Council Members
The Council is composed of 13 citizen members, a faculty member, and a student member, all appointed by the Governor. The Commissioner of Education serves as a nonvoting ex-officio member. If you would like to be considered for a seat on the board, please contact Kentucky's Boards and Commissions at (502) 564-2611 or by visiting their website.
Madison Silvert, chair
Madison Silvert of Owensboro is the president of The Malcolm Bryant Corporation, a community-oriented and full-service real estate development firm. Prior to this, he served as president and executive vice president of the Greater Owensboro Economic Development Corporation. Silvert earned a bachelor’s degree in economics from Centre College and a Juris Doctorate from the University of Louisville Brandeis School of Law. He is currently a member of the Advisory Council for the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis and has served on numerous boards over the years, including SACS Committee on Colleges, the Kentucky Association for Economic Development and the Kentucky Workforce Innovation Board.
Appointed: April 9, 2021 (EO 2021-220)
Term Expires: Dec. 31, 2025
Leadership: Council Chair (January 2023-current)
Committee Membership: Executive Committee, Finance Committee
Clyde B. Akins
Rev. CB Akins Sr., of Lexington, is a retired pastor from the First Baptist Church Bracktown and author of the book, “From Burden to Blessing.” Dr. Akins served in the United States Air Force from 1969-73 and taught foreign languages in the Military Intelligence Division of the U.S. Army Reserves from 1973-80. Following his service, he earned a bachelor of arts in social work from the University of Kentucky, and both a master of divinity and doctor of ministry from the Lexington Theological Seminary. Dr. Akins’ leadership in the community has also given him the opportunity to serve on numerous boards, including those at the Kentucky Board of Education, Midway College, Simmons College of Kentucky, and the University of Kentucky.
Appointed: May 17, 2022 (EO 2022-271)
Term Expires: Dec. 31, 2027
Committee Membership: Executive Committee, Committee on Equal Opportunities
Muhammad Babar
Dr. Muhammad Babar of Louisville is an attending physician at St. Mary and Elizabeth Hospital and the medical director at six other health care and rehab centers. He is a M.D. graduate of Allama Iqbal Medical College in Pakistan and also has Master of Business Administration from the University of Massachusetts and a Master of Science degree from the University of Louisville. He currently serves on numerous boards including Fund for the Arts, Metro United Way and the Speed Art Museum.
Appointed: Sept. 15, 2020 (EO 2020-764)
Term Expires: Dec. 31, 2024
Jacob L. Brown
Jacob Brown, of Louisville, is the founder and principal of Marian Development Group, LLC, formed in 2001, to provide development, architectural, and construction services to urban infill, market rate, and affordable housing projects. Mr. Brown has been involved in construction for over 40 years, with experience in single family, multi-family and commercial construction. He studied Finance at the University of Louisville and is a member of several industry groups including the Urban Land Institute, CCIM Institute, Building Industry Association of Greater Louisville, and the National Association of Homebuilders.
Appointed: May 17, 2022 (EO 2022-271)
Term Expires: Dec. 31, 2027
Committee Membership: Finance Committee (chair)
Lindsey Case
Lindsey Case of Louisa is a high school teacher in Lawrence County, where she specializes in aviation and helping prepare students to become pilots. She is a Private Pilot and Basic Ground Instructor. She also teaches business classes and has taught for 18 years. Case earned a bachelor’s degree in accounting from the University of Kentucky, and is active in the community through Rotary, Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA), Kentucky Airport Zoning Commission and Ninety-Nines.
Appointed: April 29, 2024 (EO 2024-306)
Term Expires: Dec 31, 2029
Jennifer Collins
Jennifer Collins of London is a retired K-12 teacher and media specialist who worked at Clay County High School for 25 years. She received a bachelor of science in psychology from Centre College, a Master of Arts in Education from Eastern Kentucky University, and a Rank I Certificate from Union College. Her passion for life-long learning has inspired her to help students find their best place to pursue postsecondary education.
Appointed: Jan. 17, 2023 (EO 2023-022)
Term Expires: Dec 31, 2028
Committee Membership: Finance Committee, 2024 Nominating Committee
Kellie C. Ellis
Kellie C. Ellis, Ph.D. of Richmond, is the faculty representative to the Council. She is an Associate Professor and the Chair of the Department of Clinical Therapeutic Programs at Eastern Kentucky University; and teaches undergraduate and graduate coursework in child language disorders, speech sound disorders, and research methods. Dr. Ellis is a former Chair of the Kentucky Board of Speech Language Pathology and Audiology, former President of the Kentucky Speech Language Hearing Association, and former Chair of the American Speech-Language Hearing Association’s Governmental Relations and Public Policy Board. She currently serves as the Governmental Relations Chair of the Kentucky Speech Language Hearing Association.
Appointment Date: Sept. 17, 2021(EO 2021-702)
Current Term Expires: June 30, 2025
Committee Membership: Finance Committee, Academic & Strategic Initiatives Committee, Committee on Equal Opportunities, 2023 Nominating Committee, Executive Committee
Meredith Figg
Meredith Figg of Beaver Dam is a pharmacist at Rice Pharmacy. She attended Western Kentucky University for her undergraduate studies and later received her Doctor of Pharmacy from the University of Kentucky College of Pharmacy. Meredith also serves on the Kentucky Board of Pharmacy and the Kentucky Pharmacy Technical Advisory Committee.
Appointed: Jan. 17, 2023 (EO 2023-022)
Term Expires: Dec. 31, 2028
Committee Membership: Academic & Strategic Initiatives Committee
Karyn Hoover
Karyn Hoover of Jamestown recently retired after 27 years as an elementary education teacher in the Russell County school district. Among teaching grade levels preschool through second grade, she focused her efforts on closing achievement gaps, mentoring new teachers and building relationships with students and their families. She received a bachelor's degree in elementary education from Eastern Kentucky University and completed a 5th year degree at Western Kentucky University. Mrs. Hoover is an active member of the Kentucky Education Association and she serves as Encourager Team Leader for Celebrate Recovery, a Christ-centered recovery program that supports adults in finding a purpose in life and overcoming ongoing challenges.
Appointed: April 9, 2021 (EO 2021-220)
Term Expires: Dec. 31, 2025
Committee Membership: Executive Committee, Academic & Strategic Initiatives Committee, Kentucky Authority for Educational Television Board (representing University of Kentucky), 2023 Nominating Committee
Faith Kemper
Faith L. Kemper of Fort Wright retired after 37 years in various technology-related roles at Procter & Gamble. Since that time, she has dedicated her time to community service, political endeavors, and activism. While working full-time, Kemper earned a bachelor of arts degree in Religious Pastoral Ministry and a minor in General Studies from the University of Mount St. Joseph in 2012. Kemper chairs the Northern Kentucky Women's Network branch.
Appointed: June 10, 2022 (EO 2022-324)
Term Expires: Dec. 31, 2024
Committee Membership: Committee on Equal Opportunities
Chloe Marstiller
Chloe Marstiller of Olive Hill, KY serves as the Student Representative of the Council, and is a senior at Morehead State University majoring in sociology and minoring in political science. She served as the 2022-23 student body president, is a Student Alumni Ambassador, and works as a Resident Advisor for the MSU Office of Student Housing. Her focus as the Student Representative is ensuring that all students have access to equitable and high-quality education.
Appointment Date: Aug. 31, 2023 (EO 2023-532)
Current Term Expires: Aug. 30, 2024
Committee Membership: Finance Committee, Academic and Strategic Initiatives Committee
LaDonna Rogers
LaDonna Rogers of Glasgow is the Executive Vice President of Engagement and Culture at TJ Regional Health. LaDonna has over 20 years experience in Human Resources in healthcare. She earned a bachelor of arts degree from Western Kentucky University. LaDonna served on the Glasgow Independent School Board for 12 years, six of those years as Vice Chairman. She also served on the WKU Board of Regents for 6 years. LaDonna has a passion for education and students as reflected in her service to the betterment of secondary and postsecondary education in Kentucky.
Appointed: Jan. 17, 2023 (EO 2023-022)
Term Expires: Dec. 31, 2028
Committee Membership: Academic & Strategic Initiatives Committee, 2024 Nominating Committee
Elaine N. Walker
Elaine Walker of Bowling Green is a former Kentucky Secretary of State, Commissioner of the Kentucky Department of Parks, and served as the 29th mayor of Bowling Green. Mrs. Walker attended the University of Maryland and majored in Speech Pathology. She is co-owner with her husband, Dorian Walker, of Peridot Pictures Corporation, a motion picture and television production company, and serves on numerous boards including Emerge Kentucky, Lost River Cave, and the College Hill Historic Neighborhood Board.
Appointed: July 30, 2021 (EO 2021-534)
Term Expires: Dec. 31, 2026
Committee Membership: Finance Committee, Committee on Equal Opportunities (chair)
Kevin W. Weaver
Kevin W. Weaver of Lexington is an attorney at Sturgill, Turner, Barker and Moloney, PLLC. A graduate of the University of Kentucky, he has a bachelor's degree in political science and Juris Doctorate from the College of Law. Weaver has served on countless boards in the last 20 years, the most recent being four years on the Kentucky Public Employees Deferred Compensation Authority.
Appointed: Sept. 15, 2020 (EO 2020-764, 2024-306)
Term Expires: Dec. 31, 2029
Committee Membership: Academic & Strategic Initiatives Committee, Kentucky Authority for Educational Television Board (representing state universities), 2024 Nominating Committee (chair)
Robin Fields Kinney (ex-officio)
Robin Fields Kinney assumed the role of interim state commissioner of education on September 30, 2023. Prior to that, Kinney served as an associate commissioner in the Office of Finance and Operations for the Kentucky Department of Education (KDE), as well as interim commissioner for a short period in December of 2019 following the departure of former Commissioner Wayne Lewis. Kinney's prior work experience also includes legal practice in Kentucky and Florida, and public service as general counsel of the Kentucky Cabinet for Economic Development and deputy secretary of the Kentucky Finance and Administration Cabinet.
Last Updated: 6/10/2024