Voices That Inspire
Voices That Inspire is our quarterly feature, celebrating program leaders who turn inspiration into meaningful action.
Natalie Nurse
The Computer Science Program Director — Celebrating Every Student's Journey
Career at Tri-C: Natalie's path to higher education was anything but traditional. After earning a degree in History and Secondary Education from Baldwin Wallace University and later adding a mathematics endorsement, she worked in the insurance and technology expense management industries before joining Tri-C in February 2023 as a coordinator in the Computer Science department. In 2024, she stepped into the role of program director, where she enjoys combining her interests in higher education, program administration and student support. Her commitment to students and the College community was recognized when she received the Tri-C Professional Excellence Award for Dedication to Student Success in 2024.
Proudest Moment at Tri-C: One of Natalie's proudest moments came in the summer of 2025, when three Computer Science students interning at Tri-C took the initiative to improve their communication skills. With her encouragement, they developed and presented a cybersecurity awareness seminar for students and community members. The well-attended event highlighted the students' ability to translate technical knowledge into meaningful learning experiences, and their efforts were later recognized with a Tri-C Career Services IT Excellence Award.
Other Achievements: Natalie is passionate about creating opportunities that help students grow both personally and professionally. The Computer Science department sponsored five students to attend the 2025 Ohio Celebration of Women in Computing Conference (OCWiC). Natalie served on the conference's planning committee. One of the highlights for her was seeing students energized and engaged as they built meaningful connections with their peers. Today, Natalie serves as OCWiC vice chair and has worked with faculty to reestablish Tri-C's ACM Women in Computing student chapter, which supports and empowers women pursuing careers in computer science.
Did You Know? Before joining Tri-C, Natalie spent several years working part time as a florist and still enjoys floral design. An avid reader, she participates in a book club. When she's not reading for pleasure, she's working toward her Master of Business Administration through a self-paced program at Western Governors University.
Closing Remarks: Natalie's passion for student success is matched by her enthusiasm for continuous learning. She thrives on the variety and challenges of her role, noting that no two days are the same.
"Everyone has their own story, and it's rewarding to be part of that journey," she says. "I love coming in to work each day."
October 2026
By Amy Cottle, 216-987-3148 or amy.cottle@tri-c.edu
Christopher Headrick
The Tri-C Physical Therapist Assisting Technology Program Director — Guiding Student Success
Professional Background: Born and raised in the Medina area, Chris Headrick has long been drawn to the medical field. He began his physical therapy studies in southeastern Idaho, earning an associate degree at Ricks College (now Brigham Young University-Idaho). He went on to complete his Bachelor of Science at Brigham Young University in Utah. After marrying, he and his wife moved to Pennsylvania, where he completed his Doctor of Physical Therapy at Slippery Rock University. His PT career took him to Sacramento before he returned home to Ohio in 2008.
Career at Tri-C: Chris shifted from clinical practice in 2018 to serve as program director at South University in Warrensville Heights. After the South University-Cleveland campus closure, he found the ideal next step at Tri-C, joining the College in 2019 as a preceptor. His leadership and commitment to student success led to his appointment as program director in Spring 2025. To stay connected to patient care and keep his clinical skills sharp, Chris continues to work one weekend each month at the Summa Health Barberton Campus.
First-Year Achievement: Chris has found that working with students feels a lot like patient care — rewarding, relational and rooted in helping people succeed. Soon after becoming program director, he identified an opportunity to boost retention by rethinking how exams were weighted throughout the semester. Under the previous system, a poor score on the first exam often left students discouraged and struggling to recover.
To foster a more supportive, growth-focused learning environment, Chris and his team redesigned the grading structure so early exams carry less weight and the final — where students demonstrate full PTA competency — counts more. The results speak for themselves: this year, all 17 students in the cohort are on track to graduate.
Fun Fact: Chris started wearing bow ties back in middle school as a joke — which never really ended. He grew to like them, and they've since become part of his signature look. When he's not in the office, though, he trades the bow tie for running gear and heads to the trails to run in the Metroparks.
Proudest Moment at Tri-C: For Chris, pride comes every time a student reaches their goals — whether that's mastering a tough skill, gaining confidence or stepping into their first clinical role. This year brings an especially meaningful milestone, as two recent Tri-C PTAT graduates will serve as clinical instructors for current students during the upcoming rotation cycle. Seeing alumni guide the next generation is a full-circle moment, and Chris couldn't be prouder of their growth and leadership.
July 2026
By Amy Cottle, 216-987-3148 or amy.cottle@tri-c.edu
Annie Myatt
The Tri-C Dental Hygiene Program Director — A Community Outreach Champion
Career at Tri-C: Annie Myatt began her dental hygiene career as a student at Tri-C in 2004 and graduated from the program in 2006. She went on to work in public health and in several dental offices before returning to Tri-C in 2017 as adjunct faculty, teaching while continuing her clinical practice. In August 2020, she transitioned into the role of program director, bringing her clinical experience and student-centered approach to program leadership.
Proudest moment at Tri-C: Annie's proudest accomplishment is expanding enrollment in the Dental Hygiene program from 22 to 28 students, with the first larger cohort launching in Fall 2025. This growth required developing a new staffing plan to maintain a 1:5 student-to-faculty ratio, securing increased funding for equipment and personnel and hiring additional qualified instructors — all aimed at reducing student wait times and strengthening student success.
Other achievements: As a mother of four, Annie is especially proud to see each of her adult children thriving in their chosen careers and building fulfilling lives of their own.
Did you know? Annie played the violin for more than 25 years and originally began college at Bowling Green State University as a Music Education major before redirecting her path toward dental hygiene after marrying and starting her family. Today, she enjoys gardening — particularly growing many varieties of hot peppers each year and turning them into powders for her recipes.
Closing remarks: One of the most rewarding aspects of her role as program director is leading the program's outreach efforts. Annie is committed to giving students meaningful opportunities to work with patients they may not otherwise encounter, strengthening both their skills and confidence. She also values the community partnerships that enrich students' clinical learning. Currently, she is spearheading an initiative to bring Tri-C's Dental Hygiene students into University Hospitals' pediatric dental clinic to support oral health education. Guiding students in their growth from having no experience to becoming confident professionals ready to positively impact their communities' dental health remains one of the highlights of her work.
April 2026
By Amy Cottle, 216-987-3148 or amy.cottle@tri-c.edu
John Gallagher
The Tri-C Respiratory Care Program Director — A Grateful Coach
Professional background: John Gallagher graduated from Lakeland Community College's Respiratory Care program and began what became a 20-year career at University Hospitals Rainbow Babies & Children's Hospital in Cleveland. He started as a staff therapist, grew into a critical care coordinator, and eventually became a clinical educator. Along the way, he earned his Bachelor of Science in Health Sciences from Cleveland State University and a Master of Public Health from The Ohio State University. He's currently working toward his Ed.D. at Youngstown State University.
Career at Tri-C: In 2022, John left Rainbow Babies & Children's Hospital to build a respiratory care degree advancement program at Ursuline College. As the founding program director, he created the curriculum, achieved accreditation and marketed the program regionally. However, John missed helping students prepare for clinical practice. He sought that connection again by joining Tri-C as the program director in October 2024, eager to help shape the next generation of respiratory therapists.
Other achievements: In just one year, John has worked closely with faculty and staff to streamline the recruitment and retention process for students within the program. He has also collaborated with industry partners to secure two additional mechanical ventilators through donation. On campus, John obtained funding for additional state-of-the-art lab technology. Together, the team is nearing completion of two new lab spaces to give respiratory care students a real-world critical care experience in a high-fidelity simulation environment on the Western Campus.
Proudest moment: Back in 2016, while still working in clinical practice, John received a huge honor — he was named the American Association for Respiratory Care (AARC) Neonatal–Pediatrics Specialty Practitioner of the Year. Being recognized by his peers was an unforgettable moment for him!
Did you know? John has spent several seasons coaching little league football in Rocky River, where he loves inspiring young athletes. When he's not on the field, you'll find him exploring Cleveland Metroparks, hiking, biking and camping with his family.
Closing remarks: John is proud to lead Tri-C's Respiratory Care program, now in its 54th year. For him, each student's success is a win for all — for the students, the College and the well-being of the entire community we serve. He is grateful for the part he plays in guiding Tri-C students toward meaningful health care futures.
January 2026
By Amy Cottle, 216-987-3148 or amy.cottle@tri-c.edu