WKU News

From left: WKU President Timothy C. Caboni; Learn and Earn Advisory Board Chair Dr. Jim Flynn; Christina Dawson, SOKY Jobs; and Leslie Witty and Dr. Sally Ray, WKU.

The inaugural meeting of the WKU Learn and Earn Advisory Board was held Nov. 9 at the offices of Learn and Earn Business Partner SOKY Jobs. Prior to the meeting, a “Meet and Greet” reception took place with WKU President Timothy C. Caboni in attendance.

Board members include: 

• Chair Dr. Jim Flynn, Superintendent of Simpson County Schools
• Melissa Aguilar, Executive Director, Kentucky Workforce Innovation Board
• Will Berry, CFO/CMO, Vid Monster Productions, LLC
• Robert Boone, President/CEO South Central Workforce Development Board
• Virginia Davis, Executive Director of the Hart Co. Chamber of Commerce
• Cornelius Faulkner, Superintendent, Caverna Independent School System
• Micheal Hale, Judge-Executive of Barren County
• Tom Harned, Executive Director, the Logan Economic Alliance for Development
• Tara Howard, HR Manager for Kentucky Downs
• Stacey Hughes, HR Manager for Logan Aluminum
• Mike Lovett, Founder & Senior Partner of HRD Strategies
• Tim Miller, Operations Manager of Sitel Glasgow
• Bud Layne, Founder and CEO of Span Tech, LLC
• Rebecca Stone, Executive VP/CEO, Service One Credit Union
• Steve Thurmond, Executive Director, Franklin Simpson Chamber of Commerce
• Senator Mike Wilson, 32^nd District Representative, Kentucky State Senate
• Honorary Board Member George Poling, Executive Director of Metropolitan College in Louisville.

Also in attendance were Dr. Sally Ray, Lauren Swayne, Judy Wimpee and Leslie Witty, all from WKU, as well as meeting host Christina Dawson of SOKY Jobs.

The board members were given the charge “to provide informed guidance and to serve as advocates for WKU Learn and Earn Scholarship Program.”  

After a brief overview of the program by Project Manager Leslie Witty, she then identified new initiatives within the program such as “Coach on Call,” “WKU Learn and Earn qWik Connect,” “#wkuworks” social media campaign with WKU Alumni and various collaborations with other departments at the university. In addition, Witty discussed successes within the program and also identified challenges.

Led by Board Chair Dr. Jim Flynn, The WKU Learn and Earn Advisory Board elected to begin holding quarterly meetings, allowing active WKU Learn and Earn Business Partners and/or Advisory Board Members to serve as meeting hosts. This process will allow the board to better understand the students’ workplaces as well as to provide the opportunity for businesses to showcase their facilities and/or services. 

The next meeting will be held on March 13. 

Contact: Leslie Witty, (270) 745-3454