Former GOP gubernatorial hopeful on KCTCS president shortlist

WUKY | By Josh James

Published September 12, 2023 at 4:30 PM EDT

FILE - Kentucky Agricultural Commissioner and Republican gubernatorial candidate Ryan Quarles answers questions before the Night of Republican Stars dinner at the Calvert City Civic Center in Calvert City, Ky., Aug. 5, 2022. Quarles kept his overall fundraising lead among Kentucky Republicans running for governor in 2023, but Kelly Craft set a blistering pace to overtake the rest of the GOP field in her first weeks on the campaign trail, according to the latest campaign-finance reports. (AP Photo/Timothy D. Easley, File)

Since finishing second in the GOP gubernatorial primary, Agriculture Commissioner Ryan Quarles has stayed relatively quiet about his future – only briefly alluding to plans to continue “fighting for Kentucky” during his appearance at Fancy Farm.

Now Quarles is one of three finalists announced by the state’s community and technical college system, which is narrowing down its search for a new president.

The other finalists on the shortlist include Dr. Dean McCurdy, provost and senior vice president for academic affairs at Ivy Tech Community College of Indiana, and Dr. Beverly Walker-Griffea, who current heads up Mott Community College in Flint, Michigan.

Prior to becoming a familiar face in Kentucky politics, Quarles graduated from UK with three undergraduate majors and two graduate degrees. He was then awarded a full scholarship to Harvard University and graduated with a Master’s in higher education before going on to earn a doctorate in the same subject at Vanderbilt in 2018.