Candace Bramley-Hardesty Selected for UK Women's Forum Board

Candace Bramley-HardestyThe University of Kentucky Women’s Forum has announced its board members elected for the 2020-2021 academic year, which now includes University of Kentucky MBA alum Candace Bramley-Hardesty. The UK Women's Forum is an organization for all employees of the University — faculty and staff. Its mission is to exert a leadership role in empowering, validating, informing, including and celebrating all women employed at the University of Kentucky by addressing the challenges, communicating issues, and recognizing successes within the context of the workplace.

"I'm very honored to be on the board of the UK Women's Form," says Candace. "Their mission is something that I'm extremely passionate about and looking forward to working with great women all over campus to fulfill that mission."

In 1987, a small group of dedicated women planted and nurtured an idea for a university-wide women's network. Officially created in 1991, the Women's Forum was established as a place of open discussion, creativity and collective problem solving. During the first year of its establishment, Women's Forum members surveyed over 1,800 university women on various issues and established the first UK Staff Appreciation Day.

Since then, members of the Women's Forum have dedicated their time and talents to making the university a better place for women to work by recognizing and celebrating outstanding women through the annual Sarah Bennett Holmes Award ceremony and luncheon; giving voice to issues through appointments in numerous committees; educating women on issues through the annual conference, monthly professional development opportunities, and monthly board meetings; and providing critical development and networking opportunities to its membership.

"UK Women's Forum provides a unique opportunity for women on UK's campus," says Candace. "I encourage all women to get connected with the Women's Forum and collaborate with women from all areas around campus with diverse backgrounds and knowledge to foster creativity and expand their skill sets."

Designed to provide leadership and direction for the forum, the Women's Forum Board consists of a total of 20 individuals: 18 elected Board members, the past chair and the current chair. The Women's Forum Board puts out a call for nominations every year to elect new board members. Any UK full-time regular employee, faculty or staff, may be nominated to the UK Women's Forum Board. A campus-wide election is held annually in the spring, and the elected nominees then serve a two-year term on the board.

Candace Bramley-Hardesty is the Program Coordinator for the MBA Center at the Gatton College of Business and Economics. She assists in planning and coordinating events, managing the office budget and recruitment efforts. She received her Bachelor’s of Science degree in Hospitality Management with a minor in Business Administration from the University of Kentucky. In addition, Candace received her MBA from the University of Kentucky in May 2019 and received the Outstanding Gatton Staff Award in 2020.