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The collaboration with the University of Kentucky School of Engineering, which operates an extended campus in Paducah, also helps keep toptier talent in the region. “Our partnership with UK helps us retain something like 77% of those engineers who could work anywhere in the country, stay in our region,” he said.

With

A BACKGROUND IN broadcasting and communications, Anton Reece, president of West Kentucky Community and Technical College (WKCTC), has no trouble touting the advantages the college brings to the region.

“I think the buzzword is return on investment,’” he explained. “Of course, we graduate great students. That is core to our mission. But the college puts $225 million into the economy. That’s economic development; that’s jobs.”

Dr. Reece also cites retaining regional talent as another important role WKCTC plays. “The oftreferred to ‘brain drain’ is something that affects a lot of smaller, rural areas,” he said. “When we talk about

The 20 years as one of the 16 colleges of the Kentucky Community and Technical College System means intentionality in expanding the college’s regional footprint, says Dr. Reece. “More students in counties in Kentucky, Illinois and Tennessee are able to get access to the incredible educational opportunities that we offer,” he noted. “And for those of us geographically in the west, we are best positioned to meet the immediate needs of not only our local workforce but of the Commonwealth. Those are the advantages of being part of a robust and vibrant community college system.”

Dr. Reece’s first experience on campus was with Paducah Community College (PCC) in the years before the college merged with West Kentucky Technical College to create WKCTC. He became the minority affairs coordinator and counselor at PCC in 1990, and by the time he joined the administrative team at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville in 2003, Dr. Reece was WKCTC’s dean of student affairs and enrollment. He served in many roles at the university, including coordinator of academic support, director of student activities, executive director of student success, and associate vice provost of academic affairs.

When WKCTC’s first president, Dr. Barbara Veazey, announced her retirement in 2015, Dr. Reece was named to replace her. He returned to Paducah in 2016 bringing to the college some 30 years of higher education experience.

In Dr. Reece’s seven years at WKCTC, a global pandemic was one of the most significant impacts on shaping the mission of the college. “COVID was a game changer in terms of the delivery—the dramatic shift from inperson to virtual,” Dr. Reece said. “COVID also raised the level of awareness for providing access to technology for students to be able to do virtual-type services.

“We were always aware that there were equity gaps— we are in a rural area where 10 miles in one direction or another can make or break internet access. But COVID highlighted and emphasized that we’ve got to lean in more and be in tune to meeting those needs,” he concluded.

Along with the need to expand connectivity, Dr. Reece also sees the need to train students for quickly developing careers in robotics and AI (Artificial Intelligence). “I think this will be a big game changer in what we offer, and just as importantly, how we offer it,” he said.

“Meeting those known trends, and the unknown quite frankly, means being as prepared as we can.”

The framework is already in place for moving forward. “There’s always the supporting cast for robotics, which involves mechanical and electrical components,” he explained. “That multi-tier skill set in terms of how we train students is going to be part of what we offer in programs such as mechatronics systems.”

Dr. Reece and his wife Cornelia are huge supporters of education in all forms. Six years ago they created the Regional Educators Awards and Scholarship Program at WKCTC to recognize area teachers, administrators, and staff in K-12 partner schools. Mrs. Reece’s career spanned more than 27 years of working with students and families in grades K-12 in Knoxville, TN, McCracken County, the City of Paducah and postsecondary fields. The two devoted educators partner as a duo to lead the family of academics at WKCTC as they envision a future of success for every student who comes their way.

WKCTC ★ by J ANETT B LYTHE