UK Hall of Distinguished Alumni Inducts New Class

From Kentucky to every corner of the globe, University of Kentucky alumni are shaping lives, advancing knowledge and creating change. This weekend, 20 of those leaders and innovators were inducted into the UK Hall of Distinguished Alumni, the highest honor bestowed by the UK Alumni Association.

Held every five years, the Hall recognizes UK graduates whose achievements bring distinction to the university and inspire current students, faculty and fellow alumni through excellence across the arts, sciences, public service, business, education and beyond. With the addition of the 2025 class, a total of 353 alumni have now received this honor since the Hall was established in 1965.

As part of the ceremony, a special video was shown to the newest inductees, featuring past members of the Hall of Distinguished Alumni welcoming them to this prestigious group and reflecting on the meaning of the honor.

“The newest members of the Hall of Distinguished Alumni are not simply graduates of this institution, they are the keepers of our legacy and the teachers of what it means to live our mission of advancing Kentucky,” said UK President Eli Capilouto. “They remind us that the value of a University of Kentucky education is not measured in accolades alone, but in the lives made stronger and the futures made brighter because of their influence.”

The inductees included:

Dr. Terry L. Birdwhistell*

• M.A. ’74 – History, College of Arts and Sciences
• M.A. ’78 – Library Science, College of Communication and Information
• Ed.D. ’94 – Educational Policy Studies and Evaluation, College of Education

Willis K. Bright, Jr.

• B.A. ’66 – Social Work, College of Social Work 

Clyde R. Carpenter*

• B.S. ’59 – Civil Engineering, College of Design

Dr. Xiangming “Jack” Cheng

• Ph.D. ’00 – Materials Science and Engineering, Stanley and Karen Pigman College of Engineering

• M.B.A. ’03 – Business Administration, Gatton College of Business and Economics

Rebecca M. Cowen-Hirsch

• B.S. ’88 – Electrical Engineering, Stanley and Karen Pigman College of Engineering, Lewis Honors College

Ambassador Kelly Craft

• B.A. ’85 – Topical Studies, College of Arts and Sciences

Brian L. Cury

• B.A. ’81 – Topical Studies, College of Fine Arts

James “Jimmy” P. Dunne

• B.A. ’77 – Topical Studies, College of Arts and Sciences, Lewis Honors College

Michael T. Eaves

• B.A. ’94 – Journalism, College of Communication and Information

Ambassador Christine A. Elder

• B.A. ’89 – German, College of Arts and Sciences, Lewis Honors College

Robert “Bob” Hall, Jr.

• B.S. ’53 – Agriculture, Martin-Gatton College of Agriculture, Food and Environment

Samuel “Sam” N. Hazen

• B.B.A. ’82 – Business Administration, Gatton College of Business and Economics

Dr. Rebecca B. Liebert

• B.S. ’90 – Chemical Engineering, Stanley and Karen Pigman College of Engineering

Michael L. Marberry

• B.S. ’81 – Chemical Engineering, Stanley and Karen Pigman College of Engineering
• M.S. ’83 – Chemical Engineering, Stanley and Karen Pigman College of Engineering

Earl F. “Marty” Martin III

• B.A. ’84 – Communication, College of Communication and Information
• J.D. ’87 – Law, J. David Rosenberg College of Law

Ouita K. Michel

• B.A. ’87 – Political Science, College of Arts and Sciences, Lewis Honors College

Dr. Caroline R. Pogge

• M.S. ’99 – Health Administration, College of Public Health

David B. Ratterman

• B.S. ’68 – Mechanical Engineering, Stanley and Karen Pigman College of Engineering

J. David Rosenberg

• J.D. ’73 – Law, J. David Rosenberg College of Law

Dr. Pamela S. Whitten

• M.A. ’86 – Communication, College of Communication and Information

*Dr. Terry L. Birdwhistell died in 2023 at the age of 72. Clyde R. Carpenter died in 2022 at the age of 84. 

To read full biographies of the 2025 inductees and learn more about the Hall of Distinguished Alumni, visit www.ukalumni.net/HODA.