University of Kentucky Joins the IRT Consortium

The IRT welcomes the University of Kentucky as it’s newest member to the IRT Consortium! The IRT Consortium consists of colleges and universities that support the goal to increase and diversify educators in K-12 and higher education in the U.S. By admitting and funding IRT students to their Master’s and Ph.D. programs in the humanities, social sciences, arts, education, computer science, and mathematics, our consortium are key collaborators in our program delivery.


We are thrilled to announce the partnership between the University of Kentucky’s Office of Institutional Diversity and the Institute for Recruitment of Teachers. This collaboration underscores our shared commitment to advancing educational diversity and excellence. Our joint efforts will focus on supporting and empowering aspiring educators from diverse backgrounds, thereby enriching the academic landscape and fostering more inclusive learning environments.

-Damon Williams, Associate Vice President and Chief of Staff, Office for Institutional Diversity, University of Kentucky

I have been working with IRT since I was an intern in 2011. Over the years, I have been a recruiter for Purdue University, a faculty member (2017 & 2018 summers), and a fierce advocate to anyone who will listen. I’m excited to now be on a team of dedicated individuals (shout out to Damon Williams Jr.) to bring IRT and my current institution, the University of Kentucky, together for the first time. As a premier flagship institution in the Bluegrass State, the University of Kentucky has many exciting opportunities for interested interns and associates–the least of which is the world-class bourbon and horse industries. As a tenured faculty member in the Gender and Women’s Studies department, which has a PhD program and graduate certificate, I’m excited to welcome new students interested in Black feminist studies, popular culture, visual culture, and other interdisciplinary fields. I wouldn’t be here without IRT and I’m looking forward to how a partnership like this one not only grows these respective institutions but also grows fields like Gender Studies, Black Studies, and other interdisciplinary programs across the country. Cheers to a fruitful and long-standing partnership between my beloved IRT and the University of Kentucky!

-Aria S. Halliday, IRT ’11, Associate Professor in Gender and Women’s Studies and African American and Africana Studies

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