Interim dean of Lewis Honors College appointed

Dear Colleagues,

I am pleased to announce that Dr. Laura Bryan has agreed to serve as interim dean of the Lewis Honors College, effective June 1, 2025. 

Dr. Bryan joined the university in 2019 and has served in various roles, including acting dean of the Lewis Honors College from 2020 to 2022. She brings more than 30 years of experience in higher education and academic leadership into her role as the inaugural T.G. Lewis Faculty Scholar in Organizational Behavior within the college.

Throughout her leadership roles at UK and previous universities, Dr. Bryan has focused on student success and supporting faculty and staff at the same time. As acting dean of the Lewis Honors College, Dr. Bryan helped strengthen the Honors community by leading a collaborative process that resulted in the college’s first strategic plan, fostering faculty, staff and student engagement and developing and enhancing student leadership development programs. 

She is also an accomplished researcher and scholar, concentrating on areas such as academic leadership as well as industrial and organizational psychology. Dr. Bryan has also taught at both the undergraduate and graduate levels in courses ranging from the science of happiness and well-being and positive organizational psychology to managing effective organizations and leadership.

I am confident that Dr. Bryan will bring a deep focus on student success and continue the college’s positive momentum in this role. She has demonstrated outstanding leadership, and I know the Lewis Honors Community — all students, faculty and staff — will thrive with her guidance. 

Please join me in congratulating and thanking Dr. Bryan. And please also join me in thanking Dr. Christian Brady for his service as dean of the Lewis Honors College.

Robert S. DiPaola 
Provost