Michele Rankin has built her career on a reputation of exemplary leadership and innovative problem-solving. Michele is the Jailer for the Woodford County Detention Center, where she has made it her mission to be reliable, resourceful and reputable. Michele has been instrumental in developing programs that benefit not only inmates but Woodford County as well.
An intuitive approach to problems and solutions has served Michele’s career, and by proximity her inmates’ lives as well, too, through the creation of training initiatives, community service and support programs. Michele is not only dedicated to operating the jail with the highest standards but is also committed to helping the inmates to compensate for their crimes and re-enter society with skills and support.
Michele developed a Christmas Shop for inmates to purchase gifts for their children and established a Daddy-Daughter dance to provide more normalcy and relationship-building within their families. She started a community garden that provided fresh foods to the Woodford County Public Schools, Woodford County Senior Citizens and Woodford County Food Pantry. Most recently, Michele answered the call of action of the COVID-19 pandemic by launching sewing training sessions to make over 30,000 masks for the community. She has been a beacon of support and guidance as she has led the Woodford County Detention Center to be a community supporter
Michele received her bachelor’s degree in Organizational Management in 1999 from MidwayU. She lives in Versailles, Kentucky with her husband, Chris. Together they have 4 children.