Ken Poshedly

Ken Poshedly, journalist and longtime amateur astronomer, credits Tri-C with helping him find a career path

Ken Poshedly came to Cuyahoga Community College (Tri-C®) looking for direction.

As a child, he loved astronomy, but struggled with math. In high school, he was told he had a great voice, but a career as an announcer or disc jockey didn’t appeal to him.

That’s why, after high school he enrolled in Tri-C, looking to explore different fields while saving on tuition. Poshedly remembers having many great instructors and enjoying classes on a variety of topics – including geology, physical science and world history.

He eventually set his sights on broadcast journalism. 

“Tri-C was my stepping stone,” he said. “The College helped me, because to be a journalist, you need to know a little about a lot of subjects.”

One of the people who provided Poshedly with important guidance was a Tri-C career counselor. He gave Poshedly an aptitude test, which led to some self-discovery.

“I found out I’m much brighter than I thought I was, which did a lot for my self-esteem,” he said.

After earning an Associate of Science degree from Tri-C in 1971, Poshedly transferred to Kent State University, where he earned his B.S. in Journalism in spring 1974. Following college, his career path took him to various journalist positions in print media and public relations, to ultimately finding his niche in technical writing. Now a resident of Atlanta, he has spent more than 30 years working in the field.

Poshedly has been semi-retired since 2018, but is still doing contract technical writing for a family-owned business and, along the way, has found a way to combine his professional skills with his childhood love of astronomy.

Ken was recently recognized by the International Astronomical Union for his work as editor and publisher of the quarterly Journal of the Association of Lunar and Planetary Observers since 2001, with his name being assigned to a previously discovered minor planet (asteroid), now known as “(31836) Poshedly.” The journal reaches a worldwide membership of professional and serious amateur astronomers who specialize in Solar System astronomy.

Regarding his experience at Tri- C, Poshedly said “It inspired me and reinforced my belief that I was doing the right thing by going into journalism.”  

“Tri-C is a good place to start,” he said. “It is fully accredited, it’s recognized everywhere and it’s affordable. For the price and quality of education, which I consider top-notch, I don’t think you could find a better bargain.”