At Ross Education, our students, faculty and staff are at the heart of everything we do. This year, our Kentwood and Roosevelt Park campuses have been recognized in USA TODAY’s 2026 Best Trade Schools rankings, shining a spotlight on the work happening across our campuses.
This recognition is something we can all be proud of. It reflects the commitment of our students who work hard to build their futures, as well as the faculty and staff who show up every day to teach, encourage and support them along the way.
But behind every campus, classroom and student success story are people who make it all possible.
From instructors who help students build confidence and career-ready skills to staff members who guide and support students throughout their education, the people at Ross are at the heart of what we do.
While we celebrate this national recognition, we also want to take a moment to celebrate the people behind it: the dedicated employees who have spent years building their careers at Ross, the faculty and staff who continue to grow and learn themselves, and the people who contribute to our campuses every day.
Read the original ranking and coverage:
View USA TODAY’s 2026 Best Trade Schools article
The People Behind the Recognition
A strong campus is built by the people who dedicate their time, knowledge and energy to supporting students. At Ross, many of our faculty and staff have spent years building relationships with students, supporting their coworkers and contributing to the success of their campuses.
Across our Kentwood and Roosevelt Park campuses, we’re proud to recognize team members whose dedication, experience and commitment have helped shape the Ross community.
Celebrating Our Team
Some of our employees have spent many years at Ross, building lasting relationships with students and coworkers and making a meaningful impact along the way.
Kentwood Campus
Jodie Karrip — Kentwood Campus Director
22 years at Ross
Jodie Karrip’s journey at Ross began in 2002, when she started teaching part-time evening classes while raising her children as a single parent. After leaving to pursue other opportunities in healthcare, she returned in 2010 as a full-time instructor, bringing years of experience as an X-ray technician and medical assistant. She worked her way from teaching assistant to primary instructor and full-time instructor before advancing into leadership. Her extensive clinical background and personal experiences shaped her commitment to preparing students not only with the technical skills needed for healthcare careers but also with the compassion, professionalism and confidence to make a difference in patients’ lives.
Today, Jodie focuses on creating a supportive campus environment where students feel valued, accepted and encouraged to overcome challenges. What she finds most rewarding is watching students grow from being uncertain and guarded to becoming confident in themselves and their abilities. She is especially proud that four instructors currently working at the Kentwood campus were once her students, reflecting the lasting impact of the relationships she has built throughout her career. Jodie believes every day offers an opportunity to make a difference, even through one small victory, and remains motivated by helping students recognize their potential and build better futures for themselves and their families.
Education/credentials: X-ray Technician; Medical Assistant; extensive clinical experience in emergency medicine, surgery and other hospital departments.
Courtney Arnold — Student Success Advisor
8 years at Ross
Courtney Arnold joined the Kentwood Ross campus in April 2018 after working as a pharmacy technician for seven years. Looking for a new opportunity, she was encouraged to apply by a friend who shared how rewarding it was to be part of Ross and its mission. Since joining the team, Courtney has found fulfillment in helping students navigate challenges, recognize their progress and build confidence as they work toward graduation. One of her most memorable accomplishments was seeing the Kentwood campus named Campus of the Year while also receiving the Student Services Excellence Award, recognizing the dedication and teamwork that go into supporting students every day.
As a Student Success Advisor, Courtney strives to be a consistent source of support for students, whether that means advocating for them, connecting them with resources or simply taking the time to listen. She believes building trust is essential and is always looking for additional ways to help students succeed. What she enjoys most is witnessing their growth, from small breakthroughs in the classroom to major life milestones. Over the years, she has had the privilege of sharing in students’ personal journeys as they become parents, earn their driver’s licenses and become U.S. citizens. These experiences have made her work at Ross especially meaningful.
Being recognized through USA TODAY’s national recognition of Ross means a great deal to Courtney. While recognition from colleagues and mentors is meaningful, she finds it especially rewarding to see the impact of Ross’ work reflected in an external evaluation. After eight years at Ross, the students remain her greatest motivation, and knowing that the dedication of faculty and staff is making a lasting difference reinforces why she is proud to be part of the team.
Credentials: Pharmacy Technician
Deborah Masucci — Clinical Medical Assisting Instructor
10 years at Ross
Deborah Masucci joined Ross’ Kentwood campus in January 2016, bringing with her six years of experience as a Medical Assisting instructor and 13 years working in the field. She was drawn to Ross because of the opportunities she saw for students to build successful careers, and she wanted to be part of that process. Today, one of the most fulfilling parts of her role is seeing where her students go after graduation and knowing she played a part in their journey. Deborah has also been recognized for her dedication to teaching, receiving the Outstanding Faculty Member award through the Ohio-Michigan Association of Career Colleges and Schools in 2023.
Throughout her career, Deborah says students have told her that her teaching style has helped them retain the knowledge they need to succeed in the medical field. She takes pride in seeing the growth students experience from the beginning of their education through graduation, when they leave with not only a certification but also skills and qualities they can carry throughout their lives. After 10 years at Ross, her sense of purpose continues to come from knowing her work can make a difference in someone’s life. Seeing former students working in the field and continuing their education is especially meaningful to her, and she is proud to be part of the team of students and staff behind those success stories.
Credentials: Registered Medical Assistant
Roosevelt Park Campus
Toni Hamilton — Senior Regional Career Services Representative
15 years at Ross
Toni Hamilton joined Ross in March 2011 after several years of experience working in Career Services. When she came to Ross, she saw an opportunity to continue doing work she enjoyed while helping students reach their career goals. Today, one of her favorite parts of her role is getting to know students, hearing their stories and watching them grow throughout their time at Ross. Whether she is helping with a resume, preparing a student for an interview, finding an externship or simply offering encouragement, Toni strives to be someone students can count on.
Some of Toni’s most rewarding moments have come after students have graduated. Former students have reached out to share that they found a job, earned a promotion or are doing well in their careers, and knowing she played even a small part in helping them get there means a great deal to her. After 15 years at Ross, it is the relationships she has built with students and coworkers, along with the opportunity to make a positive impact on someone’s future, that continue to keep her here. She is also proud to be part of the Ross community and its national recognition.
Education: MBA in Human Resource Management, Baker College Center for Graduate Studies; BBA, Grand Valley State University
Holly Lummen — Full-Time Medical Assisting Instructor
11 years at Ross
Holly Lummen began her Ross journey as a part-time instructor in 2015 before transitioning to a full-time instructor role in 2023. Teaching was not originally part of Holly’s plans. At the time, she was looking for a change of pace from her office job and decided to take a chance on something new. Although she was initially unsure about becoming an instructor, Holly quickly discovered that teaching was something she truly loved. Today, she takes pride in being part of each student’s educational journey and helping them grow into confident Medical Assisting professionals.
For Holly, the most rewarding part of teaching is seeing the impact she can have on her students. She enjoys guiding and coaching students from different backgrounds and encouraging each of them to be true to themselves as they learn and grow. Hearing former students tell her, “If it wasn’t for you, I wouldn’t be where I am today,” is a reminder of why she does what she does. Her dedication was also recognized when she received the Outstanding Faculty award for the Roosevelt Park campus at the Ohio Michigan Association of Career Colleges and Schools (OMACCS) Annual Conference. Holly says she is proud to be part of the Roosevelt Park team and that this recognition is meaningful because it reflects the work of the entire campus.
Education/credentials: AAS, RMA
Kelly Carney — Associate Director
8 years at Ross
Kelly Carney’s connection to Ross began long before she joined the Roosevelt Park campus as an employee. After attending Ross in 2007–2008 and working in the field, Kelly discovered that she had a passion for training and office management, which eventually brought her back to Ross on July 2, 2018. She began her career with the company as an instructor before moving into leadership, becoming Assistant Director of Education in 2019 and Associate Director in 2020. She says one of her greatest accomplishments has been the opportunity to grow within the company while continuing to help students along the way.
Today, Kelly focuses on creating a supportive, welcoming and professional environment where students feel valued and encouraged to succeed. She enjoys helping students overcome challenges, build confidence and work toward their career goals, while also being inspired by the passion her coworkers bring to teaching. After eight years at Ross, the students and the opportunity to make a difference in their lives remain what she values most. Being recognized as part of Ross’ national recognition is meaningful to Kelly because it reflects the time and dedication she has invested in supporting both students and her team.
Education/credentials: AAS in Medical Assisting, Ross College Online; BA, Southern New Hampshire University; RMA; Certified BLS Instructor
Kim Hedum — Medical Assistant Instructor
22 years at Ross
Kim Hedum has been part of Ross’ Roosevelt Park campus since 2004, bringing 26 years of healthcare experience as a CMA and RMA into the classroom. With experience in Internal Medicine and Thoracic Surgery, Kim joined Ross to help educate future Medical Assistants and share her knowledge from the healthcare field.
For Kim, the greatest reward is watching students grow in confidence and reach their career goals. She enjoys helping students overcome challenges, sharing real-world experiences and seeing their pride at graduation. After 22 years at Ross, her students continue to be what keeps her here. Seeing former students working throughout the hospital is a source of great pride, and being part of Ross’ national recognition is meaningful to Kim because she believes the school gives students an important pathway toward their futures.
Education/credentials: Associate Degree in Applied Science; RMA; Certified CPR Instructor
Celebrating Ross
This recognition gives us an opportunity to celebrate the people who make our Kentwood and Roosevelt Park campuses special. Behind every student who walks across the stage at graduation, begins a new career or takes the next step toward their goals are faculty and staff members who have supported them along the way. Their experience, dedication and commitment to students are an important part of what makes Ross a place where students can build their futures.
We’re proud to celebrate our employees, our students and the communities they serve. The 2026 Best Trade Schools recognition is a reflection of the people who come together every day to create opportunities for students and help them move forward in their careers.