By Whitney Harder

(Nov. 23, 2015) — Seven faculty members from the University of Kentucky have been selected to participate in the 2015-16 SEC Faculty Travel Program. The program, in its fourth year, provides support for faculty to collaborate with colleagues at other SEC member institutions. 

UK faculty participants include:

• Brad Berron, assistant professor in the Department of Chemical and Materials Engineering, will travel to the University of Florida;
• Bradley Kerns, assistant professor in the School of Music, will travel to the University of Tennesee;
• Cynthia Lawrence, professor and William T. Bryan Endowed Chair of Voice in the School of Music, will travel to Louisiana State University;
• Ana S. Q. Liberato, associate professor and director of graduate studies in the Department of Sociology, will travel to Louisiana State University;
• Jenny Minier, professor and director of graduate studies in the Department of Economics, will travel to Louisiana State University;  
• Robin Vanderpool, associate professor Department of Health Behavior and deputy director of the Rural Cancer Prevention Center, will travel to the University of South Carolina; and
• Irina Voro, professor in the School of Music, will travel to the University of Arkansas.

Through the program, the SEC provides financial assistance for its faculty members to travel to other SEC universities to exchange ideas, develop grant proposals, conduct research and deliver lectures or performances. 

Program participants from each SEC university will travel throughout the academic year. Participants from other universities will also visit UK:

• Brandon Barton, Mississippi State University, biology;
• Alice Dade, University of Missouri, music;
• Heather Brandt, University of South Carolina, health;
• Luke Harlow, University of Tennessee, history; and
• Ling Zhao, University of Tennessee, nutrition.

The SEC Faculty Travel Program is part of SECU, the academic initiative of the Southeastern Conference. SECU works to support and promote the academic endeavors of the students and faculty at the conference’s member institutions.

More than 110 faculty members from all 14 Southeastern Conference universities will take part in the program. Click here for a full list of participants.