Behind the Blue

LEXINGTON, Ky. (Dec. 11, 2018) –In case someone asks you, what do the arts have to do with the sciences, just tell them to spend a few minutes with University of Kentucky senior biology and neuroscience major Esther Putman. She will tell you, plenty.

Raised by parents with a strong commitment to making sure that Esther got to see the importance of being a well-rounded person, she’s been a lifelong student of dance while simultaneously developing a passion for the study of all things space, as in NASA, and medicine.

On this week’s episode of “Behind the Blue,” UKPR‘s Carl Nathe talks with Putman about why UK has been the perfect place for her to put all of her interests together as she works toward what promises to be a fascinating life and career.

Become a subscriber to receive new episodes of “Behind the Blue” each week. UK’s latest medical breakthroughs, research, artists and writers will be featured, along with the most important news impacting the university.

For questions or comments about this or any other episode of “Behind the Blue, “ email [email protected] (mail to: [email protected]) or tweet your question with #BehindTheBlue.

LEXINGTON, Ky. (Dec. 3, 2018) – If staying engaged in something you love is the key to staying young, University of Kentucky emeritus faculty member Don Frazier certainly is on the right track.

At an age when many folks are sitting back and taking it easy, Frazier still shows up on campus several days a week to impart knowledge and wisdom to young students, and to mentor up-and-coming faculty members. And he still is earning research funding from the National Institutes of Health (NIH).

On this week’s episode of “Behind the Blue,” UKPR‘s Carl Nathe talks with Frazier about his passion for science and research, and for sharing that love with others.

Become a subscriber to receive new episodes of “Behind the Blue” each week. UK’s latest medical breakthroughs, research, artists and writers will be featured, along with the most important news impacting the university.

For questions or comments about this or any other episode of “Behind the Blue, “ email [email protected] (mail to: [email protected]) or tweet your question with #BehindTheBlue.

LEXINGTON, Ky. (Nov. 26, 2018) – The job of overseeing student enrollment at the University of Kentucky, from the application process to the culmination of receiving a degree during Commencement ceremonies, is a big one.

Christine Harper serves as UK’s Associate Provost for Enrollment Management and coordinates a wide array of programs all aimed at helping students succeed during their time on campus.

On this week’s episode of “Behind the Blue,” UKPR‘s Carl Nathe talks with Harper about why she loves her job, and about what she and her colleagues are doing to facilitate students having a wonderful experience inside and outside of the classroom.

Become a subscriber to receive new episodes of “Behind the Blue” each week. UK’s latest medical breakthroughs, research, artists and writers will be featured, along with the most important news impacting the university.

For questions or comments about this or any other episode of “Behind the Blue, “ email [email protected] (mail to: [email protected]) or tweet your question with #BehindTheBlue.

LEXINGTON, Ky. (Nov. 19, 2018) – The holidays offer the opportunity to reunite with seldom-seen relatives. Family gatherings often bring people together over traditional foods, activities, and recollections of the past. If you notice memory changes in your older family members, how do you know whether what you're seeing is just part of getting older or something more serious? 

According to Kelly Parsons of the Sanders-Brown Center on Aging at the University of Kentucky, there's a fine line between normal brain aging and dementia.

On this week’s episode of “Behind the Blue”, Parsons joins us to provide tips on warning signs and what to do when you worry that grandma or grandpa might have Alzheimer's, plus advice on making the holidays less stressful for everyone when someone with Alzheimer's is on the guest list.

Become a subscriber to receive new episodes of “Behind the Blue” each week. UK’s latest medical breakthroughs, research, artists and writers will be featured, along with the most important news impacting the university.

For questions or comments about this or any other episode of “Behind the Blue, “ email [email protected] (mail to: [email protected]) or tweet your question with #BehindTheBlue.

LEXINGTON, Ky. (Nov. 12, 2018) – Many factors can impact child and adolescent socialization and adjustment. What are the things that lead one person on a path to happiness and achievement, while another youngster gets involved in problem behaviors and even violence?

University of Kentucky faculty member Alexander Vazsonyi, a professor in the Department of Family Sciences within the College of Agriculture, Food and Environment, is renowned nationally and internationally for his research on adolescent development and adjustment. 

On this week’s episode of “Behind the Blue,” UKPR‘s Carl Nathe talks with Vazsonyi about his work, his accomplishments, and how much he enjoys serving as a mentor to students.

Become a subscriber to receive new episodes of “Behind the Blue” each week. UK’s latest medical breakthroughs, research, artists and writers will be featured, along with the most important news impacting the university.

For questions or comments about this or any other episode of “Behind the Blue, “ email [email protected] (mail to: [email protected]) or tweet your question with #BehindTheBlue.

LEXINGTON, Ky. (Nov. 5, 2018) – In some way, shape, or form books have been an essential part of Leila Salisbury’s life from a very early age. As she enters her third year as director of the University Press of Kentucky, Salisbury is excited about the future of the press, which was founded in 1943. 

On this week’s episode of “Behind the Blue,” UKPR‘s Carl Nathe talks with Salisbury about new things in the works at the University Press, the upcoming Kentucky Humanities Book Festival and Fair, and more.

Become a subscriber to receive new episodes of “Behind the Blue” each week. UK’s latest medical breakthroughs, research, artists and writers will be featured, along with the most important news impacting the university.

For questions or comments about this or any other episode of “Behind the Blue, “ email [email protected] (mail to: [email protected]) or tweet your question with #BehindTheBlue.

LEXINGTON, Ky. (Oct. 31, 2018) – On Tuesday, November 6th 2018, Kentuckians will head to the polls along with their fellow Americans for the 2018 mid-term elections. Federal, state, and local offices are up for grabs across the nation, including all 435 seats in the US House of Representatives and 35 of the 100 seats in the US Senate. Additionally, 39 state and territorial governorships will be among the offices contested.

On this episode of ‘Behind the Blue’ associate professors Dr. Emily Beaulieu, who specializes in comparative politics, and Dr. Stephen Voss, who specializes in voting behavior and political methodology, join us to discuss the impact of these elections on a local, state, and national level. We last spoke with both of them in January of 2017. Listen as they offer their insight on the state of politics in the time since the Presidential inauguration, the rise of social movements across the country, the challenges candidates face in creating a winning election strategy, and more.

Become a subscriber to receive new episodes of “Behind the Blue” each week. UK’s latest medical breakthroughs, research, artists and writers will be featured, along with the most important news impacting the university.

For questions or comments about this or any other episode of “Behind the Blue, “ email [email protected] (mail to: [email protected]) or tweet your question with #BehindTheBlue.

LEXINGTON, Ky. (Oct. 22, 2018) – Drug addiction is rampant in the nation, with estimates of more than 70,000 people dying from drug overdoses in 2017, much of that fueled by opioid abuse.

To put it in relatable numbers, the United States suffered more deaths to drug abuse last year than the total number of U.S. soldiers killed in the Vietnam War. Or, put another way, at roughly 200 deaths per day, it’s the equivalent of a jumbo jet going down every 24 hours.

The problem has reached epidemic levels in Kentucky, with heroin and fentanyl abuse ravaging communities. On this week’s episode of Behind the Blue, Dr. Sharon Walsh, director of the University of Kentucky’s Center on Drug and Alcohol Research (CDAR) and a distinguished professor in the UK College of Medicine, discusses the challenge Kentucky faces in battling the opioid epidemic.

That question – what do we do? – was the basis of a daylong meeting Dr. Walsh had with the UK Board of Trustees. As part of its annual retreat this year, UK President Eli Capilouto and Walsh framed an entire day of discussion and presentations around the opioid epidemic in the country and its specific impact on Kentucky.

As importantly, the discussion centered on how UK – along with partners at the state and federal levels – is positioning itself to stem the tide of drug addiction and abuse in the state and beyond those borders.

Become a subscriber to receive new episodes of “Behind the Blue” each week. UK’s latest medical breakthroughs, research, artists and writers will be featured, along with the most important news impacting the university.

For questions or comments about this or any other episode of “Behind the Blue, “ email [email protected] (mail to: [email protected]) or tweet your question with #BehindTheBlue.

LEXINGTON, Ky. (Oct. 15, 2018) – The University of Kentucky College of Engineering is answering the call to train and develop more engineers for the Commonwealth and beyond.

On this week’s episode of “Behind the Blue,” UKPR‘s Carl Nathe talks with one of the newest members of the UK family, Rudolph ‘Rudy’ Buchheit, who assumed his role as dean of the College of Engineering on July 1, following 20 years as a faculty member and administrator at The Ohio State University.

Become a subscriber to receive new episodes of “Behind the Blue” each week. UK’s latest medical breakthroughs, research, artists and writers will be featured, along with the most important news impacting the university.

For questions or comments about this or any other episode of “Behind the Blue, “ email [email protected] (mail to: [email protected]) or tweet your question with #BehindTheBlue.

Click here for "Behind the Blue" on iTunes.

LEXINGTON, Ky. (Oct. 5, 2018) – A person who earned both a bachelor’s and a master’s degree here at the University of Kentucky in the 1970’s is this year’s president of the UK Alumni Association.

On this week’s episode of “Behind the Blue,” UKPR‘s Carl Nathe talks with Fritz Skeen about his passion for UK, the vital role alumni and friends can play in the present and future success of the university, and how much he is looking forward to Homecoming 2018.

Become a subscriber to receive new episodes of “Behind the Blue” each week. UK’s latest medical breakthroughs, research, artists and writers will be featured, along with the most important news impacting the university.

For questions or comments about this or any other episode of “Behind the Blue, “ email [email protected] (mail to: [email protected]) or tweet your question with #BehindTheBlue.

Click here for "Behind the Blue" on iTunes.