Appointed by the Board of Governors
July 1, 2019 to June 30, 2023
July 1, 2023 to June 30, 2027
Kenneth “Ken” Hughes, an Asheville resident who graduated with honors in 1974 from Western Carolina University’s accountancy program, is a retired chairman and chief executive officer of FORVIS (formerly Dixon Hughes Goodman) which ranks among the top 10 public accounting firms in the nation.
In 2015, WCU renamed its accountancy program in its College of Business as the Dixon Hughes Goodman (FORVIS) Accountancy Program in recognition of gifts and pledges totaling $1 million from Mr. Hughes and his partners at the firm. The contributions are enabling the college to support student success through a variety of initiatives including professional study grants to assist students with internship experiences and support for students to participate in academic competitions and research, professional development programs, summer study grants, and fellowships and scholarships.
Mr. Hughes established the Kenneth M. Hughes Endowed Scholarship at WCU in 2013 to provide financial assistance for accountancy majors at WCU. His current service to WCU includes membership on the Chancellor Search Committee and on a steering committee for the university’s “Lead the Way” fundraising campaign. He formerly served on the WCU Foundation Board of Directors, including as that group’s chairman. Mr. Hughes was honored as recipient of the WCU Alumni Association’s Professional Achievement Award in 2006.
He also has provided philanthropic service for the Community Foundation of Western North Carolina (former member of the board), Asheville Savings Bank (former member of the board), Biltmore Church, the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (former member of the board), and Givens Estates (former member of the board).