University of South Carolina Lancaster has a new dean

The University of South Carolina Lancaster has a new dean.

Courtney Catledge has been named campus dean of the school.

Her appointment was announced recently by USC Palmetto College Chancellor Susan Elkins, who cited Catledge’s administrative leadership, her track record for training nursing graduates who  live and work in the USC Lancaster region, and her connection to internal and external stakeholders which will benefit the campus’ continued growth, development and community engagement, a news release stated.

“As USC Lancaster continues to move forward beyond its recent 65th anniversary of service to students, families, the local workforce and overall region, Dr. Catledge is the ideal leader to continue the campus’ upward trajectory,” Elkins said in the release. “Her leadership in creating greater numbers of health care professionals who serve the local community and her leadership as interim dean with strong ties to the campus and business community have been assets in continuing to bring an affordable, accessible, flexible and achievable higher education to the Lancaster region and beyond.”

Prior to beginning her service as interim campus dean in January 2024, Catledge served as director of the USC Lancaster Bachelor of Science in Nursing Collaborative Program. During her time in both roles, USC Lancaster has seen continued growth and development for several years, the release stated. The institution has achieved multiple semesters of historic enrollment growth since 2017, including this past fall  semester. USC Lancaster has been ranked as the No. 1 two-year campus in South Carolina by Niche.com for eight consecutive years (2018-23), and the No. 2 two-year campus in the nation for three straight years (2019-2021).

More recently, Catledge worked to secure $2.8 million in rural innovation grants from the Center for Rural and Public Health to fund a pathway program to enhance rural health care workforce in South Carolina, according to the release. The program creates a pipeline for certified nursing assistants to eventually earn the Bachelor of Science in Nursing.

“Being able to serve as the dean of the University of South Carolina Lancaster is really an opportunity to be a driving force for change, but to also continue to support the great things that we do here at USCL and across the Palmetto College campuses,” said Catledge in the release. “I’ve lived in Lancaster my entire adult life. I’ve raised my children here. I’m very passionate about making a difference in our community. Our university is very important to our community, and our students impact our community daily. I consider it a privilege and an opportunity to be able to serve alongside our wonderful staff and faculty and to continue to help to see our students grow into productive citizens who make a difference in our region and beyond.”

Following a national search, Catledge was recommended as one of three top finalists by a 13- member search committee representing a cross-section of stakeholders from USC Lancaster faculty, staff, students, alumni, community leaders from the USCL service area and Palmetto College representatives. The committee was led by Michael Sonntag, previous campus dean of USC Sumter.

Catledge earned a Doctor of Nursing Practice, Master of Science in Nursing in community and public health and Master of Public Health in public health administration, all from the University of South Carolina, and a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Clemson University.