WKU News

The Gordon Ford College of Business at Western Kentucky University will soon welcome a global executive into its faculty ranks. Dr. Kay Meggers, former Executive Vice President and Group President for Global Rolled Products at Arconic in New York City, will be joining the GFCB as the Hays Watkins Executive in Residence. He will serve as a faculty member in both the Department of Management and the Center for Leadership Excellence.

“It is a unique opportunity for an accredited college of business anywhere in the world to have a globally-recognized executive like Dr. Kay Meggers become part of the faculty who interact with students, provide meaningful seminars to the business community, and add value to applied research projects that seek to answer crucial problems facing global business today,” said Dr. Jeff Katz, Dean of the Gordon Ford College of Business. “Our college is truly honored to have Dr. Meggers as an esteemed colleague and active participant in advancing the Gordon Ford College of Business.”

“I’m very excited about the opportunity to work with the great students at the Gordon Ford College of Business and support them to be better prepared when they start their business careers after they graduate,” Dr. Meggers said. “I’m extremely grateful to Dean Jeff Katz for providing this meaningful opportunity to me as the next step in my career. I’m very impressed by the quality and work ethic of the students, as well as of the faculty and staff members whom I’ve met during my visits to the Hill.”

Dr. Meggers joined Arconic in 2010, playing a significant role in positioning Arconic for long-term success, leading capacity expansions in Iowa and Tennessee to capture growing demand for aluminum in the North American automotive industry.

“Under Kay’s leadership, GRP (Global Rolled Products) has been repositioned as an innovation-led partner to our customers, including in the automotive market, and we thank him for his contributions to Arconic,” said Arconic Interim CEO David Hess.

Prior to his tenure at Arconic, Dr. Meggers served in a variety of roles for Siemens U.S. Building Technologies Division, Siemens U.S. Corporation, and Siemens Management Consulting from 1995 until 2010. He earned his doctorate in natural sciences from the Christian-Albrechts University in Kiel, Germany in 1995. He also served from 1983-1985 in the Germany Army on active duty, joining the German Army Reserve following that service. He resumes active duty in the German Army once each year.

“Students in the GFCB are fortunate to be able to take advantage of the knowledge and expertise of Dr. Meggers,” said Chad Davis, Chair of the GFCB Business Executive Advisory Council. “Our students are facing a more global workplace and Dr. Meggers will be positioned to assist students understand those challenges.”

About the Gordon Ford College of Business: The Gordon Ford College of Business is named in honor of Bowling Green Business University accounting alumnus Gordon B. Ford, who provided a $10.6 million gift in 1998. The College enjoys a storied history that began in 1874 as a small, private business school in Glasgow, Ky. Today, the GFCB has more than 2,200 students across 10 undergraduate majors and three graduate programs. More information about the GFCB can be found at: wku.edu/business.

About Hays Watkins: Funding for the Hays Watkins Executive in Residence is made possible from a gift from Bowling Green Business University alumnus Hays Watkins, who serves as chairman emeritus of CSX Corporation in Richmond, Virginia.