Interview with Martha C. Johnson,

Interview Summary

Martha C. Johnson (Chair, Kentucky Community and Technical College System, Board of Regents, 1997-2001) is the founding chair of the Kentucky Community and Technical College System (KCTCS) Board of Regents and an Ashland Inc. retired executive. In this interview, Johnson discusses her career in public relations, banking and various positions she held at Ashland Inc. She speaks about the Kentucky Postsecondary Education Improvement Act of 1997 (House Bill 1) that she learned about as an Ashland Community College board member and why she supported HB1. Johnson recalls the process of becoming a member of the newly formed KCTCS board and the difficulties the new board faced with accreditation and policy creation. She talks about how the board's role changed when President Michael McCall was hired, from being hands-on to advisory. Johnson also highlights the board's contributions to KCTCS's success, including hiring Dr. McCall and acquiring the PeopleSoft IT system.

Interview Keyword

Ashland Community College Charles Wethington College Accreditation Community College community college history community college system education reform Education, Higher Governor Paul Patton Jeff Hockaday KCTCS Kentucky Community and Technical College System Kentucky Postsecondary Education Improvement Act of 1997 (House Bill 1) PeopleSoft President Michael McCall Technical Colleges University of Kentucky

Interview LC Subject

Community colleges--Administration Community colleges--Kentucky Education, Higher

Interview Rights

All rights to the interviews, including but not restricted to legal title, copyrights and literary property rights, have been transferred to the University of Kentucky Libraries.

Interview Usage

Interviews may be reproduced with permission from Louie B. Nunn Center for Oral History, Special Collections, University of Kentucky Libraries.