University of Louisville Office of Access & Opportunity

08/07/2026

08/04/2026

07/22/2026

Employee Spotlight: Meet Rose Baldridge

Rose Baldridge, BSN, RN, works in the UofL Office of Community Engagement as a Nurse Research Specialist II and Nurse Coordinator for the HEART Program. Since joining the university in Spring 2023, Rose has coordinated the HEART Program, bringing free cardiovascular health screenings to community organizations throughout Louisville. She oversees screening events, trains volunteers, provides cardiovascular risk counseling, and connects participants with healthcare resources when follow-up care is needed.

The Office of Community Engagement builds partnerships between the university and the community to address local needs and improve quality of life. Through the HEART Program, the office brings free cardiovascular screenings and education directly into neighborhoods, helping community members identify health risks early and connect with the care they need.

Rose shares why she chose to work at UofL:
“After many years in bedside nursing, I wanted to focus on prevention and community health. The HEART Program gave me the opportunity to help people understand their cardiovascular risk before disease develops. It's rewarding to combine nursing, education, and outreach in a role that helps make preventive care more accessible.”

Fun fact: Rose has been a registered nurse for 30 years and is also a Reiki Practitioner, combining evidence-based healthcare with a holistic approach to well-being.

Rose’s work helps expand access to preventive healthcare while strengthening the partnerships that connect UofL with the communities it serves.

07/07/2026

Employee Spotlight: Meet Dr. Cynethia Bethel-Hines

Dr. Cynethia Bethel-Hines works in the Office of Health Equity and Engagement and the School of Nursing as the Director of Community Outreach. Having been part of the UofL community for 10 years, including the past two years in her current role, she leads the design and implementation of programs that strengthen community engagement, foster meaningful connections, and advance health equity. Her work brings together university departments, healthcare organizations, and community partners to create collaborative opportunities that improve health and well-being across the communities UofL serves.

The Office of Health Equity and Engagement is dedicated to building an inclusive environment where students and employees are supported through evidence-based resources, advocacy, and meaningful opportunities to learn, connect, and collaborate.

Dr. Bethel-Hines shares why access, opportunity, and belonging matter:
“Access, opportunity, and belonging matter because they’re the difference between someone being accepted into college and someone being able to actually succeed in it. Access opens the door, opportunity builds the path, and belonging makes people stay long enough to thrive.”

Fun fact: Dr. Bethel-Hines has a Black Belt in Karate.

Through her leadership and community partnerships, Dr. Bethel-Hines helps create opportunities that strengthen connections, advance health equity, and empower students and communities to thrive.

07/01/2026

Kristen Taxes Roy works in the University of Louisville Center for Military-Connected Students as a Program Coordinator. A dedicated member of the UofL community for 44 years, Kristen began her career right out of high school making student IDs during Freshman Orientation and has spent the past 14 years serving military-connected students in her current role. She counsels prospective students through the admissions process, processes VA education benefits, makes undergraduate admission decisions for active-duty and veteran students, plans events, and supports the center's many initiatives.

Kristen's commitment to serving students was recently recognized with a 2026 UofL Presidential Excellence Award for Outstanding Performance, an honor that celebrates staff members who demonstrate exceptional performance, service, and dedication while making a meaningful impact across the university.

The Center for Military-Connected Students supports veterans, active-duty service members, military spouses, and dependents by helping them navigate admissions, access their educational benefits, and connect with the resources they need to succeed. The center also plays an important role in maintaining UofL's military-friendly status and serving as a strong advocate for military-connected students throughout their academic journey.

Kristen shares why she chose to work at UofL:
“I feel like UofL chose me. I have worked in so many offices across campus. When I first started working here making IDs, I was hooked. I have had many jobs during my time here at UofL, but none that I have loved more than my job at the Center for Military Connected Students. We have an amazing staff and excellent leadership.”

Fun fact: Kristen is well known for her homemade candy, especially her Buckeyes and Bourbon Balls.

Kristen’s decades of service and award-winning commitment exemplify the dedication, care, and advocacy that help military-connected students thrive at University of Louisville.

06/23/2026

Employee Spotlight: Meet Carissa Gentry

Carissa Gentry works in the Center for Military-Connected Students as the Manager of VA Education Benefits. Having recently celebrated her 20th anniversary at the University of Louisville, Carissa processes VA education benefits for approximately 1,100 students each semester, helping military-connected students access the resources and support they need to pursue their educational goals.

The Center for Military-Connected Students serves military-connected students from application to graduation, helping them navigate educational benefits, connect with campus resources, and overcome barriers that may impact their success. Through this work, the center plays an important role in supporting student persistence, retention, and achievement.

Carissa shares why she chose to work at UofL:

“Throughout my undergraduate program, I was a student assistant in academics and Human Resources. My colleagues in HR provided me with ample opportunity to grow professionally, but I quickly realized that I missed the student interactions. In 2005, I began working on the academic side and haven’t looked back.”

Carissa’s commitment to student support helps military-connected students navigate their educational journey and achieve their goals from enrollment through graduation.

06/16/2026

Employee Spotlight: Meet Brian Voils

Brian Voils works in the Center for Military-Connected Students as a Military-Connected Student Specialist. Having joined UofL less than a year ago, Brian supports current military students by processing military reduced-tuition benefits, quality-checking military tuition assistance, and helping students navigate the many systems and resources involved in their educational journey. He also works closely with students, faculty, and staff to educate them about available military and veteran benefits and helps resolve challenges that may arise during a student's time at UofL.

The Center for Military-Connected Students plays a critical role in supporting nearly 10% of UofL's student population. The center helps military-connected students access and navigate their educational benefits while serving as a key connection point between students and campus partners, including the Bursar, Registrar, academic advisors, student success coordinators, and faculty. For many students, these benefits make higher education possible, and the center's work helps ensure their success and retention.

Brian shares why he chose to work at UofL:
“I was making a career transition and wanted to find impactful work that was more person-focused than profit-focused, and I was inspired by what I learned of UofL’s commitment to student-focused solutions during my time as a graduate student in the College of Education and Human Development’s Higher Education Administration program. I’m also impressed with the efforts I’ve seen the University take to ensure our students can enroll, participate, and persist in their classes and achieve their goals, even when it’s at odds with our budgetary constraints. To add to all this, the Center for Military-Connected Students has one of the best work/leadership climates I’ve experienced!”

Brian’s work helps ensure military-connected students have the support, resources, and guidance they need to access opportunities, overcome challenges, and achieve their educational goals at UofL.

06/15/2026

Take a step toward better health and wellness on June 20!

The FREE Power Station Bootcamp, sponsored by the University of Louisville Office of Community Engagement and UofL Health, features health resources, fitness activities, and wellness education for community members.

Date: June 20 | 10:30 a.m.�Location: The Power Station | 935 W. Oak St.

What to expect:�• Free health screenings provided by UofL Health�• Free nutrition guide�• Free exercise class�• Healthy snacks�• Conversations with trainers and health professionals�• Great community atmosphere

The event also highlights UofL Health’s H.E.A.R.T. Program (Helping Everyone Address Risk Today), an initiative focused on identifying and addressing cardiovascular health risks through community-based screenings and prevention efforts.

Come out to learn more about the resources available to help support your health and well-being.

06/09/2026

Employee Spotlight: Meet Krista Schutz-Hampton

Krista Schutz-Hampton works in the UofL Disability Resource Center as a Neurodivergence Specialist, a role she has held for nearly two years. Through a strengths-based, neuro-affirming approach, Krista supports neurodivergent, primarily autistic, students by helping them build confidence, develop self-advocacy skills, strengthen executive functioning, and navigate their college experience successfully. She provides individualized student support, facilitates workshops, and collaborates with faculty, staff, and student leaders to create more inclusive practices across campus.

The Disability Resource Center plays a vital role at UofL by ensuring students with disabilities have equal access to university programs and services in compliance with federal disability laws. The DRC coordinates accommodations for eligible students and works with the campus community to promote access, inclusion, and opportunity across the university.

Krista shares why access, opportunity, and belonging matter:

“Access, opportunity and belonging matter because they shape who participates, succeeds and feels valued. Access ensures people can engage whether it's through physical access, information, accommodations, etc. Opportunity is what allows access to turn into growth. It's about fair chances to learn, contribute, advance and recover from challenges. Belonging is what sustains engagement. When people feel respected, seen and safe to be themselves, they're more likely to fully participate, persist through challenges and invest in the campus. Access, opportunity and belonging matter because they create environments where people don't just survive but thrive, contribute in meaningful ways and feel that they truly matter.”

Fun fact: Krista loves to travel and has visited 14 countries and 37 U.S. states. Among her favorite adventures are watching Belgian chocolate being made by candlelight during a power outage, swimming with stingrays, and chasing whitetip reef sharks in Fiji.

Krista’s work helps create an environment where neurodivergent students have the support, resources, and sense of belonging they need to thrive at UofL and beyond.

06/04/2026

Every student has a story, and Ka’Lynn Johnson’s is one of purpose, service, and determination.

As a recent University of Louisville social work graduate, Ka’Lynn found a path that allowed her to combine her passion for helping others with opportunities for leadership, learning, and community impact.

Her journey is a reminder of the difference that education, mentorship, and a commitment to service can make—not only in one person’s life, but in the lives of those they serve.

We are proud to celebrate students like Ka’Lynn who are using their talents to make a positive impact in their communities.

Read her full story on UofL News: https://news.louisville.edu/news/uofl-social-work-graduate-finds-purpose-path-service