Campus higher education leaders join KCTCS

Published on Jan 9, 2024

The Kentucky Community and Technical College System has chosen three top higher education leaders for key roles at the system office.

Anthony “Tony” Newberry, Ph.D., former president of Jefferson Community and Technical College, began Jan. 2 as senior advisor to President Ryan Quarles for a limited engagement as Quarles begins his presidency.

Shannon Rickett, J.D., University of Louisville’s associate vice president for governmental relations, will join the project management office Jan. 16 as special assistant for institutional planning and strategic alignment.

Bridget Canter, of West Kentucky Community and Technical College, joined the system office Jan. 8 as acting vice president for human resources. She formerly served as vice president for business and human resources at WKCTC. She will continue to chair the Huron Project Compensation and Equity Implementation Team in her new role.

“These are extremely great hires who bring vast statewide knowledge and campus experience, and I am so very pleased to welcome them to our team,” said Quarles. “Their contributions will help move us forward in creating the best possible version of KCTCS as the state’s most impactful higher education institution.”

Newberry’s background includes 40 years of experience in Kentucky’s community and technical colleges, with 10 years as a faculty member and two tenures totaling 18 years as a community college president in Louisville and Ashland. He also served five years as chief academic officer in the University of Kentucky Community College System and four as chancellor for community colleges in KCTCS.

After the passage of the Kentucky Postsecondary Education Reform Act (HB1) in 1997, Newberry was one of a handful of senior leaders responsible for the launch of KCTCS. Newberry holds a doctorate in history from Ohio University and an honorary doctorate in public service from Spalding University.

Rickett will play a pivotal role in supporting the strategic and long-range goals of the system and ensuring systemwide alignment of strategic initiatives. This position will collaborate with senior and executive leadership to identify and capitalize on opportunities for growth, efficiency and innovation.

At UofL, Rickett was directly responsible for managing all legislative and political issues at the local and state level, including advocacy efforts to the Louisville Metropolitan Government, the Kentucky General Assembly and the Governor’s Cabinet, as well as coordinating lobbying activities at the federal level. Drawing on years of government affairs and political experience, Rickett has served as strategic intermediary between the university and the larger political enterprise.

Prior to returning to her alma mater, Rickett served as a congressional staffer to former House Appropriations Committee Chairman Hal Rogers. A member of the Kentucky Bar Association, Rickett holds a juris doctorate from Baylor Law School and a bachelor’s in business administration from UofL.

A national search for the KCTCS vice president of human resources is ongoing. Applications and nominations will be received until Feb. 2.