I'm a Pathfinder: Rebecca Cochran

Published on Nov 10, 2026

When Rebecca Cochran first enrolled at Ashland Community and Technical College (ACTC), she admits she didn't have her entire future mapped out.

Like many recent high school graduates, she considered several different career paths, from art to law enforcement to becoming an equine veterinary technician. She says she had even given serious thought to joining the United States Air Force.

What she didn't know at the time was that the decision to enroll in ACTC's Applied Process Technology (APT) program would ultimately shape her career, provide stability for her family, and bring her back to the classroom in an entirely different role.

Today, Cochran is an assistant professor in ACTC's Applied Process Technology program, teaching the next generation of students in the very field that launched her professional career.

A graduate of ACTC's APT program in 2012, she returned to the college in a professional capacity in 2023, bringing with her years of hands-on industry experience and a perspective that only a former student can offer.

Her introduction to the industry came through her father, who worked at Marathon Petroleum before retiring. Although she was familiar with the opportunities the industry offered, becoming a process operator wasn't initially part of her plans.

"He was the one who first encouraged me to look into the program when I still had no idea what I wanted to do," Cochran said.

What initially felt like an alternative to her other plans quickly became something more.

"Once I started the program, I quickly realized how much I enjoyed the coursework and hands-on learning. I've always had a passion for solving problems, troubleshooting issues, and understanding how things work, and the material came naturally to me," she said.

Cochran said ACTC gave her the opportunity to explore her interests while building a foundation for her future. She also credits the college with helping her avoid the financial burden often associated with higher education.

"Through ACTC, I was able to earn my degree in two years without taking on student loan debt and begin a successful career in less time," she said.

After graduation, Cochran began working at Marathon Petroleum as a tankerman at the Kenova Terminal. She was hired as the facility's first female operator, an experience that carried both professional and personal significance.

"It was an opportunity to help pave the way for future women entering the industry,” she said. “I set high standards for myself and worked hard to prove that I belonged there."

During her early years at Marathon, Cochran loaded and unloaded barges on the river, taking every opportunity to learn more about the operation. She says her curiosity and willingness to ask questions helped her advance through several positions, including Tank Farm Pumper and eventually Shift Lead.

She says each role brought new responsibilities and opportunities to develop her technical knowledge, leadership abilities, and communication skills.

"I was eager to learn and took every opportunity I could to expand my knowledge and skills. In fact, I was probably a nuisance at times because I was always asking questions and wanting to understand how everything worked,” she said.

Those experiences would eventually prepare her for an opportunity she hadn't necessarily anticipated: returning to ACTC as an instructor.

As a mother of two, Cochran began looking for opportunities that would allow her to maintain her connection to the industry while creating a different balance for her family. Throughout her time at Marathon, she had also discovered a passion for training and mentoring others.

"I was often asked to help train new employees or coach others in different roles, and I found that I genuinely enjoyed it," she said.

When an opening for an Applied Process Technology instructor became available at ACTC, she decided to apply. The position offered an opportunity to combine her professional experience with her growing interest in helping others learn.

"It combined my industry experience with my passion for training and mentoring others, and it gave me the chance to make an impact on students who are where I once was," she said.

Now, standing on the other side of the classroom, Cochran understands the uncertainty many of her students experience.

"My experience as a former student influences almost everything I do in the classroom,” she said. “I remember what it felt like to be sitting in those seats, trying to balance school, work, family responsibilities, and the uncertainty of figuring out a career path."

That perspective influences the environment she creates for her students: one where they feel comfortable asking questions, making mistakes, and developing the confidence to succeed.
Cochran also wants her students to understand that her expectations come from a genuine belief in their abilities.

"I always tell them that I hold them to a high standard because I know they're capable of achieving it, even when they don't quite believe it themselves," she said.

For Cochran, one of the greatest rewards of teaching is watching students discover what they're capable of accomplishing. She gets to see individuals enter the program with different backgrounds, goals, and challenges and leave with the knowledge and confidence to pursue meaningful careers.

"Not every student has someone cheering them on, and if I can help them believe in themselves and recognize their potential, then I've done my job," Cochran said.

Her journey also shapes the message she hopes more people will understand about community colleges.

Choosing a two-year institution, she said, should never be viewed as a lesser option. She adds that community colleges provide accessible pathways to rewarding careers while helping students make practical decisions about their education and financial futures.

"Choosing a community college does not make you 'less than,’ she said. “Success isn't determined by where you start. It's determined by what you do with the opportunities you're given."

Looking back, Cochran recognizes that the path she took wasn't necessarily the one she would have predicted for herself as a young adult. But she says she wouldn't change where it led her.

"I truly believe God had a different path prepared for me, and ACTC was part of that plan," she said.

What began as a decision to explore an unfamiliar career path ultimately became the foundation for a profession, a family-sustaining career, and a new opportunity to give back to the program that started it all.

Written by: Megan Smedley, ACTC strategic communications administrator