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A love for teaching and nursing continues in a new leadership role for Kathy Elliott, this time here at ��«Ӱҵ.

Elliott was hired in August as assistant dean for nursing at the Jackson Campus-Nursing/Allied Health Center. A Flora resident, she arrives at ��«Ӱҵ from being the director of licensure and practice with the Mississippi State Board of Nursing.

Previously, the Collierville, Tenn., native directed career and technical education with the Mississippi Community College Board and taught two nine-year stints at Jones County Junior College, as director of the practical nursing program, and East Central Community College, as practical nursing instructor. She entered teaching after six years at a community hospital and doing home healthcare in Bay Springs, in Jasper County.

The program’s newest addition hopes to meld two related disciplines to keep ��«Ӱҵ’ nursing program top-notch.

“It’s the best of both worlds,” Elliott said. “You have the environment with the students where you’re teaching. And you also have that of the hospital, where you go and take care of patients along with your students. I never felt like I left the patient world.”

As assistant dean, Elliott will work closely with the associate degree nursing, practical nursing, and healthcare assisting.

“I will help faculty prepare students to go out into the current healthcare environment with sharp skills and promote student retention,” she said. “And to help students pass their licensure examination on the first try, if possible. Those pass rates reflect what the program is doing.”

“One thing that attracted us to Kathy was her leadership skills,” Dean Dr. Libby Mahaffey said. “She has excellent leadership skills that will benefit the division of nursing. She’s had positions of leadership at the state level. We’re excited she’s coming to join our allied health family.”

Recruiting efforts for ��«Ӱҵ’ nursing and allied health programs center kick off Sept. 8 at the Muse Center for the Nursing & Allied Health Showcase. Faculty will be on hand to answer questions from prospective students on the college’s 13 health-related and two short-term programs.

“We are looking for prospective students who want a rewarding and meaningful career in a Nursing or Health Related Profession,” said Christie Adair, admissions manager at NAHC. “Our programs will equip these students to become skilled and caring healthcare providers, who can also enjoy a secure job in an ever-growing field.”