(FRANKFORT, KY) – Gov. Andy Beshear has appointed two new members to the Education Professional Standards Board (EPSB): Nicholas Pace of Lexington and Elizabeth Dinkins of Louisville.
Established as part of the Kentucky Education Reform Act of 1990, EPSB has the authority and responsibility to establish standards and requirements for obtaining and maintaining a teaching certificate. EPSB can take disciplinary actions against educators for misconduct based on violations of KRS 161.120, which includes the Professional Code of Ethics.
Pace is dean of the University of Kentucky’s College of Education and will represent postsecondary institutions on the board with a term expiring June 30, 2026.
Dinkins is dean of Bellarmine University’s School of Education and will represent independent colleges and universities with a term expiring Sept. 10, 2028.
Pace earned his bachelor’s degree in sociology from the University of Northern Iowa, master’s degree in educational leadership from Drake University and doctorate in educational leadership from the University of Northern Iowa. He began his career as a social worker in Kansas City, Mo., before becoming a social studies teacher and eventually a middle and high school principal in Iowa.
Pace returned to the University of Northern Iowa as an instructor and eventually held leadership positions there and at the University of Nebraska – Lincoln before joining the University of Kentucky in the summer of 2025.
“I arrived in Kentucky in June and have been inspired by the pride folks have in education and its potential to impact lives. I’m honored to serve on the EPSB and am grateful for the opportunity to support top quality P-12 education across the Commonwealth,” Pace said. “Strong P-12 education is the gateway to bright futures for individuals, communities and society, and I am humbled to play a role in that work.”
Dinkins, who is also an associate professor of literacy education at Bellarmine, received her doctorate in English education from the University of Virginia, her master’s in education from Vanderbilt University and her bachelor’s degree from The Evergreen State College. Before beginning her career in higher education, Dinkins taught middle school English language arts and coordinated school-wide literacy instruction.
Dinkins has served as president of the Kentucky Association of Colleges for Teacher Education, and she said she values the collaborative work of Kentucky’s colleges and universities in preparing educators.
“I am honored and proud to be part of the Education Professional Standards Board,” Dinkins said. “I know this board works hard to address the teacher shortage, uphold educator standards and meet the needs of Kentucky’s schools and students.”
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