The Visiting Distinguished Faculty Program allows programs to bring in a distinguished scholar to participate in the doctoral examination of their best students. The Graduate School is honored to use this legacy to the Nietzels to support the recipients of the Visiting Distinguished Faculty Award.
Visiting Distinguished Faculty Program The Myrle E. and Verle D. Nietzel Visiting Distinguished Faculty Endowment
“The University of Kentucky has defined my adult and professional life, and in the course of doing so, has afforded me more opportunities and rewards than I ever would have dreamed possible.” - Dr. Michael T. Nietzel, Former Provost, University of Kentucky, 2001-2005
Deadlines: October 1 for fall competition (which can be used within a year) and March 1 for spring competition (which can be used within a year). We will also consider applications received between these periods, pending availability of funds.
The Myrle E. and Verle D. Nietzel Visiting Distinguished Faculty Endowment was established in 2004 by UK’s former Provost Michael T. Nietzel, Ph.D. in honor of his parents. Dr. Nietzel began his career as a faculty member in the UK Department of Psychology in 1973 and served as the Dean of the Graduate School between from 1997 to 2001. He was appointed UK’s first provost on Nov. 1, 2002, after having served as acting provost since July 2001. As he left UK in March 2005 to serve as the President of University of Southwest Missouri State University, Dr. Nietzel said, “The University of Kentucky has defined my adult and professional life, and in the course of doing so, has afforded me more opportunities and rewards than I ever would have dreamed possible.”
Dr. Nietzel himself created this award for the benefit of our finest graduate students. The VDF allows programs to bring in a distinguished scholar to participate in the doctoral examination of their best students. The Graduate School is honored to use this legacy to the Nietzels to support the recipients of the Visiting Distinguished Faculty Award.
Past Award Recipients
Visiting Distinguished Faculty Program Recipients
2023-2024
Recipient - Huazhen Liu, Plant Pathology
Advisor - Pradeep Kachroo
Visiting Faculty - L. Aravind Iyer, NIH and National Library of Medicine
Recipient - Daria Goncharova, English
Advisor - Alan Nadel
Visiting Faculty - Timothy Melley, Miami University
2021-2022
Recipient - Emily Naser-Hall, English
Advisor - Alan Nadel
Visiting Faculty - Deborah A. Nelson, University of Chicago
2020-2021
Recipient - Patricia Maria Gamboa, Hispanic Studies
Advisor - Ana Rueda
Visiting Faculty - Rexina Vega, Universidade de Vigo (Galcia, Spain)
2019-2020
Recipient - Ashley Ruderman-Looff, Gender and Women's Studies
Advisor - Carol Mason
Visiting Faculty - Emily Thuma, University of Washington in Tacoma
Recipient - Carolina Quintana, Rehabilitation Sciences
Advisor - Mathew C. Hoch
Visiting Faculty - Valovich McLeod, A.T. Still University
2018-2019
Recipient - Mary Gravil, Early Childhood, Special Education, & Rehabilitation Counseling
Advisor - Jennifer Grisham-Brown
Visiting Faculty - Yash Bhagwanji, Florida Atlantic University
2017-2018
Recipient - Albert J. Ksinan, Family Science
Advisor - Alexander T. Vazsonyi
Visiting Faculty - Irwan Douglas Waldman, Emory University
Recipient - Kevin Sedeño Guillén, Hispanic Studies
Advisor - Enrico Mario Santi
Visiting Faculty - Jorge Cañizares-Esguerra, University of Texas at Austin
2016-2017
Recipient - Paul M. Hime, Biology
Advisor - David W. Weisrock
Visiting Faculty - Scott V. Edwards, Harvard University
Recipient - Kera Ackerman, Special Education
Advisor - Robert G. McKenzie
Visiting Faculty - Mary Brownell, University of Florida
2015-2016
Recipient - Erin Wachter, Chemistry
Advisor - Edith Glazer
Visiting Faculty - Christine Cardin, University of Reading, UK
Recipient - Craig Slaven, English
Advisor - Alan Nadel
Visiting Faculty - Barbara Ladd, Emory University
2014-2015
Ignazio Graziosi, Entomology
Advisor - Lynne K. Rieske-Kinney
Visiting Faculty - Graham M. Stone, Edinburgh University
Recipient - Zuodong Jiang, Pharmaceutical Sciences
Advisor - Joe Chappell
Visiting Faculty - Erich Grotewold, The Ohio State University
2013-2014
Recipient - Erin Michelle Miller, Anatomy and Neurobiology
Advisor - Paul E. A. Glaser
Visiting Faculty - Vivienne A. Russell, University of Cape Town, South Africa
Recipient - Amy K. Anderson, English (Writing, Rhetoric, & Digital Media)
Advisor - Roxanne Mountford
Visiting Faculty - David Frank, University of Oregon
2012-2013
Recipient - Tina M. Hudson, Special Education
Advisor - Robert McKenzie
Visiting Faculty - Douglas Fuchs and Lynn Fuchs, Vanderbilt Univ.
Recipient - Daniel R. Evans, Clinical Psychology
Advisor - Suzanne Segerstrom
Visiting Faculty - Michelle Shiota, Arizona State University
2011-2012
Recipient - Qing-ming Gao, Plant Pathology (Co-recipient)
Advisor - Aardra Kachoo
Visiting Faculty - Christopher Benning, Michigan State University
Recipient - Mihir Mandal Plant Pathology (Co-recipient)
Advisor - Pradeep Kachroo
Visiting Faculty - Daniel Klessig, Cornell University
Recipient - Johanna Marie Hoch, Rehabilitation Sciences
Advisor - Carl G. Mattacola
Visiting Faculty - Virginia Byers Kraus, Duke University
Recipient - Nicholas Mattei, Computer Science
Advisor - Judy Goldsmith
Visiting Faculty - Francesca Rossi, Univ. of Padova, Italy
Recipient - Claire Davies, Rehabilitation Sciences
Advisor - Arthur Nitz
Visiting Faculty - David Baxter, Univ. of Otago, New Zealand
2010-2011
Recipient - Rae-Dong Jeong, Plant Pathology
Advisor - Pradeep Kachroo
Visiting Faculty - Chentao Lin, Univ. of California, Los Angeles
Recipient - Mary K. Hart, Biology
Advisors - Philip Crowley and Craig Sargent
Visiting Faculty - Jane H. Brockman, University of Florida
Recipient - Melinda Ault, Special Education
Advisor - John W. Schuster
Visiting Faculty - Erik Carter, University of Wisconsin-Madison
Recipient - David Long, Educational Policy Studies and Evaluation
Advisor - Jane Jensen
Visiting Faculty - Kenneth Tobin, City University of New York
Recipient - Vishal Sindhava, Microbiology, Immunology, and Molecular Genetics
Advisor - Subbarao Bondada
Visiting Faculty - Chandra Mohan, University of Texas Southwestern
Recipient - Ye Xia, Plant Pathology
Advisor - Pradeep Kachroo
Visiting Faculty - Ljerka Kunst, University of British Columbia, Vancouver
2009-2010
Recipient - Aashish Joshi, Anatomy and Neurobiology
Advisor - James Geddes
Visiting Faculty - J. Marie Hardwick, John Hopkins University
2008-2009
Recipient - Goce Andrevski, Management
Advisor - Walter J. Ferrier
Visiting Faculty - Jeff Covin, Indiana University
Recipient - Kevin Ford, Kinesiology and Health Promotion
Advisor - Richard S. Riggs
Visiting Faculty - Dr. Antonie J. van den Bogert
Recipient - Nirmal Ravi, Biomedical Engineering
Advisor - David Puleo
Visiting Faculty - Rena Bizios, University of Texas at San Antonio
2007-2008
Recipient - Nathan Coleman, History
Advisor - Prof. Daniel B. Smith
Visiting Faculty - Dr. Robert Calhoon, UNC Greensboro
Recipient - Dory Marken, Gerontology
Advisor - Prof. John Watkins
Visiting Faculty - Dr. Malcolm Cutchin, UNC Chapel Hill
Recipient - Srivathsa Venugopal, Plant Pathology
Advisory - Prof. Pradeep Kachroo
Visiting Faculty - John Browse, Washington State University
2006-2007
Recipient - Kristi Branham, English
Advisor - Prof. Virginia Blum
Visiting Faculty - Dr. Lucy Fischer, University of Pittsburgh
2005-2006
Recipient - Roxana Ciochina, Chemistry
Advisor - Prof. Robert B. Grossman
Visiting Faculty - Dr. Brian Stoltz, California Institute of Technology
2004-2005
Recipient - Venkat Veeramani, Agricultural Economics
Advisor - Prof. Leigh J. Maynard
Visiting Faculty - Dr. George C. Davis, Texas A&M University
2003-2004
Recipient - Christopher Green, English
Advisor - Prof. Dale Bauer
Visiting Faculty - Dr. Walter Kalaidjian, Emory University
Recipient - Debra Hall, Nursing
Advisor - Prof. Julie Sebastian
Visiting Faculty - Dr. Mary Blegen, University of California-San Francisco
Recipient - George Harvey, Philosophy
Advisor - Prof. Daniel Frank
Visiting Faculty - Dr. Chris Bobonich, Stanford University
Recipient - Freddie Hughes, Chemistry
Advisor - Prof. Mark Meier
Visiting Faculty - Dr. Jin K. Cha, Wayne State University
Recipient - Jose Iriarte, Anthropology
Advisor - Prof. Tom D. Dillehay
Visiting Faculty - Dr. James Brown, Northwestern University or London School of Economics
Recipient - Jeffrey Osborne, English
Advisor - Prof. Dana Nelson
Visiting Faculty - Dr. Robert Levine
Recipient - Zivile Panaviene, Plant Pathology
Advisor - Prof. Peter Nagy
Visiting Faculty - Dr. Theo Dreher, Oregon State University
Recipient - K.S. Rajendran, Plant Pathology
Advisor - Prof. Peter Nagy
Visiting Faculty - Dr. Mark A. Young, Montana State University
Recipient - Robyn Ridgley, Special Education
Advisor - Prof. John Schuster
Visiting Faculty - Dr. Michael Gamel-McCormick, University of Delaware
2002-2003
Recipient - Leslie A. Ashburn-Nardo, Psychology
Advisor - Prof. Margo J. Monteith
Visiting Faculty - Dr. Anthony Greenwald, University of Washington
Recipient - German A. Bayona, Geology
Advisor - Prof. William A. Thomas
Visiting Faculty - Dr. Peter C. DeCelles, University of Arizona
Recipient - Jeffrey K. Birkenstein, English
Advisor - Prof. Jerome T. Meckier
Visiting Faculty - Dr. J. Gerald Kennedy, Duke University
Recipient - Carolyn R. Dupont, History
Advisor - Prof. Kathi Kern
Visiting Faculty - Dr. Wayne Flynt, Auburn University
Recipient - Kate H. Flory, Psychology
Advisor - Prof. Donald R. Lynam
Visiting Faculty - Dr. William Pelham, SUNY-Buffalo
Recipient - Bryan T. Greenhagen, Plant Physiology
Advisor - Prof. Joseph Chappell
Visiting Faculty - Dr. Rodney Croteau, Washington State University
Recipient - David E. Magill, English
Advisor - Prof. Steven C. Weisenberger
Visiting Faculty - Dr. Thadious M. Davis, Vanderbilt University
Recipient - Eugenia M. Pena-Yewtukhiw, Soil Science
Advisor - Prof. John H. Grove
Visiting Faculty - Dr. David Mulla, University of Minnesota
Recipient - Steven R. Talbert, Nursing
Advisor - Prof. Juliann G. Sebastian
Visiting Faculty - Dr. Pamela Mitchell, University of Washington
Recipient - James K. Tussey, Educational & Counseling Psychology
Advisor - Prof. Eric M. Anderman
Visiting Faculty - Dr. Timothy C. Urdan, Santa Clara University
2001-2002
Recipient - Cormac C. Breathnac, Veterinary Science
Advisor - Prof. George P. Allen
Visiting Faculty - Dr. David W. Horohov, Louisiana State University
Recipient - Tricia Clement, Psychology
Advisor - Prof. Thomas R. Zentall
Visiting Faculty - Dr. William S. Roberts
Recipient - Joshua D. Miller, Psychology
Advisor - Prof. Donald R. Lynam
Recipient - Julie Cary Nerad, English
Advisors - Profs. Steven Weisenburger and Dana D. Nelson
Visiting Faculty - Dr. Werner Sollors, Harvard University
Recipient - Jeffery A. Nicholas, Philosophy
Advisor - Prof. Theodore R. Schatzki
Visiting Faculty - Dr. David Ingram, Loyola University
Rebecca A. Weaver, English
Advisor - Prof. Dana D. Nelson
Visiting Faculty - Dr. Anne McClintock, University of Wisconsin
2000-2001
Recipient - Jonathan D. Fisher, Economics
Advisor - Prof. William Hoyt
Visiting Faculty - Dr. Robert McCrae, National Institute of Aging
Recipient - Diane N. Hulett, English
Advisor - Prof. Gordon N. Hutner
Recipient - Ronald L. Pitcock, English
Advisor - Prof. Janet C. Eldred
Recipient - Corrine I. Voils, Psychology
Advisor - Prof. Margo J. Monteith
Recipient - Amy E. Wells, Educational Policy Studies & Evaluation
Advisor - Prof. John R. Thelin
Visiting Faculty - Dr. Thomas G. Dyer, University of Georgia
1999-2000
Recipient - Amitabh Chandra, Economics
Advisor - Prof. Mark C. Berger
Recipient - Christopher S. Ciocchetti, Philosophy
Advisor - Prof. Daniel Frank
Recipient - Michael L. Dorn, Geography
Advisor - Prof. John Pickles
Recipient - Eileen A. Eliason, Entomology
Advisor - Prof. Daniel A Potter
Recipient - Gregory A. Graf, Physiology
Advisor - Prof. Eric Smart
Recipient - Carl V. Lutzer, Mathematics
Advisor - Prof. Peter D. Hislop
Recipient - Susan P. Mains, Geography
Advisor - Prof. John Paul Jones III
Recipient - Jeffrey J. Matthews, History
Advisor - Prof. George C. Herring
Recipient - Oleg V. Ozerov, Chemistry
Advisor - Prof. Fola Ladipo
Recipient - Douglas A. Riley, Mathematics
Advisor - Prof. Peter Perry
1998-1999
Recipient - Matthew Cordova, Psychology
Advisors - Profs. Charles Carlson and Michael Andrykowski
Recipient - Sherry Powers, Curriculum & Instruction
Advisors - Prof. Deneese L. Jones
Recipient - William E. Snyder, Entomology
Advisors - Prof. David H. Wise
1997-1998
Recipient - Mary Daniels, Spanish and Italian
Advisor - Prof. John J. Allen
Recipient - Alexi Dmitrienko, Statistics
Advisor - Prof. Zakkula Govindarajulu
Recipient - Warren Harper, Chemistry
Advisor - Prof. Dennis J. Clouthier
Recipient - Cynthia Hartung, Psychology
Advisor - Prof. Richard Milich
Recipient - Kristen Stauffer, Music
Advisor - Prof. Ronald A. Pen
Recipient - Robert Topmiller, History
Advisor - Prof. George C. Herring
Recipient - Jason Wolf, Biological Sciences
Advisor - Prof. Andrew Sih
The goals of the Visiting Distinguished Faculty (VDF) program are to enrich the dissertation experience for selected doctoral candidates whose dissertations are judged to be especially meritorious, and to publicize for academic leaders at other institutions the high quality of scholarship achieved by our doctoral students. This program also serves to enhance the overall intellectual and research environment at the University of Kentucky through colloquia offered by some of the nation’s most outstanding scholars. Two awards are available on a competitive basis per academic year, one in the fall and one in the spring/summer. scholars.
The program provides funding to bring a nationally recognized academic leader to campus to serve as the Graduate School’s Outside Examiner for a student’s dissertation defense. As the Outside Examiner, the distinguished visitor will serve as the Dean’s representative at the final examination and will be expected to promote especially high standards in the examination of candidates.
The visiting scholar will also give a colloquium on his or her research. Priority should be given to identifying scholars whose work has the potential for benefiting as broad a campus audience as possible. In addition, in order to maximize the impact of this program, the dissertation defense should be well publicized and scheduled at a location that can accommodate larger than usual attendance.
The VDF program will provide up to $2,000 for the honorarium and travel costs. The student's college or department is expected to cover any remaining travel expenses.
Departments and programs are invited to nominate dissertations that are considered to have unusually high merit. Nominations should be made by the student’s major professor and endorsed by the Director of Graduate Studies. The online nomination application form is found below:
Nomination applications must be submitted by October 1 for the fall competition and by March 1 for the spring competition. The award will be announced by October 15 and March 15 respectively. The student must sit for the defense within one calendar year of the award date.
The award selection committee will base decisions on the following criteria:
- Overall merit of the dissertation as defined by the student's major professor
- Student's academic and professional achievements
- Proposed visiting faculty's credentials, reputation, and interdisciplinary appeal
- Support, financial and otherwise, from the college or department
In the event that merit, achievement, credentials, and financial support (the above criteria) are deemed equal across nominations, priority will be given to students in departments that have not previously or have not recently (within the past three years) received a VDF award.
Click here to complete the online nomination form and upload a PDF file of the required documents.
You will be asked to upload the following in a single PDF:
- Student's CV
- Proposed visiting scholar's CV
- Letter from major professor (committee advisor) describing the dissertation, arguing the work's exceptional merit, and providing the rationale for inviting the proposed visiting scholar
- Brief letter of endorsement from the DGS indicating departmental support
- Proposed budget, showing amounts designated for honorarium and travel, as well as any departmental contribution
For more information, contact:
Padraic Kenney, Dean
The Graduate School
100 Gillis Building
University of Kentucky
Lexington, KY 40506-0033
padraic.kenney@uky.edu