Newberry to retire as Jefferson Community and Technical College president and CEO

Dr. Tony Newberry, president and CEO of Jefferson Community and Technical College since July 2002, announced today his plans to retire, effective June 30, 2015.

Newberry made the formal announcement at a meeting of the faculty on the JCTC Downtown Campus. The search for the next president will begin later this month.

Over the course of about 18 months, I have reviewed and evaluated where the college stands in meeting its goals and laying a positive course for the future, he said. I have determined that this is the optimal time for a new leader to harness the college s energy and excitement and continue its momentum forward.

Jefferson enrolls more than 13,000 students in academic, career and transfer programs at six campuses in Jefferson, Bullitt, Carroll and Shelby counties and online. It also conducts extensive customized education and training programs for area employers.

Newberry joined Jefferson as president after serving as chancellor for community colleges of the newly formed Kentucky Community and Technical College System, which came into being following passage of the Kentucky Higher Education Reform Act in 1997. Newberry was tasked with helping to lay the groundwork for the new system, which combined the community colleges, formerly operated by the University of Kentucky, and the state s technical schools.

In 2002, then new KCTCS President Michael B. McCall, appointed Newberry president of Jefferson, the system's largest college. It was a homecoming of sorts for Newberry, who began his community college career teaching history at Jefferson in 1976.

Later he was dean of academic affairs at Southeast Community College and president of Ashland Community College.

While at Jefferson's helm, Newberry oversaw the consolidation of the former Jefferson Community College and Jefferson Technical College in 2005, opened campuses in Shelby and Bullitt counties, and expanded the Downtown Campus with multiple land purchases in 2012. The college opened the state-of-the-art Health Sciences Building on its Downtown Campus in 2010, and will break ground this spring on a $16 million regional campus in Carrollton, which will replace the outdated current campus.

The college also plans to develop a $48.6 million Advanced Manufacturing/Automotive Technology Center on its Downtown Campus. In January, the college announced a new partnership with area manufacturers to help address a critical shortage of skilled manufacturing employees.

In 2011 the college became part of the prestigious Achieving the Dream network, a coalition of two-year colleges with a dedicated commitment to improving student success. As part of that effort, the college revised numerous student support programs and services with an eye toward improving retention and graduation rates. Early results look promising. The college awarded a record 1,334 Associate Degrees in 2014.

Tony's commitment to the mission of community colleges is matched only by his genuine and heartfelt concern for each member of the JCTC family: students, staff, and faculty, said Diane Calhoun-French, JCTC provost and vice president. Under his leadership, the college has grown in students and communities served, programs and services offered, and contributions to the economic and cultural vitality of our service area. He will be greatly missed!"

JCTC Board of Directors chairwoman Lynn Fischer said The Board and Foundation Board members have so appreciated Dr. Newberry's collaborative, results-oriented style. Tony has worked hand-in-hand with us to lay the groundwork for Jefferson to become a world-class Community and Technical College. He has set the stage for us to attract a successor who knows that she/he is coming into the best community college leadership position in the country what a great legacy he leaves!  Newberry said he plans to return to the classroom part-time to teach history and plans some writing projects.

There is no question that my experience as president of Jefferson has been the most rewarding higher education opportunity of my career, he said. It's true, I will miss being a part of it, but I also see nothing but great things for the college in the future.

KCTCS President Jay Box will on campus later in the month to begin explain the search process for the next president.