Shae Hopkins, Longtime CEO of Kentucky Educational Television, Dies at 69
Shae Hopkins, the longtime CEO and executive director of Kentucky Educational Television (KET), has died at the age of 69. She had led the public television network for over 17 years and was preparing for retirement at the end of…
Louisville, KY, October 30, 2026 — Shae Hopkins, who served for over 17 years as the chief executive officer and executive director of Kentucky Educational Television (KET), has died. She was 69 years old.
Hopkins had a distinguished career that spanned four decades at KET, the statewide public broadcasting network. She was set to retire at the end of the current year, concluding a long tenure leading the organization.
During her leadership, KET continued its mission of providing educational programming and resources to the citizens of Kentucky. The network is known for its commitment to public service, offering a range of content from early childhood education to adult learning and cultural programming. Hopkins was instrumental in guiding the organization through various technological and media landscape changes over her more than 17 years at the helm.
Her career at KET began decades prior to her executive leadership role, allowing her to gain comprehensive experience within the public television system. The announcement of her death marks the end of an era for the Kentucky Educational Television network, which relied on her extensive experience and vision.
Further details regarding the circumstances of her passing or memorial services were not immediately available.
Story summarized from the original created by Liam Niemeyer on www.lpm.org, see more information here.
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