He manages data requests related to the day-to-day operations of the college and creates data visualization solutions to improve business processes. Prior to joining Gatton, Jeff was a multi-unit franchisee for Jimmy Johns for ten years with locations throughout Mississippi and Alabama. He earned his Bachelor of Business Administration with a concentration in Finance from Mississippi State University and a Master of Science in Finance from the University of Kentucky.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Instructional Design Team
- Instructional Designer for the Gatton College of Business and Economics
Jeremy Stiffler is an Instructional Designer for the Gatton College of Business and Economics. Jeremy specializes in online learning pedagogy, video and audio production, educational consulting, and professional development.
Before joining the University of Kentucky, Jeremy served as an educational consultant for prestigious organizations such as The Juilliard School, Carnegie Hall's Weill Music Institute, New York City Public Schools, and Nyack College in New York City. With his extensive background in music and technology, Jeremy taught music and technology in public schools and at the college level for several years before transitioning to eLearning and professional development.
In recent years, Jeremy has become an effective presenter at professional education conferences, sharing his knowledge and insights on technology integration for in-class and online learning. He has also conducted training sessions for thousands of teachers, both locally and internationally, helping them harness the power of technology in the classroom.
Jeremy holds a B.A. in Vocal Music Education from Oklahoma State University and an M.S. in Educational Technology in Instructional Systems from Pennsylvania State.
Job Titles:
- Staff Support Associate
- Administrative Support for Marketing and Supply Chain
Jessica is honored to be an Academic Advisor with the University of Kentucky's Gatton College of Business and Economics as of June 2023. Her professional passion is assisting students with creating a graduation plan/semester schedule that is ideal for their own individual lives/goals. Jessica genuinely enjoys meeting with students to map out their semester schedule so that it best fits their academic, athletic/extra-curricular, and individual needs. She continuously seeks new opportunities to grow and learn in her field so that she can make an even greater impact on her students' success. Jessica strives to be a truly positive resource for her students as they progress through their collegiate path.
Prior to joining the UK Gatton advising team, Jessica completed six years as a high school counselor and nine years as a high school English teacher. Jessica earned a Master of Science Degree in School Counseling from Indiana University and a Master of Arts Degree in Teaching from the University of Louisville. She also earned a BA in English and a BA in Humanities from the University of Louisville. In her free time, Jessica enjoys reading, painting, gaming, spending time with family, working out, and playing with her two cats.
Job Titles:
- Finance and Quantitative Methods
Job Titles:
- Associate Dean for Research and International Programs and Carol Martin Gatton Professor of Marketing / 435S Gatton College of Business & Economics
Josh joined the Gatton College of Business and Economics advising team in 2021. He has worked in higher education since he was an undergraduate student at Kent State University. He has a passion working with all students and guiding them to accomplish their academic and career goals. Josh came to the Undergraduate Resource Center from Miami University where he served as a Resident Hall Director for 3.5 years. He earned his Master of Education, Bachelor of Science in Human Development and Family Studies, and post baccalaureate certificate in career and academic advising from Kent State University. Josh enjoys networking and attending conferences, to grow as a professional, but to make connections to help be a better resource for students. Josh enjoys being outdoors, exploring new areas, coffee shops and being with his dog.
Job Titles:
- Senior Director, Graham Office of Career Management
Josh Taylor brings over two decades of experience as a higher education and communications and marketing professional to the Graham Office of Career Management. He is a a Gallup CliftonStrengths®, Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI)®, Strong Interest Inventory (SII)®, and Global Career Development Facilitator (GCDF)® certified career management practitioner. Whether in the career center or the classroom, Josh inspires students to up their get-hired game, take charge of their future, and design a life that's aligned with how they define success.
As Senior Director of the Graham Office of Career Management, Josh is committed to preparing Gatton students to achieve employment success as knowledgeable, world-ready leaders. He began his career as a French interpreter and has held globally-focused communications and marketing roles with Disney, the HandsOn Network, and Rotary International in Quebec, Canada. Prior to joining UK, Josh was a Career Advisor and Experiential Education Coordinator at Morehead State University, where he also taught courses in French, Communications, and Career Development. He holds a bachelor's degree in Speech Communication and French Linguistics from the University of Georgia and master's degrees in Strategic Communication and Adult and Higher Education Counseling from Morehead State University. He is actively involved in the Kentucky Career Development Association, where he has served as President.
Job Titles:
- Staff Support Associate
- Administrative Support for Economics
Job Titles:
- Academic Director, Lecturer, Project Connect Leader
Karl leads the Project Connect program and lectures within the MBA program as well as fosters corporate relationships for the MBA program at the Gatton College. Prior to joining Gatton, Karl was a management consultant with CMG Partners, helping business leaders with their growth challenges and opportunities. Karl started his career in a Leadership Development program with Honeywell Intl. where he went on to hold management and leadership roles in product management, and corporate development. He earned his BS in Engineering from Bradley University and his MBA in Marketing from the University of Wisconsin - Madison.
Job Titles:
- Executive Director and Assistant Dean, Professional Resource Center
Karla has 20 years of work experience in the Banking Industry and Higher Education combined. Her focus has been on International & Domestic Business Development, Relationship Building, Strategy Planning, and Negotiation in the Latin American American and European markets. Her academic background is in Business Administration and Marketing and has a master's degree in Organization Development and Change, as well as Appreciative Inquiry and Professional Coaching certification from The Weatherhead School of Management at Case Western Reserve University.
Job Titles:
- Director of Gatton Global Initiatives
Job Titles:
- College Financial Specialist
Job Titles:
- Director of Philanthropy and Alumni Engagement
Job Titles:
- Assessment & Program Review Specialist
Job Titles:
- New Ventures Manager, Venture Studio Director and Program Manager
Job Titles:
- Member of the Instructional Design Team
- Instructional Designer
Job Titles:
- Administrative Staff Support Associate
Job Titles:
- Staff Support Associate
- Administrative Support for Management
Job Titles:
- Business Intelligence and Process Specialist
Job Titles:
- Chief of Staff, Executive Assistant to the Dean / Facilities
Job Titles:
- Staff Support Associate
- Administrative Support for Finance
Job Titles:
- Director of Marketing & Communications
Job Titles:
- Senior Director of Philanthropy and Alumni Engagement
Job Titles:
- Director, Employer Engagement
Job Titles:
- Director of College Enhancement
Job Titles:
- Director of Professional Recruiting
Job Titles:
- Assistant Business Officer
Job Titles:
- Assistant Director of Philanthropy and Alumni Engagement
Job Titles:
- Director, Student Leadership Development
Job Titles:
- Staff Support Associate
- Administrative Support for Accounting
Job Titles:
- College Financial Specialist
Job Titles:
- Facilities Planning Director
Job Titles:
- College Financial Analyst
Job Titles:
- Executive Director of the Von Allmen Center for Entrepreneurship
Job Titles:
- International Recruiter / Marketing & Communications