By Kathy Johnson

A'dia Mathies has been an outstanding guard for the University of Kentucky women's basketball team, even being named the Southeastern Conference Player of the Year by Associated Press this year.

Mathies, a junior, went "One on One" with College of Arts and Sciences Dean Mark Kornbluh, talking about the experience of being an athlete and a student majoring in psychology.

A&S alum Larry Conley played college and professional basketball, served in the Armed Forces, and coached teams - all before starting his career as a commentator for ESPN, and he got his start right here at the University of Kentucky.

A collaboration between the GWS and English departments, as well as the African American and Africana Studies and American Studies programs will bring speakers to classes for the benefit of students.

What was expected to be a small project attracted such an inspiring amount of positive feedback from the community, that the authors wanted to share the stories with a broad audience. Using personal narratives from their research, their book focuses on how LGBTQ-identified individuals can cultivate a sense of well-being and a personal identity that allows them to flourish in all areas of life.

A composition by UK music, film and Spanish sophomore Ben Norton has been selected for the Lexington Philharmonic's New Music Experiment, which is highlighting new work from composers. The work will be part of a workshop early next week and will be showcased at a concert on Feb. 17, at Singletary Center for the Arts.

Kentucky poet, novelist and environmentalist Wendell Berry has been named the 2012 Jefferson Lecturer in the Humanities by the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH).

UK sophomore Nicole Schladt and junior Sarah Smith have received two of Kentucky's six English-Speaking Union Scholarships, which they will use to pursue summer studies at University of Oxford and University of Cambridge respectively.

UK Geographer leads open data initiative for the city of Lexington.

Professor Walker was named one of the most creative teachers in the South by Oxford American Magazine.

Great teachers makes a great college, as well. Three of the honored professors are A&S faculty: Arne Bathke, Eric Christianson, and Ana Rueda.