Outside shot of 好色先生 Campus

Beyond the Ladder Series

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Beyond the Ladder is a VIRTUAL monthly lunch and learn series. 

Designed to foster connection, spark inspiration, and support the varied career journeys of staff members across the college. The series was created by the college staff well-being committee, in partnership with the Office for Organizational Well-Being. Each month, featured speakers will share their unique, nontraditional journey, highlighting the twists, pivots, and unexpected opportunities that shaped their careers. 


October 8, 2025

Session Title: People, purpose, and the path that found me
Noon - 1 p.m.
Zoom

Speaker: Alyssa Huddleston, MS-SHRMA, PHR, SHRM-CP
 

Alyssa A Huddleston


Positions Held:
  • Dean Assistant/Administration

November 12, 2025

Session Title: No one majors in philanthropy: A career built across campus
Noon - 1 p.m.
Zoom

Speaker: Jennifer Decker, Philanthropy Executive Director
 

Jennifer Decker


Positions Held:
  • Philanthropy Executive Director, College of Medicine and Kentucky Children's Hospital

December 10, 2025

Speaker TBA! 
Session title TBA! 
Noon - 1 p.m.
Zoom

Speaker: TBA

January 14, 2026

Session title TBA!
Noon - 1 p.m.
Zoom

Speaker: Andrea McCubbin, MPH, Associate Dean for Research Administration

Andrea K. McCubbin, MPH


Positions Held:
  • Dean Associate Research Administration

February 11, 2026

Session title TBA!
Noon - 1 p.m.
Zoom

Speaker: Jorge Castorena, Communications and Marketing Director
 

Jorge Castorena


Positions Held:
  • Marketing Director, College of Medicine

March 11, 2026

Session title: Beyond the Ballroom, Partnering with Change
Noon - 1 p.m.
Zoom

Speaker: Renee Gallagher, MEd, Administrative Operations Coordinator
 

Beyond the Ballroom, Partnering with Change
From national professional ballroom dance champion to the Office for Organizational Well-Being, Renee shares her journey of stepping away from the dance floor to return to school and find a new path. This talk explores what it means to embrace change, redefine success, and find connection in unexpected places.

Renee K Gallagher, MEd


Positions Held:
  • Administrative Operations Coordinator


August 13, 2025
Speaker: Carrie Hobbs, MSN, RN, CCRP
Talk Title: From There to Here
Read more about the August 2025 Beyond the Ladder presentation, here.
Read Carrie's Q&A interview, here.

Carrie Hobbs


Positions Held:
  • Nurse Clinical Research III
September 10, 2025
Speaker: Sarah Inman
Talk Title: Redefining Impact - My Shift from Student Support to Institutional Change
 

Sarah Inman, MAE


Positions Held:
  • Accreditation Manager