Ratliff named Associate Dean of Health Science Education

March 22, 2022

ASHLAND, Ky. – Ashland Community and Technical College is excited to announce Terri Ratliff as Associate Dean of Health Science Education. 

As Associate Dean, Ratliff will oversee the day to day operations of the Associate Degree Nursing, Practical Nursing, Surgical Technology, and Health Science Technology programs. She will also be responsible for the academic schedule of classes, providing leadership for program review, assessment, and accreditation of programs, and in conjunction with faculty, developing and supporting programs designed to improve quality of instruction, among other responsibilities. 

“I am looking forward to learning more about the health sciences programs ACTC currently offers, as well as possibly bringing new programs to our college by working with community partners to figure out what the need is and creating programs to fill that need,” she said. 

Ratliff says her top priority is strengthening the current nursing program and continuing the work to connect the ADN and PN programs through the bridge program currently offered. These programs are also being meshed by simultaneously scheduled lab hours and faculty from both programs instructing all nursing students. 

Additionally, she wants to focus on recruiting more students to ACTC and health sciences. 

“I want to make ACTC ‘the place’ for nursing and healthcare education,” she said. “We are more affordable, we are more personable, and we stay on the cutting edge of what is going on in healthcare education.”

Ratliff earned a Master’s of Science in Nursing Education from Northern Kentucky University in 2019. She began teaching at ACTC in 2010 and most recently served as Interim Program Coordinator for ADN program. Prior to that, Ratliff spent nearly 20 years as a nurse in the field. 

“I think Terri is an outstanding educator and she has done a wonderful job both as program coordinator of our PN program, and now of our ADN program. I think moving her into a larger leadership role is absolutely the right thing for the college,” said Dr. Samuel Todd Brand, Chief Academic Officer. “In having a third associate dean here, the idea was that Health Sciences needed their own leadership because it is a growing division at the college. We were planning for the future when we did that, as we are looking to probably add more healthcare programs down the road as those needs emerge.” 

He added, “When your healthcare programs thrive, the overall college thrives, because that enrollment isn’t just in health science classes…it’s also in general education courses. The systemic effects on enrollment will be felt, so it was really a strategic move to add this position. I am very excited that Terri emerged as the top candidate, and I am looking forward to working with her in this new role.”