John Chowning serves as Vice President for Church and External Relations and Executive Assistant to the President at Campbellsville University.  He is the founding director of CU’s Kentucky Heartland Institute on Public Policy and teaches part-time in the institution’s political science program.  He has served on a number of boards, including serving as Chair of the University’s Board of Trustees,  Kentucky State Board of Elections, The Center for Rural Development, Campbellsville-Taylor County Industrial Development Authority, Southern Kentucky Economic Development Corporation, the Heartland Parkway Foundation board, the Heartland regional heritage tourism advisory committee, and Greater Campbellsville United which works to promote racial and ethnic harmony in the community and region.  He is an ordained Baptist minister having served as senior pastor for several years of Saloma Baptist.  He is active in Kentucky Baptist Convention life and has been recognized for his leadership in racial and ethnic reconciliation ministry.  He has a masters of public administration (planning emphasis) from Eastern Kentucky University; a bachelor of arts in political science from Transylvania University; and an associate of arts from Lindsey Wilson College.  He has completed several courses in the program of alternate studies at Memphis Theological Seminary and has completed additional graduate hours in education at EKU.  His professional career has included serving as a public school teacher, public sector grant writing and planning, vice president and partner in a Lexington-based consulting firm, and former director of economic development for U.S. Representative Ron Lewis.  Mr. Chowning is a member of several professional and civic organizations and has received a number of awards, including Governor’s Economic Development Leadership Award in 1999; local Citizen of the Year in 1998 and 2001; local Man of the Year by the local BPW Club in 1999; CU’s Faculty Challenger Award two years; the 2007 Martin Luther King, Jr. Humanitarian Award by the Taylor County Civic League; and the For the Greater Good Award from the Association of Independent Kentucky Colleges and Universities.  His wife, Cathy, is a licensed physical therapist, and they are the parents of four children and have three grandchildren.  Mr. Chowning is the head of a family farm operation in his native Cumberland County, Kentucky.  The Chowning’s have lived in Campbellsville for the past 30 years.

Mr. Bob Babbage is serving as a special advisor to the executive director of KHIPP and is involved in the development of forums, lecture series, and other activities. Mr. Babbage is founding partner of a lobbying and government relations firm headquartered in Lexington, Kentucky and has served as Kentucky State Auditor, Secretary of State, State Democratic Party Chair, and candidate for Governor. He is a well-known speaker and writer and holds degrees from the University of Kentucky (master), Lexington Theological Seminary (master), and Eastern Kentucky University (bachelor).

Dr. Mary Wilgus, Dean, College of Arts and Sciences.

Mr. Max Wise, Assistant Professor of Political Science.