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Cohort #4 – 2022 Fellows 

Cohort #4 - 2022 Fellows

ACTE announced its fourth class of Fellows for its 2022 NextLevel Postsecondary CTE Leadership Program, sponsored by ECMC Foundation and powered by ACTE (formerly known as the Postsecondary Leadership Success Program at ACTE – sponsored by ECMC Foundation) in March 2022. Seventeen fellows were selected for the 2022-2023 cohort. The NextLevel Fellowship provides professional and career growth opportunities to the next generation of leaders in postsecondary CTE programs through a nationally-recognized program that is engaging, individualized, and memorable.


Bryan Bertucci – Coordinator for Career and Technical Educations, Louisiana Community & Technical College System – Louisiana

BJ Bertucci is a CTE Coordinator for the Louisiana Community and Technical College System. In his role, he works with workforce to connect students to authentic work based learning experiences. Bertucci has fifteen years in education and over eight years working with CTE programs statewide. Bertucci lives outside of Baton Rouge with his wife, Christina, and three daughters.


JoAnna Collins – Faculty and Program Coordinator, Northern Virginia Community College – Virginia

JoAnna serves as program coordinator for Board of Nursing Workforce Healthcare training programs at Northern Virginia Community College. JoAnna Collins has over 29 years experience in the healthcare field. Starting in Pre-hospital Emergency Services as an EMT and progressing through her education as an LPN, ADN, BSN and recently earning a Masters in Education with a concentration in Leadership, JoAnna believes strongly in career pathways from entry-level vocations through education and professional development. JoAnna believes work-life balance and time management are key in achieving goals both personal and professional.


Luanne Cook – CTE Recruiter and Retention Specialist, Allegany College of Maryland

Luanne Cook is the Career and Technical Education (CTE) Recruiter and Retention Specialist with Allegany College of Maryland.  Having spent most of her career as a licensed social worker, she has embraced the role of reaching underrepresented special populations by supporting their desire to obtain higher education and join the workforce.  Her secondary role as a Retention Specialist utilizes strategies to address retention deficiencies and implements her knowledge of community and campus resources to connect students to benefits and reach their goals.   Boosting a student’s confidence while providing equitable and accessible education opportunities in Career Education increases their value to family and community, an endeavor she is passionate about.  


Justin Erickson – Assistant Director, Manatee Technical College – Florida

Justin Erickson is the Assistant Director of Manatee Technical College in Bradenton, Florida (USA).  Justin began as an engineering and manufacturing instructor over 15 years ago.  Then shifted to a career as an electro-mechanical engineer for an automation company designing, fabricating, and assembling new products and test processes covering multiple industries.  Currently, he works alongside the staff at Manatee Technical offering quality high wage, high demand technical training programs associated with the current demands and trends of the local workforce.  Justin received his Bachelor’s Degree in Visual Art at Eckerd College and his Master’s Degree in Career and Technical Education from University of South Florida.


Robert Earl Frederick, Jr. – Head of Cuisine Management, Clark College – Washington

Chef Frederick has nearly 10 years of experience as an executive chef, culinary arts instructor, kitchen manager and catering chef. He graduated from Johnson & Wales University in Providence, RI (Culinary Arts A.A.S.) and  Warner Pacific University in Portland, OR (Business Administration B.S.). That background led to chef and instructor positions with Walt Disney World, Club Med, Nike, Job Corps and Intel. Chef Frederick has been certified by the American Culinary Federation (CEC) and is a Certified ServSafe instructor and proctor. He is also an active board member for the Vancouver Farmer’s Market (WA).


Karla Head – Administrator at Southwest Region School District – Alaska

Karla has been in education for over 25 years: as a teacher, coach, athletic director, counselor, assistant principal, principal, and now as a director at Alaska Technical Center. She is the proud mother of five children and one very precious grandbaby. Professionally, one of the largest motivating factors in her career is to provide as many diverse opportunities as possible for all students, so that each person can pursue their postsecondary pathway to success.


Shelia Hyde – Faculty, Dallas College – Texas

Sheila Hyde-Clower is a current faculty member and Faculty Fellow at Dallas College in Dallas, TX. She has obtained a Master of Business Administration and Master of Education, Administration. In Fall 2015, Sheila had the opportunity to transition from teaching high school to Dallas College. The move to postsecondary education has allowed her to focus on developing and growing future business leaders in her CTE classes, training and developing student leaders by connecting them to a CTSO. She believes that competition breeds excellence and devotes time to designing contests to help students demonstrate their technical skills. 


Jennifer Kline – Program Manager-Healthcare, GateWay Community College – Arizona

Jennifer Kline, M. Ed. is the Program Manager for Clock Hour Healthcare programs at GateWay Community College in Phoenix, AZ.  In her role at GateWay Community College, she manages 6 healthcare programs across multiple extended sites and develops and maintains industry partnerships.  Jennifer is passionate about student success and seeks to eliminate access barriers and promote equity in her program areas.  In the past few years Jennifer has created Maricopa County Community College Districts first healthcare apprenticeship programs, was a two-time recipient of the Innovation of the Year award, initiated the district’s first free immunization clinic, and was the recipient of the League of Innovation’s League of Excellence award.

  


Rigieta Lord – Dean – Workforce, Adult and Vocational Education Services, College of the Marshall Islands – Marshall Islands

Rigieta Radinikuva Lord is currently Dean of Workforce, Adult and Vocational Education for the College of the Marshall Islands in Majuro, Marshall Islands. In this role, Ms. Lord provides leadership and coordinates all non-credit and Continuing Education programs of the College which include Adult Basic Education (ABE), a high school equivalency diploma program, non-credit and credit Career and Technical Education (CTE) programs including Maritime Training and Carpentry, Youth skills training and Workforce Development Programs. Ms Lord earned a Master of Teaching from University of Fiji and is currently pursuing a Doctor of Education in Teaching and Learning with an Emphasis in Adult Learning at Grand Canyon University. Ms Lord’s long-term professional interests includes developing policies for implementation of Vocational education and training in secondary and post-secondary schools in isolated small island states to reduce the gap in skilled workforce and provide an advantage in migration.


Larry Paredes  – Agriculture Industrial Technology Instructor, West Hills College – California

Larry is a full-time Industrial Science Instructor at West Hills College Coalinga Farm of the Future.  Born and raised in California’s San Joaquin Valley, he left to serve in the United States Navy as a Corpsman and Field Medic.  After spending more than twenty years as a welder, fabricator, and machinist, he returned to college to become a welding instructor in order to teach others the trade that he’s so passionate about.


Giuseppina Stigler – Assistant Grant Director, Perkins Grant, Queensborough Community College – New York

Giuseppina Stigler holds a bachelor’s degree in Psychology and Sociology with a minor in Student Services, and a Masters in Counselor Education from Queens College, City University of New York. For the last 10 years, she has been dedicated to the success of students in Career and Technical Education programs at Queensborough Community College. Currently, she is serving as the Interim Perkins Grant Director for the Strengthening Career and Technical Education for the 21st Century Act (Perkins V).


Christine Storms –Lead Program Development Owner, Western Governors University – Wisconsin

  • Dr. Christine Storms holds an EdD from Aspen University in Leadership and Learning in Higher Education Administration.  Dr. Storms has worked in higher education for over 16 years as an instructor, program manger, curriculum developer and multiple senior-level leadership positions.  She is a former highly successful HVAC business owner. Dr. Storms brings her experiences together to provide a high quality unique perspective to higher education in the career and technical education arena.

Ginger Tedder – Project Manger – New Teacher Induction Program (New CTE Training Program/Licensure), Mississippi State University – Mississippi

Ginger Tedder is a Project Manager for CTE Professional Learning at the Mississippi State University Research and Curriculum Unit.  A 22-year veteran educator with experience as an administrator, preschool teacher, and 7th-12th English, social studies, and economics teacher, Ginger has been in her current role for 2 years at the MSU Research and Curriculum Unit. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Secondary Social Studies Education from Mississippi State University and a Master of Science in Educational Leadership from Arkansas State University.


Nicole Thompson – Dean of Applied Sciences, Carteret Community College – North Carolina

Nicole Thompson is dean of Applied Sciences at Carteret Community College. With over twenty years of experience in the North Carolina Community College System, Nicole has served as a faculty member, program chair, and dean. In her current role, Nicole provides leadership and support to a diverse group of CTE programs such as aquaculture and boat manufacturing. She also serves as Guided Pathways lead for the College and is an active SkillsUSA advisor. Outside of work, she enjoys time with her husband and son.


Barbara Wahi – Senior Director Work Based Education and Experiential Learning, Amarillo College – Texas

Barbara is currently the Director for work-based learning and HSI STEM grant Director at Amarillo College. She is responsible for developing and managing the College’s Earn and Learn Program which provides students with a variety of experiences that are designed to bridge the gap between classroom instruction and the world of work. She has managed various engagements and teams in providing adequate and relevant strategies to influence initiatives and policies designed to improve Amarillo College’s CTE programs. Barbara holds a Master’s in Business Management from the University of Buckingham, UK and has eight years professional experience in grants and project management, stakeholder engagement and change management.

Cohort #5 – 2023 Fellows 

Cohort #5 - 2023 Fellows

ACTE announced its fifth class of Fellows for its 2022 NextLevel Postsecondary CTE Leadership Program, sponsored by ECMC Foundation and powered by ACTE (formerly known as the Postsecondary Leadership Success Program at ACTE – sponsored by ECMC Foundation) in December 2022. Seventeen fellows were selected for the 2023 cohort. The NextLevel Fellowship provides professional and career growth opportunities to the next generation of leaders in postsecondary CTE programs through a nationally-recognized program that is engaging, individualized, and memorable.


Eric Crawford – Principal at Ukiah Adult School, California

Eric started his educational career as a Peace Corps volunteer in Botswana, Southern Africa after earning his Bachelor’s degree from UC Davis. He then taught vocational agriculture for 21 years. Eric’s administrative experience began in 2015 as the CTE Coordinator for Ukiah Unified School district. This is his first year in Adult Education as the Principal of Ukiah Adult School.

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Jim Egenrieder – Research Faculty and Director, STEM Education and Workforce Development at Virginia Tech

Jim is a long-time Agriculture, Biology, and Technology and Engineering teacher, and CTE and STEM education specialist. He is also a professor of Engineering, Natural Resources and Environment, and Education Leadership and Curriculum and Instruction. Jim worked on Capitol Hill in agriculture and environmental policy before becoming an educator, and runs a research farm with his wife on weekends.


Carol Erwin – Associate Professor at Wayne State College, Nebraska

Dr. Carol Erwin is currently an associate professor in the Department of Technology and Applied Sciences at Wayne State College as the Family and Consumer Sciences Teacher Educator and Foods & Nutrition instructor. She is in her eleventh year teaching and supervising the FCS student teachers in their clinical practice. Carol works hard to foster the love of lifelong learning and professional development in her students. She loves preparing students for their future FCS/CTE classrooms and connecting them to the world of work-based learning and further opportunities for their students through CTE.


Ryan Francis – Employer Relations coordinator at Amarillo College, Texas

Hailing from the islands of The Bahamas and graduating from West Texas A&M university in 2018, Ryan is a growing expert in the realm of Career Pathways and Workforce Development. Following over 2 years in the Adult Education space and briefly working with K-12 Community engagement, Ryan now serves as a key connector for employers and skills training in Technical Education as his institution. Through connecting resources, closing gaps, and developing a vision of a path forward, Ryan utilizes his skill in community engagement, marketing, and curriculum design to support the future of Workforce Development and Skilled Labor development in Amarillo.


Pamela Gibson – Dean of Engineering & Applied Technology at Fayetteville Technical Community College, North Carolina

Pamela Gibson has been the Dean of Engineering & Applied Technology at Fayetteville Technical Community College since 2015. Prior to that, she spent 12 years as a Career & Technical Education Coordinator in Cumberland County Schools, and 5 years as the Counseling Department Chair at Westover High School. She was the NCACTE Southeast Region CTE Administrator of the Year in 2014 and served on the Cumberland County Workforce Development Board from 2013 to 2019.


Dustin Hicks – Director of Instruction – Health & Public Safety Programs at Meridian Technology Center, Oklahoma

Dustin Hicks is a Director of Instruction at Meridian Technology Center in Stillwater, Oklahoma. He has been involved in CTE as an instructor and in administration for the past 17 years. He has served on multiple state and national committees and has served multiple terms as President and Past-President of the Oklahoma Health Careers Teachers Association. During his involvement with ACTE he has been named 2016 OkACTE Oklahoma Health Careers Education Postsecondary Teacher of the year, 2016 OkACTE Postsecondary Teacher of the Year, 2017 ACTE Health Science Division Teacher of the Year, 2017 Region IV Postsecondary Teacher of the Year, and a National Finalist for the 2018 ACTE National Postsecondary Teacher of the Year.


Taija Jackson – Director of Business and Trades at Uintah Basin Technical College, Utah

Taija Jackson is the Director of Business and Trades at Uintah Basin Technical College (UBTech) in Vernal, Utah. As a UBTech alumnus, her passion for career and technical education began when she was a welding student during her teen years. Taija holds a Master’s degree in Management and Leadership from Western Governor’s University and is currently pursuing her doctorate through Utah State University’s Caeer and Technical Education Ph.D. program. With 16 years of experience as a private industry business owner as well as nearly a decade of experience as a K-12 educator and postsecondary administrator, Taija draws on her diverse professional background and experiences to provide a unique perspective on career and technical education in today’s world.


Speranta Klees – Post-Secondary Partnerships Manager at West-MEC, Arizona

Speranta Klees is a career educator who worked as an English teacher, counselor and postsecondary leader in CTE. She is very passionate about her work with young people. Career and Technical Education adds incredible value to the lives of students and the entire community; her advocacy is that every student, parent and education professional considers it an essential part of a world class, comprehensive education. Speranta works at West-MEC in Phoenix, Arizona.

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Kari Lamoreaux – Lecturer at Utah State University

I have spent the last 20 years working in post-secondary Career and Technical Education as both an instructor and administrator. I am committed to helping students develop both the technical skills and human skills needed for success in the workplace. I have seen firsthand the benefits of technical education for students who do not fit the traditional education mold. I am truly passionate about the power of technical education to change lives.

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Emily Logan – Dean, Industrial Technologies at Kirkwood Community College, Iowa

Dr. Emily Logan is the Dean of Industrial Technologies at Kirkwood Community College in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Her passion for student access and success guides her leadership as Kirkwood meets community workforce needs.

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Colleen Maynard – CTE Program Administrator at Manatee Technical College, Florida

Colleen M. Maynard, M.Ed. is a CTE Program Administrator at Manatee Technical College, Bradenton Florida. As a former state policy analyst turned educational leader, Colleen brings with her a background in Career and Technical Education and Adult Education. She has also served as an English Language Arts Curriculum and instructional Specialist for the School District of Manatee County. Colleen has a focused commitment to bettering student lives through her support of continuing education and workforce development.

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Kathleen McNamee – STEM Education Coordinator at NOVA sySTEMic, Virginia

Kathleen grew up interested in science. She earned her bachelor’s degree in Biology with a concentration in Marine Biology from Old Dominion University (ODU) and a master’s degree from the College of William and Mary’s Virginia Institute of Marine Science in Fisheries Science. Kathleen worked as a fisheries biologist for ODU, DC Fisheries, and the University of Maryland before moving into education. She then worked as a high school biology teacher with Arlington County Public Schools and as an educator for DC’s Department of Energy and Environment in the Fisheries and Wildlife Division. Currently, Kathleen is STEM Education Coordinator for NOVA (Northern Virginia Community College) SySTEMic where she manages the college’s Perkins Grant.


Erica Perrine – Clinical Coordinator at Temple College, Texas

Ms. Perrine is a nursing educator with 20 years of nursing experience and 7 years of higher education experience. She has taught the first semester nursing students for 5 years and has now transitioned into supervising scheduled and preparation of students for their clinical experiences. Professional goals are to complete a doctoral degree and to continue to develop in higher education role.

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Cara Shousterman – Director of Technology Training Initiatives at LaGuardia Community College, New York

Cara Shousterman is the Director of Technology of Technology Training Initiatives at LaGuardia Community College in Long Island City, NY. She has led numerous CTE initiatives which aim to improve outcomes for individuals who face significant barriers to employment in the tech sector, including the TechHire program at Laguardia Community College and CUNY TechWorks at Queensborough Community College. Her areas of expertise include data analytics, software development, and IT/Networking. Her previous experience includes launching a media tech accelerator at a nonprofit called Harmony Labs. She holds a PhD in Linguistics from New York University.

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Cynthia Thomas – Visiting Assistant Professor at SUNY Oswego, New York

Cynthia Thomas serves as a Visiting Assistant Professor for the Career and Technical Education Preparation Department at her Alma Mater SUNY Oswego. She works to provide instructional, and professional support to future CTE professionals while staying dedicated to advancing the CTE industry through innovation and educational support. Prior to her transition to secondary education, she spent 7 years as a secondary CTE educator, instructional coach, and curriculum writer. Her belief is “CTE can shift the trajectory of education as we know it through strategic planning and implementation”. Cynthia resides in Syracuse, NY where she enjoys spending time with her husband, son and daughter making family memories.

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McKenzie Wirtz – Financial Aid & Student Services Coordinator at Mahoning County Career & Technical Center, Ohio

McKenzie has worked in post-secondary Career & Technical Education for about 5 years, and feels honored to serve as the Financial Aid and Student Services Coordinator for the Mahoning County Career & Technical Center. In addition to managing the Federal Student Aid processes and coordinating crucial support services for students at my institution, she is also the School Certifying Official (SCO) for Veteran Affairs and a newly certified Bridges out of Poverty Trainer. McKenzie holds a Bachelor of Social Work degree from the Ohio State University and a Master of Public Administration from Kent State University. She strives to treat all people with dignity and respect, value integrity above all else, and view herself as an advocate for her students. McKenzie believes learning is a lifelong endeavor, and intend to continuously grow her skills.

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