Published on October 31st, 2024
Last modified November 1st, 2024 08:14 am
Media Contacts:Susan Pollard spollard@vccs.eduJohn Dezember John.Dezember@sw.edu
CedarBluff, VA – Dr. David Doré, Chancellor of the Virginia Community College System (VCCS), announced today he has appointed Dr. Victoria Sue Ratliff, Ed.D., as the interim President of Southwest Virginia Community College.
“I am excited to welcome Dr. Ratliff to this critical role,” said Dr. David Doré, Chancellor of the Virginia Community College System. “Her wealth of experience and commitment to educational excellence will be invaluable as we navigate this transitional period.”
Ratliff brings over thirty years of extensive experience in higher education and economic development in southwest Virginia. A proud first-generation college student, she began her academic journey at Mountain Empire Community College (MECC), where she experienced the transformative power of education firsthand. Ratliff earned an Associate Degree from MECC, a Bachelor of Science Degree in Business Administration from Tusculum College, an MBA from Morehead State University, and a Doctorate of Education with a Higher Education concentration from Liberty University. Her professional career at MECC began in 2003, where she served in various leadership positions including Dean of Business & Information Technology and Vice President of Academic Affairs and Workforce Solutions.
Throughout her tenure, Ratliff was instrumental in developing programs that bolstered the skilled workforce in southwest Virginia and engaged in numerous economic development projects. Notably, she earned recognition for her grant writing expertise, successfully securing funding for various initiatives. She has extensive accreditation experience as a SACSCOC* liaison, having participated in numerous peer review teams over the years. Her involvement in various site visits, assessment of institutional documentation for on- and off-site reviews, and service as a lead evaluator for Quality Enhancement Plans, has equipped her with a comprehensive understanding of accreditation standards and procedures.
“It is a profound honor to follow in the footsteps of Dr. Wright who has served Southwest Virginia Community College and this region so well,” said Dr.Ratliff. “I am deeply grateful for the trust and confidence placed in me as the interim president and look forward to working with our dedicated faculty, staff, and students to continue to move this great institution and southwest Virginia forward.”
In October, it was announced that Dr. Tommy Wright will be leaving his position as President of Southwest Virginia Community College to take on the role of VCCS Senior Vice Chancellor for Finance and Operations. Ratcliff will begin her tenure as interim President January 1, 2025.
The search for a permanent president of Southwest Virginia Community College will begin soon. It is a lengthy process and will be conducted similar to previous presidential searches at other colleges within the system. This national search will involve input from the local college board, faculty, staff, and other stakeholders, which will help to identify and prioritize the qualifications needed for the next president.
AboutSouthwest Virginia Community CollegeSouthwest Community College was founded in 1967 and is inCedar Bluff, Virginia. Serving the counties of Buchanan, Dickenson, Russell, and Tazewell, it has served more than 115,000 students since its creation. For more information, please visit www.sw.edu.
About Virginia’s Community Colleges
Since 1966, Virginia’s Community Colleges have given everyone the opportunity to learn and develop the right skills, so lives and communities are strengthened. By making higher education and workforce training available in every part of Virginia, we elevate all of Virginia. In AY 2024, Virginia’s Community Colleges served more than 232,000 students across 23 schools throughout Virginia. For more information, please visit www.vccs.edu.
*The Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) is an institutional accreditor for quality assurance in higher education. For more information go tosacscoc.org.
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