By Joan C. McKinney, news and publications coordinator
CAMPBELLSVILLE, Ky. – John Chowning, vice president for church and external relations and executive assistant to the president at Campbellsville University, has been elected to serve as 2009 vice chair of the Kentucky Long-Term Policy Research Center’s board of directors.
The Kentucky Long-Term Policy Research Center is a state agency dedicated to research into trends and issues that are likely to influence the future of the Commonwealth.
Created by the General Assembly in 1992, the center is governed by a 21-member board and has a mandate to increase knowledge about issues on Kentucky’s horizon, guide planning efforts throughout state government and engage citizens and policymakers in preparing for the future.
“I was very honored to be elected to serve as vice chair of the Kentucky Long-Term Policy Research Center Board of Directors,” Chowning said. “I look forward to working with Board Chair State Rep. Reginald Meeks and Executive Director Michael Childress, and other board members and staff in the year ahead, as we study and analyze the public policy issues our state faces.”
Chowning said, “These are challenging times for the Commonwealth, and the center looks forward to further analysis and study of key issues and providing
policy makers and legislators with objective insight and options.”
Chowning was appointed to the KLTPRC in spring 2007 as a joint appointee of
House Speaker Jody Richards and Senate President David Williams.
Chowning is the founder 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 Campbellsville 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.
Chowning is an ordained Baptist minister having served as senior pastor for
several years of Saloma Baptist Church. He is active in Kentucky Baptist Convention life and has been recognized for his leadership in racial and ethnic reconciliation ministry.
He has a master 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 was recently honored by Lindsey Wilson College by receiving a Special Achievement Award.
Chowning has completed several courses in the program of alternate studies
at Memphis Theological Seminary and has completed additional graduate hours in education at EKU.
Chowning’s 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. Rep. Ron Lewis (R-Ky.)
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; Campbellsville’s Citizen of the Year in 1998 and 2001; Campbellsville’s Man of the Year by the Campbellsville Business & Professional Women’s Club in 1999; CU’s Faculty Challenger Award two years; and the 2007 Martin Luther King Jr. Humanitarian Award by the Taylor County Civic League.
His wife, Cathy, is a licensed physical therapist, and they are the parents of four children and have three grandchildren. The Chownings have lived in Campbellsville for the past 30 years.
Chowning is the head of a family farm operation in his native Cumberland County, Ky.
Rep. Reginald Meeks of Louisville has been elected to serve as the 2009 chair of the KLTPRC’s board of directors. As a member of the Kentucky General Assembly, he has represented the 42nd House District (Jefferson County) since 2001.
Meeks is the associate director of development at the University of Louisville and adjunct professor at McKendree College.
Campbellsville University is a private, comprehensive institution located in South Central Kentucky. Founded in 1906, Campbellsville University is affiliated with the Kentucky Baptist Convention and has an enrollment of 2,601 students who represent 93 Kentucky counties, 27 states and 31 foreign nations. Listed in U.S.News & World Report’s 2009 “America’s Best Colleges,” CU is ranked 22nd in “Best Baccalaureate Colleges” in the South for the second consecutive year. CU has been ranked 16 consecutive years with U.S.News & World Report. The university has also been named to America’s Best Christian Colleges®. Campbellsville University is located 82 miles southwest of Lexington, Ky., and 80 miles southeast of Louisville, Ky. Dr. Michael V. Carter is in his tenth year as president.