Trey Conatser

Trey Conatser is assistant provost for teaching and learning, director of the Center for the Enhancement of Learning and Teaching (CELT), and an affiliate in the Department of Writing, Rhetoric, and Digital Studies. He represents UK’s educational mission within and beyond the University, and he oversees CELT operations in pursuit of innovative, effective, and engaging teaching and learning at UK. He has led a range of initiatives addressing artificial intelligence, transdisciplinary education, durable career skills, scholarship of teaching and learning, learners' changing needs, and other critical opportunities and issues for higher education. He has overseen a significant growth of CELT's reach and impact. Now serving UK for 15 years, CELT collaborates with all 19 colleges and a wide range of other academic and administrative units across the enterprise.

Trey holds a PhD in English from The Ohio State University with a specialization in rhetoric and writing, digital humanities, and teaching and learning. At Ohio State he began working in educational development as part of the storied Digital Media and Composition (DMAC) Institute. Broadly, his research has examined technology-enhanced learning, methods of teaching writing and communication skills, and the role of humanities education. Forthcoming work addresses topics such as the rhetoric of educational development around AI, the unessay and generative AI, and student motivation during the pandemic. Trey has given workshops, presentations, and keynotes at regional and national venues on various issues in educational development, teaching and learning, and the future of higher education.

At the University of Kentucky, Trey teaches courses in the Department of Writing, Rhetoric, and Digital Studies, the Lewis Honors College, and the Graduate Certificate for College Teaching and Learning. He has also taught courses on literature, creative writing, and college writing. He is a 2025-2026 Gaines Center for the Humanities Teaching Affiliate.