The President’s Leadership Council consists of the President’s Cabinet plus other strategic high-level university leadership positions. Formed in 2020, the council offers a structured path of review and recommendations to the President’s Cabinet.
Ryan K. Baggett, Ed.D.
Dean of Graduate Education & Research
ryan.baggett@eku.edu
Mercy Cannon, Ph.D.
Dean, College of Letters, Arts, and Social Sciences
mercy.cannon@eku.edu
John W. Dixon, J.D.
Chief Human Resources Officer
john.dixon@eku.edu
Julie George
Dean of EKU Libraries
julie.george@eku.edu
Jason Henderson
Internal Audit
jason.henderson@eku.edu
Bryan Makinen
Chief Campus Operations Officer
bryan.makinen@eku.edu
Bethany Miller
Chief Data & Reporting Officer
bethany.miller@eku.edu
Tom Otieno, Ph.D.
Dean, College of Science, Technology, Engineering & Mathematics
tom.otieno@eku.edu
Karen Peavler
Associate Vice President, Student Life
karen.peavler@eku.edu
Elizabeth E. Smith, Ph.D.
Dean of College of Education & Applied Human Sciences
elizabeth.smith@eku.edu
Emily Watters
Executive Director of Budgeting & Financial Planning
emily.watters@eku.edu
Jennifer Wies, Ph.D.
Associate Provost & Professor of Anthropology
jennifer.wies@eku.edu
Michael Ballard, Ph.D.
Interim Dean of College of Health Sciences
michael.ballard@eku.edu
Steve Caudill
Associate VP, Business Services & Auxiliaries
steve.caudill@eku.edu
Carrie Ernst
Chief Innovation and Optimization Officer
carrie.ernst@eku.edu
Brad Hall, Ed.D.
Chief Medical & Strategic Partnerships Officer
brad.hall@eku.edu
Rae Loftis, Ed.D.
Assistant Vice President for Student Affairs
rae.loftis@eku.edu
Thomas M. Martin, Ph.D.
Dean, College of Business
tom.martin@eku.edu
Jeremy Mulholland, Ph.D.
Associate Provost for Student Academic Affairs
jeremy.mulholland@eku.edu
Derek Paulsen, Ph.D.
Dean, College of Justice, Safety & Military Science
derek.paulsen@eku.edu
Abbey Poffenberger, Ph.D.
Chair & Professor of Spanish
(Chair Representative 2025-26)
Jordan Smith
Associate Vice President, Public Affairs
jordan.smith@eku.edu
Jeff Whitaker
Chief Information Officer
jeff.whitaker@eku.edu
John Williamson, Ph.D.
Superintendent & Dean of K-12 Programs at Model Laboratory Schools