Patricia Kelly Earns Doctoral Degree from Delta State University 

Moorhead, Miss. (May 14, 2024) - Patricia Kelly, Dean of Health Sciences at Mississippi Delta Community College (MDCC), recently earned her Doctor of Education (Ed.D.) with an emphasis in Higher Education from Delta State University. Her dissertation was titled "Exploring the Expansion of Dual Enrollment/Dual Credit into Career Technical Education and Health Science Courses/Programs in the State of Mississippi."
 
"With little to no literature found exploring dual enrollment/dual credit (DE/DC) offerings in Career Technical Education (CTE) and Health Science core courses/programs, my study helps to provide an examination of the perceived driving forces behind the recent expansion of DE/DC into CTE and Health Sciences," Dr. Kelly stated. "By providing insight from industry, K-12, and community college participants' perception, my study strives to provide supporting data for educational institutions during their assessment of implementation or expansion of college-level CTE and Health Science DE/DC course offerings."
 
Dr. Kelly holds two additional degrees from Delta State University: a Bachelor of Science in Medical Laboratory Science and a Master of Business Administration. She began her healthcare journey at Baptist North Mississippi in Oxford and later returned home, assuming a laboratory management role at Delta Health System The Medical Center in 1999. Transitioning into education in 2002, she embarked on her teaching career as an instructor in the Medical Laboratory Technology program at MDCC. Dr. Kelly ascended to the position of Dean of Health Sciences in 2017.
 
Her leadership extends beyond her professional role at MDCC. She is a life member of the Junior Auxiliary of Greenville, where she held the role of president and currently contributes on a national level as a chapter support coordinator. Her active involvement in the American Society of Clinical Laboratory Science of Mississippi, where she serves on the board and as nominations chair, showcases her dedication to advancing her field. Dr. Kelly's contributions as an accreditation site visitor and self-study reviewer for the National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Science further demonstrate her commitment to maintaining high standards in her profession.
 
Dr. Kelly and her husband, Mike, have two children (Gunnar and Connar) and three grandchildren (Ava, Peyton and Porter).
 
Her belief in the transformative power of education is unwavering. Dr. Kelly asserts, "As both an educator and healthcare professional, I firmly believe that investing in education is pivotal for nurturing the well-being and unleashing the potential of every student, thereby fostering the prosperity of society at large. I am honored to be able to contribute to shaping future generations of healthcare providers."