University of Kentucky Pigman College of Engineering

💥 Engineers Night Out 2026 💥

Photos by Nathan Jones

University of Kentucky Provost Robert S. DiPaola has announced Michael Renfro, Ph.D., as interim dean of the Stanley and Karen Pigman College of Engineering.

Renfro, the Tennessee Valley Authority Professor in the Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, has served as the associate dean for faculty affairs and facilities since 2022. He joined UK in 2015 as a professor and served as chair of the department until 2023.

As chair of the Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Renfro led the development of new curriculum and degree programs, including bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degree programs in aerospace engineering. He helped the department grow enrollment of undergraduate students by 18% and graduate students by 20%, and he grew the number of department faculty and staff by more than 20% each.

Renfro is also an active researcher and student mentor. He has received more than $30 million in total funding as a principal investigator or co-principal investigator, and his current research focuses on optical diagnostics applied to power production and high temperature systems.

Read more: https://engr.uky.edu/news/renfro-named-interim-dean-pigman-college-engineering

We've got a big mining milestone coming up! 🪨 🎉

Join the Pigman College of Engineering in commemorating the 𝟭𝟮𝟱𝘁𝗵 𝗔𝗻𝗻𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗮𝗿𝘆 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗗𝗲𝗽𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗼𝗳 𝗠𝗶𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗘𝗻𝗴𝗶𝗻𝗲𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴 with a celebratory gala.

📅 Oct. 1
🕕 6 -10 p.m.
📍University of Kentucky Gatton Student Center - Harris Ballroom
📨 RSVP at mining.engr.uky.edu/125-gala

RISING HIGH SCHOOL SENIORS: Join the UK Pigman College of Engineering's Department of Civil Engineering for Civil Engineering Exploration Day (CEED) on July 7! 🏗️

CEED is a one-day event where rising high school seniors will get an in-depth look at civil engineering at the University of Kentucky. Students will see civil engineering laboratory demonstrations, hear presentations from professional engineering firms, eat in campus dining facilities, learn about admissions and scholarships, tour the Pigman College of Engineering complex and meet civil engineering faculty and current students.

Register by June 26 at

Civil Engineering Exploration Day | Civil Engineering The UK Department of Civil Engineering is hosting Civil Engineering Exploration Day (CEED). Civil Engineering Exploration Day is a one-day event where students will get an in-depth look at civil engineering and specifically, civil engineering at the University of Kentucky! 

Congratulations to Kaydee Straw, chemical engineering junior, who was recently named one of this year's Excellent Undergraduate Research Ambassadors! 👏

The award recognizes the outstanding contributions, achievements and dedication to promoting undergraduate research opportunities across UK’s campus and fostering community engagement.

Chemical engineering student named Excellent Undergraduate Research Ambassador | Stanley and Karen Pigman College of Engineering Every year, the University of Kentucky’s Office of Undergraduate Research (OUR) selects a new cohort of Undergraduate Research Ambassadors — a group of outstanding students who serve as advocates for undergraduate research at UK. Junior Kaydee Straw was one of four students selected for the awar...

When NASA’s II mission sent four astronauts on a path around the moon — farther from Earth than any humans have traveled in decades — the world watched in awe. Yet, one of the most critical parts of the journey remained invisible.

For a team of faculty, staff and students in the Pigman College of Engineering, that unseen work is their expertise. Artemis II shows how research — right here in Kentucky — is helping address one of human spaceflight’s most dangerous challenges: surviving the fiery return to Earth.

Read more here:

From Kentucky to deep space: UK research supports Artemis II return, future exploration On this edition of “Behind the Blue,” UK researchers share how their work made the “Mission to the Moon” possible — offering an inside look at the innovation behind heat shield technology and the role UK plays in advancing it.

👋 Hi, my name is on the Spring ‘26 Dean’s List!