WKU News

Two dedicated and proven leaders from the fields of education and health care will join WKU’s Hall of Distinguished Alumni this fall.

George Nichols III and Connie Moreland Smith will be honored during WKU’s 2025 Homecoming Celebration.

The 34th class of noted alumni will be inducted into the Hall of Distinguished Alumni during the Hilltopper Excellence Awards on Thursday, Oct. 30 at WKU’s Knicely Conference Center. Presented by Franklin Bank & Trust, the Hilltopper Excellence Awards will include additional recognitions for alumni and supporters of WKU, which will be announced at a later date. For more information, contact the WKU Alumni Association at (270) 745-2586.

George Nichols III (’83)

George Nichols III is the 10th President and CEO of The American College of Financial Services, an accredited, nonprofit institution located in King of Prussia, Pa., with more than 18,000 students serving the financial services industry.

He joined the College after a 17-year stint at New York Life, where he held principal roles in sales, strategic initiatives and public policy. Prior to joining New York Life, George was Kentucky’s first Black insurance commissioner, leading regulation of the state’s $10 billion insurance industry through his expertise in health insurance reform and financial services integration.

In 2021, he was named to Forbes’ inaugural edition of “The Culture 50 Champions,” which identified models of business excellence who uplift Black and Brown communities through their craft and philanthropic efforts. From Business Insurance Magazine, George was the inaugural recipient of the Alonzo Herndon Award, named in honor of the founder of Atlanta Life Insurance Company, the largest Black-owned insurance company in the U.S.

Longtime donors and supporters of many areas at WKU, George and his wife, Cynthia Jean “CJ” (’82), were named the University’s Philanthropists of the Year in 2018. In recognition of a gift to support student services, the Cynthia and George Nichols III Intercultural Student Engagement Center was named in their honor in 2017.

With an extensive history of public service, George currently serves as Chair of the National Board of Trustees for City Year, a nonprofit that provides high-impact student, classroom and school-wide support in urban areas. He is also a former member of the WKU Board of Regents, the WKU Board of Advisors and the WKU Foundation Board of Trustees.

In addition to earning a degree in Sociology from WKU, Nichols received an associate degree from Alice Lloyd College in 1980 and a master’s degree from the University of Louisville in 1985. He earned the Chartered Advisor in Philanthropy® designation from The American College of Financial Services in 2023.

He continues to lean on the love of CJ and their three adult children, Courtney Nichols, Jessie Nichols (’13) and George Nichols IV, and his unyielding faith.

Connie Moreland Smith (’82, ’91)

A visionary leader with more than 40 years of experience, Connie Moreland Smith serves as President and CEO of Med Center Health, a premier health system headquartered in Bowling Green, Ky. Throughout her tenure, which began in 1981 and culminated in her appointment as President and CEO in 2011, Connie has strategically expanded Med Center Health’s reach and impact across south central Kentucky. Under her leadership, the system has grown to encompass more than 30 locations, including seven hospitals and a comprehensive network of more than 500 providers representing 50+ specialties, making it the largest healthcare employer in the region.

Her commitment to collaboration and innovation is evident in the establishment of the University of Kentucky College of Medicine-Bowling Green Campus, the state’s first four-year regional medical school, ensuring a pipeline of future physicians. Furthermore, Connie forged a first-of-its-kind public-private partnership with WKU to develop The Medical Center-WKU Health Sciences Complex, a hub for nursing and physical therapy education and an advanced simulation lab. 

Connie’s WKU academic credentials include an associate degree in Nursing in 1982 and a Bachelor of Science in Nursing in 1991. She also earned a Master of Science in Nursing Administration from the University of Louisville. Connie has been a Registered Nurse since 1982 and a Licensed Nursing Home Administrator since 1995. A member of the American College of Healthcare Executives since 1994, she became a Fellow in 2001. Her exceptional leadership has been acknowledged through accolades such as the 2013 ATHENA Leadership Award and induction into the WKU College of Health & Human Services Hall of Fame in 2014 and the Junior Achievement of South Central Kentucky Business Hall of Fame in 2021. She was also recognized as the Volunteer of the Year for 2012 for the College of Health & Human Services. Beyond her executive duties, Connie actively contributes to workforce development and education, and she has served on the Kentucky Council on Postsecondary Education.

Connie’s Hilltopper Family includes her husband, Rickey K. Smith (’86); daughter, Melanie Smith Wyatt (’04, ’13); and son-in-law, Jeremy Wyatt (’00).

Contact: Anthony McAdoo, (270) 745-2586

-WKU-

Western Kentucky University prides itself on positioning its students, faculty and staff for long term success. As a student-centered, applied research university, WKU helps students expand on classroom learning by integrating education with real-world applications in the communities we serve. Our hilltop campus is located in Bowling Green, Kentucky, which was recently named by Reader’s Digest as one of the nicest towns in America, just an hour’s drive from Nashville, Tennessee.