ACTC president inaugurated

May 20, 2019

 

Dr. Larry Ferguson, who started his higher education journey as a student at his hometown community college, was officially inaugurated as the president and CEO of that college, Ashland Community and Technical College, during the commencement ceremony on Monday, May 13 at the Paramount Arts Center.

Dr. Jay Box, president of the Kentucky Community and Technical College System, performed the inauguration ceremony.

“It is with great honor that I accept the appointment of president of Ashland Community and Technical College,” Ferguson said during the ceremony. “It is where I, too, started my higher education journey and I look forward to each day where we strive to best support our students in reaching their dreams.”

Before beginning his appointment at ACTC in October 2018, Ferguson formerly served as the vice president for resource development for KCTCS, where his responsibilities included overseeing advancement, grants, contracts and alumni affairs and serving as the executive director of the KCTCS Foundation.

Ferguson, an Ashland native, 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 and external affairs.

Ferguson also served as president of Bevill State Community College in Jasper, Ala.

In 2014 Ferguson was tapped to be the KCTCS Vice Chancellor for Economic Development and Workforce Solutions. Before returned to ACTC last fall, he was serving as vice president and acting chancellor for KCTCS.