MISSION The mission of West Kentucky Community and Technical College is to provide excellence in teaching and learning, promote student success, and support economic development.
West Kentucky Community and Technical College
VISION West Kentucky Community and Technical College will empower individuals to achieve excellence through innovative and equitable learning opportunities and will continue to be a nationally preeminent community college.
Friday, The Twenty-First of April Two Thousand And Seventeen
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DIRECTORS AND PRESIDENTS DR. D. H. ANDERSON President West Kentucky Industrial College, 1909-1937 HARVEY C. RUSSELL, SR. President/Director West Kentucky Industrial College, 1937-1938 West Kentucky Vocational School, 1943-1947 M. H. GRIFFIN Director West Kentucky Vocational School, 1938-1943 MONETA J. SLEET Director West Kentucky Vocational School, 1947-1948 C. L. TIMBERLAKE Director West Kentucky Vocational School, 1948-1957 H. C. Mathis, Sr. Director West Kentucky Vocational School, 1957-1972 MELVIN W. TAYLOR Director West Kentucky State Vocational School, 1972-1985 WILLIAM D. HUSTON Director West Kentucky State Vocational-Technical School, 1985-1992
THE REV. URBAN R. BELL First President of Paducah Junior College, 1932-1934 GOVRIEL ROSENTHAL and DR. STANLEY REEVES Served as leaders of Paducah Junior College, 1934-1936 DR. R. G. “Dean” MATHESON Dean/President Paducah Junior College, 1936-1968 DR. DONALD J. CLEMENS Director/ President Paducah Community College, 1968-1991 DR. LEONARD O’HARA President Paducah Community College, 1991-2001 DR. BARBARA M. VEAZEY President West Kentucky Community and Technical College, 2002-2016
2017 West Kentucky Community & Technical College Faculty Rhonda J. Adkins
Tim E. Driver
Dr. Karen H. Johnson
Dr. Faris G. Sahawneh
Paul R. Aho
Gwendolyn L. Duncan
Margaret F. Johnson
Kimberly J. Savage
Dr. Selenia R. Akin
Laura R. Durbin
Dr. Latoya A. Jones
Catherine E. Senn
Dr. Felix O. Akojie
Elizabeth A. Durham
Tracy L. Jordan
Britton M. Shurley
Cynthia H. Allbritten
Erik J. Engelland
Jo A. Knapp
Randall R. Simmons
Samuel J. Arnone
Cheryl L. Ewing
Bobby A. Lee
Legatha F. Spelbring
Kenneth R. Averill
Patrick A. Fletcher
Dr. Sarah Shen Liu
Dr. Lisa G. Stephenson
Thomas M. Black
Maria K. Flynn
Dr. Vanessa E. Lyons
Michael E. Stewart
Patricia A. Blaine
Dr. Kevin L. Gericke
Joseph D. Mahoney
Claudia A. Stoffel
Michelle Blankenship
Shari D. Gholson
Patricia A. Martin
Amanda P. Stringer
Peggy R. Block
Gary W. Goodaker
Tracy L. McDanel
Deborah J. Swain
Dr. Esmarie Boyles
Curtis D. Green
Allison S. McGullion
Dr. Victor M. Taveras
Kyra E. Brackin
Robert G. Gunn
DeAnn J. McMullen
Brent E. Taylor
Dr. Kathryn P. Broadbent
S. Shawn Harper
Rhanda G. Miller
Jason D. Taylor
Dr. Rebecca H. Brown
John S. Hasegawa
Stephanie K. Milliken
Sanci E. Teague
Patricia A. Buchanan
Connie S. Heflin
Tiffinee S. Morgan
Julie E. Thompson
Melissa A. Burgess
Sueann W. Hely
Bradley C. Newborn
Nichole M. Toon
Charles S. Cahill
Tyra F. Henderson
David L. Nickell
John D. Vos
Paul H. Caldwell
Greta G. Henry
Vanessa A. Norwood-McGregor
Constance L. Wade
Mary C. Carrico
Dr. Karen F. Hlinka
Carolyn K. Perry
Corey M. Wadlington
Joel D. Cates
Darren J. Hobbs
Christy L. Petitt
Stanley C. Wallace
Heather L. Coltharp
William S. Hofer
Tammy F. Potter
Nacole G. Walters
Laken N. Darnell
Virgil T. Holland
Lyman R. Powell
Shane R. Ward
Jamie A. Day
Carrie D. Hopper
Dr. Douglas L. Pruitt
Gerald L. Watkins
Craig T. Dickerson
Paul D. Housholder
Beverly F. Quimby
Mark A. Westerfield
Jason W. Donner
William Doyle Howard
Tina L. Ragsdale
Reta P. Witherspoon
Kimberly M. Dossett
Sharla E. Hutchinson
Gary L. Reese
Kelly R. Wright
Megan E. Dotson
Paula R. Isenberg
Sally F. Roof
Norita A. Youngblood
Carla K. Draffen
Jonathan B. Johnson
Kimberly G. Russell
LEE E. HICKLIN Director West Kentucky Technical College, 1992-1997 DR. PAUL MCINTURFF Director West Kentucky Technical College, 1998 – 2003
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Inauguration Planning Committee Janett Blythe Tom Butler John Carrico Jason Jones
Brian Heller Dallas McKinney Barbara Maxey Dr. Tena Payne
Gary Reese Tammy Thompson Blair Travis John D. Williams
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West Kentucky Community And Technical College
Board of Directors
The West Kentucky Community and Technical College Board of Directors is composed of community leaders appointed by the Governor of the Commonwealth of Kentucky and three members consisting of elected representatives from WKCTC faculty, staff and student body.
Located in the beautiful river community of Paducah, Kentucky, West Kentucky Community and Technical College is a two-year, comprehensive college serving more than 8,000 students annually and offering more than 250 associate degree, diploma and certificate options in more than 40 academic and career programs.
Paducah Junior College, Inc. The Foundation for West Kentucky Community and Technical College A nationally award-winning institution, WKCTC has a strong commitment to excellence in education. Gifts from individuals, corporations, foundations and other organizations help us fulfill this commitment, paving the way to better lives and stronger communities. Our students benefit from the generosity of donors who believe that an investment in education is an investment in the future of our region. Many opportunities for giving are available – all make a lasting difference. Paducah Junior College, Inc. (PJC) is the charitable foundation for West Kentucky Community and Technical College. It provides resources for the improvement and enhancement of educational opportunities in support of the mission and vision of WKCTC.
John Williams, Chair
Ann Denton, Vice Chair
Lorraine Schramke, Secretary
Mike Sims, Treasurer
Board Members Guthrie Allen Chris Black Bruce Brockenborough Ann Denton Joe Framptom
Anne Gwinn Judge Jeff Hines Dr. Wally Montgomery Mike Sims Lorraine Schramke
Dr. Bill Wheeler Ken Wheeler John Williams
A product of the consolidation of two long-time and respected institutions, Paducah Community College and West Kentucky Technical College, WKCTC is an integral part of the Kentucky Community and Technical College System (KCTCS). WKCTC has been recognized by The Aspen Institute as one of the top 10 community colleges in the nation each of the four times the prestigious Aspen Prize for Community College Excellence has been awarded. WKCTC was recognized for providing students with strong job training and continuing higher education opportunity, for achieving high completion and transfer rates, and for providing strong employment results for its graduates. Few community colleges in the nation have reached the heights West Kentucky has reached in just under 15 years. In addition to receiving national recognition from The Aspen Institute, the college:
Officers
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West Kentucky Community & Technical College
Ex-Officio Members Judge Bob Leeper Mayor Brandi Harless Dr. Anton Reece PJC Executive Director Lee Emmons
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Has been named one of 12 colleges in the 2014 Achieving the Dream cohort.
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Has been named a Bellwether Finalist three times (2009, 2013 and 2017).
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Was named one of the nation’s Top 50 Online Community Colleges for 2016-17 by the Center for Online Education.
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Established the West Kentucky College Academy to work with high school dual credit. PAGE 3
Dr. JAY BOX Dr. Jay Box was named the second president of the Kentucky Community and Technical College System (KCTCS) on November 19, 2014. He is a community college graduate and has more than 30 years of experience in community college leadership. Prior to being named KCTCS president, Dr. Box served as KCTCS chancellor since July 1, 2009. As chancellor he provided system-wide leadership for academic affairs, economic development, workforce training and research policy and analysis. Dr. Box has a history of leadership with KCTCS, having served as the president of Hazard Community and Technical College from 2002 – 2007, followed by being named as KCTCS vice president with the primary responsibility of providing leadership to administrative systems, network operations, distance learning technologies and visualized learning and innovation. Prior to coming to KCTCS he served as a vice president at McLennan Community College in Waco, Texas.
Delegates from other Academic Institutions
Dr. Caroline Atkins
Dr. Jo Marshall
Dr. Scott Williams
Kentucky Council on Postsecondary Education
Somerset Community College President
Owensboro Community and Technical College
Dr. Reneau Waggoner
Dr. Alissa Young
Senior Associate
Susan Guess Murray State University Board of Regents Vice Chair
Henderson Community College Chief Academic Officer
President
Hopkinsville Community College Chief Academic Officer
Dan Lavit Murray State University Assistant Dean of Regional Academic Outreach PAGE 4
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THEOTIS ROBINSON, JR. Theotis Robinson Jr., retired vice president of equity and diversity of the University of Tennessee system, is a trailblazer in his own right. In 1961, he and two other students became the first African-American undergraduates admitted to the University of Tennessee (UT). In fall 2000, the University of Tennessee Board of Trustees voted to change the university’s by-laws at the request of the president, and Robinson was named vice president for equity and diversity, forty years after the board had cleared the way for him to attend the university. Robinson was vice president of economic development for the 1982 Knoxville World’s Fair and served on Knoxville City Council from 1970 to 1977. He was the first African American elected to that office in more than a half century. In 1994, he was a charter inductee into the University of Tennessee African American Hall of Fame. Knoxville’s Metro Pulse newspaper named him one of the 100 most influential Knoxvillians of the twentieth century. Robinson began his career at UT in 1989 as a lecturer in political science and later joined the staff of the purchasing department. In 1992, he became an administrative aide in the Office of Federal Affairs where he remained until 1999, when he transitioned into the same post within the Office of the Senior Vice President. He was named a vice president in 2000. After twenty-five years of service to the University of Tennessee, the last fourteen as a vice president and member of the UT system administration executive team, Robinson retired from the university on February 1, 2014.
Dr. BARBARA VEAZEY Dr. Barbara Veazey is president emeritus of West Kentucky Community and Technical College (WKCTC). She was appointed president/CEO of Paducah Community College (PCC) and West Kentucky Technical College (WKTC) in 2002 and became the first president of WKCTC when the two colleges consolidated in 2003. Dr. Veazey began her career in education as a nursing instructor, chair of the nursing program and later the dean of academic affairs before being named president. During her tenure, Dr. Veazey oversaw the development of the $18.5 million dollar Emerging Technology Center, including the Fred Paxton Engineering Research Center, which opened in January 2010. The opening of the center created a full partnership between economic development and the college to serve both existing and prospective businesses. In addition, Dr. Veazey spearheaded the opening of the Paducah School of Art and Design (PSAD) in the fall of 2008 in downtown Paducah. In her 14 years as president, Dr. Veazey pushed WKCTC to become one of the nation’s top community colleges. Since 2011, West Kentucky Community & Technical College has been named one of the top 10 community colleges in the nation four times by the prestigious Aspen Institute. Dr. Veazey retired as WKCTC president in June 2016. PAGE 12
West Kentucky Community and Technical College
Inauguration Ceremony PRESIDING
Jason Jones, Chair
West Kentucky Community and Technical College Board of Directors THE MUSICAL PRELUDE *THE PROCESSIONAL “Hail Columbia/The President’s March” WELCOME Jason Jones, Chair West Kentucky Community and Technical College Board of Directors GREETINGS John D. Williams, Chair Paducah Junior College, Inc., the foundation for WKCTC GREETINGS FROM PADUCAH, KENTUCKY Brandi Harless, Mayor The City of Paducah GREETINGS FROM The Commonwealth of Kentucky Rebecca Rittenhouse, Western Kentucky Field Representative For Governor Matt Bevin GREETINGS & PRESENTATION Gary Reese, Chair of the Faculty and Associate Professor West Kentucky Community and Technical College and Tom Butler, Jr., Chair of the Staff and Staff Representative West Kentucky Community and Technical College Board of Directors MUSICAL SELECTION Michael L. Reece, Soloist Medley of “Best Thing That Ever Happened to Me/My Way”
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REFLECTIONS State Representative Gerald L. Watkins Political Science Professor West Kentucky Community and Technical College GREETINGS Danny Fugate and J. W. Cleary Paducah/McCracken County Chapter of the NAACP SPECIAL REMARKS Theotis Robinson, Jr., retired vice president of equity and diversity University of Tennessee REFLECTIONS Dr. Barbara M. Veazey, President Emeritus West Kentucky Community and Technical College INVESTITURE Dr. Jay Box, President Kentucky Community and Technical College System INAUGURAL REMARKS Dr. Anton R. Reece, President West Kentucky Community and Technical College FINAL COMMENTS Jason Jones *RECESSIONAL
Please join us for a reception in the Clemens Student Center immediately following the inaugural ceremony with music by the Steele Away Band and refreshments by Chef Patrick Fletcher, Chef Erik Engelland, Chef Jessi Donaldson, Kristen Chambers and Culinary Arts students.
*Audience please stand Special thanks to sponsor Paducah Junior College, Inc.
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GARY REESE A former Paducah police officer, Gary Reese is an associate professor of criminal justice at West Kentucky Community and Technical College and chair of the WKCTC faculty. He is also the advisor for the Alpha Epsilon Beta chapter of the American Criminal Justice Association.
TOM A. BUTLER, Jr. A Paducah native, Tom Butler, Jr. is the coordinator of television production at West Kentucky Community and Technical College. He has worked at the college since 1986 and has served as chair of the staff for several years. He currently serves as the staff representative on the WKCTC Board of Directors.
MICHAEL REECE A native Barbados, Michael L. Reece began singing at the age of nine with the Barnabas Church Choir in Barbados. He attended the Doris Provencal Singing School in Barbados and was a member of “Sing Our Barbados” and “The Cecilian Singers of Barbados”. After migrating to the U.S., he became the lead singer for the Technic Band in Brooklyn, New York. He is the brother of WKCTC President Anton R. Reece.
GERALD L. WATKINS Gerald L. Watkins is a U.S. politician and a Democratic member of the Kentucky House of Representatives, representing District 3 since January 8, 2013. Watkins earned his associate in arts degree from Paducah Community College (now West Kentucky Community and Technical College), and his bachelor of science degree in business administration and master of business administration from Murray State University. He is a professor of political science at WKCTC.
PADUCAH/MCCRACKEN COUNTY CHAPTER OF THE NAACP The mission of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) is to ensure the political, educational, social, and economic equality of rights of all persons and to eliminate race-based discrimination. Paducah’s chapter of the NAACP is represented in today’s program by Danny Fugate and J. W. Cleary.
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JASON JONES Jason E. Jones of Benton was appointed to the West Kentucky Community and Technical College Board of Directors in 2014 and was elected board chair in 2016. A Murray State University graduate, Jones has been named Marshall County Market President for Community Financial Services Bank (CFSB) and has been with CFSB since 1989. He is also a graduate of Mid-South School of Banking in Memphis and the Graduate School of Banking at the University of Wisconsin – Madison.
JOHN WILLIAMS John D. Williams retired from WPSD-TV after 34 years, including the last 20 as vice president and general manager. Williams has been a member of the Paducah Junior College, Inc. Board of Trustees since 2002. Williams has been past president of the Paducah Area Chamber of Commerce, the Paducah Downtown Kiwanis Club and the Paducah Jaycees. He worked 34 years on the Lions Club Telethon of Stars. He served on several boards, including the Kentucky State Chamber of Commerce, Paducah United Way and the Arbitron Rating Council.
BRANDI HARLESS Paducah citizens elected Brandi Harless as mayor in November 2016 with her term beginning January 1, 2017. The CEO/co-founder of Personal Medicine Plus and the contracted network director of Purchase Area Health Connections, Harless has experience in community development, grant writing, research and executive level management. She served as the program director of Rocketown in Nashville, Tenn., research assistant at Harvard University in Sierra Leone West Africa, and knowledge manager at Management Sciences for Health in Washington, DC. Since returning to Paducah in 2009, Harless has served as grant writer/development manager for Heartland CARES, innovation director at EntrePaducah, and executive director at St. Nicholas Family Clinic.
Rebecca Rittenhouse Rebecca Rittenhouse of Cadiz began serving as Governor Matt Bevin’s Western Kentucky field representative on March 27, 2017. She previously served as director of the Janice Mason Art Museum. Rittenhouse retired after 20 years as a Kentucky POPS law enforcement officer in 2014. She began her college career with the Kentucky Community and Technical College system and obtained a bachelor in business management degree while working full-time. She works with the Department for Local Government and serve as a liaison between Governor Bevin, local government, and constituents in the western portion of the state. PAGE 10
Dr. Anton R. Reece: The Next Chapter Anton Ricardo Reece may have taken the road less traveled to become the second president of West Kentucky Community and Technical College, but for him there could be no other way. Unlike many community college presidents who move up through academia from instructor to administrator and on to a presidency, Dr. Reece began his educational career in student services when he was named the first director of minorities in the University of Kentucky Community College System. It was also a journey that took him far away from his native home of Barbados. Dr. Reece grew up in the Mount Friendship District of Barbados. He attended the Pine Primary School before going on to The Lodge School from 1973-1980. Students from the Lodge School have excelled in every major sport, over the years and, in cricket, its students have gone on to represent Barbados and the West Indies in the Olympics. The first Barbadian to win an Olympic Medal went to The Lodge School. A dedicated athlete, Dr. Reece excelled in track. His dedication and skills in track led to him win the gold medal in 1982 at the Hampton International Games for the triple jump. He worked in radio with Barbados Rediffusion and Voice of Barbados before migrating to Miami, Florida in 1984. His track skills helped him win a track scholarship to Eastern Kentucky University. An honor student, Dr. Reece graduated with a bachelor’s degree in broadcast news and a master’s degree in counseling from Eastern Kentucky University. He completed 24 hours above his master’s degree from Murray State University before receiving his doctorate in educational psychology at the University of Tennessee - Knoxville.
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In 1990, Dr. Reece started out at what was then Paducah Community College (now West Kentucky Community and Technical College) as a minority affairs coordinator and counselor. From 1999 - 2003, Dr. Reece created history again by becoming the first African-American dean of student affairs in Paducah Community College/Paducah Junior College history. Dr. Reece was active and engaged with K-12 educators, business and community partners in Paducah and the Jackson Purchase area. By the time he joined the administrative team at University of Tennessee, Knoxville in 2003, Dr. Reece was WKCTC’s dean of student affairs and enrollment. He has extensive student success, enrollment, retention and graduation expertise. While at the University of Tennessee, Dr. Reece successfully served students in various roles, including coordinator of academic support, director of student activities, executive director of student success and associate vice provost of academic affairs. On October 1, 2016, Dr. Reece became the second president of West Kentucky Community and Technical College, which is a four-time Aspen Prize for Community College Excellence finalist. Dr. Reece and his wife, Cornelia, are the proud parents of two daughters, Tina and Kiana.
Investiture - Presidential Medallion The Investiture Ceremony is counted among the oldest of traditions in academia. Originating in English universities and modeled after highly dignified knighthood ceremonies, investiture comes from the Latin phrase for “dress in robe.” In academic circles, the term has come to mean one who will literally don the university’s insignia and regalia. The installation of a new president is a ceremony of dignity with many academic traditions and protocols. Traditionally at colleges and universities, the ceremonial investiture takes place sometime during the year after the official appointment of a new president is made. Delegates from other academic institutions, along with faculty, staff and students are invited to attend as the inauguration acts not only as an opportunity for a college to look ahead to its future while honoring its traditions, but serves as an official recognition of a president’s entrance into the nation’s academic leadership. This ritual is the official act of the institution taking a historic step into its next chapter. During the ceremony the new president is formally endowed with the powers and responsibilities of the presidency. The ceremony gives the new president the opportunity to share a vision for the institution. Dr. Anton R. Reece will be revealing his vision for West Kentucky Community and Technical College as one of the top community colleges in the nation.
Ceremonial Mace The ceremonial mace of West Kentucky Community and Technical College was designed by veteran carpenter John Moore in April 2012. The mace is made of locally sourced cherry wood and is 40 inches long. The head of the mace contains two bronze medallions professionally engraved with the image of Carson Hall on one side and with an image of a lantern on the other side. West Kentucky’s mace was designed to represent the college’s commitment to excellence as well as to commemorate and pay respect to the foundations that made WKCTC what it is today.
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In 1990, Dr. Reece started out at what was then Paducah Community College (now West Kentucky Community and Technical College) as a minority affairs coordinator and counselor. From 1999 - 2003, Dr. Reece created history again by becoming the first African-American dean of student affairs in Paducah Community College/Paducah Junior College history. Dr. Reece was active and engaged with K-12 educators, business and community partners in Paducah and the Jackson Purchase area. By the time he joined the administrative team at University of Tennessee, Knoxville in 2003, Dr. Reece was WKCTC’s dean of student affairs and enrollment. He has extensive student success, enrollment, retention and graduation expertise. While at the University of Tennessee, Dr. Reece successfully served students in various roles, including coordinator of academic support, director of student activities, executive director of student success and associate vice provost of academic affairs. On October 1, 2016, Dr. Reece became the second president of West Kentucky Community and Technical College, which is a four-time Aspen Prize for Community College Excellence finalist. Dr. Reece and his wife, Cornelia, are the proud parents of two daughters, Tina and Kiana.
Investiture - Presidential Medallion The Investiture Ceremony is counted among the oldest of traditions in academia. Originating in English universities and modeled after highly dignified knighthood ceremonies, investiture comes from the Latin phrase for “dress in robe.” In academic circles, the term has come to mean one who will literally don the university’s insignia and regalia. The installation of a new president is a ceremony of dignity with many academic traditions and protocols. Traditionally at colleges and universities, the ceremonial investiture takes place sometime during the year after the official appointment of a new president is made. Delegates from other academic institutions, along with faculty, staff and students are invited to attend as the inauguration acts not only as an opportunity for a college to look ahead to its future while honoring its traditions, but serves as an official recognition of a president’s entrance into the nation’s academic leadership. This ritual is the official act of the institution taking a historic step into its next chapter. During the ceremony the new president is formally endowed with the powers and responsibilities of the presidency. The ceremony gives the new president the opportunity to share a vision for the institution. Dr. Anton R. Reece will be revealing his vision for West Kentucky Community and Technical College as one of the top community colleges in the nation.
Ceremonial Mace The ceremonial mace of West Kentucky Community and Technical College was designed by veteran carpenter John Moore in April 2012. The mace is made of locally sourced cherry wood and is 40 inches long. The head of the mace contains two bronze medallions professionally engraved with the image of Carson Hall on one side and with an image of a lantern on the other side. West Kentucky’s mace was designed to represent the college’s commitment to excellence as well as to commemorate and pay respect to the foundations that made WKCTC what it is today.
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JASON JONES Jason E. Jones of Benton was appointed to the West Kentucky Community and Technical College Board of Directors in 2014 and was elected board chair in 2016. A Murray State University graduate, Jones has been named Marshall County Market President for Community Financial Services Bank (CFSB) and has been with CFSB since 1989. He is also a graduate of Mid-South School of Banking in Memphis and the Graduate School of Banking at the University of Wisconsin – Madison.
JOHN WILLIAMS John D. Williams retired from WPSD-TV after 34 years, including the last 20 as vice president and general manager. Williams has been a member of the Paducah Junior College, Inc. Board of Trustees since 2002. Williams has been past president of the Paducah Area Chamber of Commerce, the Paducah Downtown Kiwanis Club and the Paducah Jaycees. He worked 34 years on the Lions Club Telethon of Stars. He served on several boards, including the Kentucky State Chamber of Commerce, Paducah United Way and the Arbitron Rating Council.
BRANDI HARLESS Paducah citizens elected Brandi Harless as mayor in November 2016 with her term beginning January 1, 2017. The CEO/co-founder of Personal Medicine Plus and the contracted network director of Purchase Area Health Connections, Harless has experience in community development, grant writing, research and executive level management. She served as the program director of Rocketown in Nashville, Tenn., research assistant at Harvard University in Sierra Leone West Africa, and knowledge manager at Management Sciences for Health in Washington, DC. Since returning to Paducah in 2009, Harless has served as grant writer/development manager for Heartland CARES, innovation director at EntrePaducah, and executive director at St. Nicholas Family Clinic.
Rebecca Rittenhouse Rebecca Rittenhouse of Cadiz began serving as Governor Matt Bevin’s Western Kentucky field representative on March 27, 2017. She previously served as director of the Janice Mason Art Museum. Rittenhouse retired after 20 years as a Kentucky POPS law enforcement officer in 2014. She began her college career with the Kentucky Community and Technical College system and obtained a bachelor in business management degree while working full-time. She works with the Department for Local Government and serve as a liaison between Governor Bevin, local government, and constituents in the western portion of the state. PAGE 10
Dr. Anton R. Reece: The Next Chapter Anton Ricardo Reece may have taken the road less traveled to become the second president of West Kentucky Community and Technical College, but for him there could be no other way. Unlike many community college presidents who move up through academia from instructor to administrator and on to a presidency, Dr. Reece began his educational career in student services when he was named the first director of minorities in the University of Kentucky Community College System. It was also a journey that took him far away from his native home of Barbados. Dr. Reece grew up in the Mount Friendship District of Barbados. He attended the Pine Primary School before going on to The Lodge School from 1973-1980. Students from the Lodge School have excelled in every major sport, over the years and, in cricket, its students have gone on to represent Barbados and the West Indies in the Olympics. The first Barbadian to win an Olympic Medal went to The Lodge School. A dedicated athlete, Dr. Reece excelled in track. His dedication and skills in track led to him win the gold medal in 1982 at the Hampton International Games for the triple jump. He worked in radio with Barbados Rediffusion and Voice of Barbados before migrating to Miami, Florida in 1984. His track skills helped him win a track scholarship to Eastern Kentucky University. An honor student, Dr. Reece graduated with a bachelor’s degree in broadcast news and a master’s degree in counseling from Eastern Kentucky University. He completed 24 hours above his master’s degree from Murray State University before receiving his doctorate in educational psychology at the University of Tennessee - Knoxville.
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REFLECTIONS State Representative Gerald L. Watkins Political Science Professor West Kentucky Community and Technical College GREETINGS Danny Fugate and J. W. Cleary Paducah/McCracken County Chapter of the NAACP SPECIAL REMARKS Theotis Robinson, Jr., retired vice president of equity and diversity University of Tennessee REFLECTIONS Dr. Barbara M. Veazey, President Emeritus West Kentucky Community and Technical College INVESTITURE Dr. Jay Box, President Kentucky Community and Technical College System INAUGURAL REMARKS Dr. Anton R. Reece, President West Kentucky Community and Technical College FINAL COMMENTS Jason Jones *RECESSIONAL
Please join us for a reception in the Clemens Student Center immediately following the inaugural ceremony with music by the Steele Away Band and refreshments by Chef Patrick Fletcher, Chef Erik Engelland, Chef Jessi Donaldson, Kristen Chambers and Culinary Arts students.
*Audience please stand Special thanks to sponsor Paducah Junior College, Inc.
PAGE 6
GARY REESE A former Paducah police officer, Gary Reese is an associate professor of criminal justice at West Kentucky Community and Technical College and chair of the WKCTC faculty. He is also the advisor for the Alpha Epsilon Beta chapter of the American Criminal Justice Association.
TOM A. BUTLER, Jr. A Paducah native, Tom Butler, Jr. is the coordinator of television production at West Kentucky Community and Technical College. He has worked at the college since 1986 and has served as chair of the staff for several years. He currently serves as the staff representative on the WKCTC Board of Directors.
MICHAEL REECE A native Barbados, Michael L. Reece began singing at the age of nine with the Barnabas Church Choir in Barbados. He attended the Doris Provencal Singing School in Barbados and was a member of “Sing Our Barbados” and “The Cecilian Singers of Barbados”. After migrating to the U.S., he became the lead singer for the Technic Band in Brooklyn, New York. He is the brother of WKCTC President Anton R. Reece.
GERALD L. WATKINS Gerald L. Watkins is a U.S. politician and a Democratic member of the Kentucky House of Representatives, representing District 3 since January 8, 2013. Watkins earned his associate in arts degree from Paducah Community College (now West Kentucky Community and Technical College), and his bachelor of science degree in business administration and master of business administration from Murray State University. He is a professor of political science at WKCTC.
PADUCAH/MCCRACKEN COUNTY CHAPTER OF THE NAACP The mission of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) is to ensure the political, educational, social, and economic equality of rights of all persons and to eliminate race-based discrimination. Paducah’s chapter of the NAACP is represented in today’s program by Danny Fugate and J. W. Cleary.
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THEOTIS ROBINSON, JR. Theotis Robinson Jr., retired vice president of equity and diversity of the University of Tennessee system, is a trailblazer in his own right. In 1961, he and two other students became the first African-American undergraduates admitted to the University of Tennessee (UT). In fall 2000, the University of Tennessee Board of Trustees voted to change the university’s by-laws at the request of the president, and Robinson was named vice president for equity and diversity, forty years after the board had cleared the way for him to attend the university. Robinson was vice president of economic development for the 1982 Knoxville World’s Fair and served on Knoxville City Council from 1970 to 1977. He was the first African American elected to that office in more than a half century. In 1994, he was a charter inductee into the University of Tennessee African American Hall of Fame. Knoxville’s Metro Pulse newspaper named him one of the 100 most influential Knoxvillians of the twentieth century. Robinson began his career at UT in 1989 as a lecturer in political science and later joined the staff of the purchasing department. In 1992, he became an administrative aide in the Office of Federal Affairs where he remained until 1999, when he transitioned into the same post within the Office of the Senior Vice President. He was named a vice president in 2000. After twenty-five years of service to the University of Tennessee, the last fourteen as a vice president and member of the UT system administration executive team, Robinson retired from the university on February 1, 2014.
Dr. BARBARA VEAZEY Dr. Barbara Veazey is president emeritus of West Kentucky Community and Technical College (WKCTC). She was appointed president/CEO of Paducah Community College (PCC) and West Kentucky Technical College (WKTC) in 2002 and became the first president of WKCTC when the two colleges consolidated in 2003. Dr. Veazey began her career in education as a nursing instructor, chair of the nursing program and later the dean of academic affairs before being named president. During her tenure, Dr. Veazey oversaw the development of the $18.5 million dollar Emerging Technology Center, including the Fred Paxton Engineering Research Center, which opened in January 2010. The opening of the center created a full partnership between economic development and the college to serve both existing and prospective businesses. In addition, Dr. Veazey spearheaded the opening of the Paducah School of Art and Design (PSAD) in the fall of 2008 in downtown Paducah. In her 14 years as president, Dr. Veazey pushed WKCTC to become one of the nation’s top community colleges. Since 2011, West Kentucky Community & Technical College has been named one of the top 10 community colleges in the nation four times by the prestigious Aspen Institute. Dr. Veazey retired as WKCTC president in June 2016. PAGE 12
West Kentucky Community and Technical College
Inauguration Ceremony PRESIDING
Jason Jones, Chair
West Kentucky Community and Technical College Board of Directors THE MUSICAL PRELUDE *THE PROCESSIONAL “Hail Columbia/The President’s March” WELCOME Jason Jones, Chair West Kentucky Community and Technical College Board of Directors GREETINGS John D. Williams, Chair Paducah Junior College, Inc., the foundation for WKCTC GREETINGS FROM PADUCAH, KENTUCKY Brandi Harless, Mayor The City of Paducah GREETINGS FROM The Commonwealth of Kentucky Rebecca Rittenhouse, Western Kentucky Field Representative For Governor Matt Bevin GREETINGS & PRESENTATION Gary Reese, Chair of the Faculty and Associate Professor West Kentucky Community and Technical College and Tom Butler, Jr., Chair of the Staff and Staff Representative West Kentucky Community and Technical College Board of Directors MUSICAL SELECTION Michael L. Reece, Soloist Medley of “Best Thing That Ever Happened to Me/My Way”
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Dr. JAY BOX Dr. Jay Box was named the second president of the Kentucky Community and Technical College System (KCTCS) on November 19, 2014. He is a community college graduate and has more than 30 years of experience in community college leadership. Prior to being named KCTCS president, Dr. Box served as KCTCS chancellor since July 1, 2009. As chancellor he provided system-wide leadership for academic affairs, economic development, workforce training and research policy and analysis. Dr. Box has a history of leadership with KCTCS, having served as the president of Hazard Community and Technical College from 2002 – 2007, followed by being named as KCTCS vice president with the primary responsibility of providing leadership to administrative systems, network operations, distance learning technologies and visualized learning and innovation. Prior to coming to KCTCS he served as a vice president at McLennan Community College in Waco, Texas.
Delegates from other Academic Institutions
Dr. Caroline Atkins
Dr. Jo Marshall
Dr. Scott Williams
Kentucky Council on Postsecondary Education
Somerset Community College President
Owensboro Community and Technical College
Dr. Reneau Waggoner
Dr. Alissa Young
Senior Associate
Susan Guess Murray State University Board of Regents Vice Chair
Henderson Community College Chief Academic Officer
President
Hopkinsville Community College Chief Academic Officer
Dan Lavit Murray State University Assistant Dean of Regional Academic Outreach PAGE 4
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West Kentucky Community And Technical College
Board of Directors
The West Kentucky Community and Technical College Board of Directors is composed of community leaders appointed by the Governor of the Commonwealth of Kentucky and three members consisting of elected representatives from WKCTC faculty, staff and student body.
Located in the beautiful river community of Paducah, Kentucky, West Kentucky Community and Technical College is a two-year, comprehensive college serving more than 8,000 students annually and offering more than 250 associate degree, diploma and certificate options in more than 40 academic and career programs.
Paducah Junior College, Inc. The Foundation for West Kentucky Community and Technical College A nationally award-winning institution, WKCTC has a strong commitment to excellence in education. Gifts from individuals, corporations, foundations and other organizations help us fulfill this commitment, paving the way to better lives and stronger communities. Our students benefit from the generosity of donors who believe that an investment in education is an investment in the future of our region. Many opportunities for giving are available – all make a lasting difference. Paducah Junior College, Inc. (PJC) is the charitable foundation for West Kentucky Community and Technical College. It provides resources for the improvement and enhancement of educational opportunities in support of the mission and vision of WKCTC.
John Williams, Chair
Ann Denton, Vice Chair
Lorraine Schramke, Secretary
Mike Sims, Treasurer
Board Members Guthrie Allen Chris Black Bruce Brockenborough Ann Denton Joe Framptom
Anne Gwinn Judge Jeff Hines Dr. Wally Montgomery Mike Sims Lorraine Schramke
Dr. Bill Wheeler Ken Wheeler John Williams
A product of the consolidation of two long-time and respected institutions, Paducah Community College and West Kentucky Technical College, WKCTC is an integral part of the Kentucky Community and Technical College System (KCTCS). WKCTC has been recognized by The Aspen Institute as one of the top 10 community colleges in the nation each of the four times the prestigious Aspen Prize for Community College Excellence has been awarded. WKCTC was recognized for providing students with strong job training and continuing higher education opportunity, for achieving high completion and transfer rates, and for providing strong employment results for its graduates. Few community colleges in the nation have reached the heights West Kentucky has reached in just under 15 years. In addition to receiving national recognition from The Aspen Institute, the college:
Officers
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West Kentucky Community & Technical College
Ex-Officio Members Judge Bob Leeper Mayor Brandi Harless Dr. Anton Reece PJC Executive Director Lee Emmons
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Has been named one of 12 colleges in the 2014 Achieving the Dream cohort.
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Has been named a Bellwether Finalist three times (2009, 2013 and 2017).
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Was named one of the nation’s Top 50 Online Community Colleges for 2016-17 by the Center for Online Education.
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Established the West Kentucky College Academy to work with high school dual credit. PAGE 3
DIRECTORS AND PRESIDENTS DR. D. H. ANDERSON President West Kentucky Industrial College, 1909-1937 HARVEY C. RUSSELL, SR. President/Director West Kentucky Industrial College, 1937-1938 West Kentucky Vocational School, 1943-1947 M. H. GRIFFIN Director West Kentucky Vocational School, 1938-1943 MONETA J. SLEET Director West Kentucky Vocational School, 1947-1948 C. L. TIMBERLAKE Director West Kentucky Vocational School, 1948-1957 H. C. Mathis, Sr. Director West Kentucky Vocational School, 1957-1972 MELVIN W. TAYLOR Director West Kentucky State Vocational School, 1972-1985 WILLIAM D. HUSTON Director West Kentucky State Vocational-Technical School, 1985-1992
THE REV. URBAN R. BELL First President of Paducah Junior College, 1932-1934 GOVRIEL ROSENTHAL and DR. STANLEY REEVES Served as leaders of Paducah Junior College, 1934-1936 DR. R. G. “Dean” MATHESON Dean/President Paducah Junior College, 1936-1968 DR. DONALD J. CLEMENS Director/ President Paducah Community College, 1968-1991 DR. LEONARD O’HARA President Paducah Community College, 1991-2001 DR. BARBARA M. VEAZEY President West Kentucky Community and Technical College, 2002-2016
2017 West Kentucky Community & Technical College Faculty Rhonda J. Adkins
Tim E. Driver
Dr. Karen H. Johnson
Dr. Faris G. Sahawneh
Paul R. Aho
Gwendolyn L. Duncan
Margaret F. Johnson
Kimberly J. Savage
Dr. Selenia R. Akin
Laura R. Durbin
Dr. Latoya A. Jones
Catherine E. Senn
Dr. Felix O. Akojie
Elizabeth A. Durham
Tracy L. Jordan
Britton M. Shurley
Cynthia H. Allbritten
Erik J. Engelland
Jo A. Knapp
Randall R. Simmons
Samuel J. Arnone
Cheryl L. Ewing
Bobby A. Lee
Legatha F. Spelbring
Kenneth R. Averill
Patrick A. Fletcher
Dr. Sarah Shen Liu
Dr. Lisa G. Stephenson
Thomas M. Black
Maria K. Flynn
Dr. Vanessa E. Lyons
Michael E. Stewart
Patricia A. Blaine
Dr. Kevin L. Gericke
Joseph D. Mahoney
Claudia A. Stoffel
Michelle Blankenship
Shari D. Gholson
Patricia A. Martin
Amanda P. Stringer
Peggy R. Block
Gary W. Goodaker
Tracy L. McDanel
Deborah J. Swain
Dr. Esmarie Boyles
Curtis D. Green
Allison S. McGullion
Dr. Victor M. Taveras
Kyra E. Brackin
Robert G. Gunn
DeAnn J. McMullen
Brent E. Taylor
Dr. Kathryn P. Broadbent
S. Shawn Harper
Rhanda G. Miller
Jason D. Taylor
Dr. Rebecca H. Brown
John S. Hasegawa
Stephanie K. Milliken
Sanci E. Teague
Patricia A. Buchanan
Connie S. Heflin
Tiffinee S. Morgan
Julie E. Thompson
Melissa A. Burgess
Sueann W. Hely
Bradley C. Newborn
Nichole M. Toon
Charles S. Cahill
Tyra F. Henderson
David L. Nickell
John D. Vos
Paul H. Caldwell
Greta G. Henry
Vanessa A. Norwood-McGregor
Constance L. Wade
Mary C. Carrico
Dr. Karen F. Hlinka
Carolyn K. Perry
Corey M. Wadlington
Joel D. Cates
Darren J. Hobbs
Christy L. Petitt
Stanley C. Wallace
Heather L. Coltharp
William S. Hofer
Tammy F. Potter
Nacole G. Walters
Laken N. Darnell
Virgil T. Holland
Lyman R. Powell
Shane R. Ward
Jamie A. Day
Carrie D. Hopper
Dr. Douglas L. Pruitt
Gerald L. Watkins
Craig T. Dickerson
Paul D. Housholder
Beverly F. Quimby
Mark A. Westerfield
Jason W. Donner
William Doyle Howard
Tina L. Ragsdale
Reta P. Witherspoon
Kimberly M. Dossett
Sharla E. Hutchinson
Gary L. Reese
Kelly R. Wright
Megan E. Dotson
Paula R. Isenberg
Sally F. Roof
Norita A. Youngblood
Carla K. Draffen
Jonathan B. Johnson
Kimberly G. Russell
LEE E. HICKLIN Director West Kentucky Technical College, 1992-1997 DR. PAUL MCINTURFF Director West Kentucky Technical College, 1998 – 2003
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Inauguration Planning Committee Janett Blythe Tom Butler John Carrico Jason Jones
Brian Heller Dallas McKinney Barbara Maxey Dr. Tena Payne
Gary Reese Tammy Thompson Blair Travis John D. Williams
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MISSION The mission of West Kentucky Community and Technical College is to provide excellence in teaching and learning, promote student success, and support economic development.
West Kentucky Community and Technical College
VISION West Kentucky Community and Technical College will empower individuals to achieve excellence through innovative and equitable learning opportunities and will continue to be a nationally preeminent community college.
Friday, The Twenty-First of April Two Thousand And Seventeen
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