OCTC Faculty Promotions

by Bernie Hale

Owensboro, KY (07/18/2018) — Owensboro Community & Technical College (OCTC) is proud to announce the following faculty promotions effective July 1, 2018.

Barry Bowlds, Professor

Kathryn Brown, Professor

Tonya Northenor, Professor

Matthew Alschbach, Associate Professor

F. Martin Higdon, Associate Professor

Courtland Lewis, Associate Professor

Lauren McCrary, Associate Professor

Matthew Monsour, Assistant Professor

Larry Stone, Assistant Professor

Barry Bowlds has been promoted to Professor, he has been employed at OCTC (formerly KY Tech) as the Welding Program Coordinator since 1994. He has an Associate in Science Degree in Technical Education from Western Kentucky University, and an Associate in Applied Science degree from OCTC, as a graduate of the Welding program in 1984, and the Machine Tool program in 1992. He has 10 years of metalworking experience in the repair, fabrication, construction, and machining industries. Bowlds served as the Construction and Transportation Division Chair from 2004-2008, currently serves as the Welding Curriculum Chair for KCTCS, and serves on the Scholarship Committee and Administrative Council at OCTC. Bowlds is an American Welding Society (AWS) Certified Welder, AWS Certified Welding Educator, and an AWS Certified Welding Inspector. In addition to teaching an overload of classes each semester, he routinely does weld testing and training for several industries in the region. He has sponsored many community service welding projects over the years, including the OCTC tree at the holiday display at Panther Creek Park. He also hosted the Boy Scout Welding Merit Badge Academy for our region.

Kathryn "Kaye" Brown has been promoted to Professor. She received her Bachelor of Arts from the University of Texas at El Paso and her Master of Arts in English from Western Kentucky University. She has taught English at OCTC since 1994, when she began as an adjunct faculty member.

Brown has served as the Common Reading co-chair at OCTC since 2006. She was instrumental in helping to create the $1,000,000 National Endowment for the Humanities fund to support Humanities programming for OCTC and the community. Through her work with the Common Reading, the college and community has hosted authors such as: Pulitzer prize-winning author, Rick Bragg; acclaimed Native American author, Sherman Alexie; playwright Marsha Norman; Kentucky author, Bobbie Ann Mason and Kentucky treasure, Wendell Berry. Over the years, the campus has collectively read over twenty-five books and hosted authors and events each semester.

She has worked with faculty and staff to engage students from across the campus in activities related to each semester's themes, including arranging for visits from Native American and Civil War reenactors, organizing quilting and weaving demonstrations, and planning a Chinese gala for about 1,500 participants in association with the OCTC Common Reading receiving a National Endowment for the Arts "Big Read" grant. Brown has been invited to present at several national conferences, including the 2018 First-Year Experience Conference in San Antonio, Texas, to discuss OCTC's nationally recognized Common Reading program.

In addition, Brown has served as the College Assembly Chair, as well as Faculty Senator-at-Large. She is also the College Vice-President for the Kentucky Council of Teachers of English, a state-wide organization of English teachers from kindergarten through post-secondary. Most recently, Kaye Brown fulfilled a lifelong dream and led twenty-two students, faculty, staff, and community members on a Study Abroad trip to Germany, Poland, and the Czech Republic in conjunction with her class, Humanities 160: Holocaust Literature and Film. She plans to continue encouraging students to join future trips and engage them in these life-changing experiences.

Tonya Northenor has earned a promotion to Professor, she teaches Composition courses and a new class she developed, Introduction to Dystopian Literature & Film. Since 2006 she has served as co-chair of OCTC's Common Reading program. The nationally recognized program features two books and authors each year, including Kentucky writers of note as well as nationally recognized authors. She was instrumental in helping to create the $1,000,000 National Endowment for the Humanities fund to support Humanities programming for OCTC and the community. Campus and community members are invited to read the books, of varying genres, and to participate in related events each semester.

Northenor is also an active member of WISE; Women in Support of Education. She holds a Master of Fine Arts degree in Creative Writing from the University of Memphis and is a published poet, with pieces in regional and national journals and anthologies. Her writing has been nominated for a Pushcart Prize and was a finalist for the May Swenson award.

Matt Alschbach has earned a promotion to Associate Professor, he earned a master's degree in history from San Diego State University, and a bachelor's degree in history from California State University San Marcos. He has presented his research at numerous conferences and events, discussing topics such as Eleanor Roosevelt, Muhammad Ali, the Salem witch trials, temperance and prohibition, the U.S. Constitution, and the historic role of women as legitimate practitioners of medicine. He is a strong advocate for diversity and inclusion, serving as faculty advisor for Students Aligned for Equality at OCTC. Alschbach serves on a number of college committees dedicated to students' success both in college, and in life.

F. Martin "Marty" Higdon has been promoted to Associate Professor. He began teaching at OCTC in March of 2012 and was promoted to Assistant Professor in August of 2014. Higdon earned an Associate in Applied Science in Electrical Technology with High Distinction honors from OCTC and a Bachelor's Degree in Systems Management from Western Kentucky University. He has certifications that include: Electrician Trainee Levels I & II, Residential Electricity I & II, holds a Master Electrician License, and a General Class Radiotelephone License. Higdon has more than 29 years' experience in the field working at Aleris and Commonwealth Aluminum as Safety Training Coordinator, Safety, Environmental and Health Manager, and prior to that as an Electrician.

Dr. Court Lewis has been promoted to Associate Professor. He received his Ph.D. from the University of Tennessee and is Program Coordinator of Philosophy and Religious Studies at OCTC. He co-authored a medical ethics textbook with Dr. Tim Dick, OCTC Biology Professor, entitled Medical Ethics: The 16 Week Case Consult, an interactive workbook designed to teach students the basics of critical thinking and ethical reasoning, and how both skills apply to the field of medicine. Lewis is the Series Editor of Vernon Press's series on the Philosophy of Forgiveness, editor of two volumes in the series, and has contributed to several other journals and edited collections. He is the co-editor of Doctor Who and Philosophy and More Doctor Who and Philosophy, editor of Futurama and Philosophy and Divergent and Philosophy, and author of Way of the Doctor and the forthcoming book from Lexington Books, Repentance and the Right to Forgiveness.

Lauren McCrary has been promoted to Associate Professor. She earned a master's degree in Public Administration from Western Kentucky University and a bachelor's degree in Merchandising from the University of Kentucky. McCrary a native of Owensboro, has been at OCTC since 2012, and has been serving a program coordinator for the Medical Information Technology program. Her dissertation "Influences on the Development and Implementation of Work-Based Learning Opportunities in the Kentucky Community and Technical College System: A Faculty Perspective" focuses on the development of experiential learning opportunities. She is a doctoral candidate in Educational Policy Studies and Evaluation (EPE) at the University of Kentucky and expects to have the study complete in December 2018.

Matt Monsour has been promoted to Assistant Professor. He began teaching Computer and Information Technology classes at OCTC part time in 2009 while working as a technology coordinator in the non-profit sector. He began teaching full time at OCTC in 2016. Matt earned a Bachelor of Science in Math and Computer Science from Brescia University in 2002, a Master of Arts in Theology from Saint Meinrad School of Theology in 2010 and is currently working on a Master of Science in Telecommunications Management from Murray State University. He remains active in the student chapter of the Association of Computing Machinery and the Owensboro Area World Affairs council.

Larry Stone has been promoted to Assistant Professor. He began teaching Air Conditioning Technology for OCTC as an adjunct in 2004, becoming program coordinator and teaching full-time in 2016. He earned a diploma in Air Conditioning Technology from OCTC (Owensboro Technical College). Stone has more than 16 years' experience in the field and holds an ATD Master Trainer Certification, a Kentucky Master HVAC Journeyman License, and is an EPA Section 608 and Job Ready Certification Proctor.

OCTC is currently enrolling for classes beginning in August. Interested students may apply online at www.owensboro.kctcs.edu/ and select Apply Now or visit the START Center on the main campus, located at 4800 New Hartford Road, Mondays - Thursdays 8 a.m. - 5:30 p.m. and Fridays from 8 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.

Owensboro Community & Technical College is one of the sixteen community and technical colleges that make up the Kentucky Community & Technical College System. OCTC serves the KY counties of Daviess, Hancock, Ohio and McLean. OCTC has three campuses in Daviess County and a Center and Annex in Hancock County. OCTC strives to serve the communities in the service area by providing associate degree education for transfer, state of the art technical education for students focusing on entering the workforce, customized business and industry solutions through the Workforce Solutions division, and adult education and business and industry testing through the SkillTrain unit.

The Kentucky Community and Technical College System is the Commonwealth's largest postsecondary institution with 16 colleges and more than 70 campuses. We also are Kentucky's largest provider of workforce training and online education. Through partnerships with business and industry, we align our programs to meet the needs of local employers. We help students fulfill their dreams of creating a better life through programs that lead directly to jobs or help them transfer to one of our four-year partners.

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