Kenneth W. Winters
1988-1999
Kenneth W. Winters was president of Campbellsville College/Campbellsville University from 1988 until 1996.
Winters bridged a transitional period of Campbellsville College's history. It was during his presidency that the college changed its name to Campbellsville University. The transition began with the relocation of the Carver School of Social Work program to Campbellsville from The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, Ky.
The campus was also transformed by an extensive capital improvements program, that included the building of the Student Activity Center, Winters Dining Hall, a new president's residence (named the Betty Dobbins Heilman President's Home), a carillon clock tower and courtyard, and two student residence halls and the renovation of Carter Hall and the Gosser Fine Arts Center.
He was named Educator of the Year in 1995 by the Campbellsville-Taylor County Chamber of Commerce. He served as chair of the Association of Independent Kentucky Colleges and Universities (AIKCU) in 1995-96, president of the Mid-South Football Conference from 1989 to 1992, was a representative from District 32 on the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) from 1990 to 1992.
A native of Crittenden County, Winters earned a Bachelor of Science degree at Murray State University in 1957, a Master's from Indiana University in 1964 and, in 1970, a doctorate in Higher Education Administration and Technology Education from the University of Northern Colorado.
Before serving as president of Campbellsville College/University, Winters was dean
of the College of Industry and Technology at Murray State University from 1977 to
1988.
He also served as chair of the Department of Engineering and Technology and coordinator
of technology programs for the College of Industry and Technology.
During his career he has worked as a construction planner, estimator, purchasing/sales agent and legislator. Winters completed 12 years of military service in the U.S. Army and U.S Army Reserves.
He has served on many professional organizations including Council of Independent Kentucky Colleges and Universities (1992-1993), National Association of Industrial Technology (1976-1981) and Kentucky Industrial Education Association (1968-1976).
He's a member of the National Rifle Association, Experimental Aircraft Association, Council on Postsecondary Education and Editorial Board of Technology Today Magazine.
He was selected as a Republican member of Kentucky Senate in 2004 and served as senator representing western Kentucky's Senate District 1 until 2013. He is a deacon at First Baptist Church in Murray, Ky.
He resides in Murray, Ky., with his wife, Shirley. They have one daughter, Lisa Ray.