Ashland University's Accent on the Individual motto guides MBA grad to new job as Kentucky State president

Koffi Akakpo was planning on attending Ohio State University for his Master of Business Administration degree, until he had a change of heart.

“My human resources director, Pat Schell, recommended Ashland University,” said Akakpo, who was working full time at a company in Mansfield, Ohio, at the time. “When I looked into it, it had an MBA program with an executive strategic planning edge, and it was closer to home.”

Akakpo said he is grateful he decided to earn his MBA from AU in 2000 because it equipped him for his career, including his latest move to Kentucky State University (KSU), a four-year college, which is a public Historically Black College and University (HBCU), that also happens to be a land grant institution with a current enrollment of about 1,500 students.

KSU, located in Frankfort, Kentucky, recently named Akakpo as its 19th president where he will start on July 1. Akakpo has been the CEO/president at Bluegrass Community and Technical College (BCTC) for slightly over four years. BCTC is one of the largest public two-year colleges in Kentucky serving more than 15,000 students with satellite locations in seven counties.

Before BCTC, Akakpo worked in senior administrative roles at North Central State College in Mansfield and at Central State University, another HBCU, in Ohio.

Attending AU developed his leadership, financial and so many other skills that have been foundational in progressing his career, Akakpo said.

Akakpo fondly remembers Steve Krispinsky, who was the executive director of AU’s MBA program from 1994 to 2018, and who was especially helpful to him. 

“Every time I needed help, Steve was there for me,” Akakpo said.

Krispinsky said he was more than happy to help Akakpo. 

“He was a very good student who would often discuss with me what classes he should take,” Krispinsky said. “He was very respectful to the MBA staff and students and a true gentleman.

“He demonstrated leadership in the classroom and was a leader among his peers, particularly with the international students,” Krispinsky added. “He was very approachable.”

With Krispinsky’s help and others in the MBA program, Akakpo said he had a remarkable experience at AU.

“Great program, great supports and great institution, and I like that AU is all about Accent on the Individual,” Akakpo said. “That is something that I experienced.”

Accent on the Individual is a motto that has guided Akakpo during his career in higher education. You can see that in the success that students had during his time at BCTC, which not only expanded programs but saw its graduation rates increase from 24% to 35% overall, and from 12% to 24% for African American students.

“In addition to student success, we have a Fulbright Scholar going to South Africa to teach abroad for a year, we have launched a global institute, expanded strategic programs in satellite campuses – a lot is happening, and I am assured the strong leadership team at BCTC will build on what we have worked so hard to accomplish in the past four years,” said Akakpo, who hopes to help KSU achieve the same level of success.

According to a news release on its website, KSU is looking forward to having Akakpo lead the way after its nationwide search to bring him on board.

“We are confident that the foundation laid by this extensive presidential search process – involving input and deliberation from a wide range of constituents and stakeholders, including both internal and external campus community members – allowed us to choose the best leader for KSU and its future,” KSU Board of Regents Chair Tammi Dukes said in the release.

In addition to working in higher education, Akakpo also worked at the Ohio Department of Natural Resources, as well as at Speedway SuperAmerica.

Besides AU, Akakpo earned a PhD in higher education administration from the University of Toledo.