Jeff and Mary Key

Jeff Key started his education in Glendale, KY where he was born and raised. He found his interest for business when he was a student at East Hardin High School, where he was very active in FBLA. Jeff was awarded “National Mr. Future Business Leader of America” in 1985, the year that he graduated. After high school, Jeff decided to pursue his passion in leadership and business by pursuing a Corporate Communications degree at Western Kentucky University on a leadership scholarship. While at WKU, Jeff was very active in Sigma Alpha Epsilon Fraternity where he served as president, and also worked as Student Assistant to the WKU President for 3 years.

Jeff graduated from WKU and earned his certification in the Program for Pharmaceutical and Biotech Executives from The Wharton School in Pennsylvania. He then moved to Charlotte, NC where he pursued his first pharmaceutical job. While working at Schering-Plough, Jeff decided this is a field he enjoyed and would work in for the rest of his life. Jeff continued his pharmaceutical career ever since his first job after college, and is now the Vice President of Business Development for a world-wide pharmaceutical company. He is still very active with Western Kentucky University where he is on the WKU Alumni Association National Board of Directors, a member of the WKU Henry Hardin Cherry Society, and was asked by the dean of the Communications Department to serve on the WKU Communication Advisory Council. Apart from his ongoing affiliations with the university, Jeff is also a member of the American College of Healthcare Executives, a member of the Kentucky Association of Economic Development, and also was recently appointed to Louisville TKO Boxing Board of Directors.

During his time in Charlotte at his first pharmaceutical job, Jeff met his wife Mary. Mary is originally from Charlotte, and received her Bachelor’s degree at North Carolina State in Communication Disorders. She then went on to Wayne State where she earned her Master’s degree in Speech and Language Pathology, where she graduated at the top of her class. Jeff and Mary then moved to Jeff’s home town of Glendale, KY to start their careers together as a married couple.

While in Glendale, they had two daughters that also attended Western Kentucky University. Jessie is the oldest daughter and received a Criminology degree at WKU, while staying on the Dean’s list throughout her entire college career. Jessie is now living in Nashville, TN where she is pursuing a musical career and working with recognized country singers. Shelby is currently at WKU working towards a Communication Studies major with a double minor in Agriculture and Sales. Shelby is a member of National Society of Leadership and Success: Sigma Alpha Pi, and is a student worker at College Heights Foundation on campus.

The Jeff and Mary Key Scholarship Fund was established by Jeff Key in honor of the Key family including Jeff, Mary, Jessie, and Shelby. This fund assists incoming freshman that are enrolled as full-time students at Western Kentucky University. The recipient of this fund must be a graduate of Central Hardin High School in Elizabethtown, KY.