KENTUCKY — Ryan Quarles is a graduate of Scott County High School and holds seven college degrees: a doctorate in higher education administration from Vanderbilt University; a master’s degree in higher education from Harvard University; and a juris doctorate from the University of Kentucky College of Law. He also earned his four other degrees, including two master’s degrees, from the University of Kentucky. 

And at the end of this year, he will wrap up eight years serving as Kentucky’s Commissioner of Agriculture, before leading Kentucky Community and Technical College as its next president in January.

“Well, I care about the Commonwealth. And I know that we have tremendous challenges ahead of us. And I grew up on a rural farm in rural Kentucky. And for me, I grew up working with my hands. I spent a lot of time in our shop, fixing engines, taking things apart and hopefully putting it back together correctly. And so I have a tremendous value for those who have technical backgrounds. And we need more folks that have those sorts of skills in our state. We need to have a dignity of work conversation in Kentucky. Those who come home with dirt on their boots or grease on their elbows, those jobs are worth just as much as the folks that work in downtown white-collar jobs. And so for me as a candidate, and now the incoming president, I know that the community and technical college system which has 16 colleges 70 locations is really a point of access for Kentuckians, including high school students that are sometimes graduating with an associate’s degree while they graduate high school, but also work with our employers. I really feel strongly that we should have a strong partnership with our business community, listening to our employers and then aligning with our programs that KCTCS had to offer to make sure that they find qualified employers or employees that is but we also provide programs that Kentucky the economy needs but also helps advance Kentuckians. American dream and earning a great wage,” said Quarles.

You can watch the full In Focus Kentucky segment in the player above.