The Flare
Friday, January 29, 2016 Vol. 79 No. 12 Serving Kilgore College since 1936
Welcome President Kays First female president to focus on student success MEAGHAN MORTON Managing Editor
F
rom behind the executive desk in Dr. Brenda Kays’ office in the Stewart H. McLaurin Administration Building, the new president watches students pass by walking to classes; however, her main focus is on their success.
Before Kays stepped foot on campus, she found things she loved about it. “Number one: the long historical tradition that exists at Kilgore College. You’re looking at the Oil Museum, the Rangerettes and the Shakespeare Festival,” Kay said. “The other thing that really attracted me was that once I had the opportunity to get on the website and really start exploring the meat of Kilgore College in its data.” Kays said she was able to see that KC definitely had an established tradition of student success and it was extremely important to her because students are the whole reason that any of us exist. “Without students there wouldn’t be a need for Kilgore College,” Kays said. “One of the things that we always have to keep our eyes on as faculty and staff in our institution is how do we help students in meeting their educational goals and dreams.” Kays said faculty should be asking questions like: How do we help them [students] in being successful? What tools can we provide? What can we actually serve our student in a holistic manner? As new president, Kays has many plans for trying to get to know students and figure out what they need. “I want to hear from you, I want your perspective,” she said referring to the KC student body. “It’s not just one group of students that I want to hear from. I want to hear from a wide variety of students so that I can understand the needs of the students at Kilgore College.” Based on her resume´, Kays is able and qualified to be KC’s new president. She has been a community college educator for more than 30 years and has deep experience on both the student services side of the house as well as the instructional services side. Tina Marie Reed / THE FLARE
See KAYS, Page 3
Dr. Brenda Kays officially begins her job as the college’s ninth president on Monday, Feb. 1.
‘I want to hear from a wide variety of students so that I can understand the needs of the students at Kilgore College.’
Public service department reorganizes from within JAMES SHREWSBURY Staff Writer Merriam-Webster defines public service as the business of supplying a commodity or service to any or all members of a community. At KC, our Public Service department includes the East Texas Police Academy (ETPA), KC Fire Academy and the Criminal Justice AAS. Prior to this year, there was no department chair for the Public Services department. Each academic section reported directly to Randy Lewellen, dean of business, technology and public services. The retirement of Brian Ruthven, director of the police academy, who gave 29 years of service to
KC, opened the door to reorganizing the department and assigning a chair. As of Feb. 1, Michael V. Ferguson will become the new department chair of KC’s Public Service department. He graduated from ETPA and has been employed there since September 1998. Joseph Cassin, deputy director of the police academy will be replacing Ruthven as the new director of ETPA. Cassin said he would not be making any new “whole sale changes” with the academy, but instead will try to build upon the previous relationships that the academy has with local police departments.
Farewell to Dr. Bill Holda
See DEPARTMENT, Page 3
Tiffany Johnson/THE FLARE
East Texas Police Academy Cadet Syndy Howell (front center) goes through muscle memory training drills with her classmates. The program’s leadership was recently restructured, but remains in the hands of veteran staff.
Richard Nguyen /THE FLARE
Dr. Bill Holda and Cecilia Sanders, KC board member, embrace at his retirement party January 24. Story on Page 6.