UK Land-grant Engagement Liaison Council

Associate Dean for Outreach
College of Fine Arts 
elizabeth.arnold@uky.edu
859-257-8172 

Elizabeth Packard Arnold is professor of voice and associate dean in the College of Fine Arts at the University of Kentucky. A soprano, teacher, clinician and arts leader, she brings together vocal performance, pedagogy, mindfulness and student support. Her work includes national and international performances, masterclasses and presentations on singing, mindfulness and musician wellness. She holds a DMA in Voice Performance, a Master of Sacred Music in Choral Conducting, and a Master of Pastoral Care and Counseling. Arnold is especially committed to whole-person artistry, creative community, outreach and helping students cultivate healthy, expressive and joyful musical lives. 

Associate Professor, Family & Community Medicine
Director, CICHE
College of Medicine/Center of Interprofessional and Community Health Education 
james.ballard@uky.edu
859-323-2057 

Jim Ballard is director of the University of Kentucky Center for Interprofessional and Community Health Education that houses the Area Health Education Centers Network and the interprofessional education missions of the university. Additionally, he is associate professor in the Department of Family and Community Medicine. Within this role, and through partnerships with higher education and healthcare partners throughout the commonwealth, he supports the rural health workforce, education and interprofessional education activities in partnership with the Martin-Gatton College of Agriculture, Food and Environment and Colleges of Dentistry, Health Sciences, Medicine, Nursing, Pharmacy, Public Health and Social Work. 

T.W. Lewis Dean
Lewis Honors College 
james.buss@uky.edu
859-257-8450 

Dr. James “Jim” Buss is the T.W. Lewis Dean of the Lewis Honors College at the University of Kentucky. He is a historian and higher education administrator with a focus on Native American history and public commemoration. He has previously served as dean of honors at Ball State University and Northern Kentucky University. Buss is author of “Winning the West with Words: Language and Conquest in the Lower Great Lakes” and co-editor of “Beyond Two Worlds: Critical Conversations on Language and Power in Native North America.” In 2023, he was named a Fellow of the National Collegiate Honors Council. 

Associate Provost for Academic Affairs
Office of the Provost 
brandi.frisby@uky.edu
859-257-9470 

Dr. Brandi Frisby, associate provost for academic affairs, focuses on academic oversight, institutional effectiveness and accreditation, and strategy aligning with the UK strategic plan. Frisby has previously served as acting dean of the College of Communication and Information, as well as senior associate dean and associate dean for student success. Frisby is also an accomplished researcher, having been named in the top 1% of communication studies prolific researchers by the Journal of Communication Education in both 2017 and 2023, with more than 90 journal articles, books and chapters published. 

Director of External Affairs
College of Public Health 
anna.hallahan@uky.edu
859-218-2874 

Anna Hallahan, MPH, serves as director of external affairs at the University of Kentucky College of Public Health, where she supports college-level partner engagement projects, alumni relations, external relations and event programming. She cultivates relationships with subject matter experts, community organizations and local health departments, connecting external partners to meaningful opportunities including guest lectures, mentorship, projects and skills-building sessions. She represents the college at external events and serves as liaison between the college and Kentucky's public health community, amplifying how the college's network of students, alumni, faculty, staff and external partners advance meaningful health outcomes for Kentucky. 

Associate Professor and Director
Institute for Rural Journalism and Community Issues
College of Communication and Information 
benjy.hamm@uky.edu
859-562-2575 

Benjy Hamm is director of the Institute for Rural Journalism and Community Issues and an associate extension professor at the School of Journalism and Media. The Institute is based at UK but is a national organization. He previously served as editorial director for Landmark Community Newspapers, which published more than 70 newspapers, online news sites and college sports publications in 15 states. He also worked as a journalist at The Virginian-Pilot, The Associated Press and the New York Times Regional Newspaper Group. 

Associate Professor
College of Education
kayla.johnson@uky.edu
859-257-8666

Dr. Kayla Johnson is a Chellgren Endowed Professor in Educational Policy Studies and Evaluation and serves as associate director of the Office of Higher Education Research and director of the JOHNson Lab (Journeys and Opportunities in Higher and iNternational education). She also co-founded Centro Educativo Pallata Ayllu, a nonprofit education center supporting Indigenous youth in the Peruvian Andes. Her research uses student voice, action and community-engaged methods to examine learning, development and social justice in higher and international education, with recent projects focused on study abroad access, Indigenous student identity development, global service learning and political influences on international education. 

Professor
College of Health Sciences 
patrick.kitzman@uky.edu
859-218-0580 

Patrick Kitzman, Ph.D., MSPT, is a professor in the University of Kentucky’s Physical Therapy Program. With 26 years of clinical and teaching experience in neurological care, his community-based research focuses on improving access to essential resources to improve quality of life and community participation for people with disabilities. Kitzman directs the Appalachian Center for Assistive Technology, with sites in Hazard and Morehead, supporting individuals with disabilities in rural eastern Kentucky through assistive technology demonstrations, consultations, loans, workforce development, reuse programs and accessibility initiatives. 

Associate Director of Strategic Operations, Partnerships
College of Social Work 
meagan.lederman@uky.edu

Meagan Lederman is an experienced social work professional, driven by a commitment to social justice, education and community engagement. She completed her undergraduate studies at Iona University and proceeded to earn her Master’s of Social Work degree from Fordham University. Lederman has been a proud member of the UK College of Social Work team since 2021, when she started as the program coordinator for the Citizen’s Review Panels and Children’s Justice Act programs across Kentucky. After 3 years of managing those programs, Lederman transitioned to Strategic Operations, focusing on creating meaningful partnerships for the college. She believes in the power of collaboration and strives to create networks that support the mission of the College of Social Work, the success of its students and the community. 

Associate Professor of History
Director of Step-Up Program
College of Arts and Sciences 
francis.musoni@uky.edu
859-257-1861 

Francis Musoni is a scholar and academic leader committed to undergraduate excellence, experiential learning and community engagement. As director of the Step-Up Service-Learning Program, he leads initiatives connecting students with community organizations to foster leadership, cross-cultural competence and civic engagement. His expertise includes African history, migration studies, international education, curriculum design and university-community partnerships. A recipient of multiple engagement and research awards, Musoni has secured substantial external funding and published widely on African migration and mobility. He brings extensive leadership experience and a strong commitment to advancing the University of Kentucky’s land-grant mission. 

Assistant Dean for Land-grant Engagement
Martin-Gatton College of Agriculture, Food and Environment 
kendriana.price@uky.edu

Dr. Kendriana Price brings more than a decade of experience in education, community engagement and leadership. She currently serves as assistant dean for land-grant engagement administration in the University of Kentucky's Martin-Gatton College of Agriculture, Food and Environment. A dedicated champion for people and community impact, she serves as national president of MANRRS and advises the award-winning UK chapter. Her leadership and service have earned numerous honors, including the Living Legacy Catalyst Award. A graduate of several leadership programs, Price enjoys traveling, exploring new cuisines and embracing her personal mantra: "I am a gem." 

Architect
Kentuckiana Masonry Institute Endowed Professor
College of Design 
bruce.swetnam@uky.edu 

Bruce Swetnam, Kentuckiana Masonry Institute Endowed Professor, is an architect who brings professional experience in design and construction into the academic environment. He specializes in energy efficient, sustainable, residential and light commercial projects. He has also worked extensively on sustainable projects in developing countries. His design and technical backgrounds allow him to assist students in the design development of highly theoretical proposals in the Comprehensive Studio. A 2004 NCARB Prize recognized the integrated teaching and innovative curriculum development in UK's Comprehensive Studio and its co-requisite Building Systems Integration. Swetnam was honored by receiving the 2005 University of Kentucky Great Teacher Award. Most recently, community-based projects developed in the Comprehensive Studio and Building Systems Integration have earned him the University of Kentucky's 2011 Commonwealth Collaborative Award and the 2012 NADO Award.