West Kentucky Community & Technical College

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Anton Reece Meets 5-year Milestone

Paducah, KY (10/03/2021) — Five years ago, Dr. Anton Reece never would have imagined or predicted the many ups and downs he would face as the second president of West Kentucky Community and Technical College. From a worldwide pandemic to a historic $15 million donation, no one could ever say that being president of one of the top community colleges in the nation was not an adventurous journey.

"I continue to learn and grow in my role as president," Dr. Reece said. "I work closely with very talented and committed cabinet and campus leaders who provide me with information, constructive feedback, and assist with assessing and managing challenges and opportunities to meet the ever-changing needs of our students, faculty, and staff."

Dr. Reece, who celebrates his 5th year at WKCTC on Friday, October 1, said the past five years had provided him with a chance to meet and engage regional and local education, business and industry, and civic partners to gather, learn and prioritize critical initiatives to support workforce and economic development needs. "It is equally rewarding to see the incredible growth on prior "new" initiatives, including the regional WKCTC Education Express, Regional Educators Award and Scholarship Program, and the Regional Business Symposium, being incredibly supported and embraced."

Dr. Reece became the first African American president and CEO of WKCTC in 2016, having served nearly 30 years in higher education. He has extensive experience in communication, including public speaking, marketing, broadcasting news, television, and radio. Dr. Reece is an honor graduate with a Bachelor of Arts in Broadcasting News and a Master of Arts in Counseling Student Personnel from Eastern Kentucky University. Dr. Reece earned twenty-four hours above his master's degree from Murray State University and a Ph.D. in Educational Psychology and Research at the University of Tennessee - Knoxville.

Dr. Reece brought extensive student success, enrollment, retention, and diversity expertise to WKCTC. He spent 13 years at the University of Tennessee serving in various roles including, coordinator of academic support, director of student activities, associate vice provost of academic affairs, and director of the student success center.

Dr. Reece's higher education career has resulted in a legacy of firsts. He was the first minority affairs coordinator at the University of Kentucky Community College System in 1990. From 1999 - 2003, he was also the first African American dean of student affairs at West Kentucky Community and Technical College. On October 1, 2016, Dr. Reece achieved a historic appointment as the first African American and second president of WKCTC.

Dr. Reece was also selected to serve nationally on the American Association of Community Colleges' (AACC) Unfinished Business Panel to address gaps in equity among community and technical colleges.

At the regional and local level, Dr. Reece utilized his visionary, creative and transformative leadership to actively build partnerships and engage K-12 education, business, industry, religious, and community partners in Paducah and the Jackson Purchase area. Dr. Reece pioneered the annual Regional Educators Award for K-12 educators and the first Regional Business Symposium attracting over 100 businesses and CEOs to address workforce and economic development needs.

Under his leadership, WKCTC has earned several state, and national distinctions, including being named the number one ranked community and technical college in the Commonwealth, being a four-time national finalist for the Bellwether Consortium, a five-time Aspen Institute finalist consistently ranked in the top 10 nationally among the nation's 1100 community and technical colleges, and being recognized by an Academic Influence feature in Forbes Magazine. WKCTC was also the only college in the Commonwealth of Kentucky ranked by Best Colleges as the best community college.

Reece said these national rankings and recognitions directly reflect the many talented and dedicated faculty and staff committed to fostering and supporting student success. "In addition, it speaks to the ongoing commitment to a culture of excellence and our willingness to meet students where they are and where they are heading," Reece said. "The regional community has certainly taken notice, and many business leaders and stakeholders link these achievements to fostering and boosting workforce readiness, economic development, and growth."

Dr. Reece has served previously on the Greater Paducah Economic Development executive team and is currently the 2021 chair of our Paducah Chamber of Commerce.

"So much has happened during the last five years. It has certainly been a rollercoaster," Reece said. "I'm so very proud of how our college community came together to help our students to deal with the pandemic but to still stay strong. I do not doubt that our college will continue to exceed our goals and make our community and our commonwealth proud."

Eight-week classes at WKCTC begin October 11. Available eight-week courses include art, history, communications, physics, business, construction, industrial maintenance, graphic design, and video production/editing. First-Year Experience (FYE) classes are also offered.

For more information on applying at WKCTC, email wkctcenrollment@kctcs.edu or call 270-534-3435.

Media Attachments

WKCTC President Anton Reece stands beside the 5th Anniversary banner that was placed outside Carson Hall Friday, October 1.

West Kentucky Community and Technical College President Anton Reece.

A special "fruit" cake that is not a fruitcake was produced by WKCTC Chef Jessi Donaldson for a brief anniversary gathering for Dr. Anton Reece on October 1. Chef Donaldson made the unique anniversary cake with only fruit including grapes, pineapple, melons, etc.

WKCTC Chef Jessi Donaldson slices the first piece of her fruit cake for WKCTC President Anton Reece's 5th anniversary as college president.

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