She was wrong.
Hums, a sport administration professor at the College of Education and Human Development, was asked by interim Dean Blake Haselton to come to the meeting to participate in a presentation to the board. Instead, the board recognized her as the winner of the 2010 Trustees Award, an honor the group bestows on faculty who have a profound impact on the lives of students.
I think it’s extraordinary, Hums said. It’s an honor not only for me, but for the college, for my department, my program and my students.
Trustees Award winners receive a $5,000 cash award and a commemorative plaque, a copy of which is placed in the Student Activities Center. They also are recognized and speak at commencement ceremonies in May. Members of the Board of Trustees provide the cash award through personal gifts to UofL.
A UofL faculty member since 1997, Hums is teaching international sport and a doctoral research colloquium in sports administration. She was selected from 12 nominees, according to Bill Stone, chair of the Trustees Award Committee.
Stone cited Hums’ infectious passion for her job as being key to her selection. He noted that her nominators called her inspirational, interesting and challenging and praised her for serving as a mentor before and after her students graduate.
With a unique ability to encourage students to do more than they think they are capable of, many feel as though they can solve any difficult problem, he said. Her enthusiasm for instruction is second to none.
Hums said she appreciates the recognition, but she deflected much of the credit for her success, heaping praise on her students and CEHD colleagues.
The award, she said, recognizes the fact that I’ve had wonderful students and colleagues who have worked together as a team. The people around me are what makes this so special.
Hums also praised Haselton for his leadership of the college, and she applauded his ability to trick her into attending the meeting.
I had no idea, she said. If I ever need to plan a surprise birthday party, he’s my man.
Also at the meeting, the trustees viewed a presentation about Nucleus: Kentucky’s Life Science and Innovation Center. Nucleus President and CEO Vickie Yates Brown and Eileen Pickett, senior vice president of community and economic development for Greater Louisville Inc., told the trustees that Nucleus is becoming a factor in bringing economic development to the community.
Brown touted the recent decision of Signature Healthcare to move its headquarters from Florida to Louisville as a sign that UofL’s Health Sciences Center is an attractive partner for health care companies. Pickett told the trustees that Signature specifically mentioned possible UofL partnerships when announcing their decision.
They also discussed GLI’s recent inclusion of Nucleus in its High Impact Portfolio, a group of fast-growth companies expected to create new jobs and investment in the community.
In other action, the board:
Approved a resolution recognizing OJ Oleka, Student Government Association president, for his contributions to the board. Oleka was attending his last trustees meeting; his term expires this month.
Named the outdoor area near the Kent School of Social Work in honor of Joanne Harrison, a Kent graduate. The area will include a garden and sculpture, The Balance of Dreams and Plans, created by Harrison’s husband, artist David Caudill.