KCTCS announces new acting executive vice president and provost

Published on Jul 9, 2024

Southcentral Kentucky Community and Technical College President Dr. Phil Neal named to the role

The Kentucky Community and Technical College System announced the appointment of Dr. Phil Neal as acting executive vice president and provost. Neal has served as president and CEO of Southcentral Kentucky Community and Technical College — one of the 16 colleges of KCTCS — in Bowling Green for 11 years.

Neal brings more than 30 years of experience in higher education to this role. He previously served as the provost at Southcentral Kentucky Community and Technical College, chaired the KCTCS Academic Council where he was instrumental in creating the state’s common course numbering system, and served nationally on the Board of Directors for the American Association of Community Colleges and the National Advisory Board for the Center for Community College Student engagement. In 2024, Neal was a finalist for the American Association of Community College’s CEO of the Year Award.

Neal has provided senior-level leadership in academics, student affairs, institutional effectiveness and corporate training.

“Dr. Neal is an accomplished leader who has done great things at SKYCTC, and I am excited to have him in this new role,” said KCTCS President Ryan Quarles. “He is an experienced college CEO with a deep understanding of KCTCS and our colleges.

“His track record of success in workforce development, academic affairs and student success, as well as his proven ability to lead through times of change and transition will be instrumental to us as we work this year to build a roadmap for the successful future of KCTCS in our service to bettering the lives of our students and all Kentuckians,” he added.

Neal serves on numerous boards and councils supporting Kentucky’s workforce and industry development. He was a community college faculty member for more than a decade, and he served in multiple roles in admissions, counseling and student affairs leadership.

“I am equally humbled and honored Dr. Quarles invited me to serve in this capacity during an exciting time in KCTCS’ history as we reimagine the future and design the best versions of ourselves,” Neal said. “I am proud of the work our faculty and staff perform every day across the commonwealth to help Kentuckians reach their dreams of a better life.

“We need to capture this moment in time and capitalize on all things good within KCTCS, embrace change that leads to stronger outcomes, and build towards a future of innovation and excellence that propels Kentucky, its workforce, and our economy to the future the commonwealth deserves," added Neal. I look forward to supporting and leading alongside our visionary leader, Dr. Quarles, and my colleagues across the state.”

Neal earned a doctoral degree in educational administration from the Community College Leadership Program at the University of Texas at Austin and master’s and bachelor’s degrees from the University of Wyoming.

He will assume his role on Aug. 1. KCTCS will begin the process of naming an interim president of Southcentral Kentucky Community and Technical College soon.