Carol Smith Kirves was the editor of the 1983 Talisman after serving as a photo, writing and editing staff member for WKU’s award-winning yearbook. She is a 1984 cum laud graduate with a bachelor’s degree in photojournalism and a psychology minor.
Kirves, who married fellow WKU Student Publications alumnus Tony Kirves (1985), is the chief community, workforce and economic development officer at Hopkinsville Community College, part of the Kentucky Community and Technical College System. She has worked at Hopkinsville Community College since 1984, when she started as an assistant in the Continuing Education Office.
Kirves leads HCC’s Workforce Solutions unit, which provides customized and accelerated workforce training, community and continuing education courses, workforce assessment services and art gallery management. In her role, she provides leadership and support to regional community and economic development initiatives and creates and implements marketing plans for Workforce programs
During her time at HCC, Kirves has collected numerous awards from the college and from KCTCS, and won the Newsletter Editorial Review Award for 2000, 2001 and 2002 from the Professional Photographers of America.
Kirves serves on the Hopkinsville Human Rights Commission. She and Tony live in Christian County just outside of Hopkinsville where Tony operates Southern Exposure Photography Studio. Their daughter Amanda Kirves Baxter (WKU 2013) and son-in-law Michael Baxter (WKU 2014) have a 2-year-old son, Calvin (who we’re guessing might be WKU 2041).