Then-candidate for governor Ryan Quarles waits to speak during the Lincoln Day Dinner on April 14 in Bowling Green. (Kentucky Lantern photo by Austin Anthony)

Kentucky Agriculture Commissioner Ryan Quarles, a former state lawmaker and unsuccessful Republican candidate for governor this year, is a finalist for president of the Kentucky Community and Technical College System.

The other finalists are:

• Dean McCurdy, provost and senior vice president for academic affairs at Ivy Tech Community College of Indiana.
• Beverly Walker-Griffea, president of Mott Community College in Flint, Michigan.

In a news release announcing the finalists,? KCTCS board chair Barry Martin said: “We were overwhelmingly thrilled with candidates received in this search and we are excited to announce these extraordinary finalists.”

The candidates are scheduled to visit the system office in Versailles to meet with KCTCS Board of Regents, the 16 college presidents, and for a virtual forum with faculty and staff systemwide. The news release says the KCTCS Board of Regents is statutorily charged with choosing a president to lead the System and the selected candidate is expected to begin no later than Jan. 1, 2024.

Information about the schedule, along with photos and credentials of the finalists, are forthcoming and will be published here: Presidential Search | KCTCS.?

The Association of Governing Boards assisted KCTCS with the national search.