ACTE Announces Associate Professor at Prince George’s Community College as a National Award Finalist
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 20, 2022
Contact: Dominique Frascoia
ACTE Announces Associate Professor at Prince George’s Community College as a National Award Finalist
ALEXANDRIA, VA—Today, the Association for Career and Technical Education (ACTE) announced Nicole Clarke, Associate Professor at Prince George’s Community College in Largo, Maryland, as the 2022 ACTE Region I Postsecondary Educator of the Year. This award recognizes the finest career and technical education (CTE) educators at the postsecondary school level who have demonstrated innovation in the classroom, commitment to their students and dedication to the improvement of CTE in their institutions and communities.
Professor Nicole Clarke is an Associate Professor at Prince George’s Community College in the Wellness, Culinary Arts and Hospitality department, where for over ten years she has taught courses in the field of hospitality. She is a former local catering manager at the Gaylord National Resort and Convention Center in National Harbor, Maryland. She has arranged meetings and customized events to accommodate as few as ten people to as many as 8,000 people. Ms. Clarke has served 30+ years in the hospitality industry, holding roles as senior catering manager at the Grand Hyatt Washington DC, associate director of catering at the Hyatt Regency Baltimore at Inner Harbor, director of catering at Holiday Inn Select in Bethesda, Maryland, associate director of catering with Aramark at George Washington University, catering sales manager at Westin Grand Washington DC, sales manager and catering sales manager at Holiday Inn on the Hill, Washington DC plus restaurant manager at Bread and Chocolate in Washington DC. She is a veteran in the United States Army Reserves, where she performed as a food service specialist and nutritionist at Walter Reed Army General Hospital. Ms. Clarke earned her baccalaureate degree in hospitality and tourism management from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (Virginia Tech) and completed her master’s in project management with the University of Maryland Global Campus (formerly UMUC). She earned and has been recognized as a Certified Meeting Professional, Certified Professional Catering Executive, Certified Hospitality Specialist, and Certified Hospitality Educator. She has been an active member of the National Association of Catering and Events, and has served on the board for ten years as President, Vice President, Membership Chair and CPCE spokesperson for the Greater Washington, DC Chapter.
At Prince George’s Community College, Ms. Clarke has volunteered time and effort in support to projects associated with technology, assessments, curriculum development, and pedagogy training for the department and collegewide. She serves on the steering committee for the Pathways in Technology Early College High School (PTECH) program at Frederick Douglass High School and also teaches the Hospitality Services Management students.
Clarke is one of five finalists for the 2023 national title. The national winner will be announced at the ACTE Awards Gala, an award presentation recognizing the best CTE educators in the country. The event will take place on November 30, 2022, at 7:00 p.m. The Awards Gala is sponsored by Express Employment Professionals, Goodheart-Willcox and Stratasys. For more information about the ACTE Excellence Awards, visit our webpage.
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About ACTE
The Association for Career and Technical Education (ACTE) is the nation’s largest not-for-profit association committed to the advancement of education that prepares youth and adults for successful careers. ACTE represents the community of CTE professionals, including educators, administrators, researchers, school counselors, guidance and career development professionals and others at all levels of education. ACTE is committed to excellence in providing advocacy, public awareness and access to resources, professional development and leadership opportunities.