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Eli Capilouto

Eli Capilouto
Capilouto in 2013
12th President of the University of Kentucky
Incumbent
Assumed office
2011
Preceded byLee T. Todd Jr.
Personal details
Born (1949-08-22) August 22, 1949 (age 75)
Montgomery, Alabama, U.S.
EducationUniversity of Alabama (BS, DMD, MS)
Harvard University (DPH)
Academic background
ThesisResearch on dimensions of access to health care (1991)
Academic work
DisciplineDentistry
Public health
InstitutionsUniversity of Alabama, Birmingham
University of Kentucky

Eli Capilouto (born August 22, 1949) is an American academic. He serves as the 12th president of the University of Kentucky.[1] He was elected president by the University of Kentucky Board of Trustees in 2011, after serving as provost of the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB). Under his leadership, the Commonwealth's flagship and land-grant research university has grown from $2.7 billion to $6.8 billion in total operations and has gained significant momentum in fulfilling its multi-faceted mission of teaching, research, service and health care.[2]

Early life and education

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Capilouto is a native of Alabama. He obtained his bachelor's degree from the University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa. He earned his Doctor of Dental Medicine and master's degree in epidemiology at UAB. He joined the UAB faculty in 1975. In 1991, Capilouto received a doctorate in health policy and management from Harvard School of Public Health.[1]

Academic and administrative career

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Capilouto served as dean of the UAB School of Public Health from 1994 to 2001 before he returned to his research and faculty appointment as professor. He was named acting provost in 2002, and he assumed the post permanently in 2005.

On May 4, 2011, Capilouto was selected to succeed Lee Todd, Jr., the eleventh president of the University of Kentucky (UK).[3] He was hired under a five-year contract with a base annual salary of $500,000, plus $125,000 in benefits and a possible bonus of up to $50,000.[3]

During his time at UK, Capilouto has been dedicated to enhancing the lives of students and the commonwealth of Kentucky. Under his leadership, UK-PURPOSE (Plan for Unprecedented Research, Purposeful and Optimal Service and Education) was released in 2021 as UK's strategic plan.[4] It prioritizes five principles:

  1. Putting Students First
  2. Taking Care of Our People
  3. Inspiring Ingenuity
  4. Ensuring Greater Trust, Transparency and Accountability
  5. Bringing Together Many People; One Community[4]

Capilouto has led expansionary efforts in improving campus infrastructure, health care, research and the university budget. Since assuming his position, the budget has grown by more than $4 billion. During his tenure, employees have received pay raises nearly every year, and tuition and mandatory fees have increased, on average, below inflation for the past four years.[5] Capilouto is committed to revitalizing the university's campus. Since he arrived, the university has invested $4 billion in infrastructure. In recent years, UK launched UK LEADS (Leveraging Economic Affordability for Developing Success) to retain students who would otherwise have to leave due to financial burdens.[6] This innovative approach to recruitment and retention was awarded the EDGE Commendation for Innovation in Undergraduate Education.[7] Capilouto announced the Kentucky Can Campaign in 2018 which has, in large part, funded this initiative. The Kentucky Can Campaign has raised more than $2.1 billion towards the university's endowment.[8]

Capilouto has emphasized the university's land-grant mission as vital. In 2020, he established the vice president of land-grant engagement.[9] This effort promotes engagement throughout campus and the state, particularly through its Cooperative Extension Service in all 120 Kentucky counties.[10] The university's commitment to research and discovery grows every year. He designated eight research priority areas (Cancer; Cardiovascular Diseases; Diabetes & Obesity; Energy; Neuroscience; Substance Use Disorder; Diversity and Inclusion; and Materials Science) as a focused attempt to address Kentucky's biggest challenges.[11]

Under Capilouto's leadership the university and medical facilities have received many national awards and rankings. In 2023, Forbes ranked UK as the best employer in Kentucky and ranked as the 6th best large employer in the nation.[12] Additionally, in 2023, UK's Markey Cancer Center became the first and only NCI-Designated Comprehensive Cancer Center in the state.[13] Also, UK has been ranked in the top 30 of the Directors’ Cup for 11 straight years (not including 2019–20).[14] Leaning on his background in epidemiology and health policy and management, Capilouto in collaboration with the university's provost led the START (Screening, Testing and Tracing, to Accelerate Restart and Transition) Team.[15][16] They worked intensely to reimagine UK's approach to education, research, service and care amidst the COVID-19 pandemic. In January 2021, the START Team mobilized Kroger Field as a vaccine clinic administering nearly 250,000 doses.[15]

Controversy

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In 2017, the university sued its student newspaper, The Kentucky Kernel, to appeal an open records dispute with the Kentucky Attorney General regarding a sexual harassment case involving students and a faculty member. The judge upheld the appeal, stating that the student records in the case are protected under the federal Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA).[17] The newspaper appealed the decision, and in 2021, the Kentucky Supreme Court ruled in favor of the student newspaper.[18]

In 2020, the university furloughed 1,700 employees during the COVID-19 pandemic.[19] Capilouto proposed giving 10 percent of his salary for the 2020–21 academic year to the employee assistance fund established by the university's Department of Human Resources to support the furloughed employees, and it was approved the UK Board of Trustees.[20]

Personal life

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Capilouto is married to Mary Lynne Capilouto, who is also a Doctor of Dental Medicine and former dean of the School of Dentistry at UAB. After serving as dean from 1997 to 2004, she retired, returned to part-time teaching and practicing dentistry and currently holds the rank of dean emeritus at the school. She engages in a variety of community and philanthropic works.[1][21]

The couple is Jewish and has one daughter, Emily.[1][22]

References

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  1. ^ a b c d "About the President | Office of the President". pres.uky.edu. Retrieved October 18, 2023.
  2. ^ "Office of the President | Office of the President". pres.uky.edu. Retrieved October 18, 2023.
  3. ^ a b "Eli Capilouto Named 12th University of Kentucky President". UKNow. November 23, 2015. Retrieved October 18, 2023.
  4. ^ a b University of Kentucky (2021). "THE UK-PURPOSE: (Plan for Unprecedented Research, Purposeful and Optimal Service and Education)" (PDF).
  5. ^ "Budget | EVPFA". evpfa.uky.edu. Retrieved October 18, 2023.
  6. ^ "UK LEADS: Pushing the Boundaries of What is Possible". UKNow. June 10, 2019. Retrieved October 18, 2023.
  7. ^ "UK LEADS Receives National Award for Contributions to Undergraduate Education". UKNow. October 21, 2021. Retrieved October 18, 2023.
  8. ^ "Kentucky Can: The 21st Century Campaign | University of Kentucky - Philanthropy". kentuckycan.uky.edu. Archived from the original on October 27, 2023. Retrieved October 18, 2023.
  9. ^ "Nancy Cox Discusses Vice President for Land-grant Engagement Appointment in Q&A". UKNow. September 22, 2020. Retrieved October 18, 2023.
  10. ^ "About | Land-grant Engagement". engagement.uky.edu. Retrieved October 18, 2023.
  11. ^ "Research Priorities Initiative | University of Kentucky Research". www.research.uky.edu. Retrieved October 18, 2023.
  12. ^ SCHWARZ", "ALAN. "America's Best Employers By State 2023". Forbes. Retrieved October 18, 2023.
  13. ^ "Markey Cancer Center attains NCI's highest status as a Comprehensive Cancer Center". UKNow. September 15, 2023. Retrieved October 18, 2023.
  14. ^ "Kentucky Athletics 18th in Final Directors' Cup Standings". UK Athletics. June 28, 2023. Retrieved October 18, 2023.
  15. ^ a b "COVID-19 | University of Kentucky". www.uky.edu. Retrieved October 18, 2023.
  16. ^ "Join Us in Our Campus Restart Efforts". UKNow. May 14, 2020. Retrieved October 18, 2023.
  17. ^ Westerman, Ashley (January 25, 2017). "Judge Sides With University In Legal Fight With Student Newspaper". NPR.
  18. ^ "Univ. of Ky. v. Kernel Press, Inc., 620 S.W.3d 43 | Casetext Search + Citator". casetext.com. Retrieved October 18, 2023.
  19. ^ Musgrave, Beth (April 23, 2020). "University of Kentucky furloughs 1,700 staff; 1,500 work in healthcare". The Lexington Herald Leader.
  20. ^ Capilouto, Eli (May 21, 2020). "Signed Letter to Chair Vance" (PDF).
  21. ^ "Mary Lynne". TOWN BRANCH PARK. Retrieved October 18, 2023.
  22. ^ Wallace, Shiela Steinman (October 25, 2014). "UK President Talks about His Jewish Roots Dr. Capilouto Tells Alpha Omega Dental Fraternity about Changes in Education and Health Care Later in the Evening". Jewish Community of Louisville. Archived from the original on March 28, 2023. Retrieved January 4, 2024.
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Academic offices
Preceded by 12th President of the University of Kentucky
2011 – Present 		Incumbent