Catledge named new campus dean of USC Lancaster

Courtney Catledge has been named campus dean of the University of South Carolina Lancaster.

Her appointment was announced on Monday, May 5, by USC Palmetto College Chancellor Susan Elkins, who cited Catledge’s administrative leadership, her track record for training nursing graduates who ably 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.

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 institution has achieved multiple semesters of historic enrollment growth since 2017, including this past Fall 2024 semester. USC Lancaster has been ranked as the No. 1 two-year campus in South Carolina by Niche.com for eight consecutive years (2018-2023), 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 healthcare workforce in South Carolina. The program creates a pipeline for certified nursing assistants (CNAs) to eventually earn the Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree (BSN).

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.