ACTC Alumnus is Graduation Speaker

Published on Apr 21, 2017

Dr. Larry Ferguson, an Ashland native and Ashland Community and Technical College alumnus, will be the keynote speaker at ACTC's graduation ceremony on May 5.

He is the Vice President for Resource Development for the Kentucky Community and Technical College System. His responsibilities include overseeing advancement, grants, contracts and alumni affairs and serving as the executive director of the KCTCS Foundation.

Ferguson has more than 20 years of workforce training experience in both the private sector and higher education. He has been engaged in workforce development for multiple industry sectors including manufacturing, financial services, information technology, and healthcare. He also has significant experience in economic development at both the local and state levels.

Ferguson graduated from Boyd County High School in 1986 and from Ashland Community College, an ACTC Predecessor, in 1991. At ACC, he earned an associate degree with a focus on communications. He went on to earn a Bachelor of Science degree in organizational leadership and a Master of Science Degree in strategic leadership from Mountain State University. His Doctorate in Educational Leadership is from Trident University.

While working on his higher degrees, Ferguson remained close to home as Manager of Leadership Development at King's Daughters Medical Center and an instructor at ACTC and the University of Charleston. He became ACTC's Director of Business and Industry Services in 2007.

At ACTC, Ferguson headed the Community, Workforce and Education Department (CWED) which provided programs, trainings and services to individuals and the business community. CWED later became the Workforce Solutions Department with a variety of workforce educations programs and services. He served in several workforce and economic development leadership positions before becoming Dean of Resource Development & External Affairs.

In 2014 Ferguson was tapped to be the KCTCS Vice Chancellor for Economic Development and Workforce Solutions. He went on to serve as president of Bevill State Community College in Jasper, Ala. before taking his new KCTCS position in March.

In Ashland, he was actively involved in a wide variety of community organizations including serving on the executive board for the Northeast Kentucky United Way and the TENCO Workforce Investment Board.

"I am so excited to have the opportunity to come back to Ashland," Ferguson said. "I would not be who I am if I had never attended ACC."

At Graduation, Ferguson will receive a Distinguished Alumnus Award in recognition of his achievements in educational leadership and community service. The ceremony on May 5 at 7:30 p.m. in the Paramount Arts Center in Ashland is free and open to the public.