Southeast's Carolyn Sundy named Harlan County Domestic Violence Council's Woman of the Year

Carolyn M. Sundy, vice president of diversity/inclusion and special programs at Southeast Kentucky Community and Technical College, has been recognized as the 2013 Appalachian Woman of the Year by the Harlan County Domestic Violence Council during a ceremony held recently at the Harlan Center. Ms. Sundy, longtime educator and administrator at SKCTC, received a certificate and gifts during the event attended by over 200 women.

Each year the event has grown and we are so very excited to honor Carolyn Sundy, noted HCDVC Victim Advocate Sheryl Caudel. She went on to say the event is made possible through the work of many volunteers including the support by area businesses. Every year we select a woman we feel is representative of the honor of Appalachian Woman of the Year. In the past, we have chosen women such as Dawn Nunez, Marge Grieshop, Belinda Riley and Eula Brock. We are pleased to honor Carolyn and commend her for the efforts over the years to make Harlan County and the region a better place in which to live and work.

A native of Lynch and the daughter of a coal miner, Ms. Sundy graduated from Lynch High School in 1969, attended SKCTC and received a bachelors degree from the University of Kentucky as well as a MA in higher education. Presently, she is working on a doctorate from Mississippi State University. She holds the rank of full professor and has served as director of the Upward Bound Program and Student Support Services. She currently serves as president of the Kentucky Association of Blacks in Higher Education. She has also served on the board of the Kentucky Proprietary Education, the African American Heritage Commission and the Appalachian Regional Commission.

On the local level, she is active in the endeavors of the Tri-City Chamber of Commerce and the Eastern Kentucky Social Club as well as with the Tri-City Womans Club and her church, Greater Mt. Sinai Baptist. She is the mother of two adult sons, Trevor and Terry (Tee) and the grand mother of four.

She acknowledged how honored she is to have been named Appalachian Woman of the Year. I am flattered to have been chosen for this award given by the Harlan County Domestic Violence Council, she said. Abuse to women is certainly a problem, a major issue. I hope to be able to cast more light on this awful and distressing issue that faces many here in our area. Anything I can do to boost women in Appalachia I am happy to do so. Throughout my professional life I have tried to be a servant leader. Working together, we can create a better-quality way of living for many.