LEXINGTON, Ky. — University of Kentucky College of Social Work (CoSW) faculty members Dr. Laneshia Conner and Dr. Madri Hall-Faul have been named 2025-26 Transdisciplinary Educational approaches to advance Kentucky (TEK) Faculty Fellows.
The TEK initiative, facilitated in partnership with UK’s Center for the Enhancement of Learning and Teaching (CELT), supports faculty in developing and redesigning courses that foster cross-disciplinary collaboration and build employability skills in students—skills critical to addressing many of Kentucky’s most pressing challenges.
Conner, assistant professor of social work, brings to the fellowship her expertise in public health and aging. Her research focuses on HIV prevention and health communication, particularly among older adult populations.
Hall-Faul, assistant professor of social work, focuses on human rights and policy implementation—two areas she describes as “inherently transdisciplinary.” Her published research emphasizes the need to integrate coursework that examines the federal rulemaking process, preparing future practitioners who are interested in navigating and influencing administrative policies.
“Transdisciplinary teaching doesn’t just broaden a student’s academic perspective—it equips them with the practical, collaborative skills they’ll need in the real world,” said Hall-Faul. “The TEK Fellowship allows us to reimagine our classrooms as spaces where policy, practice, and innovation intersect.”
Both faculty members’ scholarly work and pedagogical philosophies align with TEK’s emphasis on real-world learning and course innovation. As TEK Faculty Fellows, Conner and Hall-Faul will engage in a yearlong Faculty Learning Community, beginning with orientation and course development in the fall semester. They will receive continued support throughout the academic year to implement coursework designed to prepare students for Kentucky’s evolving workforce needs.
To learn more about TEK, visit https://www.uky.edu/tek.