Union College Professor, Dr. Joni Caldwell
Honored for Service to Her Community

Pictured left to right is Union College President Edward de Rosset, Dr. Joni Caldwell, recipient of the 2005 Bishop's Recognition Award for Mission Service, Bishop Ronald Gainer of the Lexington Diocese and Deacon Bill Wakefield.

Dr. Joni Caldwell, Union College professor of Psychology, received the 2005 Bishop's Recognition Award for Mission Service in the Diocese of Lexington. Dr. Caldwell was specifically recognized for her contributions to the Diocese of Lexington through her work with the Union College Newman Center and her evangelizing leadership role with the Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults (RCIA). Dr. Caldwell was nominated for this award by her parish, St. Gregory Catholic Church in Barbourville, one of 63 parishes that can make nominations. The award was one of three given.

"It was a great honor for all of us to have Bishop Ronald Gainer come all the way to the Barbourville church to present the award. We were also honored to have [Union College] President de Rosset there to celebrate with us at the presentation ceremony."

Dr. Caldwell received the award for her service to the Church and to the community, both on and off campus. She serves as the faculty advisor for the Newman Club, as well as the Psychology Club and Psi Chi, the National Honor Society in Psychology. In addition to being a professor at Union College, Dr. Caldwell is also the college's Chair of the Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences, and recently co-chaired the Steering Committee for institutional reaccreditation.

The Newman Club is an organization which provides students opportunities to learn more about their faith and to put it in action through bible study, fellowship, and community service projects. Union's Newman Club has been involved in a number of activities each year in conjunction with campus ministry. Last year, in addition to their weekly devotions on topics of interest, the Newman students went on retreat at Mt Tabor, sponsored a Support-the-Soldiers program to sustain and encourage the troops in Iraq by sending them some needed items, and this past Christmas sponsored an Advent mass and toy drive for needy children in Eastern Kentucky.

An active member of Saint Gregory Catholic Church, Dr. Caldwell serves as the Director of Religious Education where she leads the RCIA program, the Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults. She also teaches a children's Sunday class and coordinates other youth activities such as Vacation Bible School. For the past nine years, she has served as the Director of Spiritual Formation for the Secular Order of Carmelites, where she teaches adults who are interested in deepening their faith and becoming members of the order.

In addition, Dr. Caldwell also volunteers at the federal prison in Manchester, and assists with many other community service projects throughout the year.

January 10, 2006

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