Kentucky Wesleyan College celebrates inauguration of new president

April 14, 2025

The inauguration of Dr. James P. Cousins, the 36^th president of Kentucky Wesleyan College, took place Friday, April 25, 2025, at 1 p.m. at Settle Memorial United Methodist Church at 201 East Fourth Street in Owensboro. Dr. Cousins became president on July 1, 2024.

Click here to re-watch the ceremony.

“This inauguration marks an extraordinary milestone in our history,” said Chair of the Board of Trustees Fred Wright ’80. “We invite the community to join us as we celebrate the strengths of our past and honor Dr. Cousins’ able leadership as we move forward to an even brighter future.”

Dr. Cousins served as the provost and vice president of academic affairs at Kentucky Wesleyan College since 2021 and has a distinguished career in higher education, including faculty and administrative leadership positions.

After beginning his career as a history and Latin teacher at Millersburg Military Institute in Millersburg, Ky., Dr. Cousins held teaching appointments at Kentucky State University, Berea College, Eastern Kentucky University and the University of Kentucky. Prior to his arrival at Kentucky Wesleyan, Cousins served as associate dean in the College of Arts and Sciences at Western Michigan University, overseeing student success, faculty engagement, assessment and curriculum development. Prior to that, Dr. Cousins was a faculty member and director of undergraduate studies in Western Michigan University’s Department of History.

An historian specializing in the Early American Republic, Dr. Cousins has presented at dozens of national conferences and, in addition to two books, has published scores of articles, essays, reviews and translations in popular journals such as Ohio Valley History, The Register of the Kentucky Historical Society, The Journal of Southern History, The Journal of American History and The History Teacher.

He has been recognized for many career accomplishments, highlighted by fellowships and awards including the American Council on Education Fellowship, the University of Chicago’s Robert L. Platzman Memorial Fellowship, the Filson Historical Society’s Research Fellowship, the Kentucky Historical Society’s Scholarly Research Fellowship and a Scholar in Residence appointment at Transylvania University. He earned his bachelor’s degree from Ohio State University and both his M.A. and Ph.D. from the University of Kentucky.

Dr. Cousins and his wife, Carrie, a native of Georgetown, Ky., and Murray State University alumna, have one son, James “JP.”

For more information on the inauguration, contact Peggie Greer in the President’s Office at 270-852-3104 or CLICK HERE to visit our Inauguration page.