Eastern Kentucky University (EKU) Hall of Fame Volleyball Coach Dr. Geri Polvino, a beloved mentor and leader, gave two transformational gifts to EKU’s Volleyball Team, continuing a legacy of support and dedication to the program. The gifts amount to $125,000—establishing the Volleyball Alumni Legacy Fund to encourage alumni contributions and funding a 2025 European tour […]

In one of Eastern Kentucky University’s (EKU) Exercise and Sport Science labs, junior Megan Fuson learns through quality instruction and instructional aids such as anatomical and skeletal models. She also practices strength and flexibility testing methods using adjustable exercise chairs and high-tech equipment. EKU’s Exercise and Sport Science (ESS) program aims to meet a rising […]

Eastern Kentucky University (EKU) and Republic Airways announced a new partnership on Wednesday, March 12, 2025, providing EKU Aviation students with an additional pathway to job placements through the RJet Cadet Program. EKU’s Aviation program is the only four-year aviation program in Kentucky, serving 460 students and boasting a 100% job placement rate. “We are […]

Eastern Kentucky University (EKU) has been recognized for its commitment to student success and basic needs accessibility, receiving a Transformational Leadership Award at the Council on Postsecondary Education’s (CPE) Student Success Summit in February. EKU was specifically honored for its innovative approach to addressing student food insecurity. The university became the first in Kentucky to […]

Students Cheyanne Scherder and Isabel Alguera put on their lab coats and gloves and head into Eastern Kentucky University’s (EKU) state-of-the-art Medical Laboratory Science (MLS) lab in the Dizney Building. Here, they apply what they’ve learned in the classroom, examining blood samples under a microscope and looking for any abnormalities to make diagnoses. EKU’s MLS […]

In January, six Eastern Kentucky University (EKU) students traveled to Harvard University and presented their research at the National Collegiate Research Conference (NCRC). This marked the second time students from EKU attended the conference, following recommendations from faculty mentors. “Our students being accepted to showcase their research at the NCRC—at Harvard—shows the massive potential of […]

Eastern Kentucky University’s (EKU) College of Education and Applied Human Sciences launched an innovative initiative to support graduates as they embark on their teaching careers. “Classroom in a Box” provides essential classroom supplies to new teachers, many of whom are the first in their families to graduate from college. “Schools across Kentucky are filled with […]

Eastern Kentucky University’s (EKU) annual Spin the Wheel Scholarship event took place in January, offering students a chance to win a fully funded study-abroad experience. Interested students could submit an entry prior to the event, then on Jan. 29, winners were drawn from a box filled with the entries by the president, provost and deans […]

The Eastern Kentucky University (EKU) Center for the Arts exhibition “Portraits of Dementia,” runs from Jan. 31 through March 10. More than 50 million people are living with dementia globally. In the United States, one in three seniors suffers with Alzheimer’s disease or dementia at the time of their death. And yet despite the millions […]

For Eastern Kentucky University (EKU) Spanish and pre-med graduate Evan Singleton, ’17, the path to becoming a physician may have led him away from home, yet his goal has always been to return. He went on to earn his medical degree from the University of Cincinnati and after completing his residency in family medicine in […]

Eastern Kentucky University (EKU) received funding from the Kentucky Council on Postsecondary Education (CPE) to host a summer program for rising high school seniors interested in the health sciences. The program, called Healthcare Exploration and Academic Transition (HEAT), aims to provide students with opportunities to explore healthcare careers through hands-on experiences, simulations and essential skill […]

For many EKU Colonels, the desire to serve others through their careers comes from personal experience. That was the case for Christa Carlin, whose calling to nursing began with the care and compassion of a nurse who made a lasting impact on her life. “I had my first baby at the local hospital, and the […]

Eastern Kentucky University (EKU) received a Major Research Instrumentation (MRI) award of $381,870 from the National Science Foundation (NSF) in Fall 2024 to purchase a state-of-the-art scientific research instrument. The award has led to the successful acquisition and maintenance of a microbial identification system, which can rapidly and accurately identify certain bacteria and pathogens.  “Our […]

Eastern Kentucky University (EKU) is home to several nationally ranked healthcare degree programs, playing a crucial role in shaping the healthcare workforce. As of Fall 2024, approximately 4,000 students are enrolled in EKU healthcare degree programs. Expanding on a commitment to excellence in healthcare education, EKU proposed a College of Osteopathic Medicine (COM) to provide […]

EKU’s top-ranked School of Nursing and Humana have partnered to develop a program aimed at helping build a more sustainable nursing workforce. With a $75,000 contribution from Humana and a dollar-for-dollar match from Kentucky’s Council on Postsecondary Education (CPE) Healthcare Workforce Investment Fund, EKU’s School of Nursing received $150,000 to support innovation and excellence in […]

Eastern Kentucky University (EKU) graduate Oscar Garcia, ’24, helps to address an unprecedented healthcare shortage across the state as a registered nurse (RN) at UK Healthcare. The Kentucky Hospital Association’s 2024 Workforce Survey Report notes a 12% statewide hospital workforce vacancy rate and 3,899 registered nurse vacancies. “I wanted to be a source of help […]

By: David McFaddin, President of Eastern Kentucky University For many Kentuckians including myself, the mission to improve access to quality healthcare across our state—especially in rural areas—is deeply personal. As an Eastern Kentuckian and the president of a university serving the state’s most underserved communities, I feel a profound responsibility to help our friends and […]

 What do former Kentucky Lieutenant Governor Steve Pence, Council for Postsecondary Education President Aaron Thompson, Kentucky Democratic Party Chairman Coleman Eldridge, and top-ranked Washington, D.C., lobbyist Hunter Bates all have in common? Not only are they alumni of Eastern Kentucky University (EKU), but they were also once members of the oldest student organization on campus: […]

Today, Eastern Kentucky University (EKU) and Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield in Kentucky announced a continuation of their work together to grow the number of frontline healthcare workers in the eastern region of the state, increase access to care and improve health outcomes for more Kentuckians. The Anthem Rural Medicine Scholarship is a fellowship […]

A two-time Eastern Kentucky University (EKU) graduate, Mr. Mark Sweet, was named the 2024 College of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics Award recipient. The college’s highest honor is presented to individuals who have made impactful contributions to the college. On receiving the College of STEM award, Mr. Sweet had this to say, “Considering the substantial number […]

Mr. Esteban Castro Platonoff was born and raised in Latacunga, Ecuador, in an adventurous family with his dad Diego, mom Carla, and younger brother Felipe.  When asked why he choose to attend Eastern Kentucky University (EKU) he said: “My family and I visited EKU in 2017, and I was amazed with how beautiful the campus is.  […]

Dr. Abdelhay received his B.Pharm (Bachelor of Pharmaceutical Sciences) from Alexandria University in Egypt and his Ph.D. in Pharmaceutical Sciences from Auburn University. In fact, Dr. Abdelhay’s entire family, his father, mother and two sisters are all pharmacists. His wife Rasha is a clinical and a retail pharmacist and she is currently employed at Walmart Pharmacy. […]

Completion of undergraduate science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) degrees continues to lag behind workforce demands, and success rates for populations traditionally underrepresented in STEM disciplines remain substantially lower than the same rates for other students. With the recent launch of a B.S. degree in manufacturing engineering at Eastern Kentucky University (EKU), the university has […]

Congratulations to the Fall 2024 graduates of Eastern Kentucky University! EKU proudly celebrated over 1,300 students during the commencement ceremonies held on December 5 and 6, 2024, at the EKU Center for the Arts. This milestone honors the hard work and accomplishments of the remarkable graduates from all of EKU’s academic colleges. Family, friends, faculty, staff, […]