Former agriculture commissioner, Ryan Quarles, takes new position as president of KCTC

By MICHAEL CRIMMINS
Glasgow News 1

Ryan Quarles, the former agriculture commissioner for Kentucky, announced on Jan. 2 via X — formerly Twitter — that he had accepted the position as the fourth president of the Kentucky Community and Technical College System.

“Today I started a new journey as the Kentucky Community and Technical College System President. I am so thrilled to start this new chapter of public service for the Commonwealth. KCTCS plays a special role in solving workforce issues and should be an accessible, affordable college for all Kentuckians. So excited to follow in my mother’s footsteps!” Quarles wrote on X on Jan. 2.

Quarles did not file to run for re-election as he chose instead to seek the governor’s office as the possible Republican challenger to Democrat Andy Beshear. Quarles later dropped out of the gubernatorial race leading to Daniel Cameron clinching the Republican party’s nomination for governor and Republican Jonathan Shell getting elected as the new agriculture commissioner in his stead.

The selection of Quarles as the newest president was announced by the college system’s board of regents on Sept. 29 after a “national search,” which began after the resignation of Paul Czarapata. According to the higher education system, Quarles was one of three finalists for the position with the others being Dean McCurdy, Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs at Ivy Tech Community College of Indiana, and Beverly Walker-Griffea, President of Mott Community College in Flint, Michigan.

“Dr. Quarles’ proven statewide leadership, his relationships across Kentucky and in Washington, D.C., as well as his outstanding educational background in higher education administration, make him the clear choice to move our system forward,” said KCTCS Board of Regents Chair Barry Martin.

Kentucky Community and Technical College has within it 16 colleges –with 16 presidents that met with Quarles — and more than 70 campuses including the Southcentral Kentucky Community and Technical College locations in Glasgow — at 500 Hilltopper Way and 129 State Ave.

Quarles said in the press release he is ready to begin his work at KCTC.

“I am both humbled and excited to further my public service towards the Commonwealth through KCTCS—our state’s most impactful higher education entity. For countless Kentuckians, our community and technical colleges change lives every day as we not only fullfil career dreams, but also strengthen our state’s workforce needs. As a former community college student, I’m excited to get started.”