News

Black History Month – The Wesleyan Way: Steven Peyton ’87

To borrow a “Star Trek” saying, Steven Peyton ’87 has gone where no Kentucky Wesleyan graduate has gone before with a career at NASA (National Aeronautics and Space Administration).  

The Hardinsburg, Ky., native can best be described as exceptional and rare.  

Peyton said, “After graduating with a bachelor of science in business administration from KWC in 1986, I decided to stay in Owensboro and worked at UPS and Modell Sporting Goods.  

“During this time, I applied for a position at the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) in September and received notification that I had been accepted for a position in Washington, D.C., beginning in January 1987.

Kentucky Wesleyan to host Shepard Brass Quintet recital

Kentucky Wesleyan College will host a free recital by the Shepard Brass Quintet on Monday, Feb. 5, 2024, at 7:30 p.m. in Tapscott Chapel at the Barnard-Jones Administration Building.

Shepard Brass, founded in 1999, is named after Wesley Shepard, past director of bands and chair of the University of Evansville Department of Music. The brass quintet has performed at the Indiana Music Education Association Conference, International Trumpet Guild Conference and most recently at the 2023 University of Evansville Brass Festival at Harlaxton College in England.  Members include Timothy Zifer, David Jarrett, Rebecca Salo, Kenneth Steinsultz and Patrick Stuckemeyer.

The program includes works by Victor Ewald, Anthony Plog and Paquito D’Rivera.

Kentucky Wesleyan to host inaugural Spring Reunion Weekend March 1-2

Kentucky Wesleyan College is pleased to announce its inaugural Spring Reunion Weekend presented by Edward Jones, Ed Krahwinkel will be held March 1-2, 2024.

Following a successful Homecoming & Family Weekend centered around fall sports in September, survey results indicated a desire for a similar weekend surrounding Panther Basketball. Plans for the weekend include a basketball alumni pickup game in Jones Gymnasium, The Wesleyan Sweethearts Game Show at the Jack T. Wells ‘77 Activity center, a pre-game party at the President’s Home, a basketball doubleheader vs. Trevecca Nazarene at the Owensboro Sportscenter and a post-game celebration at Bayside at The Party Space Place, a local venue owned by Marshall ’11 and Allyson (Forrest) Sanders ’05.

Learn More and Register Here

Dr. Thomas Mitzel Announces Retirement as President of Kentucky Wesleyan College

Kentucky Wesleyan College President Dr. Thomas Mitzel has announced his retirement following the conclusion of his current contract in December 2024.

“As I embark upon my fifth year as president at Kentucky Wesleyan College, I reflect on what has been a transformational experience for Rhonda and myself,” said Dr. Mitzel. “Working on a college campus brings new challenges and wonders each day. My time in Owensboro has been filled with exhilarating, busy, and at times, challenging ventures, none of which I would have missed. I am grateful for the opportunity to share these years with incredible students, faculty, staff, alumni and friends.”

“We thank Dr. Mitzel for his dedication and commitment to our College and its students,” said Trustee Chairman Fred Wright ’80. “The Board of Trustees will work diligently to identify and name a president to continue the vital mission of Kentucky Wesleyan College. We are thankful that Dr. Mitzel will continue to serve and assist us in the transition throughout the year before beginning a well-deserved retirement with Rhonda and their extended family.”

Since becoming president in January 2020, Dr. Mitzel has guided the College through significant times of change and progress with a focus on exceptional educational and community experiences. These include:

  • Introduction of the Three Pillars to guide the College to future success, providing the foundation for a comprehensive capital campaign
  • Restructuring the Board of Trustees, leading to increased guidance and participation
  • Acquisition, renovation and utilization of the Jack T. Wells ’77 Activity Center, offering increased space during the COVID pandemic and alternative event venue for interna and external community members
  • A successful fifth year review of accreditation by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS)

“I look forward with great enthusiasm to the coming year,” said Dr. Mitzel. “We will continue to seek funding to strengthen our academic and athletic models and sustain the College for the next generation. I will assist the Trustees as needed to identify the ideal candidate to lead this fine institution to an even stronger future.”

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day Celebration will take place at Kentucky Wesleyan – March canceled due to weather forecast

The annual community-wide Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day Celebration at Kentucky Wesleyan College will take place as planned on Monday, Jan. 15, 2024, at the Jack Wells Activity Center at 3300 Frederica St. However, due to the forecast of inclement weather, the march, which was to begin at 9 a.m. at Owensboro High School, has been canceled. Refreshments will be available from 9:30-10 a.m., and the program will begin at 10 a.m. The event will be livestreamed and can be accessed by clicking the link below.

Live Stream

The featured guest speaker is Owensboro native Candace Olusola, a certified life coach, public speaker and host of the podcast, First Paso. Ms. Olusola brings a holistic approach to personal and professional growth, and her coaching empowers and inspires people to navigate life’s challenges, discover their true potential and cultivate a sense of purpose.

For more information about the celebration, contact Lori Thurman in the Office of Equity and Inclusion at KWC at 270-852-3254 or lori.thurman@kwc.edu.

Kentucky Wesleyan’s Terry Woodward Center for Business Studies earns reaccreditation

The Terry Woodward Center for Business Studies at Kentucky Wesleyan College was granted reaffirmation of specialized business accreditation by the Board of Commissioners of the International Accreditation Council for Business Education (IACBE) at its Dec. 7, 2023, meeting.

According to the IACBE, the Terry Woodward Center for Business Studies at KWC demonstrated compliance of its business programs with the IACBE Accreditation Principles through a rigorous process of self-evaluation and independent peer review.

In addition, the Terry Woodward Center for Business Studies demonstrated a commitment to continuous improvement, excellence in business education, and advancing academic quality in its business programs and operations.

“Reaffirmation of our accreditation by the IACBE reflects our commitment to an exceptional education for our students,” said Raju Chenna, associate professor of accounting. “Our faculty is dedicated to preparing them well for successful careers, and our graduates make significant contributions to their communities across the country and right here in Owensboro.”

Kentucky Wesleyan College online programs recognized with top awards

Kentucky Wesleyan College’s online programs have been recognized by intelligent.com in their list of high-ranking institutions in the nation for 2024.

Intelligent.com’s rankings are a benchmark of academic evaluations for online and hybrid programs. An exclusive methodology is used to rank each institution on a scale from 0 to 100 across six categories. Evaluations are based on quantitative measures such as academic quality, graduation rate, cost and ROI, and student resources.

“Kentucky Wesleyan is honored to be recognized in intelligent.com’s top rankings,” said Morgan (Oakley) Russelburg ’14, director of academic operations. “Our faculty and staff provide exceptional academic programs and student-centered support initiatives, and these awards are a testament to their commitment.”

KWC Faculty featured and invited to prestigious professional conferences

A pair of Kentucky Wesleyan College faculty have been featured and invited to prestigious professional conferences. Christina Starkey, Ph.D., assistant professor of mathematics and math specialist at the Student Success Center at Kentucky Wesleyan College, was accepted to present two papers at the International Congress of Mathematics Education in Sydney, Australia. The event, the largest mathematics education conference in the world, is held every four years and will take place in July 2024. Dragana Derlic, Ph.D., assistant professor and program coordinator of criminal justice and criminology at Kentucky Wesleyan College, was a member of a roundtable presentation at the recent American Society of Criminology Conference in Philadelphia.

Kentucky Wesleyan College featured on Kentucky Academy of Science podcast

Kentucky Wesleyan College was recently featured on the weekly “Bench Talk” podcast of the Kentucky Academy of Science. Graduates Jenna Burns ’23 and Shannon Ruble ’22 discussed their research in Dr. Jeremy Gibson’s lab regarding the behavioral ecology of wolf spiders.

Listen to the Episode

The podcast was based on the 2022 presentation by both students at the annual Academy of Sciences meeting held at Morehead State University. Jeremy Gibson, Ph.D., is assistant professor of zoology and zoology program coordinator at KWC. Research in Dr. Gibson’s lab focuses on improving understanding of how abiotic and biotic constraints affect animal communication, specifically vibrational communication.