Christy Freadreacea Brady joined the College of Health Sciences in 2018 after spending two years as a lecturer in the College of Public Health. She earned a PhD in Sociology from the University of Kentucky with a specialization in Medical Sociology and a graduate certificate in Gender and Women’s Studies. Her areas of interest include obesity, constrained choice, and health disparities. She has also worked at UK as an assistant registrar and an academic advisor.
Brady Honored with UK 2025 Outstanding Teaching Award
A College of Health Sciences professor was one of a select few recognized by the University of Kentucky with an Outstanding Teaching Award during the 2025 UK Faculty Awards Ceremony held Thursday, May 1.
The Outstanding Teaching Awards annually recognize faculty and graduate teaching assistants who demonstrate outstanding performance as instructors across all learning environments. Selected via nomination, candidates and finalists are reviewed by faculty-driven committees empaneled by the Office for Faculty Advancement and the Center for Enhancement of Learning and Teaching.
Christy Brady, PhD, an associate professor in Health and Clinical Sciences, was one of four Category 1 winners.
There are two categories of faculty awards and a teaching assistant award. Winners received award certificates, pewter bowls and cash awards of $4,000 for regular and special title series faculty and $1,500 for teaching assistants.
The following explains the types and number of awards.
Category One Faculty Award
- Purpose: To recognize regular and special-title series faculty for outstanding teaching performance.
- Number of Awards: Up to five awards
- Criteria: Evidence of outstanding performance as a teacher, as documented by students and peers (cannot have received this award in the past 8 years).
Category Two Faculty Award
- Purpose: To recognize lecturer and clinical title series faculty for outstanding performance in the classroom, laboratory or clinical settings.
- Number of Awards: Up to five awards
- Criteria: Evidence of outstanding performance in the classroom, laboratory or clinical setting as documented by students and peers (cannot have received this award in the past 4 years).
Teaching Assistant Award
- Purpose: To recognize teaching assistants for outstanding performance in the classroom or laboratory.
- Number of Awards: Up to five awards
- Criteria: Evidence of outstanding performance in the classroom and/or laboratory, as documented by faculty and students (recipients may receive this award one time).
The 2025 winners in each category include:
Category 1 (Regular and Special Title Series Faculty):
- Diana Byrne, Ph.D.; Stanley and Karen Pigman College of Engineering
- Christy Brady, Ph.D.; College of Health and Sciences
- Frances Henderson, Ph.D.; College of Arts and Sciences
- Kelly Bradley, Ph.D.; College of Education
Category 2 (Lecturers and Clinical Title Series Faculty):
- Juan Fernández Cantero, Ph.D.; College of Arts and Sciences
- Cory Curl, Ph.D.; The Graduate School
- Zada Komara, Ph.D.; Lewis Honors College
Category 3 (Teaching Assistants):
- Eric Luteyn; Martin-Gatton College of Agriculture, Food and Environment
- Leonie Bettel; Pigman College of Engineering
- Jesús Ponte Bernal; College of Arts and Sciences
Starting in June, UKNow will highlight each of the winners of the Outstanding Teaching Awards.
The Graduate School also recognized the Albert D. and Elizabeth H. Kirwan Memorial Prize winner and the William B. Sturgill award winners during the ceremony.
Ellen D. Riggle, Ph.D., in the College of Arts and Sciences, received the Kirwan Memorial Prize. The Kirwan Memorial Prize was established in 1995 and recognizes its namesake's collaborative research efforts, as well as Albert Kirwan's endeavors in creating an environment at UK that promotes high-quality research and scholarship.
Joseph H. Hammer, Ph.D., in the College of Education, received the William B. Sturgill award. Established in 1975, the Sturgill Award is named in honor of alumnus William B. Sturgill, who contributed to higher education through organizing and serving as president of the Hazard Independent College Foundation, in addition to working with legislators to develop the community college system across the Commonwealth.
For more information about the awards, visit https://gradschool.uky.edu/faculty-awards.
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