Kentucky Student Success Collaborative celebrates 21 graduates of Leadership exChange program

June 02, 2026

The Kentucky Student Success Collaborative (KYSSC) celebrated 21 graduates of its second Leadership exChange cohort. During a recent event held at Eastern Kentucky University, KYSSC recognized campus and agency leaders who completed the nine-month program focused on advancing student success across Kentucky. 

Leadership exChange equips campus leaders with the skills and tools to design initiatives that center the college student experience and drive institutional improvement. Throughout the program, participants use student-centered design, improvement science and collaborative leadership strategies to address real-time challenges facing students and institutions. 

This year, 21 representatives from 11 Kentucky colleges and universities and two state agencies completed the program. The program culminated with capstone presentations, where participants shared projects designed to strengthen student success, improve campus systems and remove barriers to completion. 

“Leadership exChange is about building the capacity of Kentucky’s higher education leaders to turn ideas into action,” said Dr. Lilly Massa-McKinley, assistant vice president and executive director of the Kentucky Student Success Collaborative. “These graduates will not only be change agents on their campuses but will join a network of change leaders facilitating statewide projects for scalable improvement in Kentucky.” 

At the conclusion of the cohort, participants presented their work and competed for two awards — $15,000 and $10,000 — to support the expansion of their projects. Rachel Rogers of Morehead State University received the $15,000 award for her project, “Expanding Access to Experiential Learning.” Shane Redmond of Eastern Kentucky University received the $10,000 award for his project, “Co-requisite Student Success Cycle.” 

The 21 Leadership exChange graduates are: 

• Chris Butcher, Eastern Kentucky University 

• James Catchen, Thomas More University 

• Lisa Cox, Eastern Kentucky University 

• Teri Daniel, Thomas More University 

• Emily Jo Davis, Eastern Kentucky University 

• Kade Gambill, Murray State University 

• Jordan Garner, Murray State University 

• Jessica Kern, Maysville Community and Technical College 

• Misty Litton, Morehead State University 

• Jackie McNatt, Bellarmine University 

• Kausha Miller, Bluegrass Community and Technical College 

• Jane Mostue, Spalding University 

• Anita Nelums, Bluegrass Community and Technical College 

• David Potter, Kentucky Office of Adult Education 

• Shane Redmond, Eastern Kentucky University 

• Rachel Rogers, Morehead State University 

• MacKenzie Scroggy, KHEAA 

• Brandon Thompson, Northern Kentucky University 

• David Travis, Southcentral Kentucky Community and Technical College 

• Hannah White, University of Louisville 

• Fallon Willoughby, Southcentral Kentucky Community and Technical College 

Applications are now open for the 2026-27 Leadership exChange cohort. Interested applicants should apply by May 31 at https://kystudentsuccess.org/leadership-exchange/application/. 

The Kentucky Student Success Collaborative, an initiative of the Kentucky Council on Postsecondary Education, is made possible with the support of the James Graham Brown Foundation.