EDGEWOOD — G. Edward Hughes wants to be a visible leader in Northern Kentucky.

        Mr. Hughes was introduced Wednesday as the founding president of Northern Kentucky Community and Technical College, the area's first. The college is an expansion of Northern Kentucky Technical College into a community and technical college, with at least three locations.

        Mr. Hughes has been president of Hazard (Ky.) Community College since 1985.

        “It's always been a dream of mine to become a founding part of a community college,” he said.

        Mr. Hughes officially starts his job Dec. 1. Michael McCall, president of the Kentucky Community and Technical College System, said Mr. Hughes' familiarity with the state system was a factor in his selection.

        “He is a known quantity who can lead this institution where we want it to go,” Mr. McCall said.

        For Mr. Hughes, that direction is from Covington to Falmouth, from Fort Thomas to Florence, and to Dry Ridge. In other words, he wants to attract students from throughout Northern Kentucky.

        “You have to take education into the neighborhoods,” he said.

        Mr. Hughes, a Gettysburg, Pa., native, said he plans to work with legislators, school districts, business leaders and representatives from Northern Kentucky University and Thomas More College. Working with the smaller companies is as important to him as working with larger employers such as Toyota and Delta Air Lines, he said.

        “This institution has to be responsive to the business community's needs,” Mr. Hughes said. “But small to medium companies, that's where America's strength is, where we have to create jobs.”

        Northern Kentucky Technical — which for years has operated campuses in Covington, Highland Heights and Edgewood — is using $10 million from the state to expand into a comprehensive community and technical college. There may be additional locations in the college's future.

        Mr. Hughes said people should expect NKCTC to have an equal balance of liberal arts and technical education.

        “You have to have both,” he said. “That's what the region needs, that's what the region wants.”

        But getting future funding could be a challenge. Mr. Hughes said he expects NKCTC would “get its fair share” of state money.

        Kentucky's eight universities are asking for nearly $1.2 billion for next year. But Kentucky has to cut $700 million from the state budget because general revenues plunged.

        “I think the governor has made it very clear that only out of desperation would he touch education,” said State Rep. Jim Callahan, D-Wilder.

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