Meet HCTC’s Robert Higdon, KCTCS’ new student regent

Published on Oct 31, 2024

Robert Higdon will serve as a student regent on the Kentucky Community & Technical College System's (KCTCS's) Board of Regents, representing 85,000 students across the Commonwealth.

Higdon is a student ambassador and worker at Hazard Community & Technical College, who previously served on the institution's local board of directors. While Robert enjoyed serving in that role, he said his most important role is being a father. 

"When I decided to come back to school as a nontraditional learner, I wanted to show my kids that they could do anything they wanted to do," he said. "My kids are young. They're at the age when they can understand, comprehend and question things. I try to include my kids in my experience. I let them know about events, my homework assignments." 

Higdon attended college nearly two decades ago, but decided to pursue work rather than completing his education. His decision to come back to school was one of bettering his life. 

"Before I came back, we weren't in a position where we could give our kids all the stuff their friends had, like the toys, games ... I wanted to make life better for them," he said. "Not just make my life better, but their lives better." 

He intends to bring his perspective as a father and nontraditional student to the KCTCS Board of Regents. 

"One of the hardest things to do is ask for help," Higdon said. "Whether it be something big or small, they [my peers] should have somebody who is not afraid to ask questions for them and speak up for them." 

As an information technology (IT) student, Higdon has learned about components of computer hardware and software. 

"The courses I've taken have covered everything from basics to computer hardware maintenance and repair, to software issues," he said. "I grew up in the age where I got to watch the internet from dialup to cable to fiber, from rotary phones to flip phones to smartphones." 

Higdon enjoys being on campus. He appreciates the opportunities provided to students to engage in conversation and learn together. 

"I never liked math, but I've enjoyed my in-person mathematics class. It's my favorite. I'm there with other students, and can interact and talk with them," Higdon said. "Having people in the room who have a wide variety of experiences and bring so much different stuff to the tables really helps the learning environment." 

He said coming back to school allowed him to "go all-in" and "make the most" of his experience, reminding people often that the college serves a diverse population. 

"HCTC is not the same school as in the early 2000s. When we say 'students,' we forget that a lot of our students aren't traditional ones. A lot of the decision-making must take that into consideration," he said. "If we approach everything from one viewpoint, then we forget about the rest of the students."

Higdon resides in Hazard with his four children, Blailyn, Raylie, Freya and John. His partner, Erica Paul, is currently studying criminal justice at HCTC. Higdon was sworn in as student regent on October 29.