Kentucky Wesleyan College President Barton D. Darrell announced Thursday that he would be stepping down as president effective June 1, 2019.
Darrell, a 1984 graduate of Kentucky Wesleyan, has been serving in his current role for four and a half years. Darrell was named 34th president of Kentucky Wesleyan College in September of 2014, after spending the majority of his career as an attorney, often advocating for school districts throughout Kentucky. In the summer of 2016, Darrell agreed to a five-year contract extension, committing him to the college until 2021.
During his tenure, Darrell introduced “The Wesleyan Way,” which became part of the college’s overall brand and culture. The college also had a complete overhaul of its campus ministry program, led the state in average CPA exam scores and saw an increase in the academic profile of the student body.
“Bart has a unique style of leadership that just binds people together,” said alumnus and board of trustee member, Jack Wells ’77. “It’s not a gimmick, it’s not a façade, it’s who Bart is. He had a clear direction of where we wanted to take Wesleyan and in those five years, he accomplished all of what he set out to do. We could not have been more honored to have Bart on our campus for the last five years.”
Candance Brake, president and CEO of the Greater Owensboro Chamber of Commerce, said Darrell has created a sense of possibility that is palpable in the Owensboro community.
“Bart’s entrepreneurial and innovative spirit has created so many legacies across campus,” Brake said. “His ability to connect with the students is so evident and that ability ties students to our community. We are seeing that connection pay off every day as Wesleyan grads from across the country decide that they want to make Owensboro their permanent home.”
Prior to assuming the role as president at Wesleyan, Darrell worked with Bowling Green law firm Bell, Orr, Ayers & Moore in Bowling Green, where he made partner in 1991. Darrell has been serving as general counsel for many years for both Daviess and Warren County Public Schools, as well as other Kentucky school districts.
Darrell was appointed by the governor to serve on Kentucky’s Council on Postsecondary Education for four years and was the vice-chair in 2004. He also serves on the board of directors for the Owensboro-Daviess County Regional Airport, RiverPark Center, Greater Owensboro Chamber of Commerce, Southern Kentucky Performing Arts Center and the National Association of Schools and Colleges of the United Methodist Church.
On Aug. 11, 2016, the Kentucky Wesleyan College Board of Trustees Chair Rev. Dr. Tom Grieb announced that Darrell had accepted the board’s offer of a five-year contract extension.
“We could not be happier with the direction of the college under the visionary leadership of President Darrell,” Grieb said. “His energy, enthusiasm and passion for Wesleyan, along with his ability to think strategically and work collaboratively with other great talent at the college, is taking us places Wesleyan has not seen before.”
After receiving word of Darrell’s decision to step down, the board of trustees appointed Dr. Gene Tice to serve as the interim president while the board completes a national search for a new president. Dr. Tice holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in economics and business administration from Muskingum College. He also holds a Master of Arts in college student personnel and a Ph.D. in counseling and guidance, both from the University of Alabama. In recent years, Dr. Tice served as vice president for student affairs and campus services for Western Kentucky University from 2000-08 and retired as regional chancellor of WKU-Owensboro after 10 years of service in 2018.
Darrell endorsed the decision of the board to appoint Dr. Tice.
“I have always admired his work in higher education and am happy that he will serve as interim president,” Darrell said.
The board will begin its national search for a new president this summer.
Darrell envisions his successor possessing a background in academic programming as he believes this is the next area of growth for the college.
“I believe I was the right person at the right time to serve as my college’s president,” Darrell said. “I’m so pleased with the successes the college has had over the last five years. Now I believe, with what we have accomplished, it is time for me to step aside and allow someone with additional skill sets to take us to the next level.
Darrell said the students are the reason he came to serve the college in 2013.
“I am better because of our students,” Darrell said. “They have inspired me with who they are, what they accomplish and where they are going. It is with a lot of sadness, but with a lot of optimism that I bid Wesleyan farewell, and as excited as I am about what we have accomplished together, I am even more excited about where we are going.”
