Kentucky Educational Television (KET) long-time Executive Director and CEO, Shae Hopkins, died this week after “a brief but courageous battle with cancer,” according to associates.
A 40-year employee of KET, she led the network for more than 17 years and during this past August announced her retirement planned for the end of the year.
Dring her tenure at the public television broadcaster, Hopkins led a consistent expansion of local productions and services, including numerous series, documentaries and biographies, in addition to launching The Kentucky Channel and a wide range of other educational resources. She also oversaw multiple technical and facilities milestones, creating production studios in the Kentucky Capitol Annex, establishing the Louisville Production Center, and guiding recent Network Center and studio improvements.
Under her leadership, the use of KET’s programs and services has doubled, steadily growing to more than two million viewers and users each week. During this time, KET has been recognized with 40 regional Emmy awards and 144 nominations, 83 national and state awards, and other accolades.
When she announced her retirement, Hopkins said, “It was my good fortune to have been mentored by KET’s founder Len Press and to have had the opportunity to engage in such meaningful service with such an extraordinary organization all these years. It has been an honor to work with and learn from dedicated professionals, and to engage with viewers, generous supporters, committed board members and passionate volunteers, all the while making dear friendships along the way. It has been an immense privilege to serve everyone who values and relies on KET every day.”
Hopkins was preceded in death by her father, former Sixth District Congressman Larry J. Hopkins, and is survived by her mother, Carolyn Pennebaker Hopkins, brother Josh Hopkins, sister Tara Hopkins West, children Hannah (Mike) Duffy, Haley (Dan) Dickerson, and Ross (Ana) Martin, niece Kate (Barrett) Meyer, grandchildren Eleanora and Charlotte Duffy and Cooper, Tucker, and Lucy Delle Dickerson, as well as longtime companion Bud McSpadden.
“For more than 40 years, Shae dedicated herself to Kentucky Educational Television and understood the important role it plays in bringing people together,” said House Speaker David Osborne in a statement. “Through her leadership, she helped connect Kentuckians to one another and to the many remarkable people, places, traditions and stories that make our Commonwealth special. Her work allowed us to see the very best of our Commonwealth, while still challenging us to be better and do better. She believed in Kentucky, recognized the incredible things happening in communities across our state and made it her life’s work to share those stories with the world.”
In a statement issued announcing her death, KET noted that Hopkins was admired and beloved by her coworkers, board members, volunteers, and colleagues throughout the public broadcasting system. Her impact was far-reaching, and her loss will be felt for many years to come.
Funeral arrangements are pending.
Kentucky Today and Staff report