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.