Gov. Andy Beshear has appointed Dr. James Cousins, provost and vice president of academic affairs at Kentucky Wesleyan College, as a member of the Education Professional Standards Board (EPSB).
Cousins replaces Timothy Wooster, who resigned, and will serve for the remainder of the unexpired term ending June 30, 2025.
Cousins called the appointment a tremendous honor.
“The board is best known for its role in certifying teacher education programs, but it also renews individual licenses for Kentucky teachers, hears cases of educator misconduct, and makes policy recommendations to the state legislature. It is important work at a challenging time,” he said.
Cousins continued, “Kentucky, like most states, has seen a gradual decline in the number of certified teachers and an uptick in unfilled vacancies. Many states have responded by loosening or lowering standards. These are short-term solutions that only intensify long-term problems. The job of the EPSB is, above all, to maintain rigorous standards, but there are opportunities to open the funnel and build a stronger pipeline of potential educators. I look forward to joining those conversations.”
Mason Dyer, president of the Association of Independent Kentucky Colleges and Universities (AIKCU), said, “As Kentucky strives to meet its evolving teacher workforce needs, it’s critical for AIKCU to have a knowledgeable and thoughtful leader like Dr. Cousins representing the independent college sector at the state level.”
Cousins has served at KWC since July 2021 after various roles at Western Michigan University in Kalamazoo, most recently as associate dean of the College of Arts and Sciences from 2015-2021.
