In 1978 Dr. Jerome Ratchford earned his PhD from Bowling Green State University in Educational Leadership. After teaching graduate courses at Lincoln University in Jefferson City, Missouri, he came to Kennesaw State in 1988 as coordinator of minority student retention. Shortly afterwards he became the first director of Student Development, a center created to provide services to multicultural, international, non-traditional, and disabled students and to coordinate programs such as Volunteer KSU. Over the years it added services for GLBTIQ students and others. Dr. Ratchford became dean of students in 2007 and interim vice president for student success in 2008. In these positions he played a central role in diversifying the campus and improving outreach to historically neglected populations. He retired in 2015.
Citation
Interview with Dr. Jerome Ratchford, 2011-03-24 and 2015-01-22, Kennesaw State University oral history series, Kennesaw State University Oral History Project, 1973- , KSU/45/05/001, Kennesaw State University Archives.
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