The newsletter for the WKU community
February 20, 2024
WKU celebrates retention successes
In what has become a familiar trend in recent years, WKU students again returned to campus for the spring semester at record rates, President Timothy C. Caboni announced last week.

Among the university’s retention successes, 85.4% of fall undergraduate degree seeking students who were enrolled in the fall returned for the spring semester, the highest percentage since the university began tracking this data in 2010.

“The retention of our students illustrates the effectiveness of our strategic initiatives in enhancing student engagement; expanding support services; and deepening connections with peers, faculty and staff,” President Caboni shared in his message to campus. “We strive to ensure that every student has access to the resources and support needed to succeed academically and across every area of university life.”

Provost Bud Fischer noted that retention successes require the efforts of everyone on campus. “Our entire campus played a role in elevating our retention numbers,” he said. “When everyone works together in pursuit of a common goal, good things happen. I couldn’t be more proud of the efforts of our faculty and staff to make sure these students returned in the spring.”
CLIMBING HIGHER
A research proposal by Business Data Analytics senior Jonathan Roberts has been accepted for presentation at an international conference in Finland. Learn More
Wilson named Leadership Kentucky's 2024 Board Chair
Ron Wilson, Associate Vice President of WKU Philanthropy & Alumni Engagement, was named Chair of Leadership Kentucky’s 2024 Board of Directors. Alongside the Board, he will oversee one of the oldest and most esteemed statewide leadership development programs in the United States. “I am honored to serve as Leadership Kentucky’s 2024 Board Chair, especially as we celebrate 40 years of inspiring participants to make a difference in their home communities and in the Commonwealth,” Wilson said.
Spotlight: Dr. Daniel Keller
Dr. Daniel Keller, who is originally from Sierra Vista, Arizona, is a new Assistant Professor of Linguistics in WKU's Department of English. Dr. Keller will mainly teach Grammar, English Language, Language Acquisition, and TESOL-related subjects. However, English is not his only passion.
Coming Home King crowned
Grant Oller of Owensboro (center) was crowned WKU’s 2024 Coming Home King on Thursday night. First runner-up was TJ Fleming of St. Louis (left); second runner-up was Beau Mobley of Cincinnati (right).
WKU Week in Photos
Check out the latest WKU Week in Photos for a look back at another busy week on the Hill that included Kids’ Science Night featuring Emily Calandrelli and the Kentucky Science Center; the WKU Global Learning Fair; construction of the new home for the Gordon Ford College of Business; and much more. Photos by Clinton Lewis & Carol Coronado, WKU Communications & Marketing.
Fashion Merchandising class to host fashion show Monday
WKU College of Health and Human Services IDFM 432 Fashion Merchandising class will host a fashion show from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. Monday (February 26) in the Downing Student Union Auditorium. The theme for the show is Life is Your Runway: Pure Imagination. Students hope to provide a one-of-a-kind experience by showcasing the endless opportunities the Fashion Merchandising program offers.
Dr. Kishonna Gray to present Gail Martin Lecture on March 1
Dr. Kishonna Gray, Associate Professor of Writing, Rhetoric, & Digital Studies and Africana Studies at the University of Kentucky, will present Augmenting Reality: Black Praxis in Digital Gaming. at 4 p.m. March 1 at Cherry Hall, room 125. This event is being organized by the Gender & Women’s Studies Program at WKU, in collaboration with the Africana Studies Program and the Department of English, as part of the annual Gail Martin Lecture Series.
Exhibit about farming to open March 5 at WKU Glasgow
The Farmer Cultural Awareness Project, an exhibit about farming in the 10-county BRADD region, will open March 5 in the main lobby of the WKU Glasgow Campus, 500 Hilltopper Way. The exhibit provides first-person accounts of the experiences and perspectives of farmers in their own communities by showcasing the cultural aspects of farming that individual farmers want the non-farming public to better understand. 
Innovation Campus Newsletter
Check out the latest newsletter from the WKU Innovation Campus for member spotlights, program updates, upcoming events and more.
IdeaFestival Bowling Green
IdeaFestival Bowling Green, hosted by The Center for Gifted Studies, welcomed more than 800 middle and high school students to WKU's campus on Thursday.
Athletics
February
22
Thursday
Faculty Senate

The WKU Faculty Senate will meet at 3:45 p.m. Thursday at Downing Student Union, room 2081. Learn More
February
23
Friday
WKU Symphony

The WKU Symphony will present Eclectic Classics at 7:30 p.m. Friday at Van Meter Hall. Tickets are $12. Learn More
February
23
Friday
Theatre Production

Neighborhood 3: Requisition of Doom will open at 7:30 p.m. Friday at the Gordon Wilson Hall Lab Theatre. Tickets are $15; $12 for students/seniors (62+). The Department of Theatre & Dance production will continue Feb. 24-27. Learn More
Western Kentucky University 
1906 College Heights Blvd. 
Bowling Green, KY 42101