With a firm resolve to keep students as the No. 1 priority, Dr. Jason Kegler has taken the helm as the new president of Fort Scott Community College in Fort Scott, KS.
“One of my goals will be to work directly with the faculty and staff to ensure we maintain the perspective of ‘students first,’” he stated in his letter of application and echoed in public forums last week. “…
Oftentimes within higher education, we create ‘unintentional roadblocks’ for students. We need to review the student experience with the intention to streamline and simplify the process.”
Kegler, who earned his doctorate of education from Baker University, comes to FSCC from his job as associate vice president for student life at Pittsburg State University, his post since July 2014, according to the press release. He also serves as a deputy for the Allen County Sheriff’s Office.
Kegler was selected from a group of three finalists after a fast-tracked selection process, according to the press release.
Kegler, originally from Kansas City, is the son of Carl and Mary Lou Kegler. He graduated from Archbishop O’Hara High School in 1992 where he lettered in both basketball and track. He attended the University of Saint Mary in Leavenworth, where he was a member of the college’s first ever men’s basketball team. He graduated from St. Mary in 1996 with a bachelor’s in psychology,
Kegler earned a master’s in organizational leadership from Fort Hays State University in 2009.
Kegler, who resides in Fort Scott with his family, has a thorough understanding of the community college system having served as dean of students at Neosho County and director of student life, head women’s basketball coach, and director of admissions/marketing and admissions counselor at Allen County,
He and his wife, Terra, a paraeducator and volleyball coach at Fort Scott High School, have three children, all in the USD 234 system, daughter Raveyn and sons Dierks and Kyron.