Meet Kimberly M. Dreaden (PLSP-ECMC Foundation fellow)

Meet Kimberly M. Dreaden, program director, bioprocessing technology, at Indian Hills Community College. Dreaden’s interview appears as part of a spotlight series on 2020–21 fellows in the Postsecondary Leadership Success Program at ACTE – Sponsored by ECMC Foundation.

What leadership skills do you hope to develop as part of the Postsecond­ary Leadership Success Program at ACTE – Sponsored by ECMC Foundation?

Being fairly new to CTE academia, I seek to increase my knowledge base in CTE funding, policy and political advocacy. In other words, my goal is to learn more about the big picture, so that I can better serve and promote the CTE programs at Indian Hills Community College — locally and beyond our 10-county region.

How do you anticipate your participation in the program will better equip you to support career and technical edu­cation (CTE) students, particularly underserved groups, toward career success?

The PLSP–ECMC Foundation cohort is very diverse with regard to location within our nation. Some are from more progressive states; others are from more rural areas, and all come from various standards of living. This means that there are several models from which one can glean information on making a more equitable and inclusive institution for underserved populations. More specifically, I hope to learn more about the techniques and resources leveraged, especially during this pandemic, in order to build an ideal virtual community.

In your opinion, what are the most important elements of professional development for postsecondary leaders?

Professional development needs to be challenging and relevant so good leaders can reflect on their person and see where they need to grow.

Learn more about the PLSP–ECMC Foundation.

The Postsecondary Leadership Success Program at ACTE – Sponsored by ECMC Foundation presents a yearlong professional development experience. The program is intended to develop the organizational leadership and management skills of postsecondary CTE professionals, with an emphasis on addressing the needs of underserved populations. Applications for the third cohort accepted Oct. 1–Dec. 15.