Dr. Anton Reece

Dr. Anton R. Reece has served more than 26 years in higher education. Dr. Reece is an honor graduate with a bachelor’s degree in broadcasting news and a master’s degree in counseling from Eastern Kentucky University, twenty-four hours above his master’s from Murray State University, and a doctorate in educational psychology at the University of Tennessee - Knoxville.  He started out at what was then Paducah Community College (now WKCTC) in 1990 as a minority affairs coordinator and counselor. By the time he joined the administrative team at University of Tennessee, Knoxville in 2003, he was WKCTC's Dean of Student Affairs and enrollment. Dr. Reece has a legacy of firsts as the first Minority Affairs Coordinator in the University of Kentucky Community College System in 1990.  From 1999 - 2003, Anton 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 education, business and community partners in Paducah and the Jackson purchase area.Dr. Reece brings extensive student success, enrollment, retention and graduation expertise to WKCTC.  For the past 13 years, Dr. Reece has successfully served students in various roles at the University of Tennessee, 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 was appointed as the second President of West Kentucky Community and Technical College. Dr. Reece is humbled to serve as President of WKCTC, which is a four-time Aspen Institute finalist and currently ranks nationally among the nations more than 1,100 community and technical colleges.

Brigitte Ramsey

Brigitte Blom Ramsey is the executive director of the Prichard Committee for Academic Excellence. Before joining the Prichard Committee, Brigitte was director of public policy for United Way of Greater Cincinnati focusing on state policy in Kentucky related to early childhood education. Ms. Ramsey spent a decade as an elected member of the Board of Education in rural Pendleton County, Kentucky and served as a governor-appointed member of the Kentucky Board of Education for six years. Ms. Ramsey has worked in policy, research, and advocacy on issues related to education, poverty, and state taxes and budgets – including work for universities in Ohio and Kentucky and for the Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland. She holds undergraduate degrees in economics and international studies and a master’s degree in public policy from the University of Kentucky Martin School.

Dr. Kirsten Turner

Kirsten Turner, as the Associate Provost for Academic Affairs, facilitates and coordinates between the academic administrative units under the Provost Office, including Student and Academic Life, Enrollment Management, UK International Center, Faculty Advancement, and the Center for the Enhancement of Learning and Teaching. Additionally, she coordinates student services policies and programs that have a strong impact on the University's curricular and co-curricular goals. She serves as chief advisor to the Provost in recommending new university-wide initiatives and special programs that provide the right support and services across the pillars of student success.Turner earned her Ph.D. at the University of Virginia’s Curry School of Education in the Center for the Study of Higher Education. She holds a master’s degree from the University of Kentucky and a bachelor’s degree from Hanover College. Her research interests deal with the public benefits of higher education as well as the current state of the American professoriate.