Lori Slaughter retires after 34 years of service to SKYCTC Radiography Program
BOWLING GREEN, Ky. – After 34 years of teaching and serving students in Radiography, Professor Lori Slaughter is retiring from Southcentral Kentucky Community and Technical College (SKYCTC), leaving a lasting legacy through the hundreds of graduates she helped prepare for careers in the profession.
Slaughter’s interest in Radiography began in childhood through her aunt, Anna Strickland, a Louisville radiographer who shared stories and medical supplies from her work. After attending the University of Kentucky and Western Kentucky University, she discovered the Radiography program at Bowling Green State Vocational Technical School, now SKYCTC. She began as a student on July 17, 1985.
Years later, after returning to Bowling Green with her family, Lori joined the college as an instructor. She began teaching on July 13, 1992, and was mentored by Diane Button and Becky Stevens, who became lifelong friends.
During her teaching career, Slaughter watched 601 students successfully complete the Radiography program, including students from multiple generations of families.
“Teaching this program has been one of the greatest joys of my career,” Slaughter said. “Although I became eligible to retire in July 2019, I chose to stay because I truly love what I do. When you love your work, it never feels like a job—it feels like a purpose.”
Former student Zoe Steenbergen Ezell said Slaughter’s passion and dedication made a lasting impact on generations of students.
“Mrs. Slaughter’s passion for radiology and dedication to teaching was evident to all of us who were her students,” Ezell said. “She is a wonderful teacher who has made a lasting impact on not only me, but the many students that have come through the program.”
In addition to teaching, Slaughter provided extensive leadership and service to SKYCTC and the Kentucky Community and Technical College System (KCTCS), serving in numerous faculty development, curriculum, mentoring and college leadership roles.
"It has been a privilege to work alongside someone so dedicated to her profession, her students, and the success of the Radiography Program,” said Dr Angie Harlan, Dean of Nursing. “Her commitment to excellence is evident in the outstanding outcomes she has helped achieve, including the program's 100% registry exam pass rate over the past six years. She has consistently gone above and beyond to support student success and represent SKYCTC with pride and professionalism. Her passion, dedication, and unwavering advocacy for the program have left a lasting legacy that will continue to impact students and colleagues for years to come."
Her accomplishments include receiving the SKYCTC Faculty KCTCS New Horizons Excellence Award twice, being a 1994 Kentucky Tech Methods of Instruction Regional winner, participating in the inaugural KCTCS Master Teacher Seminar and graduating from the 2014 KCTCS President’s Leadership Seminar.
“Every student, every class, and every moment spent helping future radiographers grow has reinforced why I remained committed to this profession and this college,” Slaughter said. “Thank you, SKYCTC, for giving me the opportunity to serve, teach, and continue doing what I love.”
As Lori Slaughter retires, her influence will continue through the 601 graduates she helped prepare for careers in Radiography and the many students, colleagues and families whose lives she touched throughout her 34 years of service.
