C5 Consortium Zoom Forum - Aug. 19, 2024

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Topic

This Capital Cities Community College Consortium (C5) Zoom forum offers perspectives on engaging with Native American communities and students. It shares experiences at Native American-Serving Nontribal Institutions (NASNTIs). Authorized under Title III of the Higher Education Act, the NASNTI program provides grants to enable institutions enrolling a minimum 10% Native American students to improve their capacity to serve Native American and low-income individuals. The presenters in this Zoom forum are from public, nontribal NASNTI postsecondary institutions with student populations that are above 30% Native American.

Presenting Institutions

San Juan College, Farmington, NM.  San Juan College is a comprehensive community college offering academic and career and technical education. The college is organized into six schools: Energy, Health Sciences, Trades & Technology, Business, Information Technology and Social Sciences, Humanities, and Science, Math, and Engineering.

Nearby Native American communities: Navajo, Jicarilla-Apache, Southern Ute, Ute Mountain Ute, and Hopi.

University of Minnesota Morris, MN.  UM Morris’s history began in 1887 as an Indian boarding school on land cared for and called home by the Dakota and later the Anishinaabe people. Administered by the Sisters of Mercy of the Catholic Church and later by the federal government, the boarding school closed in 1909 and the site was turned over to the state of Minnesota. In 1960 UMN Morris opened its doors as a small residential public liberal arts college, part of the University of Minnesota system.

Nearby Native American communities: Upper Sioux, Lower Sioux, Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe, White Earth Ojibwe, Sisseton-Wahpeton Oyate, and Flandreau Santee Sioux.

Fort Lewis College, Durango CO.  Fort Lewis College’s history began in 1891, when the Army’s Fort Lewis was converted into a federal Indian boarding school. Subsequently, it became an agriculture and mechanic arts high school, then a two-year college, and as of 1956 a four-year public liberal arts college. Fort Lewis College awards more degrees to Native American students than any other four-year institution in the United States.

Nearby Native American communities: Navajo, Jicarilla-Apache, Southern Ute, Ute Mountain Ute, and Hopi.

Moderator

Dawn Erlandson is Vice Chair of the Board of Trustees of Minnesota State Colleges and Universities.  On a national level, she has served as Chair of the Board of Directors of the Association of Community College Trustees (ACCT).  Founder and president of Aurora Strategic Services, based in Minneapolis, MN, she has extensive experience in stakeholder communications, media, and government relations.

Speakers

Yolanda Benally, Dean of Students, San Juan College

Ms. Benally began her career at San Juan College in 2008 as an advisor for the TRIO Educational Talent Search program before being promoted to Director.  She returned to San Juan College in 2019 as an advisor and director for the TRIO Student Support Services and STEM-H programs in addition to teaching an FYEX course. 

Ms. Benally has worked much of her career with federal grants, including the federal TRIO and GEAR UP programs.  She has experience in grant writing and management, budget management, community resource networking, and student advising. 

Ms. Benally earned a Master of Criminal Justice and a Master of Public Administration as well as baccalaureate degrees in criminal justice and government from New Mexico State University. Additionally, she holds an Alternative Licensure Program Certificate from San Juan College.  

In addition to overseeing the issues and processes related to the Student Code of Conduct, Ms. Benally supervises the Native American Center, Herencia Latina Center, Housing & Residential Life, and the support grants housed in Student Services: TRIO Student Support Services & SSS STEM-H, TRIO Educational Opportunity Center, TRIO Upward Bound, and NASNTI Native S.O.A.R.

Carrie Tsosie-Jim, Senior Director, Institutional Research, San Juan College

In her role at San Juan College, Ms. Tsosie-Jim deals intensively with data. She also works to advance culturally sensitive strategies to encourage students to complete their studies and earn a degree. In addition to her senior role in Institutional Research, Ms. Tsosie-Jim teaches a class at San Juan College in Navajo Rug Weaving.

Before joining the San Juan College senior leadership team, Ms. Tsosie-Jim served as Director of Academic Assessment at Diné College (formerly Navajo Community College), and Student Success Retention Coordinator at Arizona State University. 

Ms. Tsosie-Jim was awarded a bachelor’s degree by Stanford University and a master’s degree by Harvard University.

Chip Beal, Director, Native American Student Success and Assistant to the Chancellor, University of Minnesota Morris

UMN Morris’ Native American Student Success team leader, Mr. Beal has dedicated his career to Native American student success. His primary goal is to help build a team that creates long term relationships with Native American students that continues and endures through graduation and beyond.

Mr. Beal started his career as a middle school science teacher in Choctaw County, Oklahoma.  He later became a guidance counselor in the Osage Nation of Oklahoma, and served as American Indian student services coordinator, multicultural student services coordinator, and associate professor of First Nations studies at the University of Wisconsin-Superior. 

Mr. Beal is a citizen of the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma. He also has Chickasaw and Cherokee heritage. Mr. Beal was awarded a bachelor's degree by Southeastern State College in Durant, Oklahoma, and a master's degree in guidance counseling, with a Native American counseling emphasis, at Northeastern State University, Oklahoma. 

Heather Shotton, Vice President of Diversity Affairs, Fort Lewis College

Ms. Shotton works to create an inclusive environment for Fort Lewis College students.  She has focused on language revitalization, inclusive pedagogies, and connectivity to rural and tribal communities in the Four Corners region.  Ms. Shotton’s scholarship is centered on Indigenous knowledge systems, values, and a politic of community building, through which she seeks to create a space that fosters self-determination and tribal nation building for Indigenous people in higher education. 

Previously, Ms. Shotton served as the inaugural Director of Indigenous Education Initiatives and chair of the Department of Educational Leadership and Policy Studies at the University of Oklahoma College of Education.  

A citizen of the Wichita and Affiliated Tribes and a Kiowa and Cheyenne descendant with an established record of publications focused on indigenous education and transforming higher education as a site of self-determination for indigenous communities, Ms. Shotton’s research has been published in top-ranked, competitive journals, and broad access journals. 

Topic

Artificial Intelligence (AI) enables computers and machines to simulate human intelligence and problem-solving.  Examples of AI include digital assistants, GPS guidance, autonomous vehicles, and generative AI tools like Open AI's Chat GPT.  On its own or combined with sensors, geolocation, or robotics, AI can perform tasks otherwise requiring human intelligence or intervention.  AI has potential to play a significant role in both the processes of teaching and learning at higher education institutions.  

Moderator

Dawn Erlandson is Vice Chair of the Board of Trustees of Minnesota State Colleges and Universities.  On a national level, she has served as Chair of the Board of Directors of the Association of Community College Trustees (ACCT).  Founder and president of Aurora Strategic Services, based in Minneapolis, MN, she has extensive experience in stakeholder communications, media, and government relations.

Introduction

Robert J. Denson, J.D. is the longest-serving president of Des Moines Area Community College (DMACC), in Iowa’s capital city.  President Denson has been at the forefront of important issues impacting education, serving on state and national boards. He has helped forge partnerships with Amazon, Google, Facebook, the National Science Foundation, Goldman Sachs and the Lumina Foundation, among others. President Denson is a cofounder of the Capital Cities Community College Consortium (C5).

Keynote Speaker 

Congressman Ro Khanna (D-CA-17) represents the heart of Silicon Valley, California, home to tech giants including Amazon, Apple, Google, Juniper Networks, Meta (Facebook), and others.  In his fourth term in Congress, he serves on the House Armed Services Committee, as ranking member of the Subcommittee on Cyber, Innovative Technologies and Information Systems; and on the Oversight and Accountability Committee, where he previously chaired the Environmental Subcommittee.

Moderator

Dawn Erlandson is a member of the Board of Trustees of Minnesota State Colleges and Universities.  On a national level, she has served as Chair of the Board of Directors of the Association of Community College Trustees (ACCT).  Founder and president of Aurora Strategic Services, a public affairs firm based in Minneapolis, Minnesota, she has extensive experience in stakeholder communications, media, and government relations.

Speaker

Dr. Reginald (Reggie) Hicks joined the CHIPS Program Office from the private sector.  Previously, he led the Smart Manufacturing Artificial Intelligence, Workforce Development, Total Productive Management, and SPMO Departments at Micron Semiconductor.  

One of Dr. Hicks’ key initiatives was developing the Technician Apprenticeship Program (TAP) for Micron Virginia. This six-month program for non-degreed team members was adopted by Micron Global.  Another key initiative was Direct Success, in collaboration with the mayor of Manassas, Virginia. The Direct Success program enabled high school graduates to become contractors in the Shipping and Receiving department at Micron and from there transition to careers through the TAP Program.  

Prior to Micron, Dr. Hicks worked for Tokyo Electron America and lived in Japan and Taiwan.  He also previously worked for Texas Instruments and Hitachi Semiconductor.  Dr. Hicks started in the industry as an Electronic Technician, Equipment/Process Engineer, Manager, and site director.  

Dr. Hicks has a bachelor’s degree in Electronics Engineering Technology and Technical Management and a master’s degree in Project Management from Keller Graduate School of Management, and a doctorate in Organizational Behavior from the University of Phoenix.  He also has an African American male leadership program, Positive Related Education (PRE), which has helped high school students graduate from college.

Background on CHIPS

President Biden signed the Chips and Science Act into law on August 9, 2022.  Chips and Science has placed America on a path toward renewed leadership in semiconductor manufacturing.  

The Department of Commerce has authority under the Chips and Science Act to direct $50 billion to programs strengthening and revitalizing the U.S. position in semiconductor research, development, and manufacturing.  This includes $13 billion for research and workforce training.  These efforts are likely to advance development of semiconductor technology programs at America’s community colleges to secure the talent pipeline for technician-level jobs in semiconductor manufacturing.

Key CHIPS Program Goals and Objectives 

-- Double the size of the United States semiconductor workforce.

-- U.S. colleges and universities to triple the number of graduates in semiconductor-related fields, including engineering.

-- Semiconductor companies to work with high schools, community colleges, and unions to train 100,000 new technicians through apprenticeships, career and technical education, and career pathway programs.

-- Colleges, universities, and training programs to expand recruitment and enable more people from underserved communities – including women and veterans – to launch semiconductor industry careers.

-- Technology companies, unions, manufacturers, and government to work together to hire and train an additional million women to meet the demand across a range of construction industries, including semiconductor technology.

Moderator

Dawn Erlandson is a member of the Board of Trustees of Minnesota State Colleges and Universities. On a national level, she has served as Chair of the Board of Directors of the Association of Community College Trustees (ACCT). Founder and president of Aurora Strategic Services, a public affairs firm based in Minneapolis, MN, she has extensive experience in stakeholder communications, media and government relations.

Speakers

Dr. Amy Loyd is the Assistant Secretary for the Office of Career, Technical, and Adult Education (OCTAE) at the U.S. Department of Education. In this role, she oversees national programs related to career and technical education, community colleges, adult education and literacy, and correctional education.

Previously, Dr. Loyd was Vice President at Jobs for the Future, where she designed and led programs across the United States that improve education and workforce outcomes. She focused on state and regional policies, practices, and cross-sector partnerships that engaged K-12 education, community colleges, adult education, workforce development, economic development, and employers to build systems of college and career pathways, leveraging CTE. Earlier, Dr. Loyd was the Director of Education at Cook Inlet Tribal Council, leading a network of schools providing culturally responsive education, training, and wraparound services to Alaska Native and Native American communities.

Dr. Loyd attended Santa Fe Community College and Northern New Mexico Community College and holds a bachelor’s degree from St. John’s College and a doctorate in education leadership from Harvard University’s Graduate School of Education.

Dr. J. Noah Brown is Senior Advisor in the Office of Career, Technical, and Adult Education (OCTAE) at the U.S. Department of Education. An award-winning higher education policy and governance expert, author, and educator whose experience spans four decades in the nation's capital, Dr. Brown previously served 16 years as President and Chief Executive Officer of the Association of Community College Trustees (ACCT).

Dr. Brown is a former faculty member for the Doctorate in Community College Leadership Program at Ferris State University. He has served as a Founding Member of the College Promise Advisory Board and Chair of its Executive Committee. Dr. Brown has served on the Level Up Advisory Board, Seal of Excelencia Advisory Board, Single Stop USA Advisory Board, and the National Association for Community College Entrepreneurship (NACCE) Board of Directors. His inaugural book, First in the World: Community Colleges and America's Future, won the 2013 Bellwether Book Award.

Dr. Brown holds a Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy from the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, a Master of Public Policy degree from the University of Maryland, College Park, and an Honorary Associate of Arts degree from Atlantic Cape Community College in New Jersey. 

Overview

An estimated 1 in 5 people are “neurodivergent” – i.e., have a mind that works differently, such as the autistic, ADHDers, the dyslexic, synesthetes, and other unique neurotypes.  The vast majority of neurodivergent individuals are motivated, capable, and unemployed or underemployed.  According to research and publishing, 50% of Generation Z (born between 1997 and 2012) identify under the neurodivergence umbrella.  This is a significant issue among community college students.  Notably, research has shown that as many as 80% of autistic students begin their higher education journey at community colleges.

Moderator – Dawn Erlandson

Dawn Erlandson is a member of the Board of Trustees of Minnesota State Colleges and Universities.  On a national level, she has served as Chair of the Board of Directors of the Association of Community College Trustees (ACCT).  Founder and president of Aurora Strategic Services, a public affairs firm based in Minneapolis, MN, she has extensive experience in stakeholder communications, and media and government relations.

Speaker – Dr. Maureen Dunne

Dr. Dunne is the author of The Neurodiversity Edge: The Essential Guide to Embracing Autism, ADHD, Dyslexia, and Other Neurological Differences for Any Organization (Wiley, release date March 12, 2024).  The book presents a framework for harnessing the power of neurodiversity.  

Dr. Maureen Dunne leverages decades of immersive cognitive science research, case studies, stories from neurodivergent voices, in-the-trenches work with hundreds of organizations from start-ups to global Fortune 500 leaders, and her own lived experience as a neurodivergent employer, entrepreneur, board member, and CEO.

Dr. Dunne is a graduate of the College of DuPage, an Illinois community college.  She received BA and MA degrees from the University of Chicago, MSc from the London School of Economics, and a doctorate from the University of Oxford.  She was the first community college student to become a Rhodes Scholar.  Dr. Dunne is a trustee at College of DuPage and a member of the ACCT Board of Directors. 

About the Enrollment Cliff

The Enrollment Cliff refers to the anticipated drop in the college-age population in years ahead, based on lower birthrates during the Great Recession.  Between 2008 and 2011, a time of economic stress and uncertainty, people were having fewer children.  Based on demographic projections, the drop in the college age population resembles a cliff beginning in 2025. Over the succeeding four years, the number of 18-year-olds is projected to decrease by 15 percent. 

Facilitator

Dawn Erlandson is a member of the Board of Trustees of Minnesota State Colleges and Universities.  On a national level, she has served as Chair of the Board of Directors of the Association of Community College Trustees (ACCT).  Founder and president of Aurora Strategic Services, a public affairs firm based in Minneapolis, MN, she has extensive experience in stakeholder communications, and media and government relations

Speakers:

Peace Bransberger is Interim Director for Programs and Evidence at the Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education (WICHE).  She has been a researcher with WICHE for 13 years. 

Ms. Bransberger leads the production and analysis of WICHE’s projections of high school graduates, research on the use of administrative holds, and other research focused on equitable college access, success and financing. Previously, she was a consultant and evaluation researcher with the Aspen Institute’s Economic Opportunities and Workforce Strategies Initiatives and Westat’s education and mental health evaluations, in Washington, DC, as well as a licensed adult educator. 

Ms. Bransberger is a former foster youth and first-generation college graduate with an M.A. from the American University in Washington, DC, and B.A. from St. Cloud State University, in Minnesota.

Dr. Thomas Brock is Director of the Community College Research Center (CCRC) at Teachers College, Columbia University, New York, NY.  He is the Principal Investigator for the Accelerating Recovery in Community Colleges (ARCC) Network, in which researchers across the country are partnering with states and institutions to identify successful strategies to rebuild enrollments and address learning loss related to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Previously, Dr. Brock served as commissioner of the National Center for Education Research at the Institute of Education Sciences (IES), within the U.S. Department of Education, where he led a comprehensive research program focused on improving outcomes for students from pre-K through adult and postsecondary education.  Prior to his work for the U.S. Department of Education, Dr. Brock led the postsecondary education division of MDRC, where he was involved in evaluations of major community college reforms, including the Opening Doors Demonstration and Achieving the Dream.

Dr. Brock earned a BA in anthropology from Pitzer College and an MPA from Columbia University and a PhD in social welfare from UCLA.

Dr. Nathan Grawe is Professor of Economics at Carleton College, a private liberal arts college in Northfield, Minnesota, where he has served on the faculty since 1999. 

Dr. Grawe’s work as a labor economist studies the connections between family background and educational and labor market outcomes.  In his book, Demographics and The Demand for Higher Education, he examines how recent demographic shifts are likely to affect demand for higher education. In a follow-up project, The Agile College, he draws on interviews with higher education leaders to provide examples of how proactive institutions are grappling with demographic change.

Dr. Grawe has participated in the leadership of Carleton’s Quantitative Inquiry, Reasoning, and Knowledge (QuIRK) initiative and has shared what Carleton has learned through this initiative through lectures and professional development workshops at colleges and universities across the U.S. and Canada.  Since 2015 he has served as Senior editor of Numeracy, the flagship journal of the National Numeracy Network. In 2018, he took on the role of Executive Editor of the journal.

Dr. Grawe earned a BA from St. Olaf College and MA and PhD in Economics from the University of Chicago.  

Dr. Doug Shapiro is Vice President for Research and Executive Director of the Research Center at the National Student Clearinghouse, where he works to advance student success by providing the education community with research, data and insights from the nation’s largest student-level dataset of college enrollment and degree information.  

Since joining NSC thirteen years ago, he has established critical new metrics and reports on student access, persistence, transfer and completion, and also developed research services to help high schools, states, and colleges to measure their students’ educational outcomes. 

Shapiro has been conducting research on higher education using multi-institution, student-level data, for nearly twenty years. Before joining the National Student Clearinghouse, Dr. Shapiro was the Director of Institutional Research at The New School in New York City. Prior to that, he was the Vice President for Research and Policy Development at the Minnesota Private College Council.

Dr. Shapiro earned a B.A. in History from the University of Chicago, and an M.A. in Mathematics and Ph.D. in Education, both from the University of Michigan.

Moderator:   Dawn Erlandson, a member of the Board of Trustees of Minnesota State Colleges and Universities. 

Speakers:  Kenneth McDonnell has served as a Financial Education Program Analyst in the Office of Financial Education at the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) for 10 years.  The Office of Financial Education is responsible for developing and implementing initiatives intended to educate and empower consumers to make informed financial decisions.  Mr. McDonnell is responsible for forming relationships and strategic partnerships with financial education non-profits, libraries, service providers to employers, and organizations within the financial services industry.

Prior to joining the CFPB, Mr. McDonnell served as the Director of Research and Outreach at the Insured Retirement Institute (IRI).  In this capacity, Mr. McDonnell oversaw and directed the IRI’s research producing one original research report per month and the IRI’s consumer outreach efforts through the National Retirement Planning Coalition, a group of prominent education, consumer advocacy and financial services organizations to raise public awareness of the need for comprehensive retirement planning.  Prior to that Mr. McDonnell was with the Employee Benefit Research Institute (EBRI) where he lead and oversaw EBRI’s two financial capability programs, the American Savings Education Council (ASEC) and Choose to Save.  

Mr. McDonnell has held leadership positions in the Alliance for Investor Education as Secretary and Treasurer of the Board and in the Jump$tart Coalition for Personal Financial Literacy, most recently as Vice Chairman of the national board.  

Mr. McDonnell is a native of Chicago, IL.  He holds Master of Arts and Bachelor of Arts degrees from Northern Illinois University.  

Leslie Jones is a Youth Financial Education Analyst at the CFPB.  A former business teacher, instructional designer, curriculum supervisor and developer, she advises on the benefits of financial education in schools and the challenges of incorporating personal finance topics into classroom courses.

Ms. Jones’ focus is on supporting financial capability skill building in education.  She has led the CFPB’s work in creating content to provide educators with free resources to help students develop financial knowledge, skills, and habits.  These resources make it easy for educators to find, download and use relevant classroom activities.  Ms. Jones helps educators evaluate financial education programs and understand the research-based building blocks of youth financial capability.

Ms. Jones is a certified business teacher in Virginia.  She was recognized in three editions of Who’s Who Among America’s Teachers and was a member of the 2004 National Outstanding High School Business Department, sponsored by the Association Career and Technical Educators (ACTE).

Ms. Jones has a Master's Degree in Instructional Design and Development from George Mason University in Fairfax, VA and two Bachelor's Degrees – one from Bowling Green State University in Bowling Green, OH in Marketing Education and the other from Lake Erie College in Painesville, OH in Arts Management and Sales.

Moderator:  Dawn Erlandson, Trustee, Minnesota State Colleges and Universities.    

Speaker:  Dr. Thomas Brock, Director, Community College Research Center 

Housed at Teachers College, Columbia University, the Community College Research Center (CCRC) has been a leader in the field of community college research and reform for over 25 years. CCRC’s work provides a foundation for innovations in policy and practice that help give every community college student the best chance of success. 

CCRC is an independent research organization funded entirely by grants from foundations, government agencies, and other organizations.  CCRC’s mission is to conduct research that helps community colleges strengthen opportunities and improve outcomes for their students, particularly those from underserved populations.  A leader in the field of community college research and reform, the Center’s research focuses on community colleges because they provide critical access to postsecondary education and are uniquely positioned to promote equity and social mobility in the United States.

During the May 24, 2022 online forum, CCRC Director Tom Brock discussed the world-class community college research CCRC has conducted since 1996.  Areas of CCRC’s research focus include High School to College, Developmental Education, Guided Pathways, Advising and Student Supports, Teaching and Learning, College to Career, and Equity.

If you would like to receive a copy of CCRC Director Tom Brock’s PowerPoint slides from May 24, 2022, please email Tom Downs, TCDowns@downsgovaffairs.com.

Moderator:  Dawn Erlandson, Trustee, Minnesota State Colleges and Universities.    

Speaker:  Dr. Carol Cutler White   

Dr. Carol Cutler White, Assistant Professor of Community College Leadership at Mississippi State University, is the editor of “Advocacy for Change:  Positioning Community Colleges for the Next 75 Years,” published in Vol. 197 of New Directions for Community Colleges, Copyright © 2022 Wiley Periodicals LLC, a Wiley Company.   

Before joining Mississippi State University faculty in 2018, Dr. Cutler White served as a statewide college access program director for the University of North Carolina System.  Previously, she was Dean of Sponsored Programs and Federal Relations at Wake Technical Community College, in Raleigh, NC.  

With over 20 years of higher education experience, Dr. Cutler White studies state governance of community colleges, college access and success, and community college advocacy practices.  She has garnered over $60 million in federal funds for college access and community college programs.  Dr. Cutler White consults on grant development and state and federal community college advocacy strategy.   

Carol Cutler White received a BS degree in Recreation Management from the University of Vermont, a Master of Public Administration from North Carolina State University, and a Ph.D. in Education Research and Policy Analysis from North Carolina State University.   

Note:  To request a copy of Carol Cutler White’s PowerPoint slides presented during the April 6 Zoom forum, contact Tom Downs at TCDowns@downsgovaffairs.com  

Moderator:  Dawn Erlandson, Trustee, Minnesota State Colleges and Universities.  

Panelists: 

Nicholas Geale is Vice President for Workforce Policy at the American Trucking Associations (ATA).  In this role, he has broad responsibilities for policy initiatives relating to trucking industry training and education.  Before joining ATA, Nick served as Chief of Staff and Counselor to the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Labor (USDOL).  Previously, he served on the National Mediation Board; on the staff of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee; on the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority; and as an attorney at Thelen Reid and Priest LLP, in Washington, D.C.

Robert Braswell is Executive Director of the Technology & Maintenance Council (TMC), an ATA technical council.  He is responsible for TMC’s 100-plus Task Forces and 15 Study Groups, which develop recommended practices and information reports covering all aspects of light-, medium-, and heavy-duty vehicle engineering, maintenance, and maintenance management.  Robert has served as co-host and content producer of the satellite radio segment, “Tech Talk with TMC,” on The Dave Nemo Show on SiriusXM Channel 146, providing information and exchange on a wide range of technical issues.

George Arrants is Vice President of the ASE Education Foundation, where he works with the automotive, medium/heavy truck and collision industry in partnerships involving student work-based learning and apprenticeships.  A former high school and community college automotive technology instructor, George has worked with instructors and administrators to develop partnerships with industry and to help guide them through ASE program accreditation. Among his many leadership roles, George led the automotive strategic development team for USDOL’s High Growth Job Training Initiative.  

American Trucking Associations

American Trucking Associations is the largest and most comprehensive national trade association for the trucking industry.  A federation with state trucking association affiliates in all 50 states, ATA represents every sector of the industry, from less than truckload (LTL) to truckload, agriculture and livestock to auto haulers, and from large motor carriers to small mom-and-pop operations. 

ATA leverages the strength and size of its membership to develop, advocate, and advance innovative research-based policies that promote highway safety, security, environmental sustainability and profitability.  As the recognized leader in truck transportation advocacy, ATA diligently educates and guides policymakers at all levels of government concerning the essential role that trucking plays in the economy. 

ASE Education Foundation 

The ASE Education Foundation is a nonprofit organization that evaluates and accredits entry-level automotive technology education programs against standards developed by the automotive service industry.  The Foundation also develops career-readiness education for students and promotes partnerships, rigorous standard-based education, workplace experience, and mentorship

Moderator:  Dawn Erlandson, Trustee, Minnesota State Colleges and Universities

Keynote:  Rob Denson, President, Des Moines Area Community College

Rob Denson is President of Des Moines Area Community College (DMACC), in Iowa’s capital city of Des Moines. Now in his 19th year at DMACC, he serves on the Iowa Governor’s STEM Advisory Council and Executive Committee.  Rob previously served on the National STEMconnector Innovation Task Force and the National Leadership Council of Opportunity Nation. 

Before leading DMACC, Rob served as President of Northeast Iowa Community College, among other higher education leadership positions.  He also practiced law for nearly 20 years.  

Rob holds BS and MS degrees from Iowa State University, and a law degree from the University of Florida.

National Security Agency (NSA) 

National Centers of Academic Excellence in Cybersecurity (CAE-C) and National Centers of Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense (NCAE-CD), programs within NSA’s National Cryptologic School (NCS), aim to reduce vulnerability in the nation’s information infrastructure by promoting education and research to produce professionals with cybersecurity expertise.  

Lori Pfannenstein is Program Manager for CAE-C.  Lori has worked extensively in the cybersecurity arena, including in Computer Network Operations for the Signals Intelligence (SIGINT) mission, and other management and technical positions at NSA over a 39-year period.

Karen Leuschner is Program Manager for NCAE-CD.  In her 37-year career at NSA, Karen has worked in the Telecommunication and Information Assurance Directorates as well as the NCS. Under her leadership, the CAE program expanded to include community colleges and research institutions.

Anne Arundel Community College (AACC) 

Mary Wallingsford is an Associate Professor and former academic chair for the Cybersecurity, Networking and Digital Forensics department at AACC, serving Maryland’s capital region, where she has taught for over 12 years.  

Mary’s technology career began 27 years ago at Microsoft Corporation and includes technical support, training, sales, IT administration and consulting. 

Mary holds a master’s degree from UMUC (now UMGC) in Telecommunications Management. She is CCNA certified, specializing in the areas of Cisco networking, forensics, DEVNET and Windows Server.

Des Moines Area Community College (DMACC) 

Jeremy Hoffmann is an Associate Professor and Cybersecurity Chair at DMACC.  He has worked in many areas of information technology and information security and has been a cybersecurity instructor for the past 10 years, including a faculty position at Community College of Baltimore County, Maryland. 

Jeremy is involved with the SecDSM group, The Open Organisation Of Lockpickers (TOOOL), BSides Iowa, and the Information Systems Security Association (ISSA).  He holds a bachelor’s degree in computer engineering and is working toward a graduate degree in Cyber Information Assurance.

Moderator:  

Dawn Erlandson, Trustee, Minnesota State Colleges and Universities

Angela Hanks is the Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary and Acting Assistant Secretary of the Employment and Training Administration within the U.S. Department of Labor.  In that role she helps oversee many of the Department’s employment, unemployment insurance, and training programs, and works to ensure those program investments advance the Biden-Harris administration’s workforce development, job quality, and equity goals.  Previously, Angela served as a Counselor to the Secretary of Labor.

Before joining the U.S. Department of Labor, Angela was Deputy Executive Director of the Groundwork Collaborative, where she worked to advance an inclusive and people-centered vision of the economy. She also served as Director of Workforce Development Policy at the Center for American Progress, Director of the Center for Postsecondary Education and Success at CLASP, and at National Skills Coalition, where she has written extensively about how education and training programs and the labor market can be more inclusive of people of color, women, justice-involved individuals, and other marginalized groups, and on other topics including racial wealth inequality and criminal justice reform.

Angela Hanks’ work has been cited in various publications including the New York Times, Washington Post, and The Atlantic.  She also has been a contributor to Forbes.com, writing about employment, wages, and workforce development. 

She began her career on Capitol Hill as legislative assistant to Congressman Elijah E. Cummings (D-MD), and later became a counsel on the U.S. House of Representatives’ Committee on Oversight and Government Reform. 

Angela earned her bachelor’s degree in political science from the George Washington University and her law degree from the University of Maryland School of Law.

Moderator:  

Dawn Erlandson, Trustee, Minnesota State Colleges and Universities, and Member, American Association of Community Colleges (ACCT) Board of Directors

Alejandra Y. Castillo was sworn in as U.S. Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Economic Development on August 13, 2021. She has served in leadership positions for three presidents – Biden, Obama and Clinton. Her professional career spans two decades, focusing on creating equitable and inclusive opportunities for all Americans. 

Prior to EDA, Castillo was the Chief Executive Officer of YWCA USA, where she championed the 163-year-old organization delivering critical social, educational, and economic development services throughout its 204 associations.

In 2014, Castillo was appointed by President Obama to serve as the national director of the Commerce Department's Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA), becoming the first Hispanic woman to lead the agency. During her tenure, she led MBDA's efforts to boost the growth and global competitiveness of minority business enterprises (MBEs). Under her leadership, MBDA expanded its effort to help MBEs gain access to capital, contracts, and business opportunities, assisting MBEs in growing in size and scale. 

Castillo first joined the Department of Commerce in 2008 as a Special Advisor to the Under Secretary for the U.S. Department of Commerce's International Trade Administration (ITA). Additionally, Castillo served as a Senior Policy Analyst in the White House during the Clinton Administration. 

She holds a bachelor's degree in Economics and Political Science from the State University of New York at Stony Brook, a master's degree in public affairs from the LBJ School at the University of Texas at Austin, and earned a Juris Doctor degree from American University's Washington College of Law.

Moderator:  

Dawn Erlandson, Trustee, Minnesota State Colleges and Universities, 

and member, American Association of Community Colleges (ACCT) 

Board of Directors

Dr. Amy Loyd is Deputy Assistant Secretary of Education for Policy and Strategic Initiatives in the Office of Career, Technical, and Adult Education (OCTAE).  She is Acting Assistant Secretary of OCTAE, and oversees national programs related to adult education and literacy, career and technical education, and community colleges.

Dr. Loyd has an extensive background in education and the nonprofit sector. Most recently, Dr. Loyd was a Vice President at Jobs for the Future, where she led the organization’s programs in college and career pathways. Previously, she was the Director of Education at Cook Inlet Tribal Council, leading a network of schools and programming providing comprehensive, culturally responsive education, training, and wraparound services to Alaska Native and Native American communities. Dr. Loyd holds a bachelor’s degree from St. John’s College and a doctorate in education leadership from the Harvard Graduate School of Education, where she is an adjunct lecturer focusing on using career pathways to increase opportunity and equity.

Hosted by the Capital Cities Community College Consortium 

The NSF Advanced Technological Education (ATE) program supports community and technical college partnerships with industry to promote improvements in the education of science and engineering technicians.  For nearly 30 years, the ATE program has supported curriculum development, career pathways, faculty professional development, and other activities. Congressional committees currently are considering a reauthorization of the ATE program.

Introduction: Tom Downs, for the Capital Cities Community College Consortium

Facilitator: Dawn Erlandson, Board of Trustees, Minnesota State Colleges and Universities, and Board of Directors, Association of Community College Trustees (ACCT)

Panel #1: United States Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation 

·  Mary Guenther, Professional Staff Member, Majority

·  Dr. Alexis Rudd, Professional Staff Member, Minority

Panel #2: National Science Foundation, Division of Undergraduate Education

·  Dr. V. Celeste Carter, ATE Lead Program Director

Discussion:

Panelists addressed questions from the audience

Moderator:  

Dawn Erlandson, Trustee, Minnesota State Colleges and Universities, 

and member, American Association of Community Colleges (ACCT) 

Board of Directors

Panel #1

Florida Hurricane Experience

Facilitator:

·  Candice Grause, Chief of Staff, Tallahassee Community College, Tallahassee, Florida

Panelists:

·  Leda Khoury, Federal Coordinating Officer, Federal Emergency Management Agency, Region IV

·  Jared Moskowitz, Director, Florida Division of Emergency Management

Panel #2:

Oregon Wildfire Experience

Facilitator:

·  Marshall Roache, Executive Dean, Chemeketa Community College, Salem, Oregon

Panelists:

·  Toney Raines, Federal Coordinating Officer, Federal Emergency Management Agency, Region X

·  Andrew Phelps, Director, Oregon Office of Emergency Management

·  Mariana Ruiz-Temple​, State Fire Marshal, State of Oregon

Panel #3:

Expert guidance and resources 

Facilitator:

·  Tom Downs, Downs Government Affairs

Presenter:

·  Jane Bullock, Founder and Principal, Bullock & Haddow LLC

(Formerly Chief of Staff, Federal Emergency Management Agency)

Facilitator:  

Dawn Erlandson, Trustee, Minnesota State Colleges and Universities, 

and member, American Association of Community Colleges (ACCT) 

Board of Directors

Speakers:

Dr. Eunice Bellinger, President, BridgeValley Community 

and Technical College, Charleston, West Virginia

Bob Proctor, Trustee, Lansing Community College, 

Lansing, Michigan

Dr. Jianping Wang, President, Mercer County 

Community College, Trenton, New Jersey

Rudy Rodriguez, Trustee, Minnesota State Colleges 

and Universities, St. Paul, Minnesota