Top regional award given to Midlands Technical College Radiologic Technology Professor

Midlands Technical College (MTC) Radiologic Technology Program Director and Professor Millie Massey received the 2026 Association of Community College Trustees (ACCT) Southern Region Faculty Award. The award was presented at the ACCT Leadership Congress in Chicago this October.

Massey, who has been employed with the college for 33 years, was recognized for her commitment to student success. Her program consistently exceeds expectations, with five-year rates of 98.6% for job placement and 97.1% for passing the certification exam on the first attempt; national benchmarks for both are 75%.

“Critical shortages of radiologic technologists persist locally and nationwide,” said Jeff McCarty, dean of MTC’s School of Health Care. “Through strategic partnerships with school districts and medical centers, Millie has helped double the program’s capacity in just two years, expanding educational opportunities for students while helping address an urgent workforce need.”

Massey recently worked with Lexington Health to create a new teaching site and expanded clinical opportunities at Irmo Medical Park, allowing the organizations to better meet staffing needs for high-demand, lucrative radiologic and surgical technology jobs in the Midlands. She also helped develop the Lex1 MedStart dual enrollment program in cooperation with Lexington School District One and Lexington Health.

“Millie’s leadership demonstrates how exceptional teaching can transform students’ lives while strengthening our region’s workforce,” said MTC Provost Dr. Barrie Kirk. “Her students’ outstanding certification and employment outcomes, along with the partnerships she has built to expand access and enrollment, make her deeply deserving of this regional recognition.”

MTC faculty members have received the ACCT Southern Region Faculty Award five times in the past seven years. Previous recipients are history professor Lindsay Weathers (2025), Emergency Medical Services programs director and professor Benji McCollum (2022), biology professor Dr. Eric Goff (2021), and humanities professor Dr. Robert Gilmer (2020). Each year, ACCT presents regional faculty awards to community and technical college faculty members from across the United States and its territories.

Midlands Technical College has more than 720 expert professors providing personalized support, with students benefiting from an average 16:1 student-to-professor ratio and average class size of 14.

MTC offers more than 200 academic and career-training programs supported by expert faculty, small class sizes, and hands-on learning opportunities. To learn more, visit MIDLANDSTECH.EDU.

About Midlands Technical College

Midlands Technical College (MTC) is a six-campus, two-year comprehensive community college serving Richland, Lexington, and Fairfield counties in South Carolina. The college provides higher education opportunities that stimulate the local economy by generating a world-class workforce and enhancing the social vitality of the community. MIDLANDSTECH.EDU.