Member Spotlight - Linda Gorton
Where did you grow up and where is your home now?
I grew up in a small town, Circleville, Ohio. I have lived in Lexington since 1979.
What is your connection to UK?
I graduated from the UK College of Nursing in 1971. My husband and children are also UK grads.
Which funded proposals for W&P have you found particularly interesting and/or worthwhile?
I find collaborative proposals across colleges and the Linda Bowers Gorton Military/Veteran Nursing Scholarship interesting and worthwhile.
The most interesting job I've had:
The most interesting job I’ve ever had is the job I have right now as Mayor of Lexington. Every day brings a new, interesting challenge; a chance to help others; and opportunities to improve our city, now and in the future. Coming into the Mayor’s Office in 2019, I thought I was prepared for anything City Hall could dish out because of my 16 years of experience on City Council… then we had a pandemic. . . and nothing prepared me, or anyone else, for that. My experience as a nurse was very helpful as I made decisions to protect our community from COVID-19. The University of Kentucky was an important partner in our response to the pandemic.
My UK highlight:
I met my husband there!
Member Spotlight - Alicia McCorvey
Where did you grow up and where is your home now?
I grew up in the Bronx in New York City. Lexington has been my home for the past 30 years.
What is your connection to UK?
I have multiple connections to UK! My husband is the Director of UK Opera Theater and a Vocal professor. My oldest daughter received her undergraduate degree in Social Work from UK. And I have completed the coursework for my D.M.A. in Vocal Performance here at UK.
Which funded proposals for W&P have you found particularly interesting and/or worthwhile?
The funded proposals for the arts have been special to me. I am grateful that our women value the arts and see the importance to the UK community and our students. It is wonderful when we fund proposals that send UK students out into the world to broaden their education and their minds, either by working at the Library of Congress, helping our fellow citizens in Eastern Kentucky or studying abroad. And I am also proud of our support for female non-traditional students in the Gatton College of Business and Economics and across the UK Campus.
The most interesting job I've had:
The most interesting job that I've had was singing in the extra chorus for the Metropolitan Opera in New York City. I was 21 years old and went to the audition on a snowy day in January that had shut down most of the city. I worked at the Metropolitan Opera for four years and had the pleasure of being in operas with Leontyne Price, Placido Domingo, Luciano Pavarotti and many others. When I sang in the production of "Aida," I had the unfortunate distinction of having to kneel in the spot where Pavarotti always spat before the curtain went up! I was also able to attend all the operas, have vocal coaching with the chorus master (who also wrote letters of recommendation for me) and learn by being in the top opera venue in the world. When the assistant conductor needed four singers to work with Leonard Bernstein on the chorus of his new opera, I got to sing his new music, hot off the presses! Bernstein also hosted us at his beautiful apartment at The Dakota, on Central Park West! Best Job Ever!!!!!!