# Beshear Loses Confidence in UK Administration Over Hiring Decisions  
**Published:** 2026-04-21T18:39:32.000Z  
**Source:** [Kentucky Lantern](https://kentuckylantern.com/briefs/beshear-is-losing-confidence-in-university-of-kentucky-admin-following-recent-hirings/)  
**AI-generated:** yes (claude-haiku-4-5-20251001)  
**Canonical:** https://feeds.lexingtonky.news/article/beshear-loses-confidence-in-uk-administration-over-hiring-decisions

LEXINGTON, Ky. — Gov. Andy Beshear said Tuesday he is "losing confidence and growing increasingly concerned" with the management of the University of Kentucky following recent hiring decisions that have drawn scrutiny from faculty and state leaders, according to a [report from the Kentucky Lantern](https://kentuckylantern.com/briefs/beshear-is-losing-confidence-in-university-of-kent-kentucky-admin-following-recent-hirings/).

The Democratic governor, who has the authority to appoint members to UK's board of trustees, expressed concerns about "the creation of a new $1 million job that has no defined duties and the announcement that the new dean of law was the only candidate not recommended by law school faculty."

[UK Athletics Director Mitch Barnhart](https://www.wkyt.com/2026/03/06/wkyt-investigates-mitch-barnharts-new-950k-role/) plans to retire from his role in June to become the first executive-in-residence of the UK Sport and Workforce Initiative with an annual salary of $950,000. According to his contract amendment, the new position includes lifetime benefits such as 10 tickets to all men's basketball, football and baseball home games.

[U.S. District Judge Gregory Van Tatenhove](https://www.courier-journal.com/story/news/education/2026/04/21/university-of-kentucky-law-school-dean-judge-greg-van-tatenhove-faculty-objections/89698249007/), appointed to the federal bench by President George W. Bush, was named dean of the UK College of Law earlier this year despite faculty objections. Faculty members had rated him "unacceptable" for the position, citing his lack of senior-level administrative experience and inadequate scholarly credentials required for tenure.

The American Bar Association requires that "a dean should not be appointed over the stated objection of a substantial majority of the faculty," unless there is "good cause." [According to a legal scholar's analysis](https://www.aol.com/news/uk-law-school-ignoring-faculty-090832431.html), Van Tatenhove's only academic publication appears to be a law school note written 40 years ago.

Beshear said he was troubled by university assertions that board approval of the law dean appointment was not necessary, a reversal of prior statements. "I worry that these actions are related to certain donors pushing partisan and undue outside influence onto the university," Beshear said. He urged students, faculty, trustees and community members to attend this week's [UK Board of Trustees](https://www.uky.edu/trustees/meetings/2026/1181) meetings to "ask the tough questions that should be answered."

UK Provost Robert S. DiPaola said the university respectfully disagreed with the governor's assessment. "In Judge Van Tatenhove we have someone who will be an outstanding Dean for the Rosenberg College of Law," spokesman Jay Blanton said. "With more than two decades of experience and an exemplary record on the federal courts, as well as years as a U.S. Attorney and in public service, he is the right leader."

Under Beshear's appointment authority, the state Senate recently confirmed four trustees nominated by the governor, including [former Lexington Mayor Jim Gray](https://kentuckylantern.com/briefs/three-kentucky-cabinet-secretaries-get-new-roles-in-beshear-administration/), now holding a part-time position in the Beshear administration.

## Sources

- [Kentucky Lantern](https://kentuckylantern.com/briefs/beshear-is-losing-confidence-in-university-of-kentucky-admin-following-recent-hirings/)
- [WKYT investigation of Mitch Barnhart's executive-in-residence position](https://www.wkyt.com/2026/03/06/wkyt-investigates-mitch-barnharts-new-950k-role/)
- [Louisville Courier Journal reporting on faculty objections to Van Tatenhove appointment](https://www.courier-journal.com/story/news/education/2026/04/21/university-of-kentucky-law-school-dean-judge-greg-van-tatenhove-faculty-objections/89698249007/)
- [Legal scholar analysis of ABA accreditation concerns regarding Van Tatenhove's qualifications](https://www.aol.com/news/uk-law-school-ignoring-faculty-090832431.html)
- [UK Board of Trustees meeting schedule](https://www.uky.edu/trustees/meetings/2026/1181)

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This article was generated by AI (claude-haiku-4-5-20251001) based on source material from Kentucky Lantern, enriched with 3 web searches. The original source is available at https://kentuckylantern.com/briefs/beshear-is-losing-confidence-in-university-of-kentucky-admin-following-recent-hirings/.