University of Louisville Graduate School

We are pleased to announce Ash Bittner has been selected as this year's Excellence in Teaching Award winner! Ash is a Humanities Ph.D. student who supports undergraduate education here at through his engaging approach as an instructor. Please join us in celebrating this much deserved honor.

Last week we had the opportunity to celebrate graduate student milestones at our annual Celebration of Excellence! It was an inspirational evening recognizing those who completed their master's, doctoral degree or reached doctoral candidacy among family, friends and the community.

You can view all the photos from the event here: uofl.me/2025-Celebration-Excellence

We would like to congratulate all of our Spring 2025 Graduate Dean's Citation winners listed below! 🎓

Graduate Dean's Citations are recommended by their departments in recognition of superior accomplishment in their graduate studies beyond the achievement of a high grade point average.

Wala Al Zara, Applied Philosophy (MA)
Rayko Anderson, Urban Planning (MUP)
Giovanna Barham, English (MA)
Katelyn Blaszynski, Music Performance (MM)
Erika Buchanan, Social Work (MSW)
Corey Burks, Social Work (MSW)
Benjamin Carter, Music Performance (MM)
Mona Dajani, Social Work (PHD)
Eisey Eisenhardt, Studio Art and Design (MFA)
Doug Evans, Couple and Family Therapy (MS)
Hannah Fulkerson, Health Administration (MS)
Jessica Gottbrath, English Rhetoric and Composition (PHD)
Prabathi Gunathilake, Social Work (PHD)
Kendyl Harmeling, English Rhetoric and Composition (PHD)
Prameet Jha, Industrial Engineering (PHD)
Autumn Koehling, Anthropology (MA)
James Layton, Music Performance (MM)
Jorgia McMeans, Couple and Family Therapy (MS)
Idoia Meaza Isusi, Pharmacology and Toxicology (PHD)
Sarah Melloy, Art History (MA)
Jacob Miller, Chemical Engineering (PHD)
Rachel Morgan, English Rhetoric and Composition (PHD)
Amber Morton Stout, Couple and Family Therapy (MS)
Anthony Munger, Social Work (MSW)
Sarah Neff, Communication (MA)
Daniel Nguyen, Physiology (PHD)
Joshua Nielsen, Industrial Engineering (PHD)
Isaac Offei, Civil Engineering (PHD)
Keri Otte, Social Work (DSW)
Eli Polley, Political Science (MA)
Jane Post, Couple and Family Therapy (MS)
Cody Pryer, Sports Administration (MS)
Aakarsha Rao, Interdisciplinary Studies - Bioinformatics (PHD)
James Richie, Humanities (PhD)
Henrietta Ransdell, Interdisciplinary Studies - Sustainability (MS)
Anya Shorey-Smith, Experimental Psychology (PhD)
Andrea Sparrow, Social Work (DSW)
Deidre Thompson, Social Work (DSW)
Katie Toth, Social Work (MSW)
Alvin Tran, Computer Science (MS)
Dwan Turner, Couple and Family Therapy (MS)
Ben Veasey, Electrical Engineering (PHD)
Aggie Williams, Pharmacology and Toxicology (PHD)
Jean Zelenko, Social Work (PHD)
James Zimmer, Social Work (DSW)

Caps off to the Spring 2025 graduating class! 🎓
Your hard work has paid off—now go chase those dreams. The future is yours!

It is our honor to recognize Dr. Angela Storey as this spring's Outstanding Faculty Mentor of Masters Students.

Dr. Storey is an Associate Professor in the Department of Anthropology and Director of the Anne Braden Institute for Social Justice Research, where she bridges scholarship and activism for social justice.

Her nominator writes, “What makes me believe is such a valuable and important academic institution is professors like Dr. Storey. Just as she is lucky to be part of such a prominent intellectual community, our institution is lucky to have her developing the next generation of cardinals.”

Learn more about Dr. Storey's work at: uofl.me/masters-mentor-award

We are delighted to announce that Dr. John Pierce Wise has been named as this spring's Outstanding Faculty Mentor of Doctoral Students.

Dr. Wise is a professor and Distinguished University Scholar in the Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology. He has mentored over 250 graduate, medical, undergraduate and high school students, as well as postdoctoral trainees and faculty—many of whom wrote letters of support for him.

“Dr. Wise’s commitment to his mentees does not end with graduation; he ensures that we are well-prepared for successful careers, reinforcing his lifelong commitment to mentorship. His exceptional ability to guide students to successful completion of their degrees and place them in competitive career positions speaks volumes about his impact.”

Read more about Dr. Wise at uofl.me/doctoral-mentor-award

We are proud to recognize Dr. Patricia Soucy as one of this spring's recipients of the Provost's Award for an Exemplary Director of Graduate Studies.

Dr. Soucy teaches both undergraduate and graduate courses in the Bioengineering Department, where she also serves as the Director of Graduate Studies (DGS). As a DGS, Dr. Soucy has played an integral role in developing two new programs while fostering initiatives to support students' academic and professional success.

Many students wrote in about her impact on them, sharing that she "makes us feel heard and valued."

Learn more about Dr. Soucy's accomplishments at uofl.me/provosts-award

We are excited to share that Joshua Nielsen has been selected to receive the John M. Houchens Prize for Outstanding Dissertation this spring.

Joshua will graduate with a PhD in Industrial Engineering from the JB Speed School of Engineering. As a graduate student at the University of Louisville, he took a multidisciplinary approach to his research by applying generative AI to public health. His dissertation is focused on numerous engineering solutions to reduce the kidney transplant supply gap by supporting living donors through the complex donation process.

"The results of his work have the potential to hugely impact society by increasing the number of legal transplants and saving thousands of lives." Joshua currently works as a Data Scientist at the National Center for Injury and Violence Prevention in the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Read more about him at uofl.me/houchens-prize

We are thrilled to announce that Idoia Meaza Isusi has been selected as this spring's recipient of the Guy Stevenson Award for Excellence in Graduate Studies. As such, she will carry the banner during this week's commencement ceremonies and deliver the student speech during our Hooding ceremony.

Idoia earned her master’s and doctoral degrees from the Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, where she was also awarded the K.C. Huang Outstanding Graduate Student Award, the department's highest honor.

Throughout her time at the University of Louisville, Idoia has been an active part of the scientific community, serving on multiple committees and organizations, "empowering those who need a voice." After graduating with her doctoral degree, Idoia plans to transition to a postdoctoral position to study liver carcinogenesis.

Learn more about her at uofl.me/guy-stevenson-award

Thank you to everyone who joined us for the annual Dean’s Reception! We were proud to recognize and celebrate the many outstanding graduate students who exemplify academic and professional excellence at the University of Louisville.

You can view all the photos from the event here: uofl.me/2025-Deans-Reception

We are excited to share that Daniel Nguyen has been awarded this spring's John Richard Binford Memorial Award.

Daniel is graduating with a PhD in Physiology and is currently completing his dissertation research at the Center for Cardiometabolic Science. As a graduate student at the University of Louisville, he has been committed to mentoring and teaching the next generation of scientists and clinicians.

“What excites me most about this path is the ability to push the boundaries of scientific knowledge from bench to bedside. While my initial interest in science stemmed from a desire to help others through physical rehabilitation, my subsequent immersion in research and medicine has provided me with the skills and perspective needed to make meaningful contributions to the field.”

Read more about his work at: uofl.me/john-binford-award

We are pleased to announce that Wala Daher Al Zara has been selected to receive this spring semester's Alice Eaves Barns Award for Outstanding Achievement in a Master’s Program.

Throughout her time at the University of Louisville, Wala has been active in the community. Volunteering her time at the Kentucky Refugee Ministries and The Center for Women and Families in Louisville to assist refugees and asylum seekers in navigating the healthcare system in the U.S., interpreting for therapy sessions, and translating legal documents.

Her nominators write, "Wala’s spirit is infectious. Regardless of the trauma she has experienced, she is full of warmth and compassion, a robust sense of humor and deep curiosity that touches everyone she meets. Already she has lived lifetimes and embodies the definition of resiliency and tenacity.”

Learn more about Wala's achievements at uofl.me/alice-barns-award