Dr. Candy H. Ratliff is an Associate Professor in the Department of Counseling at Texas Southern University, where she teaches graduate-level courses in ethics, marriage and couples counseling, group counseling, and clinical mental health counseling. With over four decades of experience as an educator, she has held significant academic leadership positions, including Interim Chair of the Department of Counseling and Assistant Dean of the Thomas F. Freeman Honors College.

Her research agenda is multifaceted, addressing intersecting domains within counseling and mental health. Core areas of inquiry include the influence of trauma on clinical practice, the relationship between body image and relational health among women, the dynamics of caregiver stress and compassion fatigue, and the psychosocial and structural factors that contribute to academic achievement. As principal investigator of the Mental Health Resource Network at TSU, she established a comprehensive framework for accessible campus mental health support. In addition, she has contributed to advancing research infrastructure through her service with TeamRCMI, first as a mentor and later as coordinator of the mentoring program, fostering faculty development and collaborative scholarship.

Dr. Ratliff also serves as CEO of the National Institute for Social and Emotional Development, Inc., where she designs and implements mental wellness seminars, retreats, and educational resources. In recognition of her lifelong service and impact, she was honored with the Presidential Lifetime Achievement Award in 2023.