LEXINGTON, Ky. — The University of Kentucky is moving forward in its search for a new dean of the Lewis Honors College with a series of campus forums featuring four finalist candidates. The third candidate will participate in an open forum at 3 p.m. Tuesday, April 28, in Room U136 of Lewis Hall, according to a university announcement.

Members of the UK community are encouraged to attend and provide feedback on the candidates. Those unable to attend in person may watch the forum on Zoom. The names and CVs of all finalists will be released to the UK community 24 hours before their first campus visit, available on the search website.

Following each forum, the university will make a recording and a confidential online survey available for 48 hours, giving community members the opportunity to assess each candidate's strengths and areas for growth. UK Provost Robert S. DiPaola will make the final selection after reviewing feedback from the search committee and campus community.

The Lewis Honors College serves as the university's premier honors program, providing enhanced academic and co-curricular experiences for intellectually curious students across all academic disciplines. The position comes as the college continues to grow in prominence — the college received a record-breaking 7,000 applications in 2026, making admissions more competitive than at any time in its history.

The college was established in 2015 following a $23 million gift from Tom and Jan Lewis. Interim Dean Laura Bryan, who has served in various roles at UK since 2019, has been leading the college since June 2025.