EKU has received a gift amounting to more than $1 million from Ron Noel and his wife Sherrie Lou, both of Union, Ky., for the University’s soon-to-be-constructed Studio for Academic Creativity, President Whitlock announced to the Board of Regents at its quarterly meeting on Jan. 18. The Noels’ gift, said Whitlock, represents one of the single largest gifts Eastern has ever received.

The next lecture in EKU’s Chautauqua Lecture Series, “Space, Place, & Life,” will feature poet and writer Suzan Shown Harjo.

Eastern has scheduled a variety of activities throughout February and early March in observance of Black History Month.

As the former site of a bowling alley and a pool hall, it once rang with the sounds of pins dropping and balls falling.

Go to the basement of the Powell Student Center today and you’re more apt to hear oohs and aahs over its new use: as EKU’s Technology Commons.

Dr. Lou Brown will address “The Quest for Ordinary Life: Preparing Individuals with Disabilities to Function Productively in the Real World of Work” when he speaks on campus Tuesday, Jan. 29.

Mark Merriman, 28-year Kentucky State Police veteran, has been named Assistant Chief of EKU Police, bringing a wealth of experience to his new position after rising to the rank of lieutenant and serving as assistant post commander for KSP’s Richmond post for the past seven years.

The Center for Educational Research in Appalachia (CERA) sponsored by the College of Education at EKU was created to help universities, schools and communities get better together.

Now, in one of its initial projects, CERA is working with Owsley County school and community leaders to implement a place-based learning program at Owsley County High School.

Marc Whitt, associate vice president for Public Relations and Marketing at Eastern Kentucky University, has been named to American Association of State Colleges and Universities’ Advisory Council on Communications and Public Affairs.

Dr. David D. Gale, dean of the College of Health Sciences at Eastern, has been elected the new chairman of the National Coalition for Health Professional Education in Genetics (NCHPEG).

Gale has served as the board’s secretary/treasurer for the last five years and has extensive experience in bringing genetics education to a broad variety of health professions. He has served as dean at Eastern since 1973 and is a tenured professor of health sciences and biology, holding these faculty/administrative appointments since 1999. Gale has pursued specialty training, including postdoctoral work in medical genetics at Indiana University School of Medicine.

Dozens of cultural events are scheduled for the spring semester at EKU. They include concerts, plays, dance programs and art exhibits.

EKU introduced Dean Hood, former Wake Forest and Eastern Kentucky defensive coordinator, as the 13th head coach of the Colonel football program on Tuesday, Jan. 22. From 1994 to 1998, Hood spent five seasons as an assistant coach at Eastern under Coach Kidd. He served all five years as the secondary coach and the last two seasons as the defensive coordinator. In Hood’s first stint at EKU, the Colonels captured two Ohio Valley Conference titles and advanced to the NCAA Division I FCS playoffs three times. To see more photos from the press conference, visit www.ekusports.com/stats/2007-08/photo_galleries/hood_gallery/index.html.

EKU will host a series of events that address global warming solutions as part of the national “Focus the Nation” project.

Eastern’s Division of Continuing Education and Outreach will offer approximately 150 community education courses this spring semester, including 28 instructor-facilitated on-line courses through a partnership with Ed2Go.

Tammy Horn, researcher/apiculturalist with the Environmental Research Institute, is featured in this ongoing series designed to allow EKU leaders to discuss their roles as well as campus issues. Horn, who holds a bachelor's degree from Berea College, a master's degree from Fort Hays State University and a doctoral degree from the University of Alabama, is in her first year with the Institute. She taught in EKU's English Department from 2000 to 2002, before transferring to Berea College to write "Bees in America: How the Honey Bee Shaped a Nation" (UPofKY, 2005). In the course of her role as NEH Chair of Appalachian Studies, she became aware of how well her research fit with Dr. Alice Jones's vision for EKU's Environmental Research Institute.

Laura Harbert Allen, WEKU Radio, was awarded $1,000 from the University of Wisconsin for a WEKU Local Ambassadors project.

Cynthia Shain, Justice and Safety Center, was awarded $500,000 from the United States Department of Justice for a law enforcement technical assistance project.