As a Professor Emeritus of Chemistry from Kentucky Wesleyan, I admit that I am biased when it concerns the College, but facts are facts.
Throughout its history, Kentucky Wesleyan, along with many other small private colleges, has experienced financial difficulties from time to time. At KWC, these challenges have been met over the years by the Board of Trustees, the president and cabinet, staff and faculty, and the larger KWC community, including the Owensboro community. The decisions recently made by the Board of Trustees and President Mitzel were difficult, but these decisions, made by strong leaders, will solidify the future of the College.
The College leadership made these painful decisions with facts I do not have and do not need. I know these people, and I trust them.
Kentucky Wesleyan, as recognized by several national publications, is an excellent small academic institution. The Kentucky Wesleyan faculty and staff have always made every effort to assist students from different personal backgrounds and make them feel welcomed, safe, and secure to help ensure they will become successful alumni. Alumni and community leaders have been instrumental in providing advisement and opportunities to enhance their lives and future careers.
KWC alumni serve their communities around the world. They include many physicians (i.e., one with the Cleveland Clinic, another the Deputy Commissioner of Public Health in Kentucky, many providing care in Owensboro) and other health care providers, a retired Director of Human Resources for Eli Lilly in Indianapolis and Ireland, several college and universities professors (i.e., one is an Associate Dean of Engineering at the University of Notre Dame and another is a Ph.D. conducting research at the University of Cincinnati Children’s Hospital ), a great number of teachers, many of whom have been recognized as Teacher of the Year at their schools, numerous attorneys, successful business leaders and others in various professions.
Kentucky Wesleyan will never become a large impersonal institution. It will continue to exist as a small academic institution on a beautiful campus which offers an excellent personal experience to each student and produces graduates who make significant contributions to their communities around the world.
Written by
W.L. Magnuson, Ph.D.
Professor Emeritus of Chemistry
Kentucky Wesleyan College
