Dr. David McFaddin, vice president of engagement, regional stewardship and government relations at Eastern Kentucky University, has received the East Kentucky Leadership Award for a Public Individual.
The East Kentucky Leadership Foundation (EKLF) honored McFaddin at its annual awards ceremony on Thursday, April 27, at EKU. The banquet was part of the 30th annual East Kentucky Leadership Conference on the Richmond campus April 27-28.
McFaddin was nominated for his commitment to civic engagement and leadership, as well as his service to students, faculty and communities served by EKU.
“Eastern Kentucky University has a long and rich history of serving our region and working every day to provide opportunity for our communities,” McFaddin said. “I consider it both an honor and a privilege to continue this work in both my professional and personal life.
“All of our success has come from the hard work and dedication of our EKU team,” he continued. “Without their support, we could not accomplish all the meaningful things we do.”
McFaddin, a native of Johnson County, joined the EKU leadership team in 2013 after many years with BellSouth Telecommunications and AT&T. He earned a bachelor’s degree in public relations when he graduated summa cum laude from EKU in 1999, then added an MBA degree from the University of Kentucky in 2006 and a doctoral degree in educational leadership and policy studies from Eastern in 2015.
He has held leadership roles with several local and regional non-profit organizations and in 2012 received a United States Presidential Service Award from the White House for his community volunteerism.
Each year, the Foundation hosts an awards ceremony to recognize and celebrate individuals and groups who have demonstrated exemplary leadership and service to the region. Awards are given in several categories: Culture and Arts, Media and Technology, Organization, Public Individual, Private Individual, and Youth Leadership.
Founded in 1988, the East Kentucky Leadership Foundation was created to promote leadership in eastern Kentucky. Now in its 30th year, EKLF continues to encourage leadership development, communication and collaboration throughout the region.