(The Center Square) – Kentucky Agriculture Commissioner Ryan Quarles was hired Friday as the next president of the Kentucky Community and Technical College System.
The state’s network of regional institutions serve thousands of Kentucky students seeking a college education or training for a new career. Quarles, selected by the system’s Board of Regents, will be its fourth president. He’ll succeed Paul Czarapata, who resigned in February.
“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 board Chairman Barry Martin.
Quarles said in a statement he sees his next position as an extension of his service to the state. He served as a state representative from 2011 to 2016 before leaving to serve in his current position. He was first elected commissioner in 2015 and won reelection four years ago.
Term limits prevented Quarles from seeking another term as commissioner, but he ran for the Republican gubernatorial nomination this year. He ran a distant second to Attorney General Daniel Cameron in the May 16 primary.
A starting date was not announced, though Jan. 1 is a likely target.
Other finalists were Dean McCurdy, provost and senior vice president for academic affairs of Ivy Tech Community College of Indiana, and Beverly Walker-Griffea, president of Mott Community College in Flint, Michigan. In all, 43 applications were received in a national search.
A Scott County native, Quarles began his higher education at a state community college before moving on to the University of Kentucky, where he received bachelor’s degrees in agricultural economics and public service and leadership in 2005. He earned his master’s in ag economics as well as diplomacy and international commerce a year later. He also graduated from the UK College of Law in 2010. In addition, he has a master’s in higher education from Harvard University and a doctorate in higher education administration from Vanderbilt.
“For countless Kentuckians, our community and technical colleges change lives every day as we not only fulfill career dreams but also strengthen our state’s workforce needs,” Quarles said. “As a former community college student, I’m excited to get started.”
