Dr. Jason Kegler: Breaking barriers as Fort Scott Community College’s first Black president
FORT SCOTT, Kan. — One of the first Black community college presidents in southeast Kansas is only six months on the job, but has high hopes for the future.
“What I want people to know about me is that I’m just the average guy,” said Dr. Jason Kegler, FSCC president.
It’s not everyday you see a college president just chatting on campus with students.
“I want to be approachable to students. I want to know the students, because, at the end of the day, that’s why I’m here.”
Dr. Jason Kegler said some students are coming to Fort Scott Community College from places like Kansas City or Dallas, and it’s not lost on him what being a person of color could mean for them.
“They have someone who has most likely been there, done that with them and, who honestly, who looks like them. So to be able to come and say, ‘hey this might be someone who understands what I’m going through, it’s beneficial.”
He grew up in Kansas City, himself, attending predominantly white schools.
“I was the only student of color in those classes, and, so, I remember those days where I felt whatever I felt. Homesick. You know, I had a question and I wanted to reach out to someone who looked like me and who may have experienced that and I didn’t have that.”
That lead to a deep desire to enter into higher education, where he connected with some of the best people in his village along the way.
“Several years ago, when I started working on my masters, I was an employee at Allen Community College, I had a mentor/supervisor by the name of Dr. Allene Knedlik.”
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Dr. Knedlik saw something in Dr. Kegler.
“She told me, she goes, ‘son…’ she goes, ‘Jason, someday you’re going to be a community college president. And I want you to be the first Black community college president in the state of Kansas.'”
While Dr. Kegler fulfilled Dr. Knedlik’s prophesy, it has been bittersweet.
“Unfortunately, Dr. Knedlik passed away this summer probably about a week… Probably about a week to two weeks before I was able to give her a phone call and say, ‘we did it.'”
To his knowledge, Dr. Kegler is FSCC’s first Black president… And the second Black community college president in southeast Kansas, behind Dr. Bruce Moses at Allen Community College.
“Bruce and I are good friends. We speak once a week or so. And it’s good to have that perspective as well. Someone who is kinda dealing with some of the same concepts, some of the same challenges that I may be facing.”
After six months on the job, it’s a role he says he isn’t taking for granted.
“There’s always going to be a first, and there’s always going to be someone who sets the trail, and I’m just honored that the community of Fort Scott and the board of trustees saw in me the person that I am, and that they made that choice.”
