News & Updates

Eastern Kentucky University


EKU faculty is gathered to celebrate the 2025 Superintendent of the Year Award

EKU Announces 2025 “Experience Excellence” Superintendents of the Year

Continuing a commitment to education throughout the Commonwealth of Kentucky and building on a rich, foundational history of preparing teachers and educational leaders, Eastern Kentucky University (EKU) announces the recipients of the “Experience Excellence” Superintendents of the Year. The awards are given in conjunction with the Central Kentucky Educational Cooperative (CKEC) and Southeast South-Central Educational […]
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Employee Carrie Lewis and Husband, John, Help EKU Aviation Students Soar

Carrie Lewis, director of research and prospect management at Eastern Kentucky University (EKU), and her husband, John Lewis, a pharmacist, are establishing a new scholarship to support EKU Aviation students. The couple made their inaugural gift to the John H. and Carrie A. Lewis Aviation Scholarship today—on EKU’s Giving Day. “Our dedicated employees serve and […]
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Dressed for Success: EKU’s Clinical Closet Helps Future Educators Suit Up

Stepping into the classroom for the first time as a future educator presents a significant milestone in the path to becoming a teacher. However, for some students, the challenge lies in having the appropriate attire. To bridge this gap, Eastern Kentucky University’s (EKU) College of Education and Applied Human Sciences (CEAHS) introduced the Clinical Closet, […]
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Former United States Ambassador to the United Kingdom, Matthew Barzun, speaks at Eastern Kentucky University event.

The Business of Diplomacy: Former U.S. Ambassador Matthew Barzun Shares Insights at EKU Distinguished Speaker Event

Former United States Ambassador to the United Kingdom, Matthew Barzun, spoke at Eastern Kentucky University (EKU) on Tuesday, April 15, at the College of Business 2024-25 Distinguished Speaker event. Through the Speaker Series and other events, EKU brings highly accomplished professionals from a variety of fields to campus to speak about their experiences with students […]
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A group photo of EKU homeland security students.

Crisis Ready: EKU’s Homeland Security Degree Puts Preparedness First

When catastrophe hits—whether it’s the devastating flooding in Eastern Kentucky, wildfires raging across California, the global pandemic that reshaped the world, or other unforeseen crises—EKU’s Homeland Security graduates are trained and ready to respond, equipped with the skills to manage emergencies and protect communities when it matters most.  As one of the first programs of […]
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A group of university faculty members pose for a photo with the awards they've won.

EKU Faculty Honored for Excellence

In commemoration of excellence at Eastern Kentucky University (EKU), faculty members were honored at the 2024-25 University Faculty Awards and Recognition Ceremony on April 10 in the Keen Johnson Building.  “EKU places a high value on excellence and innovation in teaching, faculty leadership and student success. This event celebrates those who exemplify these values,” said […]
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Two female doctors wearing lab coats are working on an experiment for cancer research.

EKU Faculty Receives Continuation Patent for Cancer Research

Eastern Kentucky University (EKU) Chemistry Professor Dr. Margaret Ndinguri, along with University of Kentucky Associate Professor Dr. Lindsay Cormier, recently received a continuation patent for their cancer research. The patent’s research focuses on combining compounds that are attracted to and target cancer cells for the purpose of detection or the delivering of chemotherapy.  “Receiving a […]
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Nurse standing beside patient's bed.

EKU at the Heart of Health Innovation

EKU Colonels are well known for serving others and their communities. Many students come to EKU to pursue their dreams of careers helping others. Many graduates then return to their hometowns to serve in meaningful ways. This especially holds true for EKU’s healthcare-related majors. Demonstrating the impact on the Commonwealth, more than three-fourths of EKU […]
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University students perform Performing life-saving CPR demonstration on mannequin.

Students Gain Life-Saving Skills in EKU’s EMC Program

Performing life-saving CPR, administering critical medication and safely moving a patient on a stretcher are just a few of the hands-on skills learned in Eastern Kentucky University’s (EKU) Emergency Medical Care (EMC) program. As the longest-accredited program in Kentucky and the second longest-accredited program in the United States, EKU’s EMC program has been preparing students […]
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man in navy EKU shirt and woman in maroon shirt lean over hospital bet while two other women look on in the foreground

EKU’s OT Program Allows Student to Pursue “a Passion for Helping Others”

In recognition of Occupational Therapy Month in April, Eastern Kentucky University (EKU) celebrates the next generation of occupational therapists in Kentucky and beyond, highlighting hands-on learning opportunities in real-world settings. Even before graduation, EKU’s Occupational Therapy (OT) program places students in the community through clinical rotations and future employment opportunities. Recognized by U.S. News and […]
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EKU Becomes Kentucky’s Largest Regional Public University

Eastern Kentucky University (EKU) is now the largest regional public institution in Kentucky, according to the Kentucky Council on Postsecondary Education. As of Fall 2024, EKU led the state’s regional public universities in degree-seeking student enrollment, reaching 14,565 students. “EKU’s growth is a testament to our commitment to student success, academic excellence and community impact,” […]
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president McFaddin and Maj. Gen. Haldane B. Lamberton at table holding signed agreement in front of military flags

EKU and Kentucky National Guard Announce Educational Resource Partnership

Eastern Kentucky University (EKU) and the Kentucky National Guard (KYNG) signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) on Wednesday, March 26, 2025, to create a partnership that will support citizen soldiers on their path to earning a degree. Through EKU’s Office of Military and Veteran Affairs (OMVA), this initiative will provide tailored educational resources for members […]
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group of women stand on darkened stage holding awards

EKU Volleyball Team Going to Europe, Thanks to Support from Former Coach Polvino

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 […]
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A female student examines the arm of a human skeleton model in a classroom.

EKU’s Exercise and Sport Science Program Shapes Strong Future Professionals

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 […]
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Photo of a woman and a man during a business meeting.

EKU Aviation Partners with Republic Airways to Expand Pilot Career Pathways

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 […]
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A photo of Eastern Kentucky University employees receiving an award.

EKU’s SNAP Benefits Initiative Earns Transformational Leadership Award

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 […]
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Two female students, wearing protective clothing and gloves work in a lab setting to examine samples with microscopes.

EKU Medical Laboratory Science: Cultivating Careers, One Sample at a Time

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 […]
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Six students, professionally dressed and wearing name tag lanyards, post for a photo at the event in building with many windows and sunlight.

Students Take Their Research to Harvard, Representing EKU at the National Level

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 […]
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Graphic showing Notebook, pens, pencils, highlighters and Giving Day logo

EKU’s Classroom in a Box Initiative Supports First-Year Teachers

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 […]
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Image for decorative use and shows two portraits, one of an elderly man with his hand on his brow and one of an elderly woman resting her chin in her hand.

EKU Confronts Stigma Surrounding Memory Loss with New Exhibition, “Portraits of Dementia”

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 […]
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A male student in maroon scrubs with a stethoscope draped on his neck sits in a clinic setting and speaks with another male student, standing.

Bringing Healthcare Back Home

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 […]
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