Jim Kerley, Ph.D.

Jim Kerley, Ph.D.
President

The following is biographical information on Dr. A. James “Jim” Kerley, who became the fifth president of Gulf Coast State College on June 1, 2007.

Education: Dr. Kerley holds a Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) degree in Educational Administration and Supervision of Higher Education from Florida State University; a Master of Arts in Teaching in History from The Citadel; and a Bachelor of Science in Social Sciences/History/Secondary Education from Tennessee Tech University.
Professional Employment: Dr. Kerley has 27 years of community college experience, with 20 of those years as a community college president.

June 2007, assumed the presidency of Gulf Coast State College (then known as Gulf Coast Community College)
1998-2007, served as president of what is now Bluegrass Community and Technical College in Lexington, Kentucky. He was responsible for overseeing the successful merger of Lexington Community College and Central Kentucky Technical College into the Bluegrass Community and Technical College in 2004.
From 1989 to 1998, became president of Hopkinsville Community College in Kentucky.
From 1986 to 1989, served as academic dean at Madisonville Community College.
From 1983 to 1986, served as chair and professor of undergraduate teacher education program at Union College in Barbourville, Kentucky,
From 1982 to 1983, taught as an instructor at Valdosta State College in Georgia.
From 1980 to 1982, taught as an adjunct professor and graduate assistant for the Student Teaching Office at Florida State University.

Appointed to serve as At-Large Member of the Florida State College Activities Association Executive Committee
Elected to serve on the Florida College System Council of Presidents Steering Committee
Elected Florida Representative to the Southern Association of Community, Junior, and Technical Colleges Board
Member, Gulf Coast Medical Center Board of Trustees
Member, Executive Leadership Team, American Heart Association
Member, Board of Directors, Bay County Chamber of Commerce
Member, Bay County Chamber of Commerce Economic Development

Member, Bay Defense Alliance
Member, Board of Directors, Panama City Beaches Chamber of Commerce
Member, Panama City Rotary Club
Board of Governors for Kentucky and West Virginia’s Alliance for STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) Project, a partnership with the University of Kentucky, University of Louisville, and other regional universities in Kentucky and West Virginia (funded by the National Science Foundation)
Leadership Kentucky Board
Greater Lexington Chamber of Commerce Board
Mayor’s Task Force for the 2010 Equestrian Games of Lexington

Leadership Kentucky Recognition Service Award
Kentucky Humanitarian Award for Bluegrass Community and Technical College outreach into the region and community
Business of the Year Award for Bluegrass Community and Technical College in Winchester/Clark County for Lexington Community College
Special Recognition Award by University of Kentucky for African American Minority Outreach
Hispanic Outreach Award by Bluegrass Hispanic Association
Commander’s Award for Support of Soldiers and Family Members at Fort Campbell

Personal: Dr. Kerley’s wife, Dr. Donna Kerley, is also an educator and was an academic dean of Henry Clay High School in Lexington, Kentucky. They have been married for over 30 years and have two adult children and one grandchild.