Sen. Rand Paul will speak at Kentucky Wesleyan College’s Opening Convocation Aug. 17 at 4 p.m. in the Jack T. Wells ’77 Activity Center at 3300 Frederica St. The public is invited to attend the event. Space is limited, and the event will be livestreamed on KWC’s YouTube channel.
“We are honored to welcome Senator Rand Paul to Kentucky Wesleyan College as our distinguished speaker for this year’s Opening Convocation, said President James Cousins, Ph.D. “Senator Paul’s dedication to public service and his deep ties to our region make him a particularly resonant voice to welcome and inspire our newest students. His unique perspectives on leadership and governance are sure to provoke thoughtful discussion. We look forward to the insights he will share and the lively dialogue that will follow.”
Sen. Paul is a devoted husband and father of three and has been married for 31 years to Kelley Ashby Paul of Russellville, Ky. Dr. Paul and Kelley are both devout Christians and are active in their local church. Dr. Paul is the third of five children born to Carol and Ron Paul. He grew up in Lake Jackson, Texas, and attended Baylor University. He graduated from Duke Medical School in 1988. Dr. Paul completed a general surgery internship at Georgia Baptist Medical Center in Atlanta, Ga., and completed his residency in ophthalmology at Duke University Medical Center. Upon completion of his training in 1993, Dr. Paul and Kelley moved to Bowling Green to start their family and begin his ophthalmology practice.
Dr. Paul founded the Southern Kentucky Lions Eye Clinic, an organization that provides eye exams and surgery to needy families and individuals. He is a former president and 17-year member of Lions Clubs International, which is dedicated to preserving sight by providing eyeglasses and surgery to the less fortunate around the world. In recognition of his outstanding and sustained efforts to provide vision care to Kentuckians in need, Lions Clubs International has awarded Dr. Paul many of its highest commendations.
During his free time, Dr. Paul performs pro bono eye surgeries for patients across Kentucky. Additionally, he provides free eye surgery to children from around the world. Most recently, he traveled to Guatemala and Haiti on a medical mission trip. During his time in Guatemala and Haiti, over 200 patients, many of them blind with cataracts, had their vision restored.
Opening Convocation at Kentucky Wesleyan is a part of Move-In Day activities on campus as the new academic year begins. Classes begin Aug. 20.