WKU News

Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear has appointed Derrick G. Helm of Jamestown to the Board of Regents of Western Kentucky University.

Helm replaces Linda Ball, whose term expired at the end of June. He will serve through June 30, 2030.

A lifelong resident of Russell County, Helm is a 2006 WKU graduate. After his time on The Hill, he attended the Salmon P. Chase College of Law, graduating in 2009. Since then, he has devoted his career to serving the legal needs of residents of South Central Kentucky. He serves as General Counsel to the Lake Cumberland Area Development District and the Lake Cumberland Community Action Agency and is a member of the Kentucky Lottery Corporation Board. Helm is married to Terran Cross Helm and they have two children.

“As a proud alumnus of Western Kentucky University, I am honored to serve on the Board of Regents,” Helm said. “WKU is a special place to me and I am excited to be a small part of the continued success of the University.”

The Board of Regents is the governing body of Western Kentucky University. It is comprised of 11 members, eight of which are appointed by the Governor. The remaining three, a faculty representative, staff representative and student representative, are elected by their university peers.

The new Staff Regent is Dr. Jennifer Hammonds, the Executive Director for Graduate Studies and University Registrar. She will serve a three-year term through June 2027.

“It is very humbling that the WKU staff trust me in this role. I’m committed to advocating for staff interests, supporting compensation and advancement, and practicing good stewardship of university resources,” said Dr. Hammonds, who has been employed at WKU since 2019. “I look forward to working with the Regents, staff, faculty, students, and the community to promote the growth, mission, and distinction of Western Kentucky University.”

WKU President Timothy C. Caboni said he looks forward to working with Regents Helm and Hammonds. “I am excited to collaborate with our two new regents as we advance initiatives to grow our enrollment, enhance our research portfolio, and build on WKU’s recent successes,” he said. “Derrick’s dedication to his alma mater is a tremendous asset to the Board of Regents, while Jennifer’s optimism and transparent, thoughtful decision-making are equally invaluable. We have a strong board that genuinely cares about our faculty, staff, students and alumni, and the upcoming academic year promises to be another outstanding one for WKU.”

The Student Regent is Sam Kurtz of Bowling Green who was re-elected Student Government Association President this spring. Kurtz will serve a one-year term.

The Board will next meet August 8 and 9 for its annual retreat and third quarterly meeting.

- WKU -

Western Kentucky University prides itself on positioning its students, faculty and staff for long term success. As a student-centered, applied research university, WKU helps students expand on classroom learning by integrating education with real-world applications in the communities we serve. Our hilltop campus is located in Bowling Green, Kentucky, which was recently named by Reader’s Digest as one of the nicest towns in America, just an hour’s drive from Nashville, Tennessee.