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Sunday, July 20, 2025

Ex-KCTCS administrator files whistleblower suit alleging mismanagement, wrongful termination - Courier Journal

A former Kentucky Community and Technical College System administrator has filed a whistleblower lawsuit against the college system, court records show.

According to the lawsuit filed in Franklin Circuit Court in October, KCTCS's former chief of staff Hannah Rivera claimed her employment contract was breached when she was terminated in July, and that she was retaliated against by the college system's president and board chair for reporting mismanagement and waste of resources leading up to her departure in violation of the Kentucky Whistleblower Act.

KCTCS officials have denied the claims.

Alleged retaliation begins after KCTCS names new president

Rivera started working for KCTCS in 2014 and was under contract to serve as vice president and chief of staff from October 2023 through June 2026 and had never experienced retaliation under any KCTCS administration until Ryan Quarles became president in January, the lawsuit claims.

Rivera was a key player in the presidential search, but disagreement arose between her and Board of Regents Chairman Barry Martin when Quarles was named a finalist for the position. Martin was "intent on keeping Quarles from getting the position" and tried to derail the search by suggesting they consider it a "failed search" and claiming open meeting laws were violated, according to the lawsuit.

When Quarles was named president, Rivera drafted a news release announcing the decision. She sought Martin's approval to release it, but he delayed, citing...



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