UIndy Honors Legacy of Beloved Psychologist Dr. Kate Ratliff

Conference challenges faculty to 'control the temperature' and shape future educators

Published on Feb. 13, 2026

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The University of Indianapolis held a memorial conference to honor the legacy of Dr. Kate Ratliff, a beloved psychologist and advocate who taught at the university for five years before passing away in 1990. The conference featured a powerful keynote address by former NFL player-turned-motivational speaker Robert Jackson, who urged attendees to address their own trauma and emotional challenges in order to better support students. The event also included breakout sessions on topics like supporting immigrant students and the ethical implications of AI 'griefbots', as well as a student showcase highlighting research projects.

Why it matters

Dr. Ratliff was known for her devotion to students and commitment to social justice, and the conference aimed to continue her legacy by inspiring educators to teach with both knowledge and heart. The event highlighted the importance of addressing mental health and emotional intelligence in the classroom, as well as the unique challenges faced by diverse student populations.

The details

The conference was hosted by the University of Indianapolis' College of Education and Behavioral Sciences. Keynote speaker Robert Jackson, a former NFL player and current motivational speaker, shared his own experiences with trauma and challenged attendees to be vulnerable and address their own problems in order to better support students. Jackson urged faculty to 'control the temperature' of their classrooms and shape the next generation of educators.

  • The memorial conference was held on February 13, 2026.
  • Dr. Kate Ratliff taught at the University of Indianapolis for five years before passing away in 1990.

The players

Dr. Kate Ratliff

A psychologist, advocate, and beloved member of the University of Indianapolis community who taught at the university for five years before passing away in 1990.

Robert Jackson

A former NFL player who is now a motivational speaker. He delivered the keynote address at the conference, calling on attendees to address their own trauma and emotional challenges in order to better support students.

University of Indianapolis

The host institution of the memorial conference honoring the legacy of Dr. Kate Ratliff.

College of Education and Behavioral Sciences

The college at the University of Indianapolis that hosted the memorial conference.

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What they’re saying

“If we're going to carry out this legacy of Dr. Ratliff and what she's done in the past, we've got to walk a little bit differently.”

— Robert Jackson, Motivational speaker (uindy.edu)

“You control the temperature, faculty. You control the temperature of future educators. Those four corners of that room, it can be [a] mess on the [other] side of that, but I control the temperature the most.”

— Robert Jackson, Motivational speaker (uindy.edu)

What’s next

The University of Indianapolis plans to continue honoring Dr. Ratliff's legacy by integrating the themes and lessons from the memorial conference into its educator training programs.

The takeaway

The conference highlighted the importance of addressing mental health, emotional intelligence, and the unique needs of diverse student populations in order to carry on the legacy of educators like Dr. Kate Ratliff who were deeply committed to supporting and empowering their students.