Austin, Texas, is known for its high-tech innovators. The city developed its reputation in part because of original technology innovators like Fred May and his co-workers.
B.S. Electrical Engineering 1988 When Rebecca Cowen-Hirsch was considering which engineering discipline to choose for a major, she determined that electrical engineering would be the most difficult of all the options. Naturally, she chose it for a major. “I never shy away from a challenge,” she says. “I love solving problems and believed the breadth of electrical engineering—power, electronics, etc.—would give me the most opportunities.”
B.S. in Electrical Engineering, 1986 When Jim Pauley was working as an electrician and electrical contractor prior to enrolling at the University of Kentucky, he often installed hardware produced by electrical component manufacturer Square D. Little did Mr. Pauley know that almost 30 years later, he would be a senior vice president within the company.
B.S. in Electrical Engineering, 1990 Since his days as a student at the University of Kentucky, AT&T senior vice president of corporate strategy Michael Bowling has excelled in leadership roles. Convinced that participation in student organizations would prepare him for life, Mr. Bowling served as two-term president of UK’s Student Activities Board and president of Kappa Sigma fraternity. As a result, he received the honor of being named the Otis A. Singletary Outstanding Senior Male. Without question, Mr. Bowling’s college career portended future success.
B.S. in Electrical Engineering, 1970 Building electronics kits, shortwave and Ham radios in high school convinced Floyd Henson to pursue a profession in the electronics field. After visiting several universities, he chose the University of Kentucky. Mr. Henson cites several reasons for choosing UK, but the one that stood out most was that a new engineering building was about to be constructed, one that would contains several new laboratories.
B.S. in Electrical Engineering, 1949 Posthumous Induction
B.S. in Electrical Engineering, 1954
As chief operating officer of LG&E and KU, Lonnie Bellar is responsible for ensuring the company provides safe, affordable and reliable natural gas, electricity and customer service to 1.3 million customers in Kentucky and Virginia. Bellar became COO in March 2018 after climbing through the ranks of the electric and natural gas utility industry for more than 30 years.
When David Shippy graduated from the University of Kentucky in 1983 with a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering, he followed in the footsteps of his father and UK College of Engineering faculty member Dr. David Shippy. While at UK, the younger Shippy held membership in Eta Kappa Nu, the electrical engineering honor society, and frequently made the Dean’s list. Shippy says his engineering education at UK laid a strong foundation in engineering for his master’s program at Syracuse University and, later, a 30- year career as a computer engineer.
Joan Coleman describes herself as a life-long learner, a trait she learned from her parents. Raised in Erlanger, Kentucky, in a large family that had a strong work ethic and interest in calculus and physics, Coleman, whose family name is Adkisson, followed two of her brothers into the engineering profession. In addition to her bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering from the University of Kentucky, Coleman earned a master’s degree in public and private management from Birmingham-Southern College.
