Bowling Green, Ky. - Molly Beth Kerby, a graduate student in Western Kentucky University’s Cooperative Doctoral Program with the University of Louisville and an Instructor of Women’s Studies at Western, has been awarded the K. Patricia Cross Future Leaders Award for 2006 by the Association of American Colleges and Universities (AACU).

Suzanne L. Hyers, senior director of Annual Meeting and Marketing at AACU said: “This was the most competitive selection process associated with the Award. (We) received more than 250 nominations this year, and all of those associated with the award noted the incredibly impressive credentials of this year’s nominees.”

Kerby, a resident of Bowling Green, was nominated by Dr. Jane Olmsted and WKU Provost Barbara Burch for the award. Dr. Olmsted, director of WKU’s Women’s Studies Program, wrote in her nomination letter: “Molly is an outstanding citizen in so many ways. She is immensely likeable and has a wonderful and timely sense of humor, she gives generously of her time and skills, she is a terrific role model for our students, and she has the kind of vision that will make her an outstanding administrative leader in education.”

Kerby said of winning the award, “I really felt honored. In the scheme of things, I was the only graduate student not from a research one school to win the award. I was honored beside some of the brightest minds in the country!”

Kerby was presented the award at the Annual Meeting of the Association of American Colleges and Universities Jan. 25 – 28 in Washington, D.C.

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