Higher Ed Opportunities at BCTC
Pst! Listen!
Postdoc Success Talks is a professional development series designed to amplify the career readiness and personal growth of postdocs (and PhDs) at the University of Kentucky. Each session spotlights practical insights and diverse career pathways—from industry to entrepreneurship, science policy, and beyond. Whether you're exploring teaching opportunities, navigating professional etiquette, or learning about fellowships and consulting, Postdoc Success Talks is your invitation to listen, learn, and launch your next step.
Higher Ed Opportunities at the Bluegrass Community & Technical College
Curious about careers and teaching opportunities at community colleges?
Join us for this session of Postdoc Success Talks (Pst!) featuring the Bluegrass Community & Technical College leadership to learn about the breadth of opportunities they offer. You will learn about teaching (and other) opportunities you can pursue at BCTC during your PhD or postdoc training at UK, as well as what it takes to start a career at a local community college.
We're joined by Greg Feeney (President), Karen Mayo (Provost), Patricio Meneses (Academic Dean of Allied Health & Nursing), Erin Tipton (VP for Advancement & Workforce Development), Melanie Williamson (Dean of Innovation), Carlous Yates (VP for Engagement & Student Success), and Val Zeps (Academic Dean), promising a rich panel with knowledge and expertise from all corners of BCTC!
BCTC has six campuses that are within a 30-minute drive of 95% of Central Kentuckians. The college enrolls over 18,000 students annually and provides training for business partners to more than 2,000 employees. BCTC is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.
Registration
Registration is required and you can attend in person (location TBD) OR you can attend online (via Zoom).
Registration closes on November 18, 2025 at Midnight
Greg Feeney, PhD
BCTC President/CEO
Dr. Greg Feeney is the fourth President of Bluegrass Community and Technical College (BCTC). Prior to this he was provost, serving as the chief academic officer and student affairs officer. He has been engaged in workforce development for multiple industry sectors including manufacturing, financial services, information technology, and healthcare. Dr. Feeney served in other administrative roles including Vice President of Academics and Workforce Development, Dean of Academics, Dean of Academic Support, and Assistant Dean of History, Languages, and Social Sciences at the college. He achieved the faculty rank of full professor and has been at BCTC since 1998. He earned his doctorate, with an emphasis in interpersonal and health communication and a cognate in behavioral science, at the University of Kentucky. He completed his master’s at Northern Illinois University, with an emphasis in communication theory and organizational communication.
Karen Mayo, PhD
BCTC Provost
Dr. Karen Mayo is the Provost at Bluegrass Community and Technical College (BCTC). In this role, she serves as the chief academic officer and chief student affairs officer. Dr. Mayo served in other administrative roles including Associate Vice President of Academics, Dean of Academics, and Assistant Dean of Nursing at the college. She has been at BCTC since 1997. She earned her doctorate in higher education studies, at the University of Kentucky. She completed her master’s at Eastern Kentucky University, with an emphasis in counseling and health education.
Patricio Meneses, PhD
Academic Dean of Allied Health and Nursing
Dr. Patricio Meneses is the Academic Dean of Allied Health and Nursing at Bluegrass Community & Technical College (BCTC). He brings a wealth of experience to BCTC, having most recently served as Associate Dean for Student Support and Academic Initiatives at Fordham University. He holds a Ph.D. in Neuroscience from Cornell University Medical College and has held multiple leadership roles, including Department Chair of the Biological Sciences department, Associate Chair of Undergraduate Studies, Director of the Honors College, and Faculty Athletic Representative. In addition to his administrative and academic leadership, Dr. Meneses rose to the rank of Tenured Full Professor with extensive experience in securing and managing research grants. Dr. Meneses’ research focuses on the biology of Human Papillomavirus, and his research was funded primarily by the NIH/NCI, and the American Cancer Society.
Erin Tipton, EdD
Vice President for Advancement and Workforce Development
Dr. Erin Tipton is the Vice President for Advancement and Workforce Development at Bluegrass Community and Technical College (BCTC). Prior to this role, she has served in several leadership roles for BCTC and the Kentucky Community and Technical College System (KCTCS) as Associate Vice President for Workforce Solutions (BCTC) and Director of Technical Programs (KCTCS), serving in a state-wide capacity for the 16 colleges within KCTCS. She also served as the Campus Director of BCTC, Danville Campus for 10 years. Her prior leadership positions at the college include Associate Dean for Student Outreach Services and Interim Vice-President of Student Retention and Success. Erin has eight years of leadership experience in Human Resource Development at the University of Kentucky, where she led recruitment and hiring. She holds a bachelor's degree in general studies in Business from Western Kentucky University, a master's degree in Career and Technical Education and a Doctoral Degree in Educational Policies and Evaluation from the University of Kentucky.
Melanie Williamson, PhD
Dean of Innovation and Professor of Computer & Information Technologies
Dr. Melanie Williamson is the Dean of Innovation and Professor of Computer & Information Technologies at Bluegrass Community and Technical College. Her role encompasses the exploration and development of new academic programs, securing and supporting grant initiatives, and advancing strategic efforts such as Competency-Based Education and partnership development. She currently leads two grants focused on artificial intelligence.
Carlous Yates, EdD
Vice President of Engagement and Student Success
Dr. Carlous B. Yates is the Vice President of Engagement and Student Success at Bluegrass Community and Technical College (BCTC) and Title IX Coordinator. In his role, he serves as a member of the Leadership Executive Team, leading the areas of Student Success Services, Community Support and Outreach, Counseling Services, and Student Accessibility Services. Prior to BCTC, Dr. Yates worked at Northern Kentucky University as Director of African American Student Initiatives, at Western Kentucky University as Director of Student Support Programs, and for ten years at Jefferson Community and Technical College in various roles. Dr. Yates earned a Bachelor’s in Sociology, a Master of Education in College Student Personnel from the University of Louisville, and a Doctor of Education in Educational Leadership from Western Kentucky University.
Val Zeps, PhD
Academic Dean
Dr. Valdis Zeps, Jr. graduated with Bachelor’s Degrees in Physics and Mathematics from the University of Wisconsin-Madison before attending graduate school at the University of Washington-Seattle to study experimental Nuclear Physics. Upon receiving his Ph.D. in 1988, he accepted a post-doctoral position at Carnegie-Mellon University where he was afforded the opportunity to work at renowned accelerator facilities across the US and Europe. In 1994, he accepted a professorial position at the University of Kentucky and worked towards tenure continuing both on- and off campus research efforts. He chose to remove himself from tenure-track for personal reasons, eventually transferring over to Bluegrass Community and Technical College (BCTC) where he was quickly added to the full-time ranks. While teaching physics and astronomy courses for the first many years at BCTC, he also held a slew of faculty governance positions, from Chair of the Rules Committee and the Parliamentarian of the Faculty to Chair of the Faculty and KCTCS Senate Council. He eventually stepped in to be the Division Assistant-Dean for Natural Sciences and for the past four years has served as Academic Dean over several divisions: first over Natural Sciences, Allied Health, and Nursing, and this past year, after realignment, he serves over Natural Sciences, Humanities, Math & Stats, and CHLSS (a conglomerate of language, social sciences, etc.) Divisions.
