Kim Rufra

Director, POWER

Kimberly Rufra is the inaugural Director of Prevention, Outreach, and Wellness Education Resources (POWER) at the University of Kentucky. At UK, Kim leads the university’s comprehensive approach to prevention, emphasizing universal prevention strategies, data-informed decision-making, and cross-campus collaboration. Her leadership promotes holistic student well-being and fosters campus and community partnerships to enhance safety, mitigate risk, and support student success. With 28 years of experience in higher education, she brings a strong foundation in student wellness, prevention, and student success.  

Kim earned both her Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Recreation Administration from Western Kentucky University. Before joining UK, Kim served in multiple Student Affairs roles at Kent State University, including Associate Dean of Students for Recreation and Wellness Services. Her background spans prevention programming, collegiate recreation, behavioral health education, business and auxiliary operations, facility management, membership services, safety and risk management, and university–city partnership development. A lifelong Wildcat fan, Kim enjoys outdoor recreation and watching sports with friends and family.