Dr. Kevin Cosby and 55,000 Degrees
Published On: August 30, 2011
When a collaborative of local civic and community leaders organized to create the Greater Louisville Education Commitment, their agenda was to increase education attainment, prosperity and the quality of life for the citizens of Louisville. Specifically, they committed to increasing the number of college graduates 55,000 degrees by the year 2020. The goal itself became the name of the public - private partnership – 55,000 Degrees. Convened by Mayor Greg Fischer, the Board of Directors for this initiative is comprised of recognizable leaders in business, education and faith.
One of those leaders, Dr. Kevin Cosby, has a widely regarded gift for increasing numbers. As pastor of St. Stephen Church since 1979, he has famously increased the membership of the church from 500 to over 10,000 members during his tenure of leadership. Since his appointment as President of Simmons College of Kentucky in 2005, the oldest African American higher education institute in the state has experienced a renaissance. His vision has increased the number of on-campus facilities, adding a bookstore, library and Learning Resource Center and is also increasing staff and faculty to escalate student support. Dr. Cosby has a way of taking things that are good and making them great.
Husband to Barnetta Turner Cosby, father to Christine and Kevin Christopher, and spiritual leader to so many in our community, education was always an integral part of Dr. Cosby’s call to ministry. He was led to earn a Bachelor of Arts from Eastern Kentucky University, a Master of Divinity from Southern Baptist Theological Seminary and a Doctor of Ministry from United Theological Seminary. He was recently recognized with an Honorary Doctorate of Humanities at Campbellsville University where he addressed the new graduates at commencement. His reference to the book Lost Island was a recurring motif as he spoke because he said, “Life is about losing our islands – places in which we experience each part of our life – and moving from one island to another. College will help them get to their next island.”
It is the goal of 55,000 Degrees to help direct the citizens of our community to their next island, by motivating high school students to attend college, increasing existing college graduate rates, encouraging adults to complete degrees and to ultimately attract college graduates from all over the world to choose Louisville as their island. Their motto is “Greater Learning. Greater Earning. Greater Louisville.” The objective of Dr. Cosby and the board is to move Louisville to the top-tier among peer cities in education attainment so that by 2020, 40% of working-age adults will hold a bachelor degree.
Among those 15 peer cities, Louisville ranks 14th in the percentage of black adults with college degrees. Dr. Cosby claimed that “As President of a higher education institution, I won’t stand for that.” Thus a partnership was forged between Simmons, the University of Louisville and Jefferson Community and Technical College whereas a Simmons student or graduate can use transferable academic credits to pursue a two-year degree at JCTC or a four-year degree at UofL. This, in an effort to reach those 55,000 degrees. As the keynote speaker of the 2011 Louisville Urban League Education Summit, he urged the community to acknowledge that “15,000 of those additional degrees must be conferred on African Americans. We must do it if Louisville has a chance to be a relevant force in the new economy where high-paying manufacturing jobs are no longer a way of life.”
Dr. Cosby’s powerful oratory skills usually result in messages that make people want to listen. He often says that there is no “self-made” man. He attributes his success to God and those who have helped him along the way. 55,000 Degrees is a mechanism that exists to help those along the way who may need additional support or face barriers due to a disadvantaged background. Among the books authored by Dr. Cosby, his titles Get off your But! and Treasure Worth Seeking come to mind. The treasure of an education is something all of our citizens are entitled to, but they must know that the resources are available to them. Here’s hoping those 55,000 are reading for a Greater Louisville. 55000degrees.com
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