REV. DR. KEVIN W. COSBY
THE 13TH PRESIDENT OF
SIMMONS COLLEGE OF KENTUCKY
In 2005, Rev. Dr. Kevin W. Cosby was named President of Simmons College of Kentucky.
When President Cosby began in this role, the school did not own any property, it was unaccredited and had a very small and miniscule budget. In 2007, he led the once fledgling college to reclaim its original campus, lost during the Great Depression, and has since expanded to multiple buildings on three campuses. Under Dr. Cosby’s visionary leadership, the college earned national accreditation from the Association of Biblical Higher Education (ABHE) and expanded its degree programs to 14 offerings. Dr. Cosby uncovered the rich history of Simmons, which was established by former slaves, and in 2014, Simmons was recognized by the U.S. Department of Education as a Historically Black College & University. During his first decade there, Dr. Cosby refused to take a salary to stabilize the college and returned more than $700,000.
He is one of our nation’s most influential leaders: He was inducted into the Gallery of Great Black Kentuckians at the Kentucky State Capitol (2015); At the request of Muhammad Ali, he served as one of the eulogists at his Funeral (2016); and he was inducted into the Martin Luther King, Jr. Board of Preachers of Morehouse College (2017).
Dr. Cosby has authored six books including “Getting to the Promised Land: Black America and the Unfinished Work of The Civil Rights Movement.” The book is a Biblical commentary on the American Descendants of Slavery (ADOS) and is published by Westminster John Knox Press.
Dr. Cosby has an earned Doctor of Ministry degree from United Theological Seminary in Dayton, OH and a second doctorate – a Ph.D. in Public Policy (a Martin Luther King, Jr. Scholar) from Union Institute & University in Cincinnati.
Dr. Cosby is married to the former Barnetta Turner. They have two adult children (Christine Nicole & Kevin Christopher).
FACULTY AND STAFF
Simmons College of Kentucky is an institution of biblical higher education dedicated to educating people in the urban context through strong academic and professional programs in order that they may become productive citizens and agents of change in society.
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Louisville, Kentucky 40203
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Simmons College of KY has been approved to participate in the National Council for State Authorization Reciprocity Agreements.
None of the Simmons College of KY programs lead to licensure.
Simmons College of Kentucky is nationally accredited by the Association of Biblical Higher Education