LEXINGTON, Ky. — James Donovan, the Dorothy Salmon Professor at the J. David Rosenberg College of Law at the University of Kentucky, has been recognized as a 2026-27 University Research Professor, an honor that recognizes excellence in addressing scientific, social, cultural and economic challenges.

Donovan's research spans law, library science and anthropology, examining how legal systems, information institutions and human rights shape people's lives. He has authored three books including "Legal Anthropology: An Introduction" and published 17 book chapters and 64 articles that have garnered four awards from the American Association of Law Libraries.

The University of Kentucky Board of Trustees approved 17 University Research Professors for the 2026-27 academic year. The program, established in 1976, recognizes excellence across the full spectrum of research at UK. Each professor receives a one-year award of $10,000.

Donovan is pursuing two major research projects that he believes have direct relevance to Kentucky. The first examines the library as an emergent social institution, moving beyond viewing libraries as mere information repositories. He noted that Kentucky has experienced book censorship, making the library's role "as much in play here as in more obvious battlegrounds such as Florida and Texas."

His second research effort defends what he calls strong cultural diversity, arguing that culture change works best when it flows from the preferences of affected people rather than being imposed externally. "These are not questions of only academic interest but are going to be addressed one way or the other as time moves on," Donovan said.

Before earning his J.D. from Loyola University New Orleans and Ph.D. in anthropology from Tulane University, Donovan received degrees in philosophy and library science from Louisiana State University.